THE PANDEMIC HAS changed the way we think. But the passion for travel remains unchanged. So, the first chance I get to escape the shackles of virtual travel, I have my bags packed—with sanitisers, face masks, and Vitamin C supplements. I hop on a Vistara flight after being grounded for eight months in the capital city. I am on a trip to Goa— the au courant flavour for workstations and extended staycations—with Airbnb.
Not only has the frequency of travel changed, but the way we holiday is also witnessing a dramatic shift— towards a more conscious lifestyle. So, instead of a swanky five-star hotel room, I check in to a GoanPortuguese heritage villa. With five rooms, a private swimming pool, and vanity rooms the size of my Bandra pad, the 400-year-old Casa Tina in Vagator, North Goa, is wrapped in a garden of frangipanis and chikoo trees. It is emblematic of the state’s contented lifestyle. Jijesh Ramachandran and Amarendra Kumar, my super hosts from Airbnb, catch up with me over breakfast. A part of Iksha (iksha.co.in), wherein Jijesh and his partner manage 12 such villas across Goa, Casa Tina is the perfect place for an extended getaway with family or friends. “We’ve been booked for the past four months,” Ramachandran smiles. But what about the pandemic? You can only book the entire villa, and not individual rooms. So, the stay is bound to be private, with physical distancing and Airbnb’s strict sanitisation guidelines ensuring safety, the hosts assure me. Unlimited wi-fiand friendly caretakers make sure that I am comfortable and always on time for my Teams meetings.
This story is from the December 2020 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
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This story is from the December 2020 edition of Travel+Leisure India.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
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GOOD SPIRITS
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Safari Bond
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Toddler Towns
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Just For Laughs
A Mumbai-based businessman, Atul Khatri switched the gears of his career at 44 to become a stand-up comedian. Since then, he has performed at many international shows, sending the audience into a laughing fit with his middle-class life anecdotes and jokes surrounding fatherhood. The comedian speaks to Simrran Gill about his sets, dealing with trolls, and the best compliment he has received.
World Through Their Eyes
A television host, model, and actor, Mini Mathur is also a passionate advocate of family bonding over travel. In 2018, she produced and presented Mini Me, a 10-part series that chronicled her travels with her seven-year-old daughter across six countries in Europe. In a conversation with Bayar Jain, the multi-hyphenate reveals the fun and challenges of exploring the globe with her kids, Sairah and Vivaan.
Paws and Go
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