Travelling has always been an inherent part of every person’s life. It allows people to make some beautiful memories that they can cherish forever. And, what’s better than cherishing these travel memories with your loved ones by making a fascinating travel video, right? However, creating high-quality, engaging videos is what many people struggle with. So how to turn a family vacation and moments into a film you’d like to see again and again? 

If you are also looking for answers to this question, you are right. Whether you are planning a family trip to the mesmerizing beaches or mountain hiking, here are some tips you must follow to make an amazing travel video from your family vacation. 

Use the Right Filming Equipment 

While it is okay to use a smartphone to film a vacation video on your smartphone, you must invest in a DSLR camera or an HD Camcorder if you want to create a professional-looking video or if you plan to create multiple video transitions. If you are moving to a holiday destination that needs a durable camera more appropriate for a tough environment, it is better to purchase an action camera.

In addition, if you have the funds available and ample space in your luggage, you can also carry a drone camera. It will help you take the cinematic aerial footage and will be a great addition to your holiday movie!

Photo by Ben Griffiths on Unsplash

Do Not Shoot Everything You See

It is common for every person to feel like capturing every minute of their family vacation. However, you must understand that not every minute of your holiday might be fascinating to film and watch again and again. Thus, to steer clear of the trouble of undergoing hours of editing, it is prudent that you film only some parts of your vacation. 

Furthermore, it is better to use the parts you will most likely use when making the final edit while making your videos perfect using a video maker. Another reason you must restrict your video filming is because you will hardly get any time to enjoy your trip with your family. 

Try to Interview Your Family Members and Local People 

Recording what you are witnessing and experiencing during your family holiday is amazing, but what about what you think and feel about your vacation? Therefore, it is essential to create a well-rounded video that flawlessly sums up your family vacation by taking some vlog-like interviews with your family members! 

Photo by Larry Crayton on Unsplash

So during your family vacation, take some time to ask your family members about how they feel, what they love the most, and other related things. Furthermore, to make your video more engaging, it is better to shoot interview videos of the locals (especially when you are traveling to a foreign country). 

Think About the Story You Would Like to Convey.

If you aspire to make your travel video look cinematic, it is necessary to think about the story you would like to convey. You might begin with why you have selected this particular destination for your family vacation. If this is somehow connected to your childhood memories, filming old photo collections with your childhood photographs in that very destination might be a pleasant backdrop for the upcoming video.

Build Diverse Footage for your Travel Video

When filming a family vacation video, it is always better to experiment with the perspectives and angles to make your video more diverse. If you have a DSLR camera, a camcorder, or a drone, it is prudent to use them to capture spectacular bird’s-eye videos of the area or fantastic hues of the corals and fish you’ll glimpse under the water. These travel videos can serve exceptionally to shoot beautifully in various places. 

You can likewise broaden your videos by shooting quick clips and creating images that you can add to the final editing. For example, shoot some exotic birds or the tides moving onto the seashore or some close-up photos of the residents with an impressive appearance. Such small details will let your video show the destination’s surroundings agreeably.

Remember That Video Is Always About Motion. 

Motion is the only thing that makes travel video different from travel photography. Shooting stationary constructions is tedious and meaningless as you can reasonably give the area’s surroundings via the picture.

Also, take care that you use a video transition to make your video look more engaging and well-connected. You can also film your loved ones enjoying the beach waves, your parents dancing or any other funny moments that will help you relive those memories later. 

Try to Get Some Variety in Your Videos. 

Give your vacation videos some variety (how you film them and what you are trying to shoot) to make them seem less like a home film and more like a perfect documentary! For example, if you are on a family vacation in Spain or Mauritius, do not simply shoot stunning pictures of the equatorial panorama or video of your children making a sandcastle at the beach. 

Photo by Dave Hoefler on Unsplash

Furthermore, you must try to include a broad assortment of other images. Such as, tape selfies in front of an impressive background or a creative clip of the tides hitting against the coast. Or, simply a short clip of the seashell you found in the sand. In addition, building unconventional videos like these will assist you in better incorporating more details into your video and make it the perfect picture of your holiday.

Furthermore, it is advisable to shoot your video from diverse angles to make it look more engaging. It is where a drone or an action camera will come in handy since they can make it feasible to shoot from an aerial stance or even underwater.

Connect Your Videos in a Meaningful Way

This is likely one of the most difficult and time-consuming aspects, even when editing a travel video with the most seamless online video maker. Most family vacation videos look like random pictures and videos joined together with no meaning or narrative behind them, which is okay. However, if you plan to make a great travel video that you want to cherish for a lifetime, it is better to ensure that the video clips remain connected. 

The Bottom Line

To sum up, we can say that making beautiful videos is an art. And, you will need some time to master it, just like any other art. It is more like a trial and error process that concerns experimenting and failures. So when you want to create stunning videos of your family vacation, never be afraid to experiment. Grab your camera at any moment that seems crucial for you and your loved ones. And, record your emotions to relive them later.

This is a Guest Post.

The post How to Make An Amazing Travel Video From Your Family Vacation? appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hey guys, I am sure you must have heard about Airbnb. But if you have not yet experienced an Airbnb stay and want to know more about it, you are in the right place. Today, I want to share our reasons why we think that families should book an Airbnb rather than a hotel for their stay.

Airbnb is a worldwide online platform where travelers connect with the property owners for booking a Bed & Breakfast. It was founded to allow people to rent out their free home space or the whole apartment to travelers at a cheaper rate than a hotel. One can simply list their property with Airbnb and become a host. And, start hosting travelers from around the world. It is becoming one of the most popular stay options among all kind of travelers.

5 Reasons Why You Should Book an Airbnb

So, here are our 5 reasons why we feel that families traveling with kids should book an Airbnb for their stay.

1- Airbnb is cheaper and better than a hotel 

Yes, you read it right. Staying at an Airbnb is cheaper than staying at a hotel. It also depends on what type of accommodation you are looking for. Even if you book a luxury villa with a private pool, it will cost you less than booking a luxury suite at a 5-star hotel. Don’t believe me, check out yourself.

I really find it a great option if you are on a budget trip or you are on a long vacation. We booked a 2 bedroom villa in Krabi, Thailand for 4 nights and it was the cheapest yet best option we could find. And, it was beautiful. You can check my Instagram highlights for stories from Thailand. I have even shared a villa tour in stories, do check it out.

2- You, not just get a room but also a living room and outdoor sitting area and much more

So, the best thing about an Airbnb is that you get a home to stay. And, you have the liberty to choose what kind of a home you want to book. It can be a villa, cottage, apartment, bungalow or just a private room.

Orange County Cottages, Mukteshwar

We booked Orange County Cottages at Mukteshwar which had 2 bedrooms, living room, kitchen, outdoor sitting area, and a small garden. And, that too at almost half the price of the hotel. We even got our personal cook who was also the caretaker of the property.

The living room at Orange County Cottage, Mukteshwar

You can never get such spacious accommodation and that homely feel at a hotel or resort. So, when you are on a vacation with your children, you want them to be free, comfortable and happy.

3- You can cook your own meals if you stay at an Airbnb

As I mentioned above, many of the Airbnb homes have a kitchen for the guests. This is one of my personal favorite of the reasons why I would recommend Airbnb to families. So, when you are traveling with children especially babies and toddlers you worry a lot about their food.

You may also read – How to manage Food for Babies & Toddlers while Traveling?

The kitchen space at Family Lux Villa, Krabi

I remember during our Goa trip, it was a huge task to arrange food for Nemit. I wished if I could get a small space in the resort’s kitchen to prepare no salt no sugar healthy meals for my baby. But at an Airbnb, you won’t face any such issue.

Would you believe if I tell you that we didn’t spend even a single penny on food during our 4 days at Family Lux Villas, Krabi?

4- You feel like staying at home away from home

We have never felt so comfortable during our stays on a vacation ever. During both our Airbnb stays we never felt that we are away from home. I really like the filter option on Airbnb where you can select what all facilities and amenities you want for your stay. And you get the options best matching with your requirements.

The caretaker at Orange County Cottages with his son and Nemit

If the property is small, there will usually be only the hosts or a caretaker who will look after your stay. While at a bigger property, you can expect the hosts as well as some staff at the property.

5- The hosts of the property go out of their way to make your stay memorable

Now that most of the properties are small and are meant only for a few people, you get personal treatment from them. If you are lucky to meet the hosts, they can recommend some really great places to explore nearby. When we were in Mukteshwar, our host was not there. But he made sure to keep in touch with us over message and call. While in Krabi, our hosts were so humble and down to earth that we never felt like an outsider there.

You need to stay at an Airbnb to actually experience the beauty of a home far away from home!

And, now for all my readers, here’s an invitation link to sign up at Airbnb. Click below & avail the amazing offer!

Click here to Sign up!

By using this link you will get INR 2200 off your first booking. How cool is that? Just download their app, sign up using our link, get the credit, browse and book a homestay for your family vacation.

I hope you liked this post and found it helpful. If you have any doubts or questions, you can write them down in the comments below. And, I will try to answer them to the best of my knowledge. That’s all for today!

Today is Day 25 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘Y’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen Y for You. 

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One thing which I keep hearing from parents is that traveling with kids is hard. Of course, it’s difficult, kids are an added responsibility on vacation when what we actually want to do is rejuvenate and have a stress-free time.

Last year we traveled a lot with our toddler. To be precise, we visited 8 new destinations in 12 months. It included almost all types of travel, road trip, weekend getaway, adventure trip, train travel, long flights, beaches, hill stations, plains almost everything except international travel.

Some of the trips were 7-10 days long and were quite hectic. But thanks to our love for traveling and superb planning skills (not exaggerating), we made the best out of all those travels. So, today I will be sharing some of our tried and tested tips to make family travel with kids stress-free and a lot more fun.

You may want to read – Top 5 Travel Essentials when Traveling with a Toddler!

5 Tips to make traveling with kids a fun family affair

1- Clear out the misconceptions

The biggest misconception most parents have even before taking a vacation is-

• traveling with kids is the most difficult thing to do.
• Or, you should not travel with babies, it’s a lot more work.
• And, of course, toddlers can make your life hell on a vacation with their tantrums.

NOT TRUE AT ALL!!! 

• Traveling with kids can be a little difficult but it is so much fun. If you will look closely, kids teach us the actual meaning of having fun.
• I found traveling with a baby much easier. You may need to carry a few extra things but that’s all, your baby won’t even put his preferences.
• We have traveled the most with our toddler, 3 international trips and 14 trips within the country in the last 2 years.

Com’on guys, traveling is not that difficult with kids, it just needs a bit of preparation & planning. So, before planning a vacation, make sure you clear out all such misconceptions. Also, stop listening to people who discourage you from traveling with a child.

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2- Proper planning is the key

I always put a lot of emphasis on planning and it is actually an umbrella term & covers a lot many aspects of traveling. It includes planning trip itineraries, booking hotel stays, making checklists of what to pack, finalizing day trips, deciding activities for kids, etc. And, if it is your first trip with your child, then planning plays the most important role.

You may also read – What to pack for keeping your toddler engaged while traveling?

A well-planned trip can turn your first travel experience with your kids into the best experience of your life. Our first ever road trip to Amritsar with Nemit (then 2-month-old) was a blunder due to lack of proper planning. But we learned from our mistakes and our next trip to Goa with Nemit (when 7-month-old) turned out to be super fun & we even extended it by 4 more days.

If you are not sure about traveling with your child, try taking a day trip or a weekend trip. You will get to know the problems and you can plan better for longer trips.

3- Follow a schedule & keep it simple

Young children usually have a set day & night schedule. Nemit wakes up every day around 5-6 am, he has a set meal time, school time, afternoon nap time, park time, family time, reading time & of course bedtime. It is very rare that he does things out of his routine. Although the schedule has become a lot more flexible now that he’s 3+, it was quite stringent from 6 months to almost 36 months. And, that schedule helped us a lot in planning things accordingly while on a vacation.

The most common mistake which parents do is not following this schedule. Instead of planning things as per their child’s routine, they make the child adjust to their plan. This obviously will lead to tantrums in toddlers & crankiness in babies.

4- Keep ample time for free play

Kids have a huge reserve of energy which if not burnt out can turn them into deadly volcanoes. And, you would not want that volcano to erupt while you are on a vacation. So make sure that you provide them ample free play time to burn off all their energy.

You can take them to the pool or to the kids’ play area. Each parent can take turns to keep a watch while the other takes a break. Or, better you join your child’s play. Nothing can make them more happy to see their parents spend time them.

5- A family vacation is a family vacation! 

Another very important point is to enjoy a family vacation like a family vacation only. You can’t expect thrills of traveling with a group of friends out of your family vacation. It’s not that traveling with family can’t be thrilling, it’s the expectations which can ruin the things.

I have seen a few families in which taking care of the child is solely a mother’s responsibility. Now, I can understand how that would feel to the mother on a vacation. She’s still doing everything which she does at home whereas her husband is in full vacay mode, enjoying & relaxing.

And, I have also seen children too attached to their mothers that they don’t let the father do anything for them. Both these situations have something wrong in it.

There’s a dire need for equal parenting here. When both partners work together in raising a child only then they can truly enjoy family bonding. I know I’ve diverted from the topic but it is one of the major reasons for parents, not taking up family vacations. Think about it!

Well, that’s all for now. See you guys tomorrow with another post.

I would love to hear your views on this. Write them down in the comments below. And, if you feel someone needs to read this post or it can be helpful for somebody, do click on the share buttons below.

Today is Day 20 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘T’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen T for Traveling. 

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Happy Monday guys. Today, I am feeling so elated which is an unusual Monday mood. But what to do, I am just so happy. And, the reason is successfully covering 3 major offbeat destinations in the last 3 weeks. And, today I will be sharing some perfect summer vacation ideas for families. But before that here’s a little overview of what all I shared in the last 20 days.

We started Week 1 with the Andaman Islands, took you to one of the most exotic beaches in the extreme North and to the most adventurous expedition to the Middle Andaman.

I chose to write about our Kashmir Trip in Week 2 and shared our stories from Gulmarg and Pahalgam.

Week 3 was full of unplanned and unexpected adventures in Meghalaya. From trekking down breathtaking waterfalls to an expedition to the deep dark cave and then finally unplanned camping by the riverside.

I had a wonderful time writing down our family’s experience and expeditions and hope you too enjoyed reading those. Let’s start with our post for today.

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Summers are here and soon schools will be closing up for holidays. I know that is actually the most difficult time of the year for parents when they are clueless about how to keep their kids happily engaged at home. And to overcome the boredom of their kids, many parents look for options of a family vacation.

But, the lack of ideas for a perfect vacation many times results in no vacation at all. Hey, not to worry, I am here to take away all your woes and share some amazing summer vacation ideas.

5 Perfect Summer Vacation Ideas for Families in India

1- Plan a weekend getaway to a nearby hill station

This is my favorite option for summer holidays. It gets too hot in summers and there can’t be a better option than holidaying in the hills. You can either plan a one night trip over the weekend or add 2 more days and make it an extended weekend holiday. The choice is yours.

Another reason why I like these short weekend trips is that we don’t have to worry about taking extra leaves from office. This, in turn, means you can literally plan 2-3 budget trips in a month. Here, the family is happy & your summers are sorted.

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Some option for hill station getaways from Delhi/NCR- 

1. Auli
2. Kasol
3. Shimla
4. Manali
5. Kasauli
6. Kausani
7. Nainital
8. Dalhousie
9. Mussoorie
10. Lansdowne
11. Mukteshwar
12. Dharamshala

2- Go for a relaxing beach holiday

Who doesn’t like going on a beach holiday? Ask me and am always ready for a relaxing rejuvenating beach vacation. Again you have the liberty to choose how many days you want to spend on the beach. Some like to plan for 2 nights over the weekend and some like it long stretching over the week.

When it comes to traveling with babies or toddlers, many prefer a beach vacation over a hill station simply because there are more options for children to have fun at the beach. Either it’s spending time in the pool or playing in the sand by the beachside, nothing can beat a beach vacation.

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Some options for relaxing beach holidays-

1. Puri beach, Odisha
2. Gokarna, Karnataka
3. Paradise beach, Pondicherry
4. Kovalam, Varkala, Marari in Kerala
5. Morjim, Arambol, Manderm in Goa
6. Radhanagar beach, Andaman Islands

3- Plan an adventure trip with family

If you are a family of adventure lovers just like us then probably you would look out for adventure summer vacation ideas. Now depending upon the days you want to travel, you can make it a short weekend trip or a long vacation. So, here are our top picks for adventure trips.

Some adventure summer vacation ideas-

1. Jungle Safari at Jim Corbett, Ranthambore National Park or Kaziranga National Park
2. Riverside camping at Dawki or at Rishikesh
3. Trekking in the mountains or jungle or to the waterfalls
4. Water sports like snorkeling, jet ski, banana boat ride, speed boat ride, etc.
5. Go for Gondola ride in Gulmarg, Kashmir
6. Explore caves at Baratang in Andaman, at Nainital or at Cherrapunjee.

4- Explore a new destination

Another best option is to plan a week-long holiday to a completely new destination. This is another great option to try with kids, they love exploring new places. You get to learn so much about the people and their lifestyle. It provides amazing learning opportunities for school kids as well.

You simply have to pick up a location, do some research, plan an itinerary, book the flights and hotels and voila! You are good to go.

Some of the places for a week-long summer vacation-

1. Goa
2. Kerala
3. Sikkim
4. Ladakh
5. Kashmir
6. Meghalaya
7. Andaman Islands

5- Be a tourist in your own city, plan a staycation

This type of vacation has become very popular in recent times. If there are any travel restrictions due to health, budget, time or any other reason just go for a staycation. It is also a great option if you have not explored your own city. It provides you an amazing opportunity to know your city better.

You just need to find a perfect hotel for your stay, pack your bags and shift to that hotel for a few days. Enjoy life like a tourist, explore new places in your city, try new foods and simply have fun.

So, these are some summer vacation ideas from my kitty which I am sure will work for your family as well. Then what are you waiting for guys, the holidays are not so far. Plan soon and have a great time with your loved ones.

That’s all for now, see you guys tomorrow with another travel post. Until then take care.

Today is Day 19 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘S’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen S for Summer. 

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You may read all my posts under BlogchatterA2Z here!

The post 5 Perfect Summer Vacation Ideas for Families in India appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hello friends! Today I will share our experience of visiting one of the most charming waterfalls in Cherrapunjee.

If you remember in my post on natural wonders in Meghalaya, I had mentioned about 6 breathtaking waterfalls in Shillong, Mawsynram, and Cherrapunjee. Although we visited Meghalaya in November, the beauty of these falls was unmatched and truly magical. Sometimes, it is not only the destination but also the journey which leaves an everlasting impact on the soul. One such journey was to the Wah Kaba waterfalls in Cherrapunjee.

We at Mawkdok Dympep Viewpoint

It was the same day when we explored the offbeat Arwah cave. On our way to Cherrapunjee, Wah Kaba falls were our second destination after visiting Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint. We were not sure what to expect as it was not part of our itinerary. But at the ticket counter, we came to know that it will require a 30 min trek downhill to reach the actual falls. The idea of trekking on a beautiful day was enough to fill us up with excitement.

Entrance to Wah Kaba Falls

Hike down to Wah Kaba Falls – One of the Best Waterfalls in Cherrapunjee

It was a beautiful winter morning, the sun was shining bright but we could feel a nip in the air. After buying tickets to the falls, we packed a small bag with some essential items. We kept a water bottle, an extra pair of clothes & diaper for Nemit, a box of snacks, a small pack of wipes, and a few tissue papers. We had no idea how tiring the trek may get or how much time we might take, so we went prepared.

Here are 5 simple packing hacks for traveling with kids!

As soon as we entered the gate, we saw a flight of stairs without any boundaries or side railings going down the hill. That sight was spine chilling, we held Nemit’s hand tightly to avoid any mishap. After walking down a bit, the path got narrowed and we were now walking by the hillside and could see the whole valley on the other side.

Within a few minutes, the whole valley got covered with clouds blurring our vision. However, we kept moving, taking in all the beauty around. We couldn’t take many pictures while going down since the path was a little dangerous. We had to stay vigilant and alert all the time with Nemit.

The Viewpoint

After walking down for 15 mins, we reached the first viewpoint. It was built on the edge of the cliff and we could see till the bottom of the valley which was quite deep. It looked scary at first but then it seemed fine. A few steps ahead we saw a small waterfall which was almost dry.

The small waterfall on the way

We were a little disappointed to see that ordinary fall thinking it to be the main falls. We sat there for some time, clicked pictures & then prepared to move back.

Near the small waterfall

Just then we heard some voice coming from the opposite side. We turned and moved a little ahead & saw another path leading further down the hill. Curiously, we asked the boys who were clicking selfies there and came to know that we need to hike down further to reach the main falls. Excitedly, we thanked them and continued our hike.

Just after 15-20 mins, we reached the main falls. Although the Wah Kaba falls were almost dry, that location was breathtakingly gorgeous.

Wah Kaba Falls

We spent more than an hour at the falls. We sat down on the big rock and imagined the magical beauty of the fall when in full flow.

Nemit enjoyed playing in the water which was flowing through the crevices in the rock. We clicked pictures from every angle possible. There was only one more couple at the falls, it seemed like our own private waterfall. 

Having a fun time

The most striking part of the falls was the edge of the cliff where one can stand and have a look at the bottom of the falls. Not to worry, it is guarded by a railing but definitely not safe for kids. Keep your kids far from the cliff and never let them go out of sight even for a second.

After spending some magical time there, we prepared to move back. It took us almost double time to trek back to the top. We were overjoyed at creating such beautiful memories to cherish for a lifetime.

Trek back to the top

Few points to keep in mind while visiting Wah Kaba waterfalls in Cherrapunjee

• Walk slow and rest in between.
• Wear comfortable shoes, avoid wearing sandals or heels.
• Stay hydrated.
• Keep the child in the center and towards the hillside.
• Try to reach early to avoid the crowd.
• Do carry something to eat (snacks)
• Even if the temperature is warm, carry a jacket.
• Don’t litter and take the empty packets & water bottles with you.
• The path may become slippery during rains, avoid going with small kids.
• Trek back may seem tiring due to the steep climb. Keep ample time in hand.

Tired after the trek

So, that’s our beautiful memory of Wah Kaba waterfalls in Cherrapunjee. Hope you liked reading our experience.

Have you visited Wah Kaba falls? How was your experience? Tell me in the comments below.

Bye for now, see you tomorrow for our last post on Meghalaya!

Today is Day 16 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘Q’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen Q for Quick Guide. 

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The post Waterfalls in Cherrapunjee – A Quick Guide to Visiting Wah Kaba Falls appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hello everyone, hope you all are doing great! Today, I will be sharing some of my travel packing hacks that I have learned from my worst packing mistakes over the years. And, these hacks have helped me save my sanity on our trips with our toddler. How? Read on…

The travel planning and preparation does not stop at booking a perfect child-friendly hotel or finalizing the trip itinerary. The next big step is to pack your bags wisely so that it doesn’t become a burden later on. No one likes to pull super heavy and large trolley bags when you have a baby or a toddler traveling with you. That’s just can’t happen.

We usually start our packing with making a packing list, which then leads to a to-do list and a purchase list, and finally to a checklist.

TIP – 1

Before making a packing list, ask these questions to yourself-

• Is it a weekend trip or a long trip?
• For how many days you will be traveling?
• How many hotels you will be staying at?
• Temperature and weather conditions at the destination?
• How much baggage weight the flight allows to carry?

=> For a weekend trip, we only pack 1 medium size trolley bag and 1 backpack

=> For a week-long trip, we usually pack 2 medium size trolley bags and 2 backpacks

TIP – 2

Travel Packing Hacks. What to Pack?

Now while keeping the above pointers in mind, start making the master packing list. You may add more items to the below list.

Main categories –

• Clothes
• Footwear
• Snacks
• Toys
• First Aid kit/Medicine box
• Toiletries/Make up kit
• Electronics
• Essential documents
• Extras

TIP – 3

Next step is very crucial but generally, we avoid doing that. Making subcategories of the above-listed items. We tend to think that we can recall all the items by just looking at the main categories. Whether you have a really good memory power or you are another version of Ghajini (Bollywood movie), take 15 minutes out of your schedule and write down the subcategories. Trust me, having this list will make your task 10x simpler on the final day.

Sub-categories- 

1- Clothes

• T-shirts/shirts/dresses
• Shorts
• Pants
• Innerwear/diapers
• Socks/caps/gloves (for winter vacation)
• Swimwear (for summer vacation)

2- Footwear

• Flipflops
• Shoes

3- Snacks

• Dry snacks
• Juice packets

4- In-flight/In-car/In-train entertainment

• Books
• Activity sheets
• Favorite Toy

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5- Medicine Box (travel sized kit)

• Basic medicines
• Prescribed medicines along with the prescription
• Thermometer
• ORS & Eno sachets

6- Toiletries/make up kit (travel sized kit)

• Soap/shower gel
• Shampoo/conditioner
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Laundry soap/liquid
• Moisturizer/Sunscreen
• Swimming pool essentials
• Makeup essentials (I keep only lip balm & lipstick)

7- Electronics

• Mobile phone
• Charger/power bank
• Camera
• Earphone/Headphone

8- Essential documents

• Passport (if traveling Internationally) & Visa (if applicable)
• ID cards or driving license if you plan to hire a bike/car & self-drive
• Photocopies of flight booking, hotel booking, etc.

9- Extras

• Diapers
• Hand sanitizer
• Wipes
• Tissue papers
• Candies/chocolates for difficult times

TIP – 4

Once the list is ready, you will get an idea of what all things you need to arrange and what all you have to buy. At this stage, you can prepare your purchase list or a simple to-do list and stick it at a place where it is clearly visible. And start collecting items at a single place.

TIP – 5

Once you have arranged all the things as per the above list, the next big step is putting all the main items in the trolley bag. We usually pack our big bags 2-3 days prior to our trip or even early if it’s possible. And, pack our backpacks a day before the trip since all the last minute things go in the backpack.

Keep ticking off the items which you have added to the bags. And, now you will be left with your checklist i.e. the things which are yet to be placed in the bags. These are the important things that we collect at the last moment from every corner of the house. But with the checklist in hand, it won’t take more than a minute to do that.

Now that you have applied the packing hacks and are almost done with your packing. You realize something is not right. We all tend to do certain packing mistakes which are easily avoidable. So, here are the 6 packing mistakes you should avoid.

6 Worst packing mistakes you need to avoid when traveling with kids-

1- Carrying a handbag instead of a backpack (best packing hacks)

I have seen many parents carrying a heavy handbag at the airport and running behind the kids. Please think wisely when you are traveling with a baby or a toddler. You will need your hands to be free to attend to your kids rather than handling a big handbag. If you want to maintain the style quotient then select a stylish bag which can be used in multiple ways, a handbag, sling bag or a backpack.

2- Don’t overpack clothes & footwear

During our first couple of trips when Nemit was a baby, we did the mistake of packing a lot of clothes with matching footwear, socks, and caps. No need to do that. Pack stuff which goes with everything and can be mix matched.

• Just pack one outfit per day and 2 extra outfits for the whole trip.
• If you are traveling to a summer destination, carry lightweight outfits. You can easily wash them if need be.
• If you are traveling to a colder place, pack dark color clothes. Carry no more than 2 jackets.
• If possible pack only 1 pair of shoes and 1 pair of flipflops. Avoid carrying heavy shoes.
• If you plan to do some shopping, you can always cut down 1 or 2 outfits per person while packing.

3- Don’t pack all the toys or books

• Never do this mistake. You will not like to see your child playing with toys or gadgets rather than enjoying nature and scenery.
• Let them get bored, they will find games to keep themselves engaged.
• Just carry 1 favorite toy, 1 storybook, and a few activity sheets to keep them busy while on a flight or waiting at the airport.

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4- Don’t pack perishable food items

• Don’t keep juice packets in your trolley bag when taking a flight. They may puff due to air pressure and leak inside the bag.
• Avoid packing too many perishable food items. Instead, keep a lot of dry snacks for munching during your trip. Or pack some sandwiches for immediate hunger. We usually keep a lot of snacks in one backpack which gets empty by the end of our trip. And, which can then be used to pack extra stuff like shopping items etc.

5- Not checking the essential documents

• Check your passport and other essential documents for any damage before booking your trip. This was one of our worst mistakes ever. My mom’s passport got damaged unknowingly, the last page lamination came off which we were informed by the check-in staff at the airport. It was then too late for us to take any action and my mom had to cancel her flight and go back.
• Always keep digital or hard copies of your marriage certificate and your child’s birth certificates.

6- Not keeping enough photographs

• You will need passport size photographs for the visa.
• Even if you are traveling nationally, it’s always wise to keep a few pp size photographs of all family members.

So, that’s all for today. Hope you found these tips helpful. Do share this post with your friends and family.

Today is Day 16 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘P’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen P for Packing hacks. 

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You may read all my posts under BlogchatterA2Z here!

The post 5 Simple Packing Hacks for Traveling with Kids appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hello friends, today I am writing my 6th post on Andaman (thanks to #BlogchatterA2Z). And, this is also going to be the last one for this month. In my previous 5 posts, I have shared about all the places that we visited in North, Middle and South Andaman. I tried to share the maximum information to help you plan your trips better. And, in today’s post, I will be sharing 80 fun things to do in Andaman with family.

I have noticed that not many articles talk about traveling with kids especially in India. And, I really don’t understand why? I mean parents also deserve to travel, enjoy, and explore places, isn’t? Ok, I know many of you will say that it’s not easy to travel with kids. But, you can always plan kid-friendly holidays!

Let’s look at it this way, I had a difficult pregnancy & the labor was quite painful. It was not easy. The first 6 months were horrendous, I suffered from postpartum depression, it was not easy. It was not easy to keep a watch on a toddler who had just started walking. And, it was not at all easy to settle my son in a playschool. I had to sit outside his class for a whole month. I don’t even want to mention toddler tantrums. Nothing is easy!

It may be difficult to travel with kids because there are not enough means to make them comfortable. When a baby cries on a plane, parents are frowned upon by fellow passengers as if they have never seen a crying baby. One of my old colleagues (she was not a parent then) told me that parents should give some kind of medicine to their cranky kids so that they doze off during the flight.

This was the most disgusting advice I got on parenting. I have just one thing to say to such people. If you get so uncomfortable with kids around, you should consider booking a private jet for yourself or else, consider staying at home!

Well, I don’t want to divert from the topic but I really wish that parents ditch this thinking. If you really enjoy traveling or going on vacations or adventure holidays, you should keep doing that. Being a parent should not stop you from doing what you love!

Traveling is a therapy for the mind, body, and soul. And it works the same with everyone & benefits every age group!

Ok, coming back to the topic. In my previous posts, I have shared about the places that we visited & the things we did when we were in Andaman. But that’s not all about it. There’s a whole lot of fun things to do in Andaman. And, I am writing down all those things below. I am not going into details but I will leave the source links below since this list is experience plus research based.

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80 Fun Things to Do in Andaman

1- Explore South, Middle & North Andaman. Check out the 10D/9N Andaman Itinerary.

2- Port Blair City Tour

3- Attend Beach Festival at Corbyn Cove Beach

4- Sunset at Munda Pahar Beach

5- Take a cruise to Havelock/Neil Island

6- Play with waves at Radhanagar Beach

7- Take a bus ride in Havelock Island

8- Trek to the Elephant Beach with family

9- Try Adventure Activities

10- Sea Walk at Elephant Beach

11- Eat Sambhar Rice with the Locals

12- Shop at Port Blair Market

13- Attend the Light & Sound Show at Cellular Jail

14- Visit the ruins at Viper Island

15- Take a Journey to the Limestone Caves at Baratang

16- Know about Jarwah Tribe

17- Take a Vehicle Ferry to cross a Strait

18- Enjoy the Speed Boat Ride

19- Take a Boat through the Mangrove Creeks

20- Snorkeling at Elephant Beach

21- Swim at Amkunj Beach

22- Take the Dhani Nallah Mangrove Nature Walkway

23- Enjoy the scenery at Dhani Nallah Beach

24- Visit Turtle Nesting Grounds

25- Stay overnight at Rangat/Mayabunder

26- Experience the Village life at Diglipur

27- Visit the Mud Volcanoes

28- Trek to the highest peak in the Andaman – Saddle Peak

29- Explore the Alfred Caves in North Andaman

30- Watch the sunrise at the beach

31- Visit the Best Beach in Andaman – Radhanagar Beach

32- Take a Boat to Ross & Smith Islands

33- Walk on the sandbar connecting Twin Islands

34- Visit Neil Island

35- Explore Kalapathar Beach

36- Go Scuba Diving

37- Take a Glass Bottom Boat Ride

38- Watch the turtles at Smith Island

39- Walk down the corridor at Cellular Jail

40- Try water sports at Jolly Bouy Island

Things to Do in Andaman

41- Explore an old British Church at Ross Island

42- Boat ride to Viper Island

43- Swim with the fishes at North Bay

44- Take a semi-submarine ride – Coral Safari

45- Trek to Munda Pahar

46- Relax & Unwind on Smith Island

47- Take a long walk on the beach

48- Stay near the beach in a Beach Resort

49- Watch the Turtles at night on Kalipur Beach

50- Go Fishing

51- Play Beach VolleyBall

52- Walk at Marina Park

53- Take an Island Hopping Tour

54- Book a private cruise

55- Click some Instagrammable pictures

56- Take Ferry Rides

57- Book a Seaplane/Helicopter ride

58- Interact with the locals

59- Go on a jungle ride through Jarwah Reserve Forest

60- Show your kids the beauty of India

61- Take an overnight cruise

62- Try the local food

63- Visit the Long Island

64- Relax in an eco-hut at the beachside

65- Trek to the Kalipur Beach at night

66- Relax under the Mohwa trees at Radhanagar Beach

67- Hire a scooter to explore new places

68- Try oranges at Diglipur

69- Stay at a government resort

70- Don’t miss the sunrise at the beach

71- Have lunch at The Mohwa (restaurant at Radhanagar Beach)

72- Visit Parrot Island at Baratang

73- Visit the waterfall at Long Island

74- Bird watching at Chidiyatapu

75- If you want to know the History of Andaman & Nicobar Islands, then you can’t miss the museums in Port Blair

76- Witness Bioluminescence at Havelock Island

77- Ride a banana boat at Elephant Beach

78- Go Dolphin watching in Lalji Bay

79- Visit the only active volcano of Andaman in Barren Island

80- Do check out water sport activities at Rajiv Gandhi Water Sports Complex

So, that’s the list of all the things to do in Andaman. If I missed something, do mention that below and I will update the list. Hope you liked the post. Don’t forget to share it!

Today is Day 6 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘F’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen F for Family. 

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Below are the reference links if you want to get details to any of these activities.

www.experienceandamans.com

www.traveltriangle.com

www.thrillophilia.com

www.tripadvisor.in

The post 80 Things to Do in Andaman Islands with Family appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hi friends, hope you are enjoying the travel posts this month. Today, I am going to share our experience of visiting the Limestone Caves at Baratang Island in Middle Andaman. This is one experience you should definitely gift your children if visiting the Andaman Islands. And, I am damn sure your kids will have a wonderful time during the Baratang excursion.

You may also want to read – Andaman Trip Itinerary (9N/10D)!

If I will only talk about the caves at Baratang, that would sound quite boring to you. Because here the journey to the destination is more exciting than the destination itself. The Baratang excursion to reach the limestone caves is what makes the whole experience enriching for kids as well as adults.

Nemit playing outside the Limestone cave

This journey starts from Port Blair passing through the thick jungles in a convoy of vehicles and crossing the strait on a vehicle ferry to finally taking the speed boat which sails through the mangrove creeks & drops you near the limestone caves from where one needs to walk through the fields to finally reach the caves.

Source- Google Maps

Baratang Island connects the South Andaman to the Middle Andaman. And it is known for it’s natural wonders and the thick tropical & mangrove forests. 

Sadly, there is very little information available online especially for tourists traveling with young children & senior citizens. Hence, I will try to share as much useful information as I could in this post based on our experience and some research.

How to reach the Caves at Baratang Island?

First, you need to decide whether you want to do a full day tour or stay overnight at Baratang. Or, if you want to go further to the North Andaman.

Since we had planned to explore Diglipur in North Andaman, we decided to visit the caves on our way back. Check option 3 below.

Basically, there are 4 options-

• Option 1- The easiest one is to book a full day tour from some trusted travel agent. It starts at 4 am from Port Blair & ends around 5 pm when they drop you back to your hotel. I will not recommend this if you are traveling with young children since it will get too tiring for everyone. You can consider this option if your kids are 5+ in age. Check out the route below-

Source- Google Maps

Port Blair -> Jirkatang check post -> Jarwah Reserve Forest -> Middle Strait Jetty -> Baratang Island -> Baratang Jetty -> Limestone Caves at Baratang

• Option 2-  is to book a personal cab & stay overnight at Baratang Island. And return back to Port Blair on the next day. Recommended. But it will be costly. Also, it will depend on hotel availability since there are only a few hotels in Baratang.

• Option 3- if you are going further north, visit the caves while returning back. You will need to stay overnight either at Mayabunder/Rangat/Baratang on your way back from North Andaman. Recommended. But since it’s a long journey, it may get tiring for kids.

Source- Google Maps

Port Blair -> Jirkatang check post -> Jarwah Reserve Forest -> Middle Strait Jetty -> Baratang Island -> Rangat -> Mayabunder -> Diglipur

• Option 4- is to visit the caves en route to North Andaman & make an overnight halt at Rangat/Mayabunder. And, again stop overnight at Rangat/Baratang while returning back. Recommended if you have some extra days in hand. In case you are covering only the Middle & North Andaman then this will suit the itinerary best.

The total distance from Port Blair to Diglipur is about 300 Km which can take up to 12-14 hrs if you are traveling with kids.

We did a mistake by covering South, Middle & North Andaman in 10 days. It got too hectic by the end of the trip. It would have been better if we’d planned 2 separate trips. One for South Andaman and another for Middle & North Andaman.

You may also want to read – The Best Beach to Visit with Kids in Havelock Island!

Things you must know before visiting the Limestone Caves at Baratang Island

• All tours start from Port Blair.

• All the vehicles need to stop at Jirakatang check post to get a permit to enter the Jarwah reserve forest. (You don’t need to worry about the permit, your driver/tour agent will arrange that for you).

Vehicles lined up at Jirkatang check post

Port Blair to Jirkatang check post – 42 Km

• If you plan to travel by a private cab, you can book a hotel near to Jirakatang check post. We had booked Ixzire Resort which is 30 mins from Port Blair. By booking this hotel we saved some time in the morning.

Ixzire Resort to Jirkatang check post – 20 Km

• The Jarwah reserve forest starts from Jirakatang check post & stretches up to 49km & ends at the Middle Strait Jetty.

• All the vehicles leave in convoy from Jirakatang check post. Each convoy has a bus in the front with 1-2 armed policemen inside. This experience of passing through the dense forest was quite exhilarating.

• There are 4 convoys throughout the day (6 am, 9 am, 12 pm, 2.30 pm).

• If you miss the convoy, you can’t enter the Jarwah reserve forest. So, take note of these times & plan your visit accordingly. No person or vehicle is allowed to stop once inside the reserve.

• Jarwah are the tribal people of Baratang Island who are completely cut off from the outer world.

• Taking pictures or interacting with Jarwah tribe is not allowed & is a punishable offense. Though interacting with tribal people was not allowed, we were hoping to catch a glimpse & we did. But we made sure not to take their pics or startle them with our actions. They are humans just like us living in a different habitat.

• Once you reach the Middle Strait Jetty, you need to wait for the vehicle ferry to cross a strait & reach the Baratang Island. It takes only 15 mins to cross the strait.

Vehicle ferry in the background at Middle strait jetty

• Once you are on the other side of the Jetty, you need to take a speed boat from there that will take you through the mangrove creek to Nayadera jetty. This is truly a mesmerizing journey of 45 mins through the dense tropical forest.

Speed boat from Baratang jetty to Nayadera jetty

Boat passing through mangrove creeks

• After getting down at the Nayadera jetty, you need to walk for 300 meters on a wooden bridge.

Wooden bridge

Taking the wooden walkway towards Limestone caves

• Once you cross the bridge, you need to walk further 300 meters through the fields and a small village to finally reach the limestone caves.

Walking through the fields

Walking through the village

The cave is not very big and the entrance is quite compact. But, once you are inside you feel the adrenaline rush looking at all the mesmerizing limestone formations.

Entrance to the Limestone Cave

Caves have always fascinated us. Although the whole journey seems tiresome the memories you take away from this journey makes the whole experience worthwhile.

Limestone formation

And, when you come out after exploring the cave, do try the refreshing lemon water villagers sell just outside the cave.

Lemon water stalls outside the cave

If you are traveling with kids or elderly (60+ age), please keep their requirements in mind. Don’t push them to try their limits & keep ample time in hand. Always have a Plan B ready in case the actual plan goes down. In short, be flexible!

You may also want to read – 7 Best Family Adventure Trips to plan with Kids!

Today is Day 3 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘C’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen C for Caves.

If you liked this post then do drop a comment below and don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family.

That’s all for today, see you tomorrow!

The post Visiting the Limestone Caves at Baratang with Kids – Things to know! appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hey guys, hope you all are doing good. Finally, the April is here and with this kick starts the most awaited #BlogchatterA2Z challenge. Today is Day 1 and that means the letter of the day is ‘A’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids‘ & I have chosen A for Andaman. In this post, I am going to share the Andaman Itinerary from our most loved trip to the Andaman Islands.

We planned this trip in Jan 2018 for Nemit’s 2nd birthday and it turned out to be one of our most memorable trips. It was a 10-day leisure cum adventure trip and the best part is Nemit’s both grandmothers were traveling with us. Yes, you can plan adventure trips with your kids and that’s not a big deal.

We tried to cover some of the amazing places from South, Middle, and North Andaman. And it took us around 30 days to plan it perfectly. Since it was my 2nd trip to the Andaman Islands, I had a fair idea of what all places we could give a pass & what all we wanted to include. However, I still feel 10 days were not enough to soak in the beauty of these islands.

Let’s start with the Andaman Itinerary (9N/10D)

When you decide to go on a trip with your kids, it’s important to start planning at least 15-20 days prior to your travel date. If you are planning a budget holiday, keep a watch on flight prices as these keep fluctuating. Also, when you shortlist the hotels, call them or drop them a mail with your travel dates and ask them their best price. Some hotels give amazing offers if you are staying for more than 2 nights or if you book directly with them.

Day 1- Delhi to Port Blair

We had an early morning flight from Delhi to Port Blair.

Delhi to Port Blair

During my 1st visit, I had covered all the main tourist places in & around Port Blair. I was sure no one would like to do a city tour or visit the old ruins or want to know the story behind the cellular jail with a toddler hanging around.

Hence, we skipped exploring the city altogether during this trip.

Stay at Kevin Homestay (www.kevinsandaman.com)

Place visited- Corbyn Cove Beach

Entrance to Beach Festival at Corbyn Cove Beach

Since we had no plans for the day, we decided to ask the owner about any happening nearby place to chill out. He told us about the ongoing Beach Festival at ‘Corbyn cove beach‘. It’s a nice beach to spend some time with family. However, during the festival, it was too crowded & the beach was not that clean.

Day 2- Port Blair to Havelock Island (name changed to Swaraj Dweep)

Next day, we had planned to go to Havelock Island which is the most visited island in the Andamans. Since our ferry was around 2 pm we decided to visit Munda Pahar Beach in Chidiya Tapu in the morning which was about 40 mins from Port Blair.

We at Munda Pahar

It’s an eco-friendly beach facility & a nice place to visit with kids. There are many eco-huts & wooden swings along the beachside. One can easily spend 3-4 hrs here, locals recommend to watch the sunset from this beach.

There are 2 ways to reach Havelock, by a Private Ferry (Makruzz/Green Ocean) or by a government ferry.

Nemit with his dad in Makruzz ship

We had booked a private ferry, Makruzz (http://www.makruzz.com/site/) which took around 1.5 hrs to reach Havelock Island. I will not recommend taking a government ferry when traveling with young kids.

Stay at Havelock Holiday Beach Resort (www.hhbr.in). I will share more details in a separate post.

Day 3- A visit to Radhanagar Beach

Next day, we decided to visit Radhanagar beach which is the most famous beach in Havelock Island. And, it is also known as one of the best beaches in Aisa. Details coming up soon in a separate post on Havelock Island.

Day 4- Trek to Elephant Beach

It was our last day in Havelock and we decided to try some adventure. We trekked to the Elephant beach which was one of the most exciting experiences we have ever had. We also did the sea walk. All details coming up in a separate post.

Day 5- Havelock Island to Port Blair

After spending 3 wonderful days in the South Andaman, it was time to explore the middle and North Andaman which are the least visited parts of the Andaman Archipelago. And I would recommend planning a visit to North Andaman as a separate itinerary and not to club it with South Andaman.

We spent the half day in transiting from Havelock to Port Blair and rest of the day in exploring the market at Port Blair, shopping some necessary items.

Port Blair to Ixzire Resort

Stay at Ixzire Resort (www.ixzire.com)

If you happen to plan a vacation for 5-6 days, then you can simply keep 2 days for Port Blair & rest of the days for Havelock Island. You can also visit another famous island ‘Neil Island‘ (name changed to Shaheed Dweep) for which ferry is available from Havelock as well as Port Blair. We skipped Neil since we had to cover North Andaman.

I will recommend visiting South Andaman if you are traveling with a baby or a toddler. If you have older kids and you like adventure, you should definitely plan for Middle & North Andaman. And if you are adventure junkies lovers like us, go ahead and take your toddler for the most exciting expedition to North Andaman.

Day 6- Port Blair to Diglipur

Diglipur is the largest town of the North Andaman Island. You can witness the laid back village life, people are very friendly and the food is simple yet tasty. It takes around 8-9 hrs to reach Diglipur by road. However, with kids, it may take up to 12-14 hrs. So, go prepared!

Port Blair (Ixzire Resort) to North Andaman (Diglipur)

There are many places of interest for adventure lovers such as Saddle peak (highest peak of Andaman & Nicobar Islands), Ross & Smith Islands (also known as the twin islands), Mud volcano, Alfred caves, Lamiya bay, Kalipur beach (famous for turtle nesting), etc.

Stay at Pristine Beach Resort (www.andamanpristineresorts.com)

Place visited – Amkunj Beach

I will share more details in another post.

Day 7- Ross & Smith Island & Kalipur Beach

Next day it was Nemit’s birthday and we had planned to visit Ross & Smith Islands.

Having fun at Ross & Smith Island, sandbar

You can read our whole experience of visiting Ross & Smith Islands here.

Day 8- Diglipur to Rangat

Unfortunately, we had only 2 days to spend in Diglipur, hence we couldn’t visit all the locations. It is still in our bucket list & we will plan a trip to North Andaman soon. Day 8, we decided to halt overnight at Rangat (in Middle Andaman) since we wanted to visit Baratang caves on the next day.

Stay at Priya International (the only stay option we could find in Rangat)

Dhani Nallah nature walkway in Rangat

Place visited- Dhani Nallah Nature Walkway & Beach 

Day 9- Rangat to Port Blair via Baratang

We wanted to explore the limestone caves at the Baratang Island hence we kept an extra day for that. One can also do the full day tour to Baratang caves from Port Blair if they are not going to the North Andaman.

Posing at the entrance of limestone caves at Baratang Island

All details coming up in a separate post.

Stay at Ripple Resort (www.rippleresort.com) at Port Blair.

Day 10- Port Blair to Delhi

This was our last day in Andaman and we had booked an afternoon flight to Delhi.

Andaman Itinerary. PIN IT!

So, that’s our Andaman Itinerary, this is also an overview of what all I will be sharing this week. So stay tuned and keep visiting my blog daily for some cool travel updates this April. And, if you are planning a trip with kids, this can be your go-to guide as well.

Thanks for reading, hope you liked this post and if you find this helpful, then please do share it with your friends and family. And, I would love to hear your views or experiences in the comments below.

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The post A- Andaman Itinerary – Traveling with Kids #BlogchatterA2Z appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hey guys, summers are around the corner and most of you must have already made plans for your summer vacation. Going on vacation as a single person or a couple is an entirely different thing to going on vacation as a family with young children. Parents worry about a lot of things. And when they are away from home in unfamiliar surroundings – no matter how lovely, and exciting those surroundings might be – it can make things feel even more stressful.

A family summer vacation is meant to be fun and enjoyable. So it’s important to think about your safety and that of your family ahead of time. Put into practice what needs to be done, and then enjoy the vacation itself. Here are some tips on what you can do.

You may also read- How to plan a kid-friendly holiday?

1- Research Your Destination

You might have an idea of where you want to take your family on summer vacation this year, but before you go ahead and book it, make sure you do your research first. Not only should you take a look at flights, car rental, hotels, and activities. But look deeper to see whether the place is a safe one to visit with children (or at all).

PIN IT! Image Source- Photo by rawpixel on Unsplash

The best way to do this is to read unbiased reviews from people who have actually been to the destination you are considering. What did they think? Did they feel safe? Did everyone enjoy themselves? If you’re not sure or the reviews aren’t good, it might be best to think of somewhere else to go. The world is a big place and there are sure to be plenty of destinations that will suit what you are looking for.

2- Invest In Anti-Theft Items

It’s a good idea to put everything you need for a day out on vacation into one bag. It saves everyone having to carry lots of things around with them. The problem, though, is that this one bag can then become a target for muggers and thieves. The answer is to buy an anti-theft backpack from Zoomlite. This way, no one will be able to slash open your bag and steal the contents. And, everything will remain safe and secure.

3- Have A Plan

Your kids will know not to wander off, but sometimes excitement or a large crowd can mean it happens anyway. It’s important to know what to do if you lose someone when you are out and about.

You may also read- Itinerary of Krabi, Thailand Trip!

PIN IT! Image Source- Photo by Xavier Mouton Photographie on Unsplash

The first thing to do is to ensure your contact details are with the child. This might be a piece of paper in a bag or pocket. Or it could be a wristband with all the relevant details on it. Secondly, take a photo of your kids in the morning. That way, if you need to let people know what they are wearing and what they look like, you have the most up to date photo possible. Next, once you arrive at your destination, look for an easy to find landmark. It might be a road sign, a café, a billboard, or anything else. Tell your kids that if they lose you, to head for that landmark. And you will do the same so you can meet one another there.

You may also read-  Itinerary of Meghalaya Trip!

It’s not something most parents will want to think about. But having a plan in place just in case and not needing one is better than needing a plan and not having one.

I hope you like this post and find it helpful in planning a safe vacation with your family. Do share this post with your friends and family!

The post Planning a Summer Vacation? 3 Essential Safety Tips for your Family appeared first on Growing With Nemit.