Chennaiites plan for long weekend

EXTENDED EASTER HOLIDAYS FROM APR 10
V Ayyappan TNN
Mar 29, 2009

Chennai: Chennaiites are making the most of promotional offers and bargains floated by tour operators, resorts and airlines just days before the extended Easter weekend, from April 10 to April 14. Trains to southern towns in Tamil Nadu and neighbouring states of Karnataka and Kerala have been booked. Reservation is already closed for five trains to Thiruvananthapuram, Madurai and Mangalore for journeys on April 9 as many seem to prefer to travel on Thursday night to make the most of the five-day weekend. If one takes a day off on Monday, the holiday could be extended by another day, as Ambedkar Jayanthi falls on Tuesday. Reservation has been closed for Thiruvananthapuram Mail, Kochuveli Express, Thiruvananthapuram Express, Pandian Express, Podhigai Express, Egmore-Mangalore Express and Mangalore Mail for April 9. There are long waiting lists for berths in trains to Hyderabad and Bangalore as well. “There is huge rush for tickets as all regular services have been booked. We are waiting for tatkal reservations and special trains,” said Gopinathan, who is trying for a ticket to Kozhikode. Tour operators are reaping the benefits. “There is a lot of demand for destinations in Kerala. One group is travelling to Munnar from Chennai during the Easter weekend,” said Hi Tours vice president M K Ajith Kumar. The Malayalam New Year of Vishu also falls on April 14. Those who can afford to spend money are making the most of economic slowdown. Hard pressed for business, tour operators, resorts and hotels are ready to reduce rates. “If the traveller makes a serious inquiry, resorts give them a good bargain. Vacationers too use the slowdown to bargain for a better package,” he added. People are travelling abroad too. Thomas Cook has received a tremendous response for its packages to Europe, China, the Far East and Australia. “We introduced reduced rates for domestic packages to prevent travellers from putting off their travel plans due to the slowdown,” said a senior official of Thomas Cook. Tamil Nadu Tourism’s tours to Ooty, Kodaikanal and Yercaud have been booked for Easter weekend and for most of the days in May. The hop-onhop-off tour along the ECR in Chennai has also received good bookings.