It’s a personal choice of mine to treat myself to a luxury trip every year. I save up just enough to ensure I can get a 5-star resort and indulge a little. I mean in the words of Miley Cyrus, “I can love better me than you can.” But, honestly? Everyone deserves a break from the massive stress around them. And there’s no better way to do that than a little me-time in a luxurious way. So, here’s what I did on my annual luxury trip to Pondicherry.
Stay
I picked the Radisson Resort Pondicherry Bay because I loved my last stay in the same resort at Mahabalipuram. This time I decided to coop up myself in the resort rather than sightseeing because the whole point of this trip is to take some much-needed downtime. Sleep in, read books, swim, and dip your toes in the ocean. This resort is close to the beach. A 3-5 minute walk that I felt was good. Also, the facilities in the resort are amazing. They have a pool, gym, indoor games, and spa. The breakfast buffet and hi-tea were part of the package. In addition, they also have activities (paid and free) that you can take part in at the resort.
Budget: 15,000 + taxes per night
What I did on during my stay?
Day 1:
The first day was all about relaxing after the journey. I mean they say, “It’s not about the destination but about the journey” but that April sun was not conducive to enjoying the car ride. We hired a taxi from Savaari Car Rentals which cost about 6000+ one-way. Reached the resort around 2.30ish and the check-in is at 3 PM. We ordered room service and decided to take a nap. The evening heralded a walk to Eden Beach. Since Pondicherry is known for its sunrise, we just enjoyed some salty air and let the waves calm us. We had an early dinner and called it a night by 9.
Day 2:
It’s a good point to note; you get to the pool in the early hours—the pool is available from 7 AM—you get it all to yourself. After some floating mindlessly and trying to learn how to swim (I do not know how to swim by the way) we worked up an appetite. So, after a shower, we hit the breakfast buffet which held a large spread from North and South Indian dishes to continental food like pancakes, muffins, etc. There is also a live counter that makes fresh omelets and dosas to your liking.
We hit the Bodhi spa to relax better after a short break. I took a package that included scrub, massage, and wrap. And, it was worth the money spent. We had some light lunch and then retired to our rooms where we saw a movie—Eat, Pray, Love. Hi-tea is served promptly at 4 PM at the sunset deck. Yes, there is a river that meets the sea at the property making it easy to see the sunset as well. It was a discovery we made quite late; on Day 3 in fact. After another walk around the beach, we got ready for dinner and settled for the night.
Day 3:
We hit the beach early to catch the sunrise. It was amazing to be up before the sun. (I am SO not a morning person.) We re-did the whole pool-and-breakfast routine and then got ready for some time outside the resort. Because one, we didn’t like the food that much and it was kinda pricey to order in. Two, we needed to do some shopping. So, we ventured out to an arts and crafts museum (which also has a boat ride in the mangroves if you’re interested). It had a nice assortment of things ranging from lanterns to stoneware, dream catchers, woven baskets, and more.
We decided to have dinner at Buddha Bay which is a rooftop restaurant on the Promenade overlooking the beach. It has some amazing food choices you’ll love. But unfortunately for me, I had food poisoning on day 2 which made my appetite non-existent. But my mother and friend enjoyed their dishes. We went back to the resort for some quiet time.
Day 4:
We were supposed to leave by 9 AM for Bangalore. So, after the sunrise, some pictures, and breakfast we just packed and got ready.
Some tips to keep in mind
- If you’re traveling alone always opt for a buffet. It might be pricey but then you can choose what to eat, eat varieties, and not waste.
- Luxury trips are easy on the pocket when you have two more people (a room can easily accommodate 3 people).
- Always check for in-resort activities at the reception. We missed hi-tea and karaoke on our first day.
- Curd rice is the best cure for stomach upset.
- Carry medicines with you. They come in handy when you get sick.
- Book check-in and check-out on weekdays to avoid crowds.
- Eat a good breakfast and light lunch. It helps reduce your expenses. You can always use lunch leftovers for dinner.
- 5-star resorts are usually away from the main city. So, if you plan on sightseeing check taxi fares and distance.
- You can get a good deal on the resort if you plan and book in advance.