Inclinations The Leaning Tower of Pisa (above), the snow-clad Alps and Cyprus are destinations preferred by travelling Indians (below)

Time was, when an annual outing with the family was a cumbersome task entailing an interminable, arduous process: running from one travel agent to another, somehow sitting through their sweet talk and eventually falling prey to their smooth ways. Not any longer. Thanks to the technological march, the Internet has ushered in new frontiers in life. Now a hassle-free holiday is simply a mouse click away. Everything one needs-be it the cheapest flight to Barcelona or a bed-and-breakfast in the centre of Paris-is within a click's reach. If you are not that e-comfortable, you can always rely on tour operators and agents.

This summer Europe offers ample destination choices to the Indian traveller: from Madrid to Majorca, from skiing to surfing, or simply taking in Vincent Van Gogh and Leonardo da Vinci at the almost ubiquitous art galleries ... there is something to suit every inclination and desire.

If you are in the mood to let your muse take over, the place to be in is Venice. In a gondola that glides through narrow alleyways and backwaters, when you lift your face to bask in the golden rays of the sun, you might just see Apollo! And who knows, it might seduce you to write down your dreams and help you to spin a tale like author Daphne du Maurier, who got her story idea in Torcello, a little island near Venice. It's not cheap, though. A half-hour ride could cost £50 and that's a conservative estimate.

It goes without saying that a trip to Venice calls for more than a gondola ride. The other attraction is San Marco. However, going to Venice and not visiting the islands of Torcello and Murano would be a blunder. The glass items-the hallmark of Venetian art-are breathtakingly beautiful and are crafted in a matter of minutes by professional glass-blowers. The experience of watching a plain, colourless material take on various hues is magical. Venice also offers an array of enchanting masks.

If du Maurier brings Venice to life in her book, E.M. Forster's A Room With A View brings Florence-a city better covered by walking-alive. It brings you closer to masters like Michelangelo and da Vinci, not to mention Gambioni and Sandros Botticelli. The museums here are like treasure-troves.

Magic Moments The Eiffel Tower, Paris, remains irresistible (below); a Botticelli painting

Taking a train from Venice to Florence and then to Pisa is easy and cheap. The beautiful Leaning Towers is a big tourist attraction, especially after it was re-opened in December 2001, as visitors can climb to the top.

Pisa is a hot destination for Asians, especially Indians, reveals Subhan Kotwal, manager, Southall Travels. "Indians like to travel to Italy, mainly Venice and Pisa," he says. Going to Pisa calls for a visit to Tuscany as well.

A number of flights like Easyjet and Go provide low-cost air tickets. The main hitch for shoe-string budget travellers is, however, having to camp in the Stanstead airport the night before as there is no tube service after midnight and one has to catch the early morning flight.
British Airways is offering return flights from Gatwick to Venice with fares starting at £134. Accommodation is available at the Europa e Regina for £186. Call Starwood Hotels on 00800 325 35353. Apartments from £475 per week can be booked through Venetian Apartments on 020 8878 1130, or visit www.venice-rentals.com.

It's difficult to find Indian food in Florence or Venice. However, near the Leaning Tower of Pisa there is an Indian restaurant that offers authentic curries. Besides, most restaurants serve salads and meals sans meat too.

The city that creeps to mind the moment one conjures up romantic thoughts is, of course, Paris. It has a lot to offer in terms of art, amusement, theme parks and museums. And the Eiffel Tower! "Paris is a must-go destination for Indians from India and those in Britain as well," says Kotwal. "The main attractions in Paris are the Eiffel Tower, Notre Dame and Disney World. We arrange many tours, mainly from April to September," he adds.
Taj Tours offers attractive three-day package tours that cover both travel and food. Also, a trip to Disneyland and Notre Dame. But for those who want to just de-stress and relax, there are several little colourful streets that offer quaint cafes, galleries and antique shops.
Rue de Maufftarde is a very interesting place with its cafes, galleries and clubs. So is Bastille. In the sprawling Louvre one can lose oneself in the Islamic art, Moghul artefacts, Italian paintings and Greek statues. For fun and frolic, stop at Disneyland Paris and Walt Disney Studios. "I felt so excited. I was more excited than my nine-year-old daughter," remembers Bonnie de Silva. "I had the chance to relive my youth; a fantastic fantasy land, and it is just next door to Disneyland Paris."

Taking 31 months to build at a cost of £375 million, Walt Disney Studios employs around 5,000 people ready to cater to your every whim. Based on a working film studio, the park is split into four sections. Modelled on a Hollywood Boulevard theme, it's bright, colourful and larger than life. For more information, visit www.disneylandparis.com or call 0870 606 6800.
Indians should not return without tasting some spicy food at the Indian Street (Passage de Inde) near Gare du Nord. Over 10 restaurants placed cheek-by-jowl serve everything from masala dosa to tandoori chicken. Little shops in the street also sell Indian spices and incense sticks.

It's very easy to travel in Paris, thanks to an efficient metro service. It's advisable to buy a travel card for five zones. Travelling in Europe is made easier with Eurostar. Online travel agents, e-bookers, are offering London-Paris for £70 until June 30.

If you have a penchant for skiing, Saalbach-Hinterglemm claims to be the most visited location in Austria, after Vienna. The two villages are only five minutes apart but their ski areas fit seamlessly together into a ski circus of 125 miles of groomed runs served by over 60 efficient, well thought-out lifts including Austria's largest cable-car. The resorts also link with the village of Leogang in the next valley, which is on the same lift pass and serves as a useful "back-door" to the Saalbach-Hinterglemm circuit, that can be skied in either direction. With picturesque peaks lining the whole valley, the scenery is exceptionally beautiful, particularly the views right the way across the Alps. Thomas Cook Travel says for skiing, parents of children under 15 who have bought a full lift ticket get skis for a second child at half price and for free for more children. For more information call 0870 0100 437. Thomas Cook is also offering exciting packages for Ibiza, Spain, Portugal and Cyprus. Airtour Travels is offering Majorca from £269 while British Airways has irresistible offers for Budapest, Dublin and Paris.
For those who believe in dancing their way to de-stressing, Dance Holidays is offering the chance to dance at Granada's spring La Fiesta las Cruces de Mayo. The fiesta, which dates back to the 17th century, gives you the chance to try the Sevillanas, a traditional Andalucian folk dance. Flights depart April 28 and costs start at £399 for Sevillanas holidays or £449 for Salsa breaks. Call 01293 527722 or visit www.danceholidays.com.

This Easter, the travel industry experienced a happy revival in Britain. Eurostar and the flights, too, were booked to capacity. Heathrow Airport in west London had its busiest day of the Easter break on Thursday, handling 195,000 passengers. Over half a million travelled under or over the English Channel to France, Holland and Spain. Many headed to the ski slopes.

However, no place is more preferred by Asians than their own continent! In fact, even though the traffic across Atlantic was affected in the wake of the September 11 attacks and the recession in world economy, Asians kept the traffic going towards the Indian subcontinent and the Far East. "We have heavy traffic to Dubai during the shopping festival in March. Desert safaris are also getting very popular," reveals Kotwal. As they say, home is where the heart is.