What Is ‘The Hardest Part’?
Before you can book it, you need to identify it. For most trips, ‘the hardest part’ is the element with the highest demand and the most volatile pricing. During a public holiday rush in India—whether it's Diwali, Independence Day, or a long weekend created
by a festival—this could be several things. Most people assume it’s always the flight, but that isn't a golden rule. If your trip is built around a specific, high-demand experience, that is your hardest part. This could be a permit for a wildlife safari in a national park, a room at a famous boutique hotel in Udaipur, or a seat on a specific train to a destination not well-connected by air. The key is to ask: which part of my trip, if unavailable, would force me to cancel or completely rethink my plans? That's your anchor, and that's what you book first.
The Anchor Booking: Flights vs. Accommodation
For the majority of public holiday trips, the choice comes down to flights or hotels. Flights are often the right starting point because their prices are incredibly dynamic, changing multiple times a day based on demand. Securing a reasonably priced flight during a peak travel period like the October to March high season can feel like a major victory. Booking flights locks in your travel dates, providing a fixed framework around which you can plan everything else. However, if your heart is set on a particular resort in Coorg or a palace hotel in Jaisalmer known to sell out months in advance, especially around festivals, then that accommodation becomes your anchor booking. Many hotel bookings come with flexible cancellation policies, which gives you a safety net if flight prices prove unworkable. The rule is simple: book the element that is most likely to sell out or surge in price first.
Building the Itinerary Around Your Anchor
With your main booking secured, the stress of planning significantly reduces. Now, you can build the rest of the itinerary at a more relaxed pace. If you’ve booked flights to Goa, you can take your time comparing beach huts versus resort stays. If you've secured that sought-after hotel in Darjeeling, you can now look for the most convenient flights or train journeys. This is the stage to book inter-city transfers, arrange for a local driver, or purchase tickets for specific attractions and tours. This secondary planning phase is where you can be more strategic about costs. Since the biggest expense is already handled, you can look for deals on other components, like using ride-hailing apps for city travel or buying composite entry tickets for multiple monuments.
Embrace Flexibility and Avoid Overscheduling
One of the biggest mistakes travellers make is creating a rigid, minute-by-minute itinerary. A public holiday trip is meant to be a break from routine, not another source of pressure. Once your anchor booking and major logistics are in place, leave room for spontaneity. Instead of booking every single meal, research a few highly-rated local restaurants and decide on the day. Rather than a packed schedule of back-to-back tours, pick one major activity per day and leave the rest of the time free for exploring the neighbourhood, relaxing at a café, or simply enjoying the hotel pool. This approach allows you to discover hidden gems and makes the trip feel less like a checklist and more like a true vacation.
The Final Countdown: A Pre-Travel Checklist
A week before you leave, run through a final checklist to ensure a smooth start to your holiday. Confirm all your bookings—flights, hotels, and any pre-booked tours. Download offline maps of your destination, as connectivity can be unreliable in some areas. Pack smart: focus on versatile clothing, essential medications, and a portable power bank. Share your itinerary with a family member or friend. Finally, check the weather forecast for your destination to make any last-minute adjustments to your packing. Taking care of these small details beforehand means you can switch off and start enjoying your holiday from the moment you leave home.
