India: Mumbai Among Cheapest Cities For Holiday

Mumbai was among the five cheapest cities, among 40 international tourist destinations for a short holiday, an analysis of tourist spending has shown. The price index drawn by travel company TripAdvisor compared the travel budget for a three-night break at these cities during the summer months of June to August. The itinerary included a hotel stay for three nights, a visit to three tourist attractions, taxi fare, sightseeing charges and meals for a couple.

While Hanoi in Vietnam was the most value-for-money destination with an expense of Rs 46,645 for three days, a tourist in Mumbai needs Rs 53,911. Mexico’s Cancun was the most expensive destination with a travel budget needed of Rs 1,28,627, the price comparison study added. Incidentally, Bangkok, a popular short haul destination for Indians, was marginally cheaper than Mumbai at Rs 52,389.

“For Indians planning a holiday abroad, European cities such as Warsaw and Lisbon are also a great option and not just cities in South-East Asia, according to this year’s findings,” said Nikhil Ganju, country manager, TripAdvisor India.

The report compared room tariffs across four-star hotels. Meals included lunch (the type of restaurant was not specified) with a soft drink and dinner with a bottle of wine. For local transportation, the report compared round-trips in cabs of up to two miles.

Cheapest Cities
1 Hanoi, Vietnam
2 Warsaw, Poland
3 Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt
4 Bangkok, Thailand
5 Mumbai, India

Expensive Cities
1 Cancun, Mexico
2 Zurich, Switzerland
3 New York, USA
4 London, UK
5 Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, Caribbean