As India gears up for a mild winter in the coming weeks, plans for a year-end vacation are already being made. But before you plan to head north to enjoy the snow and the chill yet again, have a look at the list below!

Several places near Mumbai come alive as the temperatures drop, calling out to travelers for a short visit at the very least. We’ve rounded up some of the best destinations near the city to enjoy the west coast’s soothing weather.

Panchgani

For travelers who: Love scenic beauty

Distance from Mumbai: 250-300 kilometers

What to see/do: Trekking and Biking, Strawberry farms, Mapro Garden, Kamalgad Fort, Pratapgad Fort, Sydney Point, Mount Malcom

Kamshet

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For travelers who: Seek an adrenaline-pumping adventure sport

Distance from Mumbai: 100-120 kilometers

What to see/do: Paragliding, Karla Caves, Bedsa Caves

North Goa

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For travelers who: Want to experience the best of India’s Christmas festivities

Distance from Mumbai: 500-600 kilometers

What to see/do: Midnight mass at Basilica of Bom Jesus (Old Goa); Water sports and nightlife at Calangute, Anjuna and Vagator; Anjuna’s weekly flea market, New Year’s Eve fireworks in Panaji

Nashik

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For travelers who: Want to explore India’s wine scene

Distance from Mumbai: 160-170 kilometers

What to see/do: Wine tours and tastings at Sula Vineyards, York Winery and Tasting Room, Soma Vine Village and Chateau d’Ori

Lavasa

For travelers who: Want a luxurious winter weekend

Distance from Mumbai: 180-200 kilometers

What to see/do: Nature trails, Watersports at Warasgaon Lake, Adventure sports at Xthrill Adventure Academy, Segaway rides, Spa and reflexology treatments

Aurangabad

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For travelers who: Enjoy heritage destinations and architecture

Distance from Mumbai: 330-400 kilometers

What to see/do: Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Bibi Ka Maqbara, Panchakki and Darwaza, Gul Mandi Market, Paithani Silk Weaving Center

Igatpuri

For travelers who: Want a lazy weekend away with family and friends

Distance from Mumbai: 130-150 kilometers

What to see/do: Tringalwadi Fort Trek, Ghantadevi Temple, Camping, Rappeling and Ziplining

Mount Abu

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For travelers who: Have a long weekend to spare

Distance from Mumbai: 750-800 kilometers

What to see/do: Mount Abu Winter Festival, Dilwara Jain Temple, Achalgarh Fort, Nakki Lake, Guru Shikhar, Trevor’s Tank, Peace Park

P.S. Igatpuri, Panchgani and Lavasa have exclusive JenJon Holiday Home properties. Click here to find out more.

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. Images have been attributed to their sources. 

Travelling need not always be about cramming your life into a suitcase and attempting to survive a flight next to a complete stranger – it should be fun and easy, giving you a change to spend quality time with friends or family. As we scan our 2016 calendars for long weekends to plan the ideal getaway, consider taking a leisurely road trip to a holiday destination near you and make travel a little interesting this year!

Road trips make the journey as exciting as the destination – while giving you that episodic push outside your comfort zone. Planning a perfect road trip may appear to be an exhausting ordeal, but we’ve got you covered.

Plan your route.

Once you skim through the notes of your fellow travelers and pick a destination that speaks to your wanderlust, take into consideration several personal priorities while deciding on the preferred route – Do you want to see several attractions on the way? Would your family prefer breaks to cut the fatigue? Do you have children who get car-sick easily? Are you looking to save petrol or avoid the rush hour traffic?

Mapping out the route and exits accordingly will give you a good estimate of the travel time, helping you plan the rest of the weekend better. Source your information from the internet and travel blogs. Speak to the concierge at the resort or holiday home you plan on staying in about the quality of the roads or temporary detours – and avoid surprises en-route.  Save the coordinates of your destination on your preferred GPS system a night in advance to avoid wasting time the day you set off on your adventure.

Port-a-bed.

Travelling with young children? Here’s a tip to up the comfort levels of the weekend journey for your snoozing little ones – create a portable bedroom for them! Recline the back-rest and line the seat with thick blankets. Throw in a few pillows along with their favorite soft toys you’ve transformed an otherwise uncomfortable car seat into a cozy bed for the long haul car ride.

Don’t drive in silence.

Music is to a road trip what petrol is to a car – and good music can kick your highway journey into high gear. Pre-set your favorite radio stations to get a mix of today’s latest tunes or curate a playlist with your favorite road trip albums that you and your travel buddies can enjoy. A CD collection works best if you happen to drive through regions that have sketchy radio signals. Movie soundtracks and show tunes will get everybody to sing along – and if you’re feeling particularly musical, download a few karaoke tracks to let your inner rockstar shine. 

If you wish to bring your travels to the digital age, music apps such as 8tracks, SoundCloud, Wynk, Last.fm and Gaana are the perfect road trip companions. These apps allow you to stream songs based on genres, artists, moods, activity or decade – the options are endless.  The songs you choose need not have “travel” or “road” in their lyrics – all they have to do is make sure you sing out loud and have fun!

Keep a back-up of your papers and emergency numbers.

Regardless of where you’re going and for how long, it’s always a good idea to ensure that your dashboard has a copy of your driver’s licence and vehicle’s insurance papers – you never know when they may come in handy! Also, always keep a little notepad in your car with a list of persons who can be contacted by strangers in case of an emergency – and be sure to update this information periodically.

Scrap your trip. 

Scrapbooks are a great way to preserve the memories of a good holiday. Entrusting your children with theresponsibility of maintaining a scrapbook will keep them busy and help you avoid the dreaded “are we there yet?” Motivate them to take pictures, record videos, sketch the scenery and write about their favorite activities along the way. You could help them collect mementos such as brochures, tickets stubs, receipts, paper coasters, leaves or sea shells, from the holiday destination. Use them to compile a scrapbook at the end of your trip and reminisce about your little adventure, together!

There are sights and terrains that are waiting to be a part of your travel story. So, let’s hit the road this 2016?

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. Cover Photo credits: Mariam Thomas. All other images in this article have been used under the Creative Commons License.

It’s finally time for that vacation you’ve been looking forward to for months. Needless to say, the thought of getting away from monotony of your work life is exciting – and you’re staring at a week (maybe even a month if you’re that lucky) of a trip that can’t seem to subside your wanderlust.However, from the days leading up to the trip till the day you unpack after the holiday – traveling can also come with headache-inducing stress and several opportunities for things to go wrong. To avoid any potential vacation ‘horror stories’, here are a few travel hacks to help you prepare for your next adventure.

Do your homework

Even the most spontaneous of travelers can’t do without a little homework before embarking on an adventure. It’s highly advisable that you gather plenty of information on your destination – the culture, people, local customs and etiquette, native foods, road conditions, weather – the logistics of getting acquainted with a new place needs to be taken care of to avoid any glitches or “surprises” that could mar the memory of your trip. While bookstores and travel blogs are a great start, online travel sites and forums can give you ‘insider’ information from fellow globetrotters, locals, tour operators and those who are familiar with the area you intend to visit. Map out your itinerary and learn as much you can about everything you are planning to do during your visit. By doing this, you’ve already reduced your inconvenience, while gaining confidence to explore unfamiliar territories…and have fun while at it!

Have a checklist in place

You’re less likely to forget something if you make a list of everything you need to bring with you and what you plan to do on your trip. It’s also a good idea to prepare a checklist of documents you are carrying with you – hotel booking confirmations, flight ticket printouts, identification documents, online booking receipts, guidebooks and the likes. Taking some time out to prepare a comprehensive checklist will save you time and tension as you near your vacation dates. If you’re short on time to make a detailed list for yourself, use the internet to source printable checklists for every type of traveler/vacation.

Prepare a smart carry on

For long-haul flights, your carry-on bag is your best friend. Always pack a pair of spare clothes and undergarments in your carry-on for emergencies, and ensure that your mini case of toiletries comply with airline regulations. It’s also a good idea to keep your passports and travel documents in a separate pouch or folder in your carry-on to avoid digging through your bag at the check-in or immigration line. For those traveling with children, stash a few granola bars in each bag to curb cranky hunger pangs during transit.

Zip it up

Ziplock bags are a great way to optimize your luggage space while packing for a long trip. Small zip pouches are great for toiletries and medicines; the medium-sized bags work great to hold wires, chargers and USB cords. Large ziplock bags are also a great way to organize and pack undergarments to save space – and if the fellows over at customs ever decide to go rummaging through your luggage, you’ll be rest assured that your underwear won’t be on obvious display for everyone to see!

Tag your luggage

This one is a no-brainer, really. Use stickers, ribbons or a colorful luggage tag to make it easy to identify your bags at crowded airports or railway stations. Most often, you end up spotting a traveler with bags similar to yours, so it’s a good idea to ensure that luggage is easily distinguishable to you to avoid confusion. Before leaving for the airport, snap a picture of all your luggage (including your carry-ons) on your phone. If you misplace your bag or struggle to recall what it looks like, the photograph will come in handy. This particularly works for families with kids, where packing light isn’t much of an option.

App your way to easy travel

 No matter where you’re heading and what you plan on doing, there’s an app out there to help you. As soon as you’ve finished planning your trip, hit the app store on your smartphone and download programs that can optimize your itinerary better than a brochure. There’s no denying that technology makes traveling easier – and having a few handy apps can help you plan and document your trip, select convenient transportation options, help bridge the language gap, suggest popular food and entertainment options, help you meet fellow travelers and backpackers, keep a tab on your shopping expenses, and help you keep in touch with friends back home. Tech-savvy globetrotters travel with a wealth of information in their pockets, making their vacation a little easier, or at least more fun.

Back up essential information 

To avoid the paranoia of losing important documents during your vacation, it is a good idea to scan your passport, visa, ticket and hotel confirmations and email them to yourself. Better yet, email a copy of your travel itinerary to a trusted friend or family member foreseeing an emergency. If you decide to carry hard copies of these documents, ensure that you store them away from the originals. Carry a small notepad with the contact information of your hotel or guesthouse, in case your phone runs out of battery. Simply knowing that you won’t be completely stranded in an unfamiliar place is benefit enough.

A little preparedness goes a long way. That being said, happy vacationing!!

Written by Lynn Verghese for JenJon Retail & Services Pvt. Ltd. Images used in this post are taken under the Creative Commons Licenses. 

JenJon Holiday Homes, a leader in the Managed Holiday Home sector, is here to provide travelers with options to stay in some of the best vacation destinations across the country’s west coast.

JenJon Holiday homes are located in beautiful, peaceful and natural surroundings. They are ideal breaks away from the noise, stress and pollution of city life. Whether you enjoy long walks and mountain drives, or prefer to swim in the ocean and bask on a quiet beach, JenJon has an ideal destination for you. We can provide the perfect place for you to experience and understand the true meaning of quiet – to read, meditate, or just gather your thoughts, or spend that long-needed quality time with family and friends.Your stay in a JenJon Holiday Home will give you an opportunity to bond with nature, immerse yourself in tranquility and return to your daily routine fully rejuvenated.

JenJon helps owners convert their beautiful second homes to income generating properties by allowing us to manage them as quality vacation homes.  While owners enjoy the privilege of using their second home at their discretion, JenJon ensures that their prized assets are safe with us.

We remain focused on being Your Happiness Host.