Washington to Plaisance Flights

  About Washington

Washington DC, is the capital city of the United States of America. The city reflects the rich history of the United States with its neoclassical monuments and iconic locations. The place will keep you engaged with its compelling slew of tourist attractions. As the capital of the United States of America, Washington DC has many traditional attractions with important museums and monuments. Make sure to visit all the Smithsonian American museums as they shed light on various cultural and historical significance of America.

Best time to visit Washington DC

Washington DC's summers are the peak season for travel. However, to steer clear off all the touristy crowd and to engage in some real fun, it is best to opt for spring and autumn. Summers in Washington DC are from June to August when the city experiences sweltering heat and a tremendous tourist crowd. Some of the fun events and festivals hosted by the city during this period include Capital Pride Parade, National Mall Fourth of July Celebration and Summerfest DC. While they may seem like enjoyable activities to participate in, the exorbitant prices of surviving a trip might pull you back. Although many locals ring in summers in other parts of the US, tourists might find Washington DC to be a tad bit expensive during peak season. Even hotel rooms in Washington DC are expensive. The months leading up to summer, though, are quite pleasant and even easy on the pockets. Spring brings with it the season of blossoms as the month of March begins with the National Cherry Blossom Festival. Watching the cherry blossoms bloom is a trip and definitely worth experiencing. The city also witnesses the National Memorial Day Parade, another interesting festival to be a part of.

Maybe not summer but the season following summer in Washington DC is just as favourable for tourists. The autumn season is just next to perfection and definitely something all tourists would enjoy. The weather is exquisite and calm as the brisk winter air starts to slowly take over the city. Booking a hotel in Washington DC becomes cheap and affordable too as the summer crowd takes away the expensive tags. However, as many business travellers make their way into the city, the hotel deals might still be a hard snag unless you make prior hotel bookings in Washington DC. The city witnesses the H Street festival and Library of Congress National Book Festival during autumn. The cultural festivals with their historical significance only add to the experience one might take in during a trip to Washington DC. If you want to downscale your budget further, then winter is the best time to visit for you. The city streets freeze up while the temperature ranges between 5 degree Celsius to 7 degree Celsius. The perks, though, are the slash in hotel room prices, which is a sweet deal if you want to experience winter in the city.

Places to visit in Washington DC

The first thing to check out would undoubtedly be the Lincoln Memorial. The location would make quite a postcard-worthy click with Honest Abe's memorial in the background. Next, you can visit Vietnam Veterans and Korean War Veterans Memorials, popularly referred to as 'the Wall', which has names of all the Americans who succumbed to the Vietnam War. Just around the Lincoln Memorial is the beautiful Tidal Basin, a must-visit, especially during spring. The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum is a treasure trove which celebrates exquisite aircraft, including Amelia Earhart's Lockheed Vega 5B and Wilbur and Orville Wright's 1903 Wright Flyer, to name a few. It is a fascinating place and would certainly pique your interest. The city also has the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum which showcases the atrocities faced during the World War II. Do not miss the National Gallery of Art and The White House and the Washington Monument.

Things to do in Washington DC

Majority of the things that you can do in the city pertain to some of the sightseeing. Washington DC is recognised to be the city with a plethora of historical monuments and a haven for American history. The city offers a peek into the country's history as well as important events. Aside from indulging in the past of the country, one of the things you should definitely do is get tickets to a show at The John F Kennedy Centre for Performing Arts. You can explore the US Capitol's Library of Congress to get more understanding of the politics. A picture next to Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial also sounds like a good thing to do. You can also take a break from all the history lessons and head to 9:30 Club to relish some live music. The club has hosted many big bands, including RHCP and Nirvana.

Food and Restaurants in Washington DC

Washington DC's food culture is as diverse as the capital can get. There is an abundance of succulent eateries spread across the city. From piquant Spanish delicacies to oyster shots, there are many ethnic and global restaurants that will get your attention. Check out H Street Northeast, in the Atlas District to get some of the ethnic action as there are Belgian, Japanese and many more cultural kitchens. To get the sophisticated gourmet experience at an upscale restaurant, you can visit José Andrés' hotels such as Zaytinya and Oyamel Cocina Mexicana. Old Ebbitt grill and 1789 are also some lovely places where you will get the high-end fine dining experience. However, if you are on a budget, then opt for some eateries such as Ben's Chili Bowl and Good Stuff Eatery. These places have some signature dishes that you shouldn't miss at any cost. From lip-smacking burgers to rice bowls, the two joints offer an interesting palette of flavours in their meals that is worth all the money shelled out. Good Stuff Eatery's burgers are famous as they have been curated by chef Spike Mendelsohn.

Another major highlight to add to Washington DC's food culture are the farmer's markets in the city. Located in the District, a group of farmers huddle up to sell their fresh goods which come in all forms, colours and shapes. You'll find organic vegetables, healthy fruits and a colourful spread of goods at the market. It is a good place to get some of the fruity and healthy veggies action. Columbia Heights Farmers Market and FRESHFARM are two recognised markets that you should check out when in the city. Interestingly, the city also has lovely breweries and brewpubs, which came into existence in the recent past. However, the best way to enjoy the DC spirit would be to indulge in some brunch options. Tabard Inn, Kafe Leopold, Equinox, Cava Mezze, Juniper, Cafe Milano, to name a few, would be the best places to start your brunch rendezvous

How to reach Washington DC

Flight connectivity to Washington DC from India is quite decent but overpriced. There are no direct flights to Washington DC from India and layovers are the only way to reach the capital city. The demand for flights to Washington DC are not as much as for New York City or Chicago. Hence, the connectivity is also quite poor. There are only a handful of airlines that operate from India to Washington. Airlines such as United Airlines, Air Canada, Emirates, All Nippon Airways, to name a few, are the only ones that have flight services to Washington DC from India. There are no nonstop or flights to Washington DC from India, and usually, a layover or connecting flight is the only way to go. The United Airlines has flight connectivity to Washington DC from Newark. Many of the flights use the international route of Newark to reach Washington DC. Emirates is the only other airline that stops at Dubai for a layover before flying to Washington DC. Cathay Pacific also has flights to Washington DC from Delhi. Mostly, the connectivity is only from the Dubai and Newark international routes to reach Washington DC. The popular route to Washington DC often chosen by travellers is from Newark

Travellers require a transit visa to enter the USA and to reach Washington DC. Since the flights have connectivity from Newark, the non-immigrants are required to show a transit visa to let the authorities know that you are just taking a connecting flight to a different destination. A transit visa is a type 'C' visa where basically, you need to show at the Newark airport that you are just taking a connecting flight to Washington DC. To acquire these, you could apply for them at the American embassy, or you can do it online. The provisions are faster online and would be beneficial to you. The flight duration to Washington DC from India is approximately 17 hours, which is subject to change depending on the availability of flights. Do not expect cheap flight tickets to Washington DC. Not only is the capital expensive but even flight tickets to Washington DC is quite exorbitant. Even the accommodation is high-priced, and it would be best to make flight and hotel bookings to Washington DC well in advance to avoid expensive rates.

  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.