As lockdown restrictions are eased, out-of-town resorts are bustling with guests as families drive, looking for a place to relax amidst nature. With strong Wi-Fi.
In Hyderabad, families are out for sunshine, picnics and revenge. A wave of ‘revenge tourism’ is keeping the out-of-town resorts busy. After months of lockdown, often spent in small city apartments, families are finding safe ways to relax and mingle despite the pandemic.
The work from home culture, which has become the norm in many offices, has led to the shift of workplaces from offices to home, cafes and any place with good internet connectivity. With restrictions easing and life returning to normal after the lockdown, cafes and workplaces are getting crowded. Also, after more than a year without any excursions and vacations, people are looking for getaways that are far away.
Farm stays, resorts with tents, jungle retreats, places offering trekking, hiking and bird-watching or anything outdoorsy enclosed are in great demand. The cost at these places can range from ₹2,000 to ₹6,000 per night. This includes treks and farm walks.
the protection First
Back in business after Shanti, resorts are seeing a change in customer profiles and pre-booking inquiries. An escape in Vikarabad (70 kms from Hyderabad), Grasswalk is a hot spot as it offers spectacular views of Vikarabad forest. Syed Mohammad Najmuddin, owner of GrassVox, says he had to quickly arrange desks and chairs to work in all the rooms and tents. Reason: Most bookings have come with requests for a comfortable workspace. Sayed says, “Unexpectedly, we saw a lot of families looking forward to letting their children experience the outdoors and connect with nature. With the constant flow of requests for working desks, we arranged it in almost all our tents and rooms. “
As booking and reservation inquiries continue to grow, staff are rushing to clean and prepare rooms for their guests. While business is good, it is also important for everyone to stay safe, says a housekeeping staff at Trance, a resort in Moinabad. The last few months were busy with wedding programs there.
outside experience
The resorts on the outskirts are making all efforts to ensure families stay as frequent guests. Prakash Dantuluri, owner of Gamaya in Vikarabad, says, “In an experiential break, children learn even during the holidays; They go back talking about it and sometimes it helps them understand what they read. Here, in Gamaya, which is still under construction, we have tractor rides, fishing and a canal along which we show how irrigation is done. “
Explaining why families are choosing experiential getaways on the outskirts, Mahati Chittem, a parent and professor at IIT-Hyderabad, says, “After living in our apartment last year due to the COVID-19 scare, I came across a hotel. could not think. to stay. I wanted my daughters to roam freely and learn to respect nature. Online classes made it easy to decide to take them to a muddy spot where we can see a clear sky and don’t have to look at another building to see. Mahati chose The Getaway, an organic farm in Godmaguda because she wants her daughters to be aware of where we get our food.
Activities at nature-powered getaway destinations such as Neerja Farm Stay, Hornbill Farm Stay, Farmville Stay and Grasswalk include treks and understanding farming.
“It is the curiosity and enthusiasm of the children rather than the parents that inspire the elders,” says Syed. Such treks and nature-focused activities are planned to fit the school and work schedules, so that everyone can return to their tents/rooms to resume their work and school work online. ”
The Hidden Castle in Siddipet has a different experience of love bliss. Designed as a replica of Takeshi’s Castle (the popular Japanese wipeout game show), their resort was a popular destination for corporate team-building outings. This four-year-old resort is housed in a medieval-style palace, complete with a moat.
Anand says, “Schools and colleges, apart from the corporate crowd, were my biggest clients, mainly because of the games we tried to replicate with Takeshi’s Castle game. Now the clientele has changed. The family category is our biggest one. Big revenue generator. Since we are not far from the city, it gets crowded even on weekdays. In the evening when the resort is lit up, the kids think it’s like a real castle. The Hidden Castle It has 70% occupancy during the week and goes up to 90% on weekends.
Organo Nandi, a collective farming community in Moinabad, has 73 villas that serve as weekend/holiday homes and have activities such as workshops on permaculture, slow cooking on firewood, gardening and conversations on snakes and wildlife. A net-zero energy community, with organic farming, a cowshed, earth wind tunnel draft system, zero disposal of organic waste, zero waste water discharge, domestic production of natural fertilizers and pesticides, use of local materials and bamboo for construction, 15 Forested land along with many other closed-loop systems.
Rakesh Koti, Head of Sustainability at Organo, says, “Guests see Organo Nandi as a holiday home. The low occupancy and community kitchen makes it easy for them. Families are also staying there for weeks before returning refreshed.”
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