The city holiday

If a short vacation in the hills is a hassle, head for the resort in your city

When you’re wiped out by an 80-hour work week and high stress, even packing a bag and catching a flight for a weekend holiday is a hassle. But now, you have the option of the no-brainer vacation. So check into a hotel right near you and be transported out of the everyday grind.
In Delhi, for example, when you go to Westin Hotels and Resorts on the Gurgaon-Sohna Road, merely an hour from Gurgaon and 90 minutes from central Delhi, an SUV comes to fetch you from your house. It’s stocked with Diet Coke, fresh fruits, a TV and several magazines. A liveried chauffeur with a beaming smile chats in English and even offers to connect your I-Pod to his stereo. The resort is nestled off the beaten track and you pass acres of flowering mustard fields to get there. Westin is almost decadently luxurious with acres of lush green lawns, an endless swimming pool and the kind of understated elegance that costs a fortune to achieve. The cottage suites have fireplaces and bathrooms with stunning views, and a patio with a hammock to lounge on.

The Galaxy, a 5-star business hotel in the heart of Gurgaon, is a hardcore business hotel through the week where the minimum charge per night is Rs 17,000. On weekends, it transforms into a trendy hangout for urban couples, on a special package of Rs 12,500. The rooms have interesting retractable ceilings and they offer Rs 3,000 worth of complimentary meals at their restaurants, The Monk and Terroir. It’s been a month since they started focusing on weekends and the response has been phenomenal. “We get young professional couples who want to spend time with each other,” says Saurabh Kaushik, manager, marketing and promotions at Galaxy.

“The idea is to rejuvenate our guests with these tranquil surroundings,” says Bipan Kapur, general manager, Westin Resorts. And it seems, relaxation and pampering is what the MNC executive seeks on a holiday. “I travel on work so much. I’d rather not go far for a vacation,” says Raghav Bansal, a senior executive from Delhi. “On a holiday, I want a massage, good food and time to myself.”
Luxury resorts in India are now packaging the spa concept of yoga, meditation and ayurveda as a wellness holiday. The Taj Group of Hotels have launched the Urban Sanctuary in January, which provides weekend options for residents of Delhi and Mumbai, who are looking for a change of scene without the hassle of travel. Guests can opt for dinner at any of their fancy restaurants or relax in the sauna, steam and Jacuzzi or laze and have breakfast in bed. Two nights can cost over Rs 30,000. “We see a lot of people in the city opting for these packages, especially on occasions like birthdays and anniversaries,” says Sanjukta Roy, director, PR, Taj Hotels.

The trend of going out of town for long weekends is not new. The Retreat in Mumbai has been a favourite getaway for Mumbaikars for years, and Delhiites had Fort Neemrana and Pataudi Haveli close by. However, now world-class resorts have opened up and offer to revive guests with dramatic luxury. Whether it’s an acupuncture foot therapy or a 24-hour gym, or a massage with semi-precious stones to restore a battered spirit, it’s yours for the asking. The cost is almost irrelevant to guests, whose only concern is that they are time-bankrupt.

Flying has become exhausting with interminable flight delays, and airport hassles have certainly contributed to the growth of this kind of holiday. “It’s also a reflection of the economy that some people are willing to spend Rs 20,000 per night,” says Amit Saberwal, vice-president, business development, at makemytrip.com. “It was unheard of even five years ago.” Saberwal says that the luxury hospitality segment is the fastest growing among hotels in India today. “There are no three star constructions happening in Delhi because it’s not viable considering the real estate costs,” he says.

At Westin, the management concentrates on impeccable service. Guests are discreetly probed on their interests, and are sometimes pleasantly surprised to find their favourite movies in their rooms. “It’s these little things that our clients value,” insists Kapur of Westin. Besides, they have a heavenly bed where the Egyptian cotton sheets have a thread count of 230 and a specially designed boudoir pillow. Of course, you have to be well-heeled to sleep peacefully on it. Not everyone can cast off fatigue after spending Rs 50,000 over a weekend.