Take a deep breath...

 And head out for an 'aircation'

This is the time of year when people’s mind veer inexorably towards thoughts of a vacation. Not just because the year-end is around the corner but also because almost every Indian city is surrounded by a miasma of polluted air. And the only way to escape it is to travel to a destination where the AQI is in double figures. If you’re among those looking for not just a vacation but an aircation, then here’s a handy list of places where you can head. 

I know, I know, everyone tends to gravitate towards Goa at this time of year. But frankly, I find it overrated as a holiday spot. The flights are insanely expensive, the hotels are overpriced and don’t even get me started on the taxi mafia which makes life miserable for all visitors. You are much better off heading to Vietnam, where you can enjoy a luxury holiday (and much better food) at a fraction of the price. Both Saigon and Hanoi are great cities to explore, and when you tire of the urban life, you can head for such beach destinations as Phu Quoc and Nha Trang. If you want something further off the beaten track, head for Con Dao Island or Ninh Van Bay.

Thailand is another good option though Bangkok has probably been done and dusted by most people. Instead, take a direct flight to Phuket or Krabi to enjoy a beach holiday. Islands like Koh Samui need a connecting flight but are well worth the effort. And if its mountain air rather than beaches that you are looking for, then you can’t go wrong with Chiang Mai or Chiang Rai. The food is amazing, the hotels are good value, and nobody has even heard of an air purifier.

If you are looking for a country that has a little bit of everything, then you simply can’t go wrong with Sri Lanka. There are seaside destinations with the most pristine of beaches; there are hill resorts that haven’t been overdeveloped to within an inch of their lives; there are rolling tea estates with verdant green as far as the eye can see; and there are temple towns galore. And no matter where you go, there is clean air. 

Bhutan is another option for those looking to take a breather (quite literally). You can explore the capital city of Thimpu; visit Punakha Dzong to visit the Palace of Great Happiness; trek to the Tiger’s Nest monastery or simply drive to the Dochula or Chele La pass to enjoy the breathtaking (there I go again!) scenery.

If you want to stay within the boundaries of India, then your best bet is to travel to the south. Such hill stations as Ooty (Tamil Nadu) and Wayanad (Kerala) have an AQI that doesn’t go above the 20s. The North East is similarly blessed with clean air all across, whether it is Sikkim, Meghalaya or Arunachal Pradesh you visit. You can go hiking, white water rafting, or simply enjoy the sight of stunning blue skies which are such a rarity in north India.

But remember, once you come back, it will be hermetically sealed rooms and air purifiers running all day once again. So, make the most of your aircation – your lungs will thank you for it.

Winter is coming

Heading for a winter break? Here's where you should go

As the year winds its way inexorably towards its end, our thoughts inevitably begin to focus on our year-end breaks. And if you live in Delhi, where the air quality begins to plummet around this time, it becomes even more imperative to head out somewhere where breathing is not in itself a health hazard.

So, here - in no particular order of importance - are five best winter holiday destinations. And the bonus is that they are all about four - or less - hours away no matter where you live in India. 

Bhutan

I know that most people prefer to go to Bhutan during the summer, escaping the scalding heat of the plains. But there is a special charm to this destination in winter. The air is crisp, the snow-capped mountains provide a perfect backdrop, and the steaming momos are the best way to beat the bracing cold. 

Maldives 

If you want to escape the cold, on the other hand, there is always the Maldives (now that the political kerkuffle between our two countries seems to have died down). There is something magical about boarding a flight wearing three layers to ward off the cold, and then getting to your hotel in the Maldives to walk on the beach with warm sand scrunching between your cold toes. Pro tip: book a hotel that is speedboat-distance away from the airport so you don’t waste time hanging around for a seaplane to your final destination. 

Sri Lanka

If you like your water sports interspersed with a bit of temple-hopping, a spot of culture, and maybe a visit to a hill resort, then head for the Emerald Isle of Sri Lanka. Not only is this one plane ride away from India, it is small enough that you can drive from Colombo to Kandy to Cape Weligama in a matter of hours. And as an extra bonus, the food is to die for. 

Thailand

If city destinations are more your bag than you can’t go wrong with Bangkok. There is an astonishing energy to this city, whether you eat at the bustling food courts, shop at the heaving malls, or do the touristy thing at the many temples in the old part of the city. And the good thing about Thailand is the beach resorts of Phuket or the mountain destinations like Chiang Mai are only a short hop away. 

Dubai 

I must confess that I wasn’t the biggest fan of Dubai when I first started visiting but over the years the city has begun to grow on me. Not only does it have one of the liveliest dining scenes (taking in everything from international chains to local favourites) it also has some amazing resorts in which it is possible to forget that you are in a city destination. I am not a great one for shopping while on holiday but even I have succumbed to the temptation of mall walks — and loved every busy, bustling second of it. 

Ringing out the old

If you're making plans for the New Year, here are some tips to help you along

No sooner has the end of November hoved into sight than the questions begin. What are you doing for New Year? Where is the party? Have you planned a trip somewhere special? And so on and on and on.

There was a time in my life when I was up for partying late into the night on New Year's Eve, drinking and dancing till my feet hurt. Then, there came a phase when my husband and I would leave town around this period, heading to one resort or the other, where we spent all our time reading, relaxing, and fitting in the odd massage. Of late, however, I find myself longing for the comfort of my own home for New Year, quaffing champagne from my own fridge rather than the overpriced swill that hotels include in their all-inclusive New Year 'package'. I love the thought of rustling up a meal in my own kitchen and eating it on my dining table, and then retiring to the couch for  a post-prandial glass of port and a dissection of the year past with my husband. 

The very idea of packing my bags and negotiating the horrors of airports at this time of year strikes terror into my heart these days. But I can understand the impulse of people who want to get away from it all and bring in the New Year at an exotic and exciting location. After all, I did that myself for years on the end. 

The problem with this plan, of course, is that flights are astronomically expensive during this period and hotel rates are ludicrously high. If you are willing to break the bank for a trip like this, then good luck to you. But what are the options for those who don't want to bankrupt themselves for the year to come, even as they celebrate it's arrival. 

Well, here are some tips for them, based entirely on my own experience over the years:

* Staycations are the way to go, especially if you live in a big city. If you do, then check around and see which of the luxury hotels in your city is offering a good package for the New Year break. It will be expensive, of course, but you will come in well under budget when you account for the fact that you are not spending anything on flights (and you will eliminate travel-related stress as well, as an added bonus). Most hotels will turn a blind eye if you bring in your own liquor so long as you drink it in the privacy of your room. So you can sit around in your fluffy bathrobe, order room service and get a bit tiddly, if that's your thing. Or you can get all dressed up for for the fancy New Year dinner in the restaurant downstairs and bop along to the live music as you wait for the clock to strike the midnight hour. And the next morning, all you need to get home is a car ride. No standing in line to check in for your flight. No stripping down to your essentials at security. And no nasty airplane ride to destroy your lovely post New-Year buzz. 

* If leaving town is mandatory for you, then steer clear of the usual New Year destinations that are horribly overpriced and awfully overcrowded at this time (and yes, I do mean Goa) and look further afield. If you want to sun yourself on pristine sands, then try the Andamans or even Lakshwadeep. Head south to Kerala, where you can enjoy the backwaters along with beach destinations, or just cruise along on the iconic rice boats as you enjoy the verdant scenery. If you are up for a bit of adventure then use this time to explore the north east. You could go the usual Gangtok-Rumtek route or go off the beaten track and head for Arunachal Pradesh as I did earlier this year. In this part of India, it will be the beauty that takes your breath away, not the prices -- or the milling crowds for that matter. 

* If you don't feel like you are truly on holiday unless you have left the country, then there are plenty of destinations that will give you a sizable bang for your buck. If you are a fan of Thailand, then head to Bangkok for a city break (the resort islands are unaffordable at this time of year). This is a city that caters to all budgets, the food is excellent and cheap, and fireworks display on New Year's Eve is free as long as line up along the riverside. If you have been there and done that as far as Thailand is concerned, then head on to Vietnam and Cambodia, both of which are great for the budget traveler. Sri Lanka is another county that is good value at this time. The country is trying to revive its tourism industry after a few setbacks and some judicious Googling will garner you some great deals in such destinations as Bentota, Kandy, Galle, and of course, Colombo. 

But wherever you end up, and whatever you do, I hope you have a brilliant New Year. And that 2020 turns out to be your best year yet.