Long Weekend Sparks Travel Surge To Top Spot

Many Pune residents take advantage of the long weekend coinciding with Guid Padwa and Eid holidays to travel to local destinations like Mahabaleshwar, Khandala, and Kasid. Travel agencies report increased bookings and famous locations are seeing heightened occupancy and demand for last-minute travel arrangements.

Gudi Padwa falls on Sunday, and Monday is a holiday because of Eid Kothrud resident Puneet Ishware and his wife's decision to spend two days in Mahabaleshwar. "Gudi Padwa is mainly celebrated at home, and going on a holiday is rare. With the next day being a holiday, we thought of going to Mahabaleshwar to escape the city heat," he said.

The long weekend has allowed many to skip Monday morning blues and head out with family and friends. Travel agents in the city said many families have booked travel to destinations like Mahabaleshwar, Khandala, Bhor, Vella and Kashid.

"We have been getting queries and registered some bookings. After celebrating Gudi Padwa rather than heading off to work the next day, the Eid holiday has become a blessing for many families. Many have taken two additional off days and are going to various destinations on a short holiday," a travel company executive said.

Nilesh Bhansali, owner of Devam Tours and Travels and president of the Travel Agents Association of Pune, said, "During short holidays like Gudi Padwa and Eid, people tend to explore local destinations that offer a refreshing escape. Many prefer trekking to scenic spots, discovering new trails, and spending evenings at mountain or hillside locations. We have observed an interesting trend during Gudi Padwa and Eid.

People celebrating Gudi Padwa generally prefer staying at home and enjoying the activities. Still, the excitement of purchasing new vehicles often leads them to opt for long drives or visit nearby destinations. On the other hand, those celebrating Eid typically prefer spending time with family at home. Due to the ongoing exams, many also choose short trips to nearby places rather than heading outstation."

Kedar Lokhande, who lives in Kalyaninagar and works as a senior mechanical engineer with a private firm, decided to spend four days in Kashid. "I took some days off, and so did my wife. We were tired of working continuously and decided to take a break. We will leave on Saturday after celebrating Guid Padwa," he said.

"Goa, Mahabaleshwar and Jaipur have emerged as top destinations for domestic travel, with resort properties reporting increased occupancy. These destinations are easily accessible from Pune, making them ideal for short getaways. Additionally, beach destinations like Puducherry and heritage-rich spots like Udaipur are seen as being of strong interest. The Eid weekend has also driven up hotel rates, with five-star properties seeing a 10-15 per cent surge in pricing. Similarly, airlines are tapping into the demand surge with targeted discounts to cater to last-minute bookings. Overall, these years-long weekends have significant travel momentum with travellers planning their trips well in advance." Rikant Pittie, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip.

Pune: Guid Padwa falls on Sunday, and Monday is a holiday because of Eid. Kothrud resident Puneet Ishware and his wife have decided to spend two days in Mahabaleshwar.

"Gudi Padwa is mostly celebrated at home, and going on a holiday is rare; with the next day being a holiday, we thought of going to Mahabaleshwar to escape the city heat," he said.

The long weekend has allowed many to skip Monday morning blues and head out with family and friends. Travel agents in the city said that many families have booked trips to destinations like Mahabaleshwar, Khandala, Bhor, Vella, and Kashid.

"We have been getting queries and registered some bookings. After celebrating Gudi Padwa rather than heading off to work the next day, the Eid holiday has become a blessing for many families. Many have taken two additional off days and are going to various destinations on short holidays," a travel company executive said.

Nilesh Bhansali, owner of Devam Tours and Travels and president of the Travel Agents Association of Pune, said, "During short holidays like Gudi Padwa and Eid, people like to explore local destinations that offer a refreshing escape. Many prefer trekking to scenic spots, discovering new trails, and spending the evenings at mountain or hillside locations.

We have observed an interesting trend during Gudi Padwa and Eid. People celebrating Gudi Padwa generally prefer staying at home and enjoying the festivities. Still, the excitement of purchasing new vehicles often leads them to opt for long drives or visit nearby destinations. On the other hand, those celebrating Eid typically prefer spending time with family at home. Due to the ongoing exams, many also choose short trips to nearby places rather than heading outstation."

Kedar Lokhande, who lives in Kalyaninagar and works as a senior mechanical engineer at a private firm, decided to spend four days in Kashid. "I took some days off, and so did my wife. We were tired of working continuously and decided to take a break. We will leave on Sunday after celebrating Guid Padwa," he said.

"Goa, Mahabaleshwar and Jaipur have emerged as top destinations for domestic travel, with resort properties reporting increased occupancy. These destinations are easily accessible from Pune, making them ideal for short getaways. Additionally, beach destinations like Puducherry and heritage-rich sports like Udaipur are seen as being of intense interest.

The Eid weekend has also driven up hotel rates, with five-star properties seeing a 10-15 per cent surge in pricing. Similarly, airlines are tapping into the demand surge with targeted discounts to cater to last-minute bookings. Overall, this year's long weekends have fueled significant travel momentum with travellers planning their trips well in advance," said Rikant Pittie, CEO and co-founder of EaseMyTrip.

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