Stress free 1 week break, 1st or 2nd week in Nov, from Delhi.

Believe it or not, I have researched the hell out of this online and I've just ended up more confused than ever. With things booking up fast, I'm worried that we'll just end up procrastinating ourselves out of a wonderful trip. We realise time is ticking on, and we're both away this weekend (dukkha in Calcutta and me "oop North" - nearly in Scotland - for a wedding) so getting it together for booking something is getting increasingly difficult. Please can "those in the know" make some suggestions!

So... Couple aged (*cough* lets just say not yet entirely decrepit) seeks inspiration for a week's break in early November.

Budget upper-medium to lower-high budget.

As recommended in Steven_Ber's "How to get the most out of the Itinerary section." thread, here are the bare bones:

Ideal form of transport = teleportation.

Reason? One of us (yes, that will be the girl ) suffers from severe motion sickness.

Failing sudden developments in the area of teleportation, the ideal form of transport in order of preference is:

1. Plane
2. Overnight AC train
3. Car AC & Driver
4. Taxi AC
5. Stealing a horse
6. Walking
7. Non AC bus

Planes are fine for up to 3 hours, cars okay up to three hours if I sit in the front.

I do have prescription meds for this, but they knock me out cold - so long train journeys are a possibility if they're overnighters. I'd hate to miss a day, but don't mind losing an occasional night and part of the next morning.

Transport has to be AC, I'm British and my idea of hot is about 20 degrees!

I'd be prepared to undertake a short journey (up to 3 hours) in the daytime if it was a scenic route.

Travel background: We have both roughed it many times but we're both outrageously overworked right now and we need a break from everything. Especially thinking!

Schedule: Rather than a tour where we move every day, we'd prefer to be based in one place for most of the holiday.

What are our interests? Beautiful scenery, good food and interesting architecture/history.

Ideas that have appealed:

• Quiet retreat in the mountains - maybe in HP? (not Ladakh as he's going there after Christmas)
• Desert - Camel safari in Jaisalmer looks amazing (especially non-tourist safari outside SAM area) Can Pushkar Camel Fair be enjoyed in a laid back way or is it hassle central?
• Sea - Snorkelling in the Andamans? (downside = long boat transfers to get away from Port Blair?)

I realise it's asking a lot but if anyone has some ideas we'd love to hear them...

You'll have seen me using the same disclaimer before, but anyway, I've never used this series, but it's said to be good: http://traveller.outlookindia.com/bookdetail.aspx?id=5 . They're said to be hard to get a hold of abroad, but maybe Dukkha could get a copy in Delhi (or Kolkata). Could well serve as inspiration.

Pushkar Fair & relaxation I don't imagine sit together very well no; not sure about hassle, but it'll just be overcrowded (and that means crowded!) Or that's what I hear.

Andamans is obviously very far away; there are flights there though as far as I know, might involve a layover in Chennai or so, I'm not sure. (Ah, I see now what you mean, it would still involve boating from the main island I guess yes. There may be some worthwhile spots on that island itself though, I'm not sure, never been.)

From Delhi, the nearby mountains or a bit of Rajasthan would seem to make sense yes.

Good luck with preparing

peak season time haylo... bookings of any kind will be difficult after sometime.

hence, wherever it maybe - do it faaast.

my suggestion - jaisalmer / rajasthan.


:brishti

That's what prompted this post.

My style is to book everything a year in advance. Dukkha's is to book everything the day before. Neither approach is entirely reasonable, but I am trying to get things moving.

If you can tolerate cold go to nainital.
Train to Kaladunghi, 30kms taxi ride(1 hour max)
Take a lake front hotel ( 1500/night luxury hotel in Nov since its not high season) and laze at the lake.
Its going to be collllld though

What does cold mean to you? Reason I ask is that coming from Noida you could mean 16 degrees!

Haylo, if you haven't checked it already, try also this whole thread for some weather overviews, and remember they'll be averages: India climate chart

The most stress-free places I've found are the mountains in India. November will be starting to get a little nippy, but the skies should be clear and beauty is unsurpassed. Might want to look in to Kumaon district.

Have you considered Chandelao? It's a little village very near Jodhpur, so you can fly from Delhi. There's one hotel, a heritage hotel run by a local prince. http://www.chandelao.com/
Untouristed, in the main (getting more so).

If you're bursting with cash, Osian camel camp will combine camping with luxury!

Thanks Mach. Trouble is that mountain weather is so elevation dependent, and I don't have a good picture of what altitude any particular place (eg Kaladunghi) is at, or how that compares to other places.

Considered? Hadn't even heard of it! Does look lovely though, thanks.

Well noida/delhi are same, so in winters it goes down to 10 degrees or even lower.
In Nainital, expect day temperatures to be around 12-15 and night temps to be 0-5 degrees.
Comfortably cold by my standards(Actually I like colder the better)

Ummm..... Uttaranchal or imachal would serve well i think as options..

Manali has an airport which means you can get there pretty fast , and some very pretty places are within 4 odd hours of delhi in Uttaranchal like Lansdowne , it will be too much to spend a week in lansdowne, but you can spend 2 odd nights then move a bi further in to another place..

Haylo
From delhi... its either himalayas(Uttarakhand/HP) or Rajasthan.

As you have motion sickness I would not suggest Himalayan roads for you. Even nainital(which is like "baby" himalaya and extremely crowded)you have a 1 hr car ride through zig zag uphill mountain roads. I have seen women, who donot have motion sickness ordinarily, fall sick(repeated vomitting)on that road.

Just as Brishti I would suggest Jaisalmer. As this is mainly a rest and rejuevenation trip (and not a backpacker adventure trip) book into some higher end heritage palace and have a great time.

I am sure Aishah can give you some leads for such places.

Jaisalmer would be my take as well. You can actually relax at that place without running around.

Book yourself a good place over there, go for a desert safari and chill out in general. Aishah can educate you about the travel arrangements from Delhi.

How about something slighly further off.... Goa? Its within 3 odd hours flying time , and its a good time to go provding you book in advance..