Chicago to Plaisance Flights

  About Chicago

Located on the West coast of Gujarat is the quaint little city of Porbandar. The city is highly regarded for its pilgrimage as it has a strong mythological relevance. Many pivotal incidences from the tales of Mahabharat and Ramayana have taken place in the city, or so says the folklore. As the city is on the Saurashtra's coastal side, the city is blessed with a brilliant climate and geography. There are hills, coasts, rivers, lakes and more such geographical benefits that make Porbandar a beautiful city. Historically, the city adds another feather to its illustrious cap by being the birthplace of freedom fighter Mahatma Gandhi. With such intriguing stories that the city has to tell, it easily becomes one of the most visited places in Gujarat.

The flight connectivity to Porbandar from other major cities is also excellent. The coastal town connects with the rest of India through popular routes, making travel easy and convenient. Booking hotels in Porbandar are also useful as the city comes with exciting accommodations.

Best time to visit Chicago

Porbandar enjoys fair weather throughout the year. The temperature is mostly at a pleasant range between 23 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. Depending on the year and the humidity, the temperatures do see some changes, but mostly, it's sunny positive. The winters in Porbandar are quite enchanting as the cold breezy air adds quite a romantic charm to the place. The temperatures usually range from 10 degree Celsius to 36 degree Celsius. When you do plan for your Porbandar trip, try to choose this season. The pleasant weather will make sightseeing more comfortable. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar are also cheap and affordable, irrespective of the peak season. December and January are considered as best months to visit Porbandar.

The monsoon months in Porbandar are just as enjoyable as the winters. Between July to September, the monsoon drenches the city with a cool but humid atmosphere. While the humidity does increase during monsoon, the strong winds that pass through the city during the season help normalise the temperature to a pleasant level. You can book a hotel in Porbandar during this time and take in all the monsoon magic. You certainly wouldn't regret it.

Summers, though, could be a little hot. In comparison to the pleasant weather the city experiences throughout the year, the summer winds come with high temperatures that sometimes reach 40 degree Celsius. While it is not ideal for visiting Porbandar during summers, if you are already used to such temperatures and climate, you wouldn't have much trouble. Not to mention how the flight tickets to Porbandar during summers see a drop in prices.

Places to visit in Chicago

Porbandar does not have many tourist attractions as such. The place is a pilgrimage with many temples and shrines. During your trip, you can visit some of the temples, namely, Sri Hari temple, Krishna-Sudama temple, Kirti temple, to name a few. These temples have strong connections with the Hindu mythology tale Mahabharat. The city also has some relics from the Harappan civilisation which could add to a good historical venture.

One of the big highlights of Porbandar's tourism is the Huzoor Palace, built in the early 20th century by Rana Natwarsinhji, the last Maharaja of Porbandar. The structure has derived architectural inspiration from European styles and is quite beautiful. The vicinity also has fancy fountains and well-maintained gardens.

Things to do in Chicago

The city might have only pilgrimage as the most prominent tourist attraction, but you can tweak your itinerary and add some personal excursions of your own. Located a little away from the city are the Jambuvan Caves, known to be the resting place of the famous warrior Jambuvan, who has played an essential role in the mythological tales of Mahabharat. The caves are also known to have Ramayana relevance with Hanuman spending time in the caves. You can also visit the Porbandar Bird Sanctuary and indulge in some photography. The sanctuary has a scenic setting which adds to the charm and beauty of the place. The biggest attraction of the bird sanctuary is how it inhabits migratory birds such as jacanas, little cormorants, whistling teals, avocets, coots, grebes, pelicans, terns, to name a few.

Food and Restaurants in Chicago

Porbandar is famous for its Gujarati cuisine. The city, much like the rest of the state, is rich in vegetarian Gujarati delicacies. From lip-smacking dhokla with green chutney to divine khandwas, one can never get tired of these dishes. Porbandar also follows the Jain-style cuisine by eliminating potatoes, onions, etc. from their dishes. They substitute potatoes with bananas which manage to do the job perfectly well. In fact, Jain cuisine is just as tasty as a regular vegetarian cuisine. You should probably give Jain food a try when in Porbander.

Travellers with a taste for vegan and vegetarian food can head to Flavours. The restaurant is famous for its take on vegan-friendly dishes as well as a slew of global cuisine. You will definitely be happy and satiated with their take on international cuisine. The place is extremely healthy and something worth considering. If exquisite fine dine is in your itinerary then you should head to Blue Coriander and book a table. The place with its classy interiors has great food reviews. You can get some lovely Gujarati thalis here or even the sweet daal that they're fans of. The food is known to be fresh and tasty with a plethora of choices for vegetarians. You can also get a spicy vada pav at Goli Vada Pav. Mumbaikars know their vada pavs well, and they sure love Goli Vada Pav.

Finding a non-vegetarian restaurant in Porbandar might be challenging as the city primarily has a vegetarian population. However, there is one place where you can get some lovely Indian spin on dishes, including seafood. SaltWater, located on the Dwarka Porbandar highway, has the best seafood that you should certainly try. As for those who are tired of all the spices and want something savoury, you should check out Shiva Baker's Point and Midday Munchies.

How to reach Chicago(Transportation)

By Air

Porbandar Airport is located along the coast of the state of Gujarat. The airport is open for commercial use but also has a military presence. The city's airport is well-connected with some of the big cities in India such as Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Chennai, June, Jaipur and Bangalore, to name a few. Thanks to the consistent infrastructural development, the city has managed to find great connectivity with other cities in India. The flight connectivity to Porbandar is excellent as many flights from big cities have direct flights. SpiceJet and TruJet are the two airlines with dedicated flights flying to Porbandar. Even though it is a domestic airport, there are provisions of duty-free shops within the airport that one can avail goods from at a reasonable cost.

The airport also provisions a slew of restaurant chains and fast food shops to keep the passengers entertained. The most popular route to Porbandar is from Ahmedabad, Mumbai and Delhi as these three cities have regular flights flying in and out. The location of the airport is also convenient, enabling easy access to the city centre. You can hire a taxi cab from outside the airport, or if you have booked a hotel in Porbandar, they will probably send the airport shuttle, if you request it.

By Rail

Porbandar Railway Station is perfectly connected with major cities within Gujarat. There are dedicated daily trains to and from Porbandar to Rajkot, Ahmedabad, Somnath and more. The railway also connects well with other domestic routes from Porbandar to big cities like Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Jaipur. Weekly trains to cities in the South such as Hyderabad and Kochi are also available. It is essential to know the train schedule before booking the tickets. Specific express trains are not reserved for Porbandar so you might end up spending a lot of your time in transit. The station is around 5 km from the city centre.

As frequent trains are entering and leaving the city regularly, transport via train is also considered to be a good and affordable option. Flight tickets to Porbandar could be expensive sometimes depending on the season in which you are booking your flights.

By Road

Major cities are connected to Porbandar through the domestic route of NH 8B. The national highway brings cities such as Ahmedabad and Rajkot closer to Porbandar. Public buses are also available to connect Porbandar to the rest of the cities in Gujarat. You can find them at the bus station where buses to Vadodara, Jamnagar, Surat and even Mumbai are available. Many travellers opt for roadways to reach Porbandar, especially if they are travelling from the coastal areas of Maharashtra. Tourists even drive down to Porbandar from Jaipur and other cities in Rajasthan as it is a good drive. From the bus station, rickshaws and buses are also available that can take you to the hotel you have booked in Porbandar. Taxi cabs are also present in the city, so transportation in the city is extremely convenient for travellers.

  About Mauritius

Snuggled up in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of the African continent, lies the beautiful island country of Mauritius. The lovely island country is known to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. It has strong Indian and African influences and is also known for its exquisite blue waters.

Best time to visit Mauritius

Mauritius' proximity to the Tropic of Capricorn brings forth a hot tropical climate. The weather is mostly warm and cool with summers experiencing hot and humid breeze. May to December becomes the best time to visit the island country of Mauritius. The days are longer during these months. The dry and sunny vibe of the place brings a soothing effect that would definitely work well with your vacation vibe. The seafood brims with fresh catch cooked to perfection. Even the hospitality and tourist attractions within the island are accessible. You can waltz around the city streets without having to worry about bad weather or humidity. In fact, the hot and dry combination can best be dealt with by taking a dip in the Indian Ocean. Overall, the place is perfect for a leisure vacation. However, the only big concern comes when you need to pay the price for the impeccable hospitality and views. Booking a hotel in Mauritius during the peak season could be quite expensive. Even flight tickets to Mauritius are quite steep as the demand for the island country is quite high.

Unless you've managed to win some big combo deals online for flights and hotels in Mauritius, it would be a tad bit cumbersome to get a cheap and affordable deal. The island does sell leisure luxury, so it would be unfair to expect the city to have cheap services. There is always the window of opportunity to snag some online flight and hotel deals to Mauritius which could slash off half your expenses. The tropical island can be ignored from January to March and definitely from July to August. These are wet cyclone seasons for Mauritius and will have some dire effects on your travel plans. During the cyclone season, the winds are quite strong to the point of destructive. They definitely don't spell vacation as the shores would be off-limits. With little to nothing to do on the island, you might be wasting your money in Mauritius during these seasons. Hence, before making your bookings, ensure to check the weather report and possibility of any kind of looming cyclones that might hit the shores of the African island.

Places to visit in Mauritius

Mauritius is a small island country and has many coasts that boast pristine blue waters and white shoreline. The first one that you can start with during your beach-hopping is to check out Île aux Cerfs. It is perfectly located on the east coast of the country and is known to be the largest lagoon in the island country. With its green trees and blue waters, the scenic beach is perfect for exploring. While the Île aux Cerfs is a private-owned island, Mauritius island is open for all. It is perfect for you to unwind with your partner. The Seven Coloured Earth is the next best beach to check out. What makes this beach a tourist attraction is the geological formation of sand dunes by the beach with hues of pink and purple. The seven distinct colours on the dunes is what gives the place its name.

On the extreme southwestern tip of Mauritius' island is the alluring peninsula, Le Morne Brabant. The natural caves and green vegetation surrounded by azure blue waters makes tourists flock over to the place. The mountain of Le Morne Brabant has actually been recognised by UNESCO as a World Heritage site. A little away from the Indian Ocean, nestled in the centre of the island is the Grand Bassin. It is a secluded area located in the Savanne district has many Hindu temples and idols of gods such as Lord Shiva, Lord Hanuman, Lord Ganesh, Goddess Ganga, to name a few.

Things to do in Mauritius

The best way to explore more of Mauritius and soak in the beauty of the island country is by beach-hopping. The place is literally surrounded by the Indian Ocean on all sides. This means there are beaches everywhere in Mauritius. Some of the notable mentions include Flic En Flac Beach, Grand Baie, Mont Choisy beach, to name a few. At these beaches, you can take up a slew of water sports activities. From kitesurfing to scuba diving, there are a bunch of things that you can do on the beaches of Mauritius. Aside from the fun outdoor activities that can keep the beach bums busy, you might want to indulge in some of their exquisite seafood too. The place offers fusion food with influences from African, Indian, French and European cuisine. You can also hike at the Black River Gorges National Park as it has many green trekking trails.

Food and restaurants in Mauritius

Mauritius has quite a reputation in the culinary circle for offering a delightful spread to tease a man's gastronomical urges. The restaurants and food establishments in Mauritius are celebrated for their exquisite tropical flavours and a rich melange of cuisines ranging from French, African, Mediterranean, Indian and Dutch. The most famous food establishment in Mauritius is the Escale Creole, a place which brims with bespoke Mauritian cuisine. Not only are the dishes lip-smacking but even the vibe of the place is worth talking about. It would be quite an experience to indulge in food curated by world-class chefs. For a little French indulgence in Mauritius, you can visit Le Chamarel Restaurant. The vibe of the place is uber-romantic, and the food is just as delicious as the views of the ocean. Le Fangourin's flavourful fried rice with mushrooms is a big seller. The dish and even the restaurant should certainly be added in your list of places to visit for food excursions. The place is perfect for vegetarians and also has a lovely setting.

Le Château de Bel Ombre is a fancy food establishment that stands on the grounds of the Heritage Le Château, an ancient relic from the 1700s which has been recently refurbished to accommodate the restaurant. For an Epicurean holiday in Mauritius with succulent and aromatic food explosion, visit this specific restaurant in the city. Le Flamboyant is another raved restaurant which offers a fancy view of the ocean and makes scrumptious delicacies. Their highlights are ravioles de marlin fume and dim sum. For a continental buffet spread, visit Mon Plaisir Restaurant. It is the main restaurant of the Sugar Beach resort and certainly a place worth dining at. With a private pool that leads to the ocean, the setting is gorgeous and refreshing, especially for breakfast. Do not miss restaurants namely, Citronella Restaurant & Cafe, Safran Restaurant, Dix Neuf Restaurant, La Plage Beach Club Restaurant and Republik Beach Club & Grill, to name a few.

How to reach Mauritius 

Mauritius is one of the most famous international honeymoon destinations for Indians, after The Maldives. The exquisite azure blue ocean with resorts over waters and palm trees forming a line to the shore paints quite a picture. The setting makes for a great postcard background, not to mention how the luxurious setting is also a good place to spruce things up, romantic styles. The flight connectivity to Mauritius from India is hence, quite good. There are many flights to Mauritius from Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai, Kochi, to name a few. Although there are no direct flights connecting Mauritius and India, a majority of international airlines with layovers form a good connectivity to the African island country. Airlines such as Emirates, Saudia, Vistara, Kenya Airways, Malindo Air, Air Mauritius, Turkish Airlines, British Airways, Air Seychelles, to name a few, have regular flights flying to Mauritius. The most popular international route for Mauritius from India is via Dubai. Emirates Airlines provides many flights to Mauritius, making transport convenient.

The flight duration to Mauritius from India is close to 13 hours and fifteen minutes. This also includes the layovers or connecting flights that one might have to take from international cities. The popularity and demand for Mauritius has also made its flight tickets rather pricey. Come peak season, and you will find a massive surge in the ticket prices to Mauritius. However, they are still decent and affordable. A round trip would cost you approximately INR 80,000. This is without the additional discounts or online flight deals. If you spend some time on the internet to find the best flight deals to Mauritius, you will end up saving much more. Also, the hotel bookings in Mauritius is quite steep, owing to the luxe setting and hospitality services they provide. Hence, it would be ideal for making prior hotel reservations in Mauritius. The best thing to do here would be to book hotels and flights to Mauritius together. There are many online deals and honeymoon packages (if a romantic rendezvous is what you're going for), that you can avail.