Feeling travel-ready? Mumbaikars share their personal favourite weekend getaways

Since the pandemic has somewhat dissipated everyone has been planning and looking forward to an escape to their favourite travel destination There are a plethora of options including a quick weekend getaway to a quaint city near Mumbai an adventurous trip to the snow clad hills in the north or the pristine beaches and palm trees in the south Whether you wish to take a journey with your friends or your partner or if you wish to unwind or indulge in adventure sports take a cue from these three travel enthusiasts from Mumbai who share their most treasured getawaysRahil Siddique 25Grant RoadGrant Road resident Rahil Siddique travels often to escape the Mumbai hustle PicRahil SiddiqueldquoOur alltime favourite family vacation destination is Alibaug which is known for its relaxed coastal getaways Once in a while to escape the cityrsquos hustle and bustle we ship ourselves away there They have multiple villas and homestays one can choose from and Alibaug offers fun family activities for each of us whether it is horseriding on the beach or collecting sea shells on your morning beach runsrdquo shares Grant Road resident Rahil SiddiqueThe 25yearold is the founder of Fit Fashion Store and Studio 16 a clothing brand Panchgani is his preferred destination for travelling with a partner ldquoPanchgani is one of the most famous hill stations in Maharashtra for couples I havenrsquot made any partner trips yet because I am single but I reckon that the cosy hills in Panchgani are the perfect setting for a quick romantic getaway near MumbairdquoHusain Khatumdi 27Mazgaon27yearold Husain Khatumdi is a frequent visitor of Lonavala PicHusain KhatmudiMazgaonresident Hussain Khatmudi is a frequent traveller and the managing director and cofounder of Ekostay a homestay venture Talking about his goto weekend getaway Khatmudi shares ldquoMy personal favourite location around Mumbai for a weekend getaway with family is without a doubt Lonavala The scenic road trip is a great head start for the weekend The days fly by in the Della adventure park which brings out the competitive side in all of us A trip to Lonavala is incomplete without a serene drive till the Tiger Point The breathtaking view of the valley of Lonavala coupled with the crisp air is a treat for allWe also enjoy visiting the Karla caves and Bhaja caves which are ancient Buddhist shrines carved out of the rockA weekend in Lonavala is never enough and thats why we keep going back every chance we getrdquoFor those who are fond of adventure activities the 27yearold has a suggestion up north ldquoSipping on hot chai while yoursquore freezing in snow is something everyone should definitely experience once in their lifetime The perfect escape in the summer with your quirky friend group is definitely in the hills of Kullu Manali Activities like paragliding river rafting gives one the true adrenaline rush which cant be put into words and definitely require your gang of friends by your side to make the experience memorablerdquoKruti Sheth 29Kandivali WestKruti Sheths annual family vacation spot has been Mahabaleshwar PicKruti ShethWhen shersquos not busy with running her Khar barbershopThe Lair Man Kruti Sheth prefers to head away from chaotic city life Her family has been visiting Mahabaleshwar for years now which she continues to cherish ldquoIf you grew up in Mumbai Mahabaleshwar was probably one of your annual family vacation spots Along with having pleasant childhood memories attached to it the longer drive allows everyone to step out of their familial roles Depending on what part of town you pick Mahabaleshwar has something for all family moods With my family our first pit stop has always been Mapro where wersquoll munch on pizzas milkshakes and in the right season strawberries while staring at the beautiful mountains We pick quieter resorts for our stay so we can step away from the hustle bustle of our routine life and be transported right into tranquillity We spend afternoons playing games in their beautiful game room while we trash talk each other Eventually we head to the Venna Lake for some casino games and fried snacks for dinnerMahabaleshwar will make us all feel like kids and send us back home all rejuvenatedrdquoSpending time with family in the quaint hills is balanced by hanging out with friends on sandy beaches for the 29yearold ldquoWith friends we pick beach spots with little shacks where we can hang out while watching the sunset and laugh and talk till the early AM Daman is a strong contender Itrsquos a quick drive from Mumbai and yoursquoll find hotels for every budgetrdquoAlso ReadWhat is lsquoGuilty Vacation Syndromersquo The silent epidemic affecting working Indians