New world, here I come!

After six months of being locked in their home with a radius that extended only till the neighbourhood kirana store Mumbaikars have started exploring the outsides again But stepping out for leisure in 2020 looks different than it did in 2019 For starters most travellers we spoke to avoided the pool which at one time was a crowd puller at most vacation stays They took their own transport where they could and more importantly ensured that the place that they were staying at scored a 100 on the safety testMade only contactless paymentsRohit Paradkar 37Stayed at Garden Palace Heritage Homestays Balasinor GujaratGetting there To get to Balasinor take the Mumbai Gujarat Highway Its an internal road after HallolPrice Rs 4000 per night for 2 adultsNAVI Mumbai resident and 37yearold motoring journalist Rohit Paradkar and wife Kasturi went on a road trip through Rajasthan and Gujarat in late September Their own safety precautions included taking breaks only at restaurants that followed hygiene protocols and had al fresco seating We didnt stop for chai and carried our own flask Due to dietary changes we drink only black coffee or green tea and so when wed run out of hot water wed get that refilled We carried our own dry snacks like bhakarwadi and apples along with hydropacks to sip water fromThey also took care to ensure most payments were contactless The change after demonetisation is that even the smallest of chai shops accept digital payment On route wed find petrol stations that would only accept cash but wed try and find one that was contactless to avoid chances of infectionWhile on the highway the couple would not wear masks under the helmets off it theyd have to In smaller cities no one is wearing masks or taking mandatory precautions Plus my motorcycle invariably attracts attention with people gathering and asking kitne ki gaadi hai mileage kitna deti hai So then wearing a mask became important for usCarried our own bedsheetsRamona DMello and Drayton FernandezStayed At The Whey Side KarjatGetting There Its over a twohour drive from Mumbai If you dont have a car hire a rental taxi Price R6500 per night for 2 adultsIn August Kurla couple Ramona DMello and Drayton Fernandez wanted to celebrate DMellos 34th birthday When options for staycations at city hotels didnt seem feasible the two looked at AirBnB options nearby and found The Whey Side at KarjatIn a preCOVID normal DMello says their only concern would have been if the place was reliable This time however they called the owner to check on what safety precautions the property was taking We were told that everyones temperature would be checked when they entered the property and from the pictures realised that the chalets were spread out so thered be no contact between guests says DMello adding that the couple travelled by car to the site and even took along their own bedsheets pillow covers and towels to minimise chances of infection During the stay at the Karjat property they didnt allow anyone to enter their room to clean it minimising contact furtherCame home and quarantinedNikita ShyamWhere Taj Hotels KumarakomGetting There There are daily flights from Mumbai to Kochi starting at R3800 per personPrice Rs 5600 per nightWanting to celebrate her September 29 birthday outside the city as always Nikita Shyam got the push from her mother who suggested she not opt for Goa but for a destination further away Both my mum and brother had to travel outstation during the pandemic and because of these experiences we were less afraid of air travel Nikita and her husband Shyam were joined by their friendsAt Alleppey they stayed at a property with only four rooms being occupied and so social distancing was easier to follow We also hired one car for seven days with the same driver He would always wear a mask and ensure we sanitised our hands before entering the car Though there was a place for drivers at the property he chose to sleep in the car as a safety precaution for both his family and us At the property Nikita says the guests were advised to return to the same dining table through their threeday stay We had all our meals at the propertyOn returning home Nikita spent five days at home before meeting her parents Her friends who live with their parents also quarantined at a different apartment before heading homeNext guest allowed 12 hours after our checkoutManali Rajiv and Rajiv KrishnaStayed at Amreena Farmhouse KarjatGetting There Make the twohour drive or rent a car Price R6000 per night for 2 adultsIn September Manali Rajiv 31 a PR professional and her adman husband Rajiv Krishna 32 headed out to Lonavla with their parents for a twoday break Where an ideal road trip would have meant stopping for chai and snacks at the many eateries that line the Mumbai Pune Express Way this time they packed their chai in flasks and carried their own grub We stopped in a small lane off the highway and had a break says Manali The Lonavla stay was at Tungi Lake Pavna a Club Mahindra property Rajiv says Here attention was paid to the tiniest of details While the buffet table continued guests are no longer allowed to serve themselves Staff in gloves and masks serve you Even the pens with which you sign the bill are sanitised There is a dropbox on the billing desk where you can drop off used pensThe second trip to Karjat was to an Air BnB Amreena Farmhouse He adds We selected the option that allowed us to be the only guests in the property We spoke to the owner in the lead up to the stay and were confident about their measures They said they had kept a 12hour break between two stays to allow for better disinfection The caretaker delivered food and we avoided cold eats like saladsWant to hear from youWe are looking to visit and write about interesting places of stay and travel near and far If you wish to host us for a fair engaging experience review write to us at smdmailmiddaycomKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Mumbai news crime news current 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