TravTalk India Online Magazine
Mehernosh Colombowalla, Director of Beyond Borders Travel Management Company, along with some industry friends made his way to Alibaug in the first week of October and had a safe and fun getaway after months. They also experienced the RORO – the new boat that ferries passengers and their vehicles from Mumbai to Alibaug within an hour.
We left our homes and followed our hearts! We had to overcome the fear of catching the virus ourselves before we could coax our clients to start travelling. And so, in the first week of October, a few colleagues from our trade and I were off to Alibaug for the weekend, with the excitement of experiencing the RORO – the new boat that ferries passengers and their vehicles from Mumbai across to Alibaug in just one hour. A normal drive is over three hours by road.
Of course, we took precautions – loads of sanitiser sprays (which was not really necessary) and booked a villa just for ourselves. This was the beginning of a new travel trend where travellers, after being cooped up at home for more than six months, wanted to get out and travel, and book an entire villa for their families. These particular villas we stayed at range from two to six bedrooms, with private pools and an in-house chef who can cook up the most sumptuous gourmet meals for you.
The morning we left, we felt like birds being let free (happens to seasoned and regular travellers). We were pleasantly surprised that the departure at Mumbai port was handled flawlessly, with cars moving in order. We managed to get onto the boat within minutes. The seating on the open deck was beautiful and plentiful, and the air-conditioned space inside was large with ample seating and social distancing in place. Passengers could buy coffee and eat while sailing. We reached Alibaug in an hour. Disembarking was equally easy, swift and well-handled by their team there.It took us only 10 minutes to get our car off the ferry.
Our villa was beautiful, lush green and spacious, and every room and common area was well-sanitised. Our chef whipped up some amazing dishes as per our requests. Cleaning and sanitisation of the pool was done every morning. We felt safe and were convinced that it was okay to travel as our hospitality partners were taking utmost care to ensure our stay be safe. It was also a colleague’s birthday and we celebrated her day in this beautiful villa. Our pictures on various social media platforms have encouraged our clients, friends in the trade and out of it to start venturing out of their homes to take their well-deserved city breaks! A first-hand experience is always the best way to influence your clientele and regain confidence.
