What is a STAYCATION?

staycation
steɪˈkeɪʃ(ə)n/
noun
informal

a holiday spent in one's home country rather than abroad, or one spent at home and involving day trips to local attractions.

The popularity of staycation is increasing and rather why not. I think staycations are very underrated.
Staycations are vacations with utmost comfort without stressing yourself giving you the leeway to do things as much or as less you want according to your liking. Giving you the complete rest and indulging you in utmost relaxation .. instead of going on vacations where you want to see it all and do it all without much chance to relax . One needs another vacation to just get over and relax all the tired muscles after all that sightseeing and activities back to back.
Staycation is the new league of vacation or not, just our age old vacations where we stayed at home and did as little or as much as we wanted or visited some relative to do the same.
So an old vacation wrapped in a new package - staycation - which is catching everyone's fancy and rightly so.
Especially staycations at neighbourhood / nearby hotels and resorts are very much in demand. Why not ? With amenities, comforts, pampering yourself to the hilt, good food, spa, without worry in the world, no agendas, fun activities that the hotel plans, yoga, nearby sights if you want to see that is and the works ....
In today's fast paced life where everyone is running a race against time .. staycation helps us to stop, unwind just relax and catch up with yourself or your loved ones ..
and in the end ....
some snippets of our staycation -

Just unwind

Indulge

Catch up on some reading

Feast away

Do what you like - hobbies, activities, spa - anything that makes you happy and that which you don't do in your daily routine.

Play your favourite games, take up a class or sport activity, dance, do yoga ... endless possibilities...

Be one with nature, hike , be a tourist in your own city...

Get loads of rest, catch up on movies, catch up with friends ....

Just Relax and do what your heart and body feel like.

Check out How We Do A Staycation

xoxo
Bhakti

Stay at Mercure Hotels Lavasa - Accor Hotels

Staycations are underrated - Don't you think ? We crave for vacations from this hectic life but dont have the luxury to take them often and then they are these magical mini vacations which you can have at your comfort nearby or at home anytime.
Well enjoying one such staycation amidst the hills in Lavasa at Mercure and I am taking you guys along with me. This place is located amidst the serene Sahyadri Hills.
Mercure Hotel is a small property by Accor Group. A mid range brand which has around 750 hotels in 51 countries.

Though this property is small it takes very good care of all the comforts and is equipped with all modern amenities.
The service is superb and the staff does deserve a huge shout out for their warm hospitality. They make you feel at home without being intrusive. Soft spoken, polite and good at their job - they really deserve a thumbs up.

We were booked in a standard room for a one night stay.
Upon arrival the formalities of checking in were swift and we were ushered to our room quickly.
First thing that impressed us was it was a cosy room with a pretty view.

The room had all the amenities like safe, toiletries, iron, hairdryer, hot kettle, mini bar, 24 hours in room dining, Wi-Fi, LCD and more.
The bed was comfortable and we just wanted to sleep like logs but we were ravenous, hence headed to their restaurant - Celebration.

Everywhere you look every place you go - the view truly takes your breath away.

I have to say after having three feasts over here - I hereby certify the food over here is nothing less than mindblowing.
It was a food coma that we were lulled into by the feasts that greeted us at every meal.

For Lunch we had had from top L - R clockwise.
Arak of tomato with golgappa shot.
This dish was so different and the rasam like tomato arak went so well with the golgappas. Must Try!

Smoked Murgh Lazeez kebab
As the name suggests a smoky tantalising flavour engulfs you with melt in your mouth juicy tender chicken. Mild flavours, this was my favourite from the lunch. Highly Recommended.

Dahi Ke Kebab
Another must try especially for the vegetarians - soft creamy Dahi mixed with paneer and a centre filled with cheese, mild flavour of green chillies. All this crispy fried and served with a spicy green chilli dip.

Baked Gosht Ki Tikki
This was again Mashallah Lazeez. The flavours were lovely and robust. The meat well cooked, minced blended with masala in a tikki and cheese on top.

For the main course we had Paneer Chilla with okra and potato
Palak Aur Mushroom ki Mail with Baingan Bharta

Patrani Macchi with Moilee Sauce  - exceptional, melt in the mouth fish, amazing flavours, highly recommended!
Himachali Tawa Murgh with Minted Cashew Curry.

Dessert was Chef's Special ;p

After this long elaborate lunch we desired a much needed long snooze and so we did and the bed just made it so much easier. Waking up to another elaborate feast, this time it was oriental and did they hit it off or what....

Crispy Corn Tempura
Fish Salt and Pepper - THE STAR OF THE NIGHT
Chicken Kentucky
Chicken salad with peanut dressing and oriental soup as if that was required.

You might just think that we are lunatics because inspite of all this we even requested for an Alfredo pasta.

The main course consisted of

Stir Fried Vegetable

Kung Pao Chicken -STAR

Fish Thai Curry - STAR

Veg Hakka Noodles

Burnt Garlic Rice

Everything was so good I just cant pick one. We ate till we dropped and then the Dessert arrived with its full aplomb.

Honey Noodles with Vanilla Ice cream drizzled with chocolate sauce with a side of Banana fritters, Toffee Apple with choco chips.

Need I say more. The table was quite for the next 3 minutes within which we demolished that entire plate and licked it clean - two happy puppies.

After that we really required some effort to get to our room like literally....

So we used the time to play some carom and let our food digest a bit followed by a movie marathon and we just fell asleep like that.

After eating so little and doing so much naturally morning meant another favourite meal of the day - BREAKFAST and oh boy we did break our fast in a royal way.

It was the weekend and they had an elaborate, vast and a yummy spread covering quite some cuisines. Must Try !

The weekend was spent in eat - sleep - chill REPEAT mode and we really got the much deserved break we required.
Before we knew it, it was time to head back home after an amazing and relaxing staycation which I think was more of foodathon (guilty - nahhhh )

Btw they also have tie ups with Spa facilities and offer an awesome discount ( well that's surely for the next visit ).

You guys can check out the videos below to know more about how our staycation was and what we did.

Until we meet again.

xoxo
Bhakti

Easy Pasta Recipe from the Chef at Mercure