Dreaming of a magical white Christmas in Europe but concerned about the costs? Mumbai-based entrepreneur Mufaddal Kagalwala and his wife Sakina Gandhi turned this dream into reality—without breaking the bank, and instead taking advantage of off-season deals on flights and hotels.
The couple pulled off an unforgettable 13-day journey across Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria—all for under ₹3.5 lakh.
"Our friends holidaying in Udaipur around the same dates paid ₹1 lakh for a four-day trip. That's the difference between travelling in peak season and off-season," noted Kagalwala.
As part of Mint's travel series, Kagalwala shares the details of their planned and budget-friendly winter adventure across Eastern Europe.
Off-season cost-saving hacks
"Being budget travellers, we often check flights from India to anywhere on Skyscanner," he said. This time, he found tickets to Eastern Europe for just ₹32,000 per person and immediately began planning. With the visa process for Schengen countries often taking time, they were pleasantly surprised to receive theirs in just eight working days due to the off-season.
The 12-day itinerary included four countries, with three nights in each destination. Flying out on Christmas Day—a less popular travel date—helped save further on flight costs.
Accommodation cost was another area where they saved smartly. The couple spent ₹1.35 lakh on 12 nights in budget-friendly 2-star and 3-star city-centre hotels. They pre-booked first three nights and left the rest open to snag last-minute discounts that hotels offer for one-day-prior bookings.
"This strategy also gave us flexibility to stay longer in a city we liked or tweak our plans," Kagalwala said.
The couple's accommodation cost was lower than Europe's summer rates but slightly higher than typical winter rates due to the year-end holiday season.
Eastern Europe
This story is from the January 14, 2025 edition of Mint Chennai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the January 14, 2025 edition of Mint Chennai.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
DeChambeau Bonanza for Golf Fans in India
Golfer Bryson DeChambeau will be playing at the International Series India in Gurugram
Following the trail of Darjeeling Sherpas
Over the course of 12 years, Nandini Purandare and Deepa Balsavar have documented the struggles and challenges of Sherpas
EV shift cranks up demand for Anand Group auto parts
Anand Group's sunroof business has emerged as a standout performer, with capacities already at full utilization
The Dirty Picture-Mag
A really good dirty joke is hard to forget. Few shows have dared to blend the risqué with the revolutionary as seamlessly as Minx.
Sebi rejects KOEL's bid over DFS disclosure
The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) has opposed an appeal filed by Kirloskar Oil Engines Ltd (KOEL) in the Securities Appellate Tribunal (SAT) challenging the regulator's advisory to the company to disclose the Deed of Family Settlement (DFS).
A contemporary take on southern flavours
Following a global trend, progressive south Indian has emerged as an interesting subset within the genre of modern Indian cuisine
Good immigrants or pesky invaders?
As Donald Trump returns amid raging controversies over H1B visas, a new book documents the rise of Indians in the US
Demi Moore refuses to fade away quietly
Coralie Fargeat's 'The Substance' puts Moore through the wringer and gives her the spotlight
A literary tour of Bengaluru
A new, self-guided audio tour of the city's bookish haunts, from old libraries to independent bookstores, is a delight
Hyundai Debuts Creta Electric at a Price of Under ₹18 Lakh
Hyundai Motor India launched the Creta Electric, the electric vehicle (EV) adaptation of its best-selling mid-size SUV, at an introductory price of ₹17,99,000 on Friday.