The enchanting Dhak Dhak girl with a 100 watt smile is breaking the internet with candid and super fun pictures of her Italian getaway. Madhuri Dixit Nene is roaming in Rome, Florence and Pisa, husband and kids in tow. In her latest Instagram update, Madhuri put up a picture captioned “धक - धक dhakka diya” as she poses, like any other tourist, fascinated by the wonky wonder of the world.
From the iconic Colosseum of Rome, to the quaint Ponte Vecchio of Florence, and of course the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Madhuri has been on an Italian adventure with her family.
And it was perhaps a well-deserved break for the actress. After the hype and fall of ‘Kalank’ in which she starred with Alia Bhatt, Varun Dhawan, Sonakshi Sinha & Sanjay Dutt, and Madhuri’s stint as a producer with Netflix’s August 15th, she needed some time to unwind and enjoy with the family. And it is this joy that is quite apparent in her vacay pictures.
Madhuri looks resplendent in a neon jacket, polka dot pants and funky pink-neon shoes in her most recent pictures. As the Dixit-Nene family prances about their holiday, one can’t stop but feel a bit jealous. Here we are, loaded with work, stuck in the middle of Indian summer and there they are enjoying the clean air, historical monuments, not to mention Italian food. But what if I tell you, Madhuri Dixit’s Italian holiday is doable, infact it is doable under budget. What’s more, I have done the exact same holiday. And I am going to tell you how you can replicate Madhuri’s Italian holiday too!
Book Cheap Flight Tickets
View this post on InstagramOn our way to a hard earned vacation with the boys. Schools over for now, or is it? Guesses?
It is obvious, that Madhuri Dixit and Dr. Nene would fly first class. But remember we have to make this travel on budget. So we book economy. And not just that we, use some tricks and trades that an avid traveller picks up, so as to get the cheapest tickets for the Italian Holiday. The thumb rule to follow here is – book early. Do not leave flight booked for the end. The more time you have at hands while booking a flight, the better deal you get. Another thing to remember is that it is not necessary to take the same airline to and fro. Also remember you might not want to take the flight back from your landing port. For example, you may be flying to Rome from New Delhi, but the flight back is cheaper from Venice to Delhi. Consider all these permutation combinations.
Book Cheap Hotels In Italy
This was a big concern for me, since any overseas travel is usually for a week or more – at least. My husband and I did not want to compromise on safety and comfort, at the same time we didn’t want to go bankrupt! So instead of booking hotels, we opted for AirBnB. This gives options to either book a room in someone’s home ( separate entrance et al) or booking entire apartments. We loved it! Cheaper than hotel stays, the small beautiful homes we stayed at, gave us opportunity to live like locals.
Don't Miss: A Fav Of Bollywood Celebs, Beaches Of Thailand Beckon You To Beat The Heat This Summer
So in Tuscany, we lived in an adorable cottage in a sprawling olive farm, in Pompeii the hosts presented us with a bubbly red wine from his own vineyard, and baked a pizza in Naples, the birth city of pizzas. I doubt if we would have an experience like this at hotels. We shopped at local grocery stores, picked up local produce, and used the kitchens to cook meals, when we didn’t feel like eating out. In our experience, the kitchens were usually stocked with the basics- utensils, oils, salt and pepper, sometimes even milk and cereal. Having said that, do remember to check reviews for the homes and hosts before you book. If you are a solo traveller or backpacking you could choose to stay in a hostel as well.
In case you are booking a hotel, remember that the tariffs vary from location to location within each city. For example, in Pisa, I chose a beautiful sea side hotel at Marina Di Pisa. Not only did I get to see a Pisa that was much more than the leaning tower, but I got a great deal at the hotel stay.
Cheap deals on historic monuments
Madhuri Dixit posted a picture from the Colosseum. Dressed in a pink shirt, her hair down and sporting black shades, she looked like a modern Roman queen. Perfect for the setting. The Colosseum is indeed a must visit site when in Rome. Which is why it is usually very crowded. Search online, and a one and a half hour guided tour of the Colosseum can cost you anything between ₹4500 to ₹6000. But a combo ticket to Colosseum and Roman Forum will cost you about 12 Euros which is about a thousand Indian rupees. Want to save on ticket costs? First Sunday of every month is free entry- but be ready for a mob of tourists! Husband and I, had booked 'Skip-the-line' tickets, which allowed us a quick entry. We purchased one audio guide which we shared, and spent as much time inside and outside the roman ruins as we wanted. We clicked awesome pictures, and those were worth a million bucks! Do remember to save the tickets for Roman Forum entry, you can use it the consecutive day as well.
Travel Cheap
From Rome, Madhuri packed her bags and set off for the beautiful Tuscany. But look closely- she took the train! Wise decision! Italy has some of Europe’s fastest trains, not to mention the breath taking country side. Trains are economical, comfortable and very tourist friendly. The big advantage this that they cut the travel cost to half! Just like Madhuri, I took the train to Florence as well.
Enjoy The Freebies
Madhuri’s instagram has spectacular pictures of her enjoying the views in Florence. She poses against the beautiful Ponte Vecchio. I did the exact same pose…well more or less! Point is you can do it too! It is free, as are many things in Florence. The magnificent Ponte Vecchio, or the old stone bridge, is enjoyed over a leisurely stroll.
You don’t need to spend a dime to admire the beautiful cathedrals, the old markets, and the vibrant city squares. You will also find the replica of Michelangelo’s celebrated statue David, in front of Palazzo Vecchio. Admire it and stroll through an open air museum- all free of cost! No tickets, no lines, no trouble!
Wonder Of The World On A Budget
Madhuri Dixit next hopped across to Pisa and posed next to the tower that is one of the wonders of the world. You can enter the bell tower, and climb all the way up. If you do, I can guarantee you amazing views! Not just that, there is a thrill in climbing a wonky tower, that throws off your centre of gravity. Attempt it only if you are not scared of heights and if you have the stamina to climb 294 steps. All this under 30 minutes. That is the time cap, because only a limited people are allowed inside the tower at a time.
Don't Miss: 5 Attractions Which Will Make You Book Your Tickets To Sharjah!
The tickets will cost you about 32 Euros, that’s around ₹2500. Do look out for deals and discounts online. Better to book tickets and reach the bell tower according to the time slot. Now whether or not Madhuri climbed the bell tower, we don’t know. But what we know from her picture is that she made the most of her Pisa visit. So if you too want to do leaning tower on a budget, skip the climb and invest on a creative shot instead!
Eat Cheap
View this post on InstagramOur Roman Holiday #awesometwosome #couplegoals #roma #rome #italy #panini #food #beer #yummy #nomnom
Unlike in India, where water is served at restaurants free of charge (unless it is bottled) you will have to pay for water in Europe. About 2 euros, that’s a ₹150. But hey! You don’t have to spend a penny on water. Clean fit to drink water flows in fountains all across Rome. Wine is not too expensive either. But beware! A can of coke will cost you about 5 Euros. That’s a whopping ₹400. Another interesting thing in Italy is that when you go to a cafe, you will be asked if you want a table or you will eat/drink at the bar. This is relevant. Because if you choose to sit down at a table, you will pay a cover charge, over and above what you consume. Now that may sound crazy, almost illegal, but that’s the way they do it in Italy.
If Madhuri Dixit’s Italian adventures have tickled your travel bug too, well then set things in motion. You do not have to be a super star or millionaire to make this holiday a reality.
Take charge of your wellness journey—download the HerZindagi app for daily updates on fitness, beauty, and a healthy lifestyle!
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation