Luxe for less

Your annual chance to actually afford a posh holiday. The best deals going

Luxe for less
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Aashyana Likhanpal Villas, Goa: Here’s your chance to enjoy a private beach villa, usually rented out at an eye-popping Rs 92,400 (two-bedroom villa), Rs 1, 91,730 (three-bedroom) and Rs 4, 42,750 (five-bedroom) a week, plus taxes. The seasonal offer: the villas for Rs 49,000, Rs 91,300 and Rs 2, 17,000 a week, respectively. The weekly rate is inclusive of breakfast, transfers, laundry and Internet. An added bonus: daily rates for rooms also available (from Rs 5,000). Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0832-2489225, www.aashyanalakhanpal.com

Ananda in the Himalayas: The country’s best-known destination spa lures you with a 3N/4D summer package for Rs 55,000 for two, which includes a bunch of treatments, all meals and more. A lot of money? Yes, but consider that their usual rates are Rs 15,500-75,000 per night, and include only accommodation, with taxes extra. Contact: 01378-227500, www.anandaspa.com

Alila Diwa, Goa: Goa’s newest luxury leisure property drops its Rs 9,400-18,700 per-night tariff to rates beginning from Rs 15,000 for three nights for two persons. Includes transfers, breakfast, 50% discount on drinks, 15% spa discount, activities, culinary lessons and more. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0832-2746800, www.alilahotels.com

Ahilya Fort, Maheshwari: It can be quite impossible to book a room at Richard Holkar’s 10-room exclusive palace hotel by the Narmada in the winter—even if you were willing to pay Rs 6,000-8,000 per person per night. So this 18th-century palace can be well worth the Madhya Pradesh heat at a straight 50% discount, inclusive of three meals, boat rides and taxes. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 011-41551575, www.ahilyafort.com

Barefoot, Andamans: Admittedly, it’s not a big fat discount—Rs 6,500-13,800 reduced to Rs 4,500-9,800 per room per night, inclusive of breakfast and taxes. But surely an eco-holiday in Andaman’s best-known property is priceless? Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 044-24341001, 03192-236008, www.barefootindia.com

Cgh Earth: Known for some of South India’s most spectacular resorts, CGH Earth is also drawing visitors this summer with nearly 50% price cuts across all its properties. Discounted tariffs per night, inclusive of tax: Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom (Rs 8,220-15,525); Brunton Boatyard, Fort Cochin (Rs 7,590-15,865); Casino Hotel, Kochi (Rs 3,740-7,015); Munnar Bungalows, Munnar (Rs 7,000-9,000); Spice Village, Thekkady (Rs 7,480-13,225); Visalam, Chettinad (Rs 7,315-9,005); Marari Beach, Mararikulam (Rs 7,480-14,385); Maison Perumal, Pondicherry (Rs 4,500-6,500); Bangaram Island, Lakshadweep (Rs 8,500-14,000); Spice Coast Cruise, Lake Vembanad (Rs 7,730-10,825). Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0484-3011711, www.cghearth.com

Devi Garh, Udaipur: Rajasthan may be sizzling hot, literally, but when you’ve got the chance to luxuriate in the delicious Devi Garh at half the cost, a holiday here gets a lot more exciting. Two nights for two persons are going for Rs 17,000 (inclusive of accommodation in a suite, transfers, breakfast and lunch/dinner, stay for kids up to 15) or in a room at a 50% discount. In season, you’d pay Rs 20,000-35,000 per night for the pleasure. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 9928972211, www.deviresorts.in

Kumarakom Lake Resort: If the serenity of the backwaters is what you’re craving this season, opt for the splendid KLR, on the banks of Lake Vembanad. Reduced rates of Rs 14,000-42,000 per night, against the usual Rs 17,000-62,000. Includes transfers, cruise and more. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0481-2524900, www.thepaul.in

The Leela: Big luxury and bigger discounts from the Leela group’s leisure hotels in Goa, Rajasthan and Kerala (rack rates per night: Rs 15,000-19,500, 17,500-27,500 and Rs 23,000-32,000, respectively). The Leela Kempinski, Goa offers 3N/4D package for two for Rs 19,500-36,000. Valid till June 30. At the Leela Palace Kempinski, Udaipur, there’s a variety of packages for two, for Rs 14,000-16,000. Valid till Sept 30. The Leela Kempinski Kovalam offers 2N/3D for Rs 12,000-20,000. Valid till June 30. Inclusions vary. Contact: 1800-222-444, www.theleela.com

Malabar House, Fort Cochin: One of the many pleasures of the Kerala monsoon is the ‘off-season discount’ and so it is with our favourite boutique hotel. MH slashes its rates (Rs 15,000-25,000 for two, plus tax) to Rs 8,500-12,800. Includes tax and breakfast. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0484-216666, www.malabarhouse.com

Neeleshwar Hermitage, Kasargod: North Kerala’s exclusive retreat, known for its luxurious yet eco-conscious ways, is wooing domestic tourists with heavy discounts. Rooms here are going for Rs 6,600-10,150 per night plus taxes (inclusive of breakfast), down from the usual tariff of Rs 10,600-16,000. Contact: 0467-2287510, www.neeleshwarhermitage.com

Park Hyatt Goa: By the time you read this, Goa will be under siege. Lashed by heavy rains and heavier discounts, a sea-facing room with a usual tariff of Rs 16,500 per night at the superb Park Hyatt could be yours for a rather more affordable Rs 18,800 for two nights, inclusive of three meals for two, airport transfers, 25% discounts at the award-winning Sereno Spa and complimentary meals for kids below 12. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0832-2721234, www.goa.park.hyatt.com

Shahpura Bagh: Living with royalty at cut price is not the only inducement at Shahpura Bagh (220km from Jaipur/Udaipur). From the first week of July, several rare birds—apart from owls, pheasants, egrets, herons and storks—can be spotted on the mansion’s lush grounds and surrounding lakes. At a discounted rate of Rs 5,000-6,540 per night, inclusive of breakfast (Rs 11,500-15,500 in the high season), it’s a steal. Valid till Aug 30. Contact: 9828122012, www.shahpurabagh.com

Shreyas Retreat, Bangalore: The plush yoga retreat is offering packages from Rs 18,000 (2N/3D) to Rs 23,000 (3N/4D) plus taxes. Considering their standard tariff is in the range of Rs 11,700-16,380 per night, it’s a good time to take that luxe detox holiday. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 080-27737102, www.shreyasretreat.com

Surya Samudra, Kovalam: Kerala is holiday-worthy at any time, but the monsoon is downright magical. And things get even better at the magnificently located and recently refurbished Surya Samudra. Their tariffs—Rs 14,100-42,900—are now down to Rs 8,300-22,400 per day (with breakfast). The hotel also offers several packages starting from Rs 11,250 (2N/3D). Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0471-2267333, www.suryasamudra.com

Taj Safaris: Here’s a chance to enjoy that prohibitively expensive safari holiday you’ve dreamt of. Taj Safaris’ bonanza discount across all its wildlife resorts—Mahua Kothi (Bandhavgarh), Baghvan (Pench), Pashan Garh (Panna) and Banjaar Tola (Kanha)—brings the standard rate of Rs 32,000 per person per night down to Rs 11,000-13,500, including meals, laundry, safaris, taxes etc. Valid till June 30. Contact: 1800-111-825, www.tajsafaris.com

The Oberoi’s ‘Vilases’: A 50% discount plus extra blandishments finally make a holiday at the super-upscale ‘Vilas’ properties possible. On offer are 2N packages at Amarvilas (Agra), Rajvilas, (Jaipur), Udaivilas (Udaipur) and Vanyavilas (Ranthambhore), from Rs 35,000 for two persons. Includes breakfast, an extra room for two kids at a 50% discount, 15% spa discount. Valid till Sept 30 (Vanyavilas till June 30). Contact: 1800-11-2030, www.oberoihotels.com

The Taj’s Palaces: Check into either the fabulous Taj Lake Palace, Udaipur or the Rambagh Palace, Jaipur, and savour the hefty markdowns on the usual nightly rates (Rs 36,300-1,54,000 and Rs 42,350-91,300, respectively). Two nights at the Lake Palace are going for Rs 40,000-84,000 and for Rs 20,000-23,000 at Rambagh. Includes breakfast, one dinner, transfers, 15% discount at spa, 20% off on food and beverages, etc. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 1800-111-825, www.tajhotels.com

Westin Sohna-Gurgaon: Yes, frenetic Gurgaon is an unlikely spa destination, but the Westin’s fabulous spa resort should help you change your mind. And yes, like every other high-end property on this list, it’s lowering its rates (from Rs 18,000-35,000 per night) to Rs 10,000 per night. Stay for at least two nights here and get hotel credit worth Rs 4,400 on the reduced tariff. Valid till Sept 30. Contact: 0124-4508888, www.starwoodhotels.com

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