Vadodara to St Louis Flights

  About Vadodara

Vadodara, earlier known as Baroda, is a flourishing city in the state of Gujarat. The city is nestled on the banks of the river Vishwamitri and close to NH 48 (renumbered from 8) which connects Mumbai and Delhi. Over the years, Vadodara has seen extreme infrastructural growth. Be it their extensive airport or the tourist attractions within the city, Vadodara has managed to climb up the ranks to be one of the cleanest cities in India. In fact, after Kochi, Vadodara is the second airport in India to have acquired a sustainable energy source, which makes it a green airport. Travelling to the city is quite easy as the flight connectivity to Vadodara or even rail and roadway has an excellent network.

The city is quite famous and sees tremendous tourists flocking over during weekends for a break. Aside from the beautiful structures and tourist attractions, the city also has great staycation options. You can book hotels in Vadodara for reasonable costs and benefit from their top-notch hospitality and services. The food culture of Vadodara is something that is worth talking about as it brings together a global fusion cuisine.

Best time to visit in Vadodara

Vadodara witnesses the hottest summers. In fact, it is said that the summers in Vadodara are the hottest in the entire country. Knowing this should be enough for you to contemplate whether to visit Vadodara during summer or to avoid it. The temperatures sometimes go up to 42 degree Celsius which could be too much for some people to handle. The months between April to July see the hottest temperatures. Often people are unable to leave their houses too because of the heat and the health problems that follow. It is not surprising that the flight tickets to Vadodara are quite cheap and affordable during this season. Even the accommodation scenes are affordable with hotel bookings in Vadodara dropping room charges. Unless you have the strength to deal with the harsh rays of the sun, venturing to the city is not a good option.

The city does experience monsoon as well, but it is quite moderate. However, because of the rains, the terrain becomes cool and the atmosphere, a lot more bearable. The months from July to September see temperatures ranging from 24 degree Celsius to 38 degree Celsius. While it is still on the hotter side, the air and vibe turn more agreeable. The city does not see excess rainfall so that the moderate showers wouldn't affect your travel plans.

Winters are the best in Vadodara. The city is comparatively colder and has a very refreshing environment. With temperatures between 15 degree Celsius to 30 degree Celsius, the city air turns pleasant. Even the winter sun is soothing and manages to put a smile on everyone's faces. October to March undoubtedly have the best weather in Vadodara. Not to mention how the months also come with festivals. From Navratri to Diwali, the festivities make the city vibrant with decorations and lit ambience. You can indulge in wearing Navratri clothes and perform Garba in the city. Also, you can taste undhiyu, a dish popularly made only during the winter season by Gujaratis. Overall, the place certainly turns into a lovely carnival. The flight to Vadodara and hotel bookings in the city automatically spike up with the peak season. However, with a little more scouting on the internet, you will be able to find some amazing online flight deals to Vadodara.

Places to visit in Vadodara

With its agreeable temperatures during winter, Vadodara has some lovely places that should be checked out. There are green gardens in the city that would definitely blow your mind. You can check out the Makarpura Palace, Sayaji Garden, Vadodara Museum and Picture Gallery, Sur Sagar Lake, Sri Aurobindo Ashram, Nyaya Mandir, Laxmi Vilas Palace, Jambughoda Wild Life Sanctuary, Champaner and Kirti Mandir. As a city that is constantly rooting towards expansion and development, Vadodara is also acknowledged as one of the cleanest cities in India.

Things to do in Vadodara

Vadodara has some of the best gardens and parks in the city. From the famous Kabirwad to the colourful Ajwa Nimeta Dam Garden, these places are lit with exquisite maintenance. Theme parks such as Ajwa Fun World and S Cube Water Park are also cool places to unwind with the family. As for those who wish to be close to nature, you can head to the Zarwani and Hathini Waterfalls. When in the city, you must check out the Narmada Canal, which is an impressive structure.

Food and Restaurants in Vadodara

One can never go to Gujarat and not have their celebrated cuisine. Gujarati food is known to be one of the best and the Gujaratis, food connoisseurs. The state's city Vadodara is no different to this idea. Aside from catering to the diverse range of tourists and visitors, Vadodara also propagates their vegetarian food, Gujarati thalis and fascinating delicacies. Most of Gujarat follows a vegetarian diet and hence, is tough to find non-vegetarian food joints. However, here in Vadodara, you will find a handful of restaurants that serve mouth-watering non-vegetarian dishes that would make you a happy person.

At the city's barbecue junction, The Barbeque Grill, you will find some well-cooked Mughlai cuisine with kebabs, biryanis and other such dishes. Plus, they do have a buffet system too. Sasumaa's Gujarati thali is famous across the state. This chain of restaurants only have Gujarati thalis, and they are all you need to get the best of the cuisine. Not to mention how hospitable the staff is that it would further enhance your experience. Vadodara also has provision for global cuisine such as Mexican, Chinese and more. You should visit Salsa Habanero to get the best of Mexican flavours in the city. The chef of the restaurant was raised in California and surrounded by Mexican cuisine, which brought about this institution.

Some of the other places in Vadodara that should be visited include Azure, Mandap, Peshawari, Kai Asia, 22nd Parallel and San's Sizzlers. If you do manage to get time aside from checking out these restaurants, it is recommended that you also check out the street food culture of Vadodara. You will be surprised by their active food scenes on the streets.

How to reach Vadodara (Transportation)

By Air

Vadodara Airport is located 6.2 km away from the main city of Vadodara. After Ahmedabad and Surat, Vadodara is the third busiest airport in the state. The airport is touted to be the cleanest in the whole country. Interestingly, the airport recently inaugurated its international terminal and has since been witnessing a tremendous surge in passenger footfall. The flight connectivity to Vadodara is excellent as various major cities have dedicated flights flying in and out of the city. Flying to Vadodara easily becomes the best option as there are many flights to Vadodara from cities like Mumbai and Delhi. Not to mention how the flight connectivity to and from Vadodara enables easier transportation for travellers. Airlines such as Air India and IndiGo have designated flights to Vadodara from Bangalore, Delhi, Indore, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and more. The fact that the airport is clean and has top-notch facilities further makes it a favoured option. You can book flight tickets to Vadodara at a reasonable price, irrespective of whether it is peak season or off-season. Plus, the city has exquisite accommodation too. You can book fancy hotels in Vadodara and enhance your trip experience.

By Rail

Vadodara railway station is just as well-connected as the flights to Vadodara. You can simply travel to the city in Gujarat from anywhere in India. The railway station is known to be the biggest one in the western railways belt. The city's railway station has excellent connectivity with several domestic routes connected to Vadodara. The railway station witnesses various express trains from corners of India. Some of the regular express trains include the Howrah-Ahmedabad Express and Navjivan Express. However, it is best to book tickets to Vadodara well in advance, owing to the popularity of the place. From the railway station, you can easily venture around in the city, which is perfectly connected thanks to the auto-rickshaw, buses and cab services. You can even book a hotel in Vadodara's city centre area and be assured that transit would be convenient.

By Road

Many tourists opt for roadways to travel to Vadodara. The highways and domestic routes connecting Vadodara to other big cities are extremely immaculate. The highways and roads are regularly maintained to ensure that the aesthetic beauty remains intact. This has given many travellers the option to take up road trips to the city. Even bus rides to Vadodara are good as the scenic views, and travel duration is decent. If you do have a budget issue and need to save enough money to book a hotel in Vadodara, then you should opt for bus travel. They are comfortable and will lead you directly to the city centre. Here, close to the bus stand, you will find many accommodation options that would help with your wallet.

  About St. Louis

Nestled along the sparkling Mississippi River in Missouri, is the beautiful city of St. Louis. The city is iconic in many ways as it has a rich history and also the cultural hub of the place. From barbecued meat to pubs playing blues, the city is lovely and was named after Louis IX of France.

Best time to visit St. Louis

Missouri's summers can be pretty hot and winters, just as cold. However, their spring and fall seasons are just perfect with balanced weather that attracts a lot of tourists. St. Louis enjoys great springs and autumns as the city turns into lovely foliage of orange. Although the two-season is quite short compared to winters and summers, spring and autumn's quaint vibe does good for the city of St. Louis. The city witnesses fall between September to October. During this time, the weathers transition from hot to cold, giving the city just the perfect setting for events and other activities. The autumn months actually open gateways to a plethora of events and festivals hosted by the city to entertain the locals as well as tourists. Events such as Big Muddy Blues Festival, Great Forest Park Balloon Race, Taste of St. Louis, Best of Missouri Market, Saint Louis Art Fair, LouFest, to name a few, are celebrated between September and October.

The hotel prices do get a little steep during autumn as the festivals bring in a lot of action in the tourism industry. Many tourists from within the state as well as from other states in the US, flock over to St. Louis to indulge in these events and celebrations. Hence, finding hotel reservations in St. Louis could get challenging. But if you do plan beforehand, you might not have to worry about these issues. November through March might not be a good time to visit St. Louis as the temperatures are quite unfavourable. However, do not miss their Mardi Gras celebrations which take place in March. It is the second-best in the country after New Orleans. You will also get a good deal on hotel bookings in St. Louis during this time. Besides, the month also sees a drop in temperatures as the city starts to make room for spring. Speaking of which, April and May are also a good time to visit the city as the weather is very tourist-friendly and the city rings in various interesting festivals that cater to audiences with multitudes of interests.

Places to visit in St. Louis

The city of St. Louis has a diverse range of places that you can visit. They start from beautiful museums to amazing parks. The first place that you can start with is the Gateway Arch. It is the pride of St. Louis as it takes tourists through the history of the city. Cathedral Basilica of Saint Louis is another lovely structure that you would like to visit. It has a very neo-Byzantine Roman Catholic architecture. The Saint Louis Zoo is another lovely place where you can hang out and check out the plethora of wild animals such as sloths, tarantulas, gators, armadillos, penguins and more. The Saint Louis Art Museum is a good place to be marvelled by the art exhibits. There are over 34,000 works of artefacts that will amaze you. Saint Louis Science Centre is another fun place where you can revel in the exhibits of animals, skyscrapers, space and more. The Missouri Civil War Museum is an important place that you should visit as it retells the history of the Civil War and St. Louis' role in the conflict.

Things to do in St. Louis

The Forest Park of St. Louis gives New York City's Central Park a fierce competition for being a gigantic green estate. The place has many recreational activities such as fishing, museums, trekking trails and more. Since the garden is over 500 acres in area, there are too many things that can be done. Trekking, fishing, boating, a golf course, zoo, attending concerts, are some of the things that can be done in the park. You would not be bored here. In case it is all too much of work to do, you can simply lay on the grass and enjoy the St. Louis sun. Grant's Farm has historical significance as it was built by Civil War general Ulysses S. Grant. The farm has alpacas and more such cattle. The Missouri Botanical Garden is a fun place where you can check out the limestone cave as well as sit atop a treehouse. The place certainly stands tall as one of the attractions in the city. The Bush Stadium is very famous as you will get to experience St. Louisians cheer for their favourite baseball team. Indulging in the food culture of St. Louis is a must-try.

Food and restaurants in St. Louis

St. Louis is a multicultural haven with a vibrant and thriving food culture. From Bosnian delicacies to Italian treats, you will find many styles and cuisines of multiethnic backgrounds. In fact, it is actually recommended that you peruse through the Explore St. Louis Neighbourhoods page before stepping out for chow time. It would also help to ask around to get some good recommendations for food in the city. Because of its plethora of options, it is essential that you find the ideal establishment that works with your sensibilities. Since the city does have famous dishes including their own rendition of St. Louis-style barbeque and ribs, it would be nice to first list out what you want to eat and what your options are. You can start your food rendezvous in the city by opting for a classic deli sandwich from Blues City Deli. It is located in Benton Park and makes the most sumptuous and succulent sandwiches. You can also check out Adriana's on the Hill for variety in the sandwich business

Stacked STL also has a good recipe of American food that would cater to your gastronomical needs. To indulge in the classic St. Louis style food, including barbecued meat and ribs, Bogart's Smokehouse and Pappy's Smokehouse would be the best. They do know how to grill their meat and serve a generous spread. The city also has an interesting melange of Italian and Bosnian cuisine that has often caught the fancy of tourists. For a traditional Italian food rendezvous, you can visit Charlie Gitto's and Zia's on the Hill, both located in the Hill District. They are recognised for their exquisite ravioli with a twist of toast. The meat-filled pastas that are panfried make for a wholesome meal. The city's Bosnian food establishments are located five miles outside the centre. At the Grbic Restaurant & Events, you can sink your teeth in their celebrated grilled beef sausages and rolls. Other places that are a must-visit in St. Louis include Ted Drewes Frozen Custard, Gioia's Deli, Roberto's Trattoria and Chophouse, The Crossing and Eleven Eleven Mississippi.

How to reach St. Louis

St. Louis is much in the interiors of the United States and hence, requires some layovers and flight changes. There are no direct flights to St. Louis from India, and it requires a bunch of flight changes and even layovers with long durations. However, the good news is that flight connectivity to St. Louis from Indian cities is quite good. There are a bunch of airlines that offer services to connect Indian cities to St. Louis. Airlines such as Lufthansa, United Airlines, British Airways, Air France, Delta Air Lines, to name a few, have flights to St. Louis from India. The best part about these airlines is that they only have layovers and there is no change of flights required. The most popular route to St. Louis is from Germany. Many of these airlines have layovers in Munich and Frankfurt. Since the layovers are in European cities, they require Schengen transit visas. Applying for a transit visa is very easy as you need to get in touch with the embassy or fill up an online form. It is easy to get hold of a transit visa. Often the layovers in the European airports are quite long.

The flight duration to St. Louis from India is a little time-consuming as the city is in Central America. Due to this, airlines require a second layover in cities within the US. Domestic routes are used to connect flights to St. Louis. The flight duration is close to 26 hours, and the flight tickets are also quite expensive. Finding a cheap flight ticket to St. Louis would be the dream. However, due to the distance and the multiple layovers, the ticket prices to St. Louis from India are often very expensive. You could always opt for making advance booking of flights to St. Louis to be eligible for an online discount. It would be best to use this method as you will have plenty of time to find flights and deals too that would give you discounts on flights to St. Louis. You can also make your hotel reservations in St. Louis while booking flights. Combining the two might help you snag some decent deals online. You could also use up some miles, if you have been collecting them, as a trip to St. Louis could use some miles to save on money.

  About Vadodara Airport

Vadodara Airport, also known by the name, Civil Airport Harni, is situated in the suburb of Harni, which is in the north-east of Vadodara, Gujarat. The city is the third largest in the state of Gujarat in terms of population. The city follows Ahmedabad and Surat in the list of populated cities in the state. Vadodara was originally a domestic airport which recently received the stature of an international airport. Vadodara Airport has started operations of international flights. Additionally, the airport also has its state-of-the-art Maintenance, Repair and Operations (MRO) facility.

About Vadodara Airport terminals

Vadodara Airport has one domestic terminal which has been named after the Maharaja of Baroda State. The terminal's decor has been inspired by the architectural nuances of mixed styles ranging from Gujarati to dome-shaped roofs, etc. As the airport is small, so is the terminal. It cannot accommodate a large throng of passengers and barely manages 250 in an hour. Hence, to expand the capacity of the terminal and to incorporate international flight operations, the airport announced to construct a new integrated terminal building in the vicinity. A competition to design the new terminal was introduced on an international scale. Following this, a US-based consortium Gensler, Frederic Schwartz Architects and Creative Group from India bagged the project to design the new terminal. Works to accommodate the new integrated terminal commenced in 2009 as the foundation was laid.

After nearly seven years of construction work, the terminal was completed and inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, in the same year. The new integrated terminal sprawls across an area of 18,120 square metres and can accommodate about 700 passengers in an hour. Other features of the terminal include 18 check-in counters as well as a night parking facility. The parking bay can accommodate close to nine Airbus A320s and Boeing 737-800 aircraft. This has enabled a reduction in the burden at Mumbai Airport (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport) and Ahmedabad Airport (Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport). It has also made it economical for several airlines. Presently, Vadodara Airport does not accommodate cargo. It is also recognised as the second airport in the country, after Cochin International Airport, to be a green airport. In fact, the airport's new integrated terminal also holds a global record for being the only airport with the longest single sheet rooftop which measures about 164.2 metres.

About Airport Authority

The airport is owned and operated by the Airports Authority of India. The statutory body, which functions under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Government of India, has been founded to cater to the upgradations, maintenance and management of various civil aviation infrastructure in the country. It is thanks to the work of the Airports Authority of India that Vadodara Airport has managed to expand its airport terminals and to accommodate both domestic and international flights. In fact, the exemplary work of the AAI has enabled Vadodara Airport to bag the Swachh Bharat Award for being one of the cleanest and safest airports in the category of airports that can accommodate passenger capacity of 1.5 million. As part of the expansion plans, Airports Authority of India has brought Vadodara Airport in the maps of one of the most accomplished and well-developed airports in India.

Facilities at the Vadodara Airport

Wheelchair accessibility – You can request for a wheelchair with your airline, and the airport would cater to the same.

Medical facility – Vadodara Airport has a designated team of medical professionals to deal with emergency cases that might crop up at the airport premise. They are trained doctors and professionals. Medical rooms are also present as are pharmacies.

Restaurants and cafes – There are quaint cafes and restaurants installed in the airport premise. They can be found in the departure sections of the airport. Smaller joints and food establishments can also be found in the arrivals section. For tea, coffee and other such beverages, you can check out some joints located in the airport.

Baggage – The baggage services at the airport include trolleys and porter systems. You can ask for a porter service, wherein an airport staff would escort your trolley of luggage and even get the security checks done on your behalf. Trolleys are available outside the airport as well as in the airport premise.

Shops – There are small shops also present at the airport premise. You can find some impeccable paintings, books, magazines, artefacts and souvenirs at these shops. They basically glorify the culture of Gujarat and also have exquisite ethnic items that you could purchase. In fact, for passengers who need to pass their time at the airport can actually visit these shops and be entertained by the lovely collection of items that they have for sale.

Lounge – The airport has a luxury lounge present in the departure section of the terminal. The lounge can be accessed by passengers who have special passes or a certain ticket type. As for others who wish to spend time in the lounge and enjoy their benefits, the airport has tariffs that the passengers will need to pay to get access to the space. There are TV sets, WiFi services, good hospitality and great lounge seats available in the lounge.

Special assistance – There are special assistance services that have been reserved for senior citizens and passengers with disabilities. These services can be availed at the airport. It is recommended that the passenger inform the airlines prior to the journey. The airport will be able to accommodate the necessary services and trained staff to cater to the same.

Smoking zones – Vadodara Airport has strict laws against smoking and to make sure that the protocols to not smoke in public are followed, they have installed zones in the premise. The airport has designated smoking zones for passengers to avail. These spaces also have cigarettes for sale. The smoking lounges are kept clean and sanitised with fresh air being pumped at every interval.

Top airlines flying from Vadodara Airport

Vadodara is a big city within the borders of Gujarat. However, it does not have excellent connectivity with other Indian cities. As an airport that only caters to domestic flights, Vadodara Airport accommodates operations of airlines namely Air India and IndiGo. These airlines fly to cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, to name a few.

How to reach Vadodara Airport

By Bus and taxi

Vadodara as a city is perfectly connected with several modes of transportation. The airport is also just as well-connected as it is very close to the city centre. You can opt for buses to reach Vadodara Airport. There are designated bus stops available in proximity to the airport. These buses can be taken from anywhere around the city. As one of the important cities in Gujarat, Vadodara's bus services are handled by the state government. Hence, the connectivity is immaculate. Aside from the buses, you can also reach Vadodara Airport by hailing a taxi cab. There are provisions of the same in the city. In fact, you can also opt for car rentals and travel in the same to reach Vadodara Airport.

By Rail

Baroda Railway Station is barely five kilometres from Vadodara Airport. Hence, if you are travelling from neighbouring towns by train and have a flight to catch from Vadodara Airport, the best way to reach would be by getting a rickshaw or taxi ride from the railway station. As it is in the city centre, you can easily find taxi cabs and rickshaws at the Baroda Railway Station to reach Vadodara Airport. It would take you about 15 minutes to reach Vadodara Airport from the railway station. Hopefully, if there is not much traffic on the street, the travel duration would further be reduced. The road conditions are rather conducive.

About Vadodara

Vadodara, popularly known as Baroda, is the third-most populous city in the state of Gujarat. The city is named after the presence of Banyan (Vad), that grow and flourish in the city. Vadodara is perched atop the banks of the Vishwamitri River and is roughly 120 km away from the city of Ahmedabad in Gujarat. Vadodara's proximity to the Tropic of Cancer has enabled the city to have a tropical climate at all times. It is extremely hot and often deals with scorching summers too. Although the city witnesses tremendous passenger traffic owing to the industrial establishments, there are dedicated peak months when you can visit Vadodara.

The best time to visit the city is from March to April. It is considerably hot and humid, but the heat is bearable. The city is blessed with lovely temples and exquisite palaces and historic structures. In fact, it is even recognised as the cultural capital of Gujarat. Thanks to these attractions, the city witnesses tremendous tourist action. Some of the highlights of the city include the Lakshmi Vilas Palace which is the residence of Baroda Stat's Maratha regal family, the Gaekwads, from the Gaekwad Dynasty. Vadodara is home to the Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda. The city is heavily invested in various power and oil and gas corporations.