New Delhi, Dec. 8 -- An international New Year holiday often sounds expensive, but Oman proves otherwise. With its turquoise wadis, cliffside beaches, and dramatic mountains, the country looks luxurious yet is actually one of the easiest and most affordable international trips for Indians today.

Pratham Mehta and Nancy Patodi from Bengaluru celebrated the New Year 2024-25 in Oman for about Rs.2 lakh-roughly the same amount many people now spend on a New Year's trip to Goa.

"Oman is not just underrated, it's surprisingly budget-friendly. We paid a bit more because it was New Year's peak season, but normally the country is even cheaper," said Mehta, who works in the strategy team of a global remittance company.

As part of Mint's travel s...