Whenever the summer heat gets unbearable all I dream of is escaping to the beautiful hills. We, North Indians are in so much love with nearby hill stations that many of us refer these as our summer home. We are soon going to enter the hottest months of this season. And all I can hear is the buzz around for planning a perfect weekend getaway from Delhi.

In fact, we are also in the vacation planning mode for the next month. It’s been 3 months since our last holiday. And, now we badly need a quick escape from all the city chaos and stress to recharge our mind & body. The other day I was discussing the options for a weekend trip with my husband. And, we were shortlisting the places we could consider for our little getaway.

But this time we ended up in an argument on where to go. And, this has happened for the first time that we were having clashing ideas for shortlisting a destination. I want to explore some new place in Himachal Pradesh this time whereas hubby dearest has his heart in Uttarakhand.

I reminded him of our last couple of hill vacations in Uttarakhand. To which he refreshed my memory of visiting Manali on last New Year’s Eve. Ok, but I don’t think that counts. It was too cold and we could not explore Manali at that time.

Where to go on a Weekend Family Trip? Himachal or Uttarakhand?

It’s not that I don’t like Uttarakhand, it is as dearest to me as Himachal. But Himachal is more lively and is full of adventures. I mean if I think of it now, I feel the choice of place depends on what kind of vacation you are looking for. As you know, I am a die-hard adventure lover and that’s my biggest calling while deciding a place to visit.

Pic from our Trip to Kausani

Sumit is also an adventure enthusiast but this time he’s looking for a leisure trip. And, he successfully convinced me for another weekend getaway from Delhi to Uttarakhand. I agreed only on one condition that we will stay at an Airbnb like our last family trip to Mukteshwar. I will be revealing the place in my Instagram stories next week so catch me there for all the fun.

Our weekend getaway is almost sorted. But if you are still confused about whether to go to Himachal or visit the unexplored Uttarakhand, check out the below points.

Pic from our Manali Trip in Himachal

• Why choose Himachal Pradesh as a perfect weekend getaway?

1- Himachal is undoubtedly a more developed state as compared to Uttarakhand with better infrastructure.

2- It is also the preferred choice of tourists due to the many facilities it offers to them.

3- The roads are much better from Delhi to Himachal as compared to roads leading to Uttarakhand.

4- Huge adventure opportunities for tourists of all ages.

5- There’s a wide variety of stay options in Himachal as compared to Uttarakhand.

Pic from our Mukteshwar Trip in Uttarakhand

• Why choose Uttarakhand as a perfect weekend getaway?

1- Uttarakhand is more serene and peaceful. It is an explorers delight as not many tourists are seen in this part.

2- People of Uttarakhand are extremely helpful & friendly.

3- Their hospitability is beyond comparison. They can go out of their way to make you feel comfortable.

4- Many hill stations are not yet commercialized & offers an unspoiled beauty to its visitors.

5- Garhwal and Kumaon hills of Uttarakhand are known to be the safest places in India. Hence, a perfect getaway option for solo travelers and families.

You may also read – Weekend Getaway to Kausani in Uttarakhand!

I hope I cleared up some confusion about where to go this summer holidays. So, what are your plans for a weekend getaway with the family? Do share with me in the comments below.

That’s all for now, see you guys tomorrow with another travel related post.

Today is Day 23 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘W’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen W for Weekend Getaway. 

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You may read all my posts under BlogchatterA2Z here!

Reference – https://www.quora.com/Which-is-a-better-state-Himachal-Pradesh-or-Uttarakhand

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Hey guys, today I want to share one of our most beautiful travel memories. It was our first ever train journey from Delhi to Udaipur with Nemit. And, as you know that firsts are always special, this journey holds a very special place in my heart.

It was my blog’s first anniversary in July 2018 & I was looking for ideas to make it special. The best way to celebrate it virtually was to do something online. To say thanks to my fellow bloggers I arranged a Summer Blog Train in which 24 bloggers participated and made it a success. And, to show gratitude towards my fans, friends, & followers, I planned 2 back to back mega-giveaways & they too were a hit.

At City Palace

Now it was time to celebrate the special day with my family, for that we planned a 3-night weekend getaway to Udaipur. While checking our options for transportation, we saw that a road trip was not a possibility since it was a drive of more than 12 hrs. Next, we checked the flights. Most of the flights under our budget were flying in the afternoon and we couldn’t afford to waste our half day in traveling for a 3-day trip.

Delhi to Udaipur – When & How we Planned?

We usually don’t consider train travel because Sumit (my husband) doesn’t like it. Since we were out of options traveling by train was our only hope. Luckily, the train schedule matched perfectly with our requirements. And we immediately booked a coupe for us.

Another good thing, we saved some bucks on booking. The first class AC train ticket was cheaper than an economy  flight ticket. An added advantage, children below 5 years travel free on a train. And, we saved a lot of travel time since it was a night journey, we reached Udaipur at 7 am.

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Our Memorable Journey from Delhi to Udaipur

So, it was a 12 hr overnight train journey from Delhi to Udaipur. The train was scheduled to move from Old Delhi railway station at 7 pm. Nemit & I were super thrilled for the train journey whereas Sumit was a little uncomfortable & nervous. I was assuring him that he will enjoy every bit of the experience but he just kept ignoring me. Now, I tease him reminding how tensed he was for a mere train journey.

Our DDLJ moment

We reached the station on time but the rush on the platform made us slow. Even after spotting our train we had to run to find our compartment. We reached our coupe & a sense of sheer excitement crossed our minds seeing the private cabin just for us.

It was not just our first train experience with Nemit, we were traveling in a first class for the first time ever. I had decided then & there that train travel would be my preferred choice in the future as well.

That’s how a coupe looks from inside

We took our time to explore our coupe, clicked countless pictures from every angle. Nemit got his dose of physical activity by going up and down the berths. After a while, we got comfortable in our seats & I finally saw relief and happiness on Sumit’s face.

Nemit happily settled on the upper birth with his bag of toys. Sumit grabbed his comics which he purchased from the platform and I opened up my laptop to transfer images from my camera. It was the most comfortable long journey we have had in recent times. I never believed that train journeys could be so wonderful.

Nemit happily playing with his blocks

Why you should consider an overnight train journey with kids?

• A train journey is super comfortable.
• It is cheaper than flying.
• Children under 5 years travel free.
• Coupe with 2 births is quite big for a family of 3.
• There are private cabins available with 4 births as well.
• And, the berths are big & spacious.
• It is much easier to manage kids on a train rather on a plane or a car.
• You just have to keep them entertained for a few hours before they sleep.
• Also, there is no restriction on luggage to carry.
• Traveling by train is an amazing experience & an adventure in itself.

To give you an idea of space on a berth

Things to remember before taking a train journey

• Book tickets in advance at least a month prior to your travel.
• Get only confirmed tickets, strictly a no to waitlist.
• Better to book overnight train, day travel may become a bit boring for kids.
• Do pack a bag of toys/book for entertainment.
• Carry lots of snacks & water, kids may not like pantry food.
• If you don’t want to take pantry food, you can order your fav meal online which will be delivered to you at the specified station.
• Although they provide bedding it is better to pack a light blanket for kids.
• Carry your ID cards and copy of your train ticket.

So relaxed & enjoying the beautiful scenery

I hope you liked reading about our first train journey. And, I hope you also got an idea of how comfortable a train journey is when traveling with kids.

Thanks for reading. When was your first train journey with your child? How was the experience? Share with me in the comments below.

Today is Day 21 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘U’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen U for Udaipur. 

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The post Delhi to Udaipur – A Memorable Train Journey with our Toddler appeared first on Growing With Nemit.

Hey guys! Today, I will share some of the best natural wonders of Meghalaya which you can’t miss visiting when traveling with kids.

Yesterday, I shared a day from our Meghalaya trip where we traveled to Mawsynram, the wettest place on Earth. I hope you liked reading our adventures. Mawsynram was just the beginning of our electrifying time in Meghalaya. If Mawsynram is the wettest place on Earth, Meghalaya is the wettest state in India.

Do you know 70% of this state is covered with forests which are considered to be among the richest botanical habitats of Asia?

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Apart from its rich biodiversity, Meghalaya is also famous for the longest and deepest natural caves in the subcontinent and some of the most breathtaking waterfalls. If you wish to explore the caves with your kids, make sure you plan the trip in the dry months. And, to experience the true beauty of the majestic falls, visit in the monsoon.

Here’s a list of 12 natural wonders of Meghalaya which we visited with our toddler last year.

A- The Caves in Meghalaya

There are some 900 caves in Meghalaya which have been partially or fully explored by the experts. Krem Liat Prah is the longest cave in India and is listed among the longest caves in the world. Most of the caves can only be explored by the experienced cavers with proper skills and gears. But there are a few other caves which can be easily explored by anyone without requiring any special skills except the skill of balancing. Even the kids can visit these caves.

1- Mawjymbuin Cave, Mawsynram

Mawjymbuin cave is a small cave 60 km from Shillong in the town of Mawsynram. Read our experience of visiting this cave here!

2- Mawsmai Cave, Cherrapunjee

Mawsmai cave is the most popular cave in Cherrapunjee for tourists who want to feel the thrill. It is well lit and easily accessible which makes it the favorite choice of tourists especially families. It is a long cave but only a small portion is open for the visitors. Will share more details in my next post.

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3- Arwah Cave,  Cherrapunjee

Arwah cave is the more recent discovery and was opened for tourists in 2014. If you want to experience the real thrill of exploring the unknown then this is a must visit. This was not in our itinerary, in fact, we had no idea that such a cave existed, thanks to our driver who told us about the cave sensing our love for adventure from the other day. I will share more about it in my next post.

B- Waterfalls in Meghalaya

Now, coming to the waterfalls which are abundant and truly magnificent in Meghalaya. Each waterfall has some kind of interesting tale associated to it, ask your local guide or driver to narrate these to you. Also, you will need really good stamina or at least ample time at hand to trek to some of the most spectacular waterfalls. 

1- Elephant Falls in Shillong

Elephant falls are quite popular among the tourists visiting Shillong. This fall is a 3-step waterfall and each step is easily accessible by walking down the stairs. And, no! there are no elephants neither they resemble an elephant now. More on it in my upcoming post.

2- Khreng Khreng Falls in Mawsynram

I have already shared our experience of visiting Khreng Khreng falls. You can read more about it here!

3- Wah Kaba Falls in Cherrapunjee

Visiting Wahkaba falls was one of our most memorable experience. We walked down around 700 steps to reach the top of the falls which was calm enough to walk across from one side to the other. At some dangerous points, you may need to pick up your toddler and walk, it may sound tiring but the stunning views of the valley you get to see all along the way make it all worthwhile. Trust me, you will not regret visiting these falls. Will share our wonderful experience in my next post.

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4- Seven Sister Falls

One of the popular falls are these 7 streams which fall in parallel from over the hill and looks quite enchanting when in full glory. These are very close to the Mawsmai caves hence also known by the name Mawsmai Falls. More about it in my next post.

5- Nohkalikai Falls

Another famous waterfall in Meghalaya is the majestic yet mesmerizing Nohkalikai fall which is also one of the highest waterfalls in India. There’s a horrible tale related to this waterfall which is also known as the legend of Nohkalikai. You won’t have to walk much to see it’s beauty since this can only be enjoyed from far.

6- Mawkdok Dympep viewpoint in Cherrapunjee

This is the first viewpoint en route to Cherrapunjee from Shillong. When we were walking down the stairs to reach the falls, some of the visitors coming back discouraged us from going till the end with a small child. We got confused and came back from halfway. Later, we realized we did a mistake listening to people. We should have at least tried. But the views were stunning even from that point and worth clicking.

C- Living Root Bridge, Mawlynnong

The living root bridges are not completely natural but they are a wonder, no doubt. Cherrapunjee and many other parts of Meghalaya are famous for these root bridges. These are formed by the local villagers by inter-connecting & directing ariel roots of some trees over the rivers which then keep growing and form a complex structure. Once the structure looks strong enough, it is then used as a natural bridge to cross the streams on foot.

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The most famous double-decker root bridge is in Nongriat village, Cherrapunjee. One needs to trek down the hill and cross 2 streams using a hanging steel wire bridge. Approx. steps down the hill are 3000, so you will need a lot of stamina to do this trek. We visited a smaller root bridge in Riwai near Mawlynnong village.

D- Umiam Lake, Shillong

Umiam lake is situated on the way to Shillong from Guwahati and is a perfect picnic spot for families. I highly recommend visiting the Umiam viewpoint and spend some leisure time.

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There’s a small kid’s play area inside the park. Older kids and adults can enjoy water sports at the lake. Make sure you carry your food and water as there is are no facilities inside the picnic area.

E- Umngnot River, Dawki

Dawki village is on the border of India and Bangladesh. It is famously known for the Dawki bridge over Umngnot river and also for boating in crystal clear water of the Umngnot river.

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The water is surprisingly clear and you can see till the bottom of the river. You can enjoy the best of nature’s wonders while camping by the riverside in Dawki. I will share our extraordinary experience in my next post.

So, these are the 12 best natural wonders in Meghalaya which you should definitely add to your itinerary. I am sure your kids will love the whole experience of exploring the best of nature in Meghalaya. I hope you liked reading this post.

Have you been to Meghalaya with your kids? Would you like to add another natural wonder to this list? Tell me about your experience of visiting this gorgeous state in North-East India. I love it when you leave a comment below.

That’s all for now, guys! See you tomorrow.

Today is Day 14 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘N’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen N for Natural Wonders. 

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Hey guys, hope you all are doing well. Let me take you on a joyride to Gulmarg Gondola today, one of our most thrilling experiences in Kashmir. It was also on top of my travel bucket list until last year. We visited Kashmir in October 2018 and had planned a 5-day itinerary with 3 major destinations, Pahalgam, Gulmarg, and Sonmarg. Here’s an ultimate Kashmir Travel Guide for you if you are traveling with kids.

We were already quite nervous about our trip because of the tensed situations in J&K. However, we wanted our trip to be a memorable & exciting one so we tried including some adventure in it. And, today I am going to share our experience of an adventurous Gulmarg Gondola Ride.

Kashmir

Most of you must be aware of Gulmarg being a popular ski destination in India during winters. Many tourists, travelers, and adventurers visit Gulmarg in the months of Dec-Jan-Feb to enjoy the snow.

However, if you are planning a vacation with young kids, I would suggest not visiting in the extreme winter months. Especially, if it’s their first experience at a high altitude as the temperature dips as low as -14 degrees Celsius in peak winters.

We found October to be perfect for traveling with kids when the average temperature was around 5 to 15 degrees Celcius.

Gulmarg Gondola Joyride

Gulmarg Gondola is one of the world’s longest & highest operating cable cars which operate in 2 phases. There’s one more phase that is chairlift which majorly operates in winter months.

3 Stages of Gondola ride

Gulmarg to Kongdoori (9 mins)  and Kongdoori to Apharwat Peak (12 mins)

Chairlift – Kongdoori to Mary shoulder (children below 10 years of age are not allowed)

Although I have experienced ropeway rides at many other places like Manali, Mussoorie, Mansa Devi ropeway and Nanda Devi ropeway in India and Langkawi sky cab in Malaysia. The Gulmarg Gondola ride was quite an exhilarating experience for all of us. It’s thrilling and spine-chilling when you are thousands of feet above the ground & all you see around yourself are the snow-covered mountain peaks & the tips of pine trees.

Well, I remember freaking out when the cable car started swinging due to strong winds after crossing phase 1. At that moment, I was having flashes of movie ‘Frozen’ (no, not the Disney Frozen). The movie where 3 friends get stranded on the chair lift when the ski patrol mistakenly left them behind.

I was getting all the horrible thoughts in my mind. I looked at my mom, surprisingly she looked calm, I am sure she was in the meditative state. When I turned to look at my mother-in-law, she seemed as terrified as I was. And, I immediately turned to my husband, to get reassurance that everything is fine & he managed to reciprocate with a smile.

Next, I wanted to see the reaction on Nemit’s face in that situation. I was avoiding eye contact since I was fearing that he would want to jump into my lap the moment I look at him.

But to my utter surprise, he was the only one who was enjoying the valley view. He was happily looking outside across the glass door when he turned around & said, ‘Wow, look mumma-papa, that’s snow. I want to play in the snow.’ And, it brought a big smile on everyone’s face. And, our fears just vanished into thin air.

That’s childhood, fearless & carefree.

All you need to know before taking the Gondola ride!

When to visit

Gulmarg Gondola is operational all year round. They may shut down periodically for maintenance. It is better to call on the helpline numbers before visiting Gulmarg and check with them if they are operational or not.

• Email – info@gulmarggondola.com
• Ph- +919650226555, 91-197-2435837

We visited in October and there was not much snow even at phase 2 or the snow was too thin & slippery. Also, there were no snow activities during that time. But the views were breathtaking, there were fewer tourists and we got to enjoy the panoramic beauty of the mountain ranges.

If you want to enjoy the snow activities, visit from Nov to Mar.

 

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A post shared by Neha Sharma (@growing_with_nemit) on Nov 2, 2018 at 7:08am PDT

Timings of Gondola

Gondola timings are from 9 am to 5 pm (depending on weather conditions) and the ticket is valid only for 3 hours from the time of boarding. At any time, if the weather gets bad, they immediately evacuate the place for the safety of tourists.

Ticket Booking

You can book tickets through the ticket counter or online e-ticketing sites www.jksccc.com or www.gulmarggondola.com.

It is always better to book tickets after checking with them the current weather conditions. I would suggest booking online once you reach Gulmarg. Ticket counters usually have long queues which are a total waste of time. Also, when you book online you get to select a time slot (of an hour) from 9 am to 3 pm & the ticket is valid for 3 hours.

For phase 1 & 2, children below 3 years are free. And for phase 3, children below 10 years are not allowed.

Gulmarg Gondola Online Ticket Booking

I would recommend booking a two-way ticket from Gulmarg to Apharwat. Go directly to phase 2, spend some time there playing in the snow and then come back to phase 1. Please take care of small children and senior citizens as they may face some breathing problem for the first few minutes.

As per our experience, Nemit was all good and excited and didn’t face any issues which we were fearing. However, my mother-in-law did get breathing difficulty at Phase 2 & she couldn’t enjoy much. My mother was initially good but after some time she also felt a bit tired, due to less oxygen at high altitude.

There’s a seating area at both the levels in case someone wants to rest & relax and catch a breath.

What to Wear/Pack

At Apharwat, the temperature keeps on changing depending on the weather condition. So, even on a good sunny day, it is advisable to pack a pair of woolen gloves, a woolen cap to cover the head, ears & neck (or even face) and an extra jacket/wind-cheater. It is always good to put on layers rather than covering up in 1 bulky woolen.

That’s how we layered up!

For kids, keep a pair of spare outfits in case they need a change after getting wet playing in the snow.

And, wear comfortable shoes, snow boots or hiking boots are good. You can also rent boots after reaching phase 2.

Do you need a Tourist Guide?

Yes!!!

I would strongly suggest booking a guide if you have kids or elderly with you. They can help you walk through the snow, can carry your bags and narrate to you some amazing tales of the hills.

We paid INR 500/- for 3 hrs (bargain as they start from 2000/-). I am sure the charges are high during peak season and winter season.

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So, that’s all for today. I hope you enjoyed reading this post and found it helpful. I would love to hear your experience of any cable car rides. Do write them down in the comments below.

Today is Day 10 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘J’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen J for Joyride. 

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Image Credits – Gondola Main Image (Blog & YouTube) via www.jktourism.org and www.tourmyindia.com

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Hello lovely people, how’s the week going? I know it’s getting too hot day by day, do get your AC serviced this weekend. Or, better plan a vacation to the hills. Here’s a recommendation for a perfect summer weekend getaway from Delhi. Today’s post is about Hotels & Resorts. Any vacation is incomplete without booking a nice place to stay. And, selecting the right hotel becomes the most crucial part if you are traveling with kids. So, today I will be sharing some tips on how to choose a perfect kid-friendly hotel or resort.

You may also read – 5 Tips to Plan a Kid-friendly Holiday!

Before planning any vacation, the first thing that we decide is the destination to visit. Then, the number of travel days based on our budget. Once we know where we want to go and for how many days, the next step is deciding what all places of interest we want to cover. Either we plan leisure trips or leisure cum adventure trips. The next step is to book hotels for our stay.

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This is usually the most important step in our travel planning. Since we always travel as a family, we focus on booking a kid-friendly hotel within our budget. When you are traveling with kids, you need to plan things keeping the comfort & requirement of your kids in mind. Most parents don’t consider this aspect and later find themselves struggling with difficult situations.

Sometimes, kids take their own time to adjust to a new place. It then becomes important to provide them with a comfortable and fun environment. We usually spend the most part of our day in the hotel hence we make sure that we select the best kid-friendly hotel in that location.

5 Tips to select a perfect kid-friendly hotel

Now, a lot of you must be thinking that a kid-friendly hotel would be too expensive to afford. Well, actually no! It depends on what all the useful facilities or amenities you are looking for. There are hotels which have their own little kid-friendly water park right by the pool. Or, there are hotels which have huge kid’s play areas both indoor as well as outdoor. And, they do charge a bomb. But, I feel this is not what kids look for especially babies & toddlers, they don’t even know such things exist until we tell me.

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As per our experience, there are many other things that make a hotel kid-friendly. Check these out below-

1- Location

While selecting a hotel/resort, check out its location on the map and its proximity to places you want to visit. We usually look for a hotel which is centrally located or is at least nearby to the main attractions. This will help in limiting your travel time.

Never book a hotel in the main market area or too far into the streets where the four-wheelers can’t enter (especially on hill stations).

If you are on a beach holiday, then definitely look for a beach resort.

2- Open Space

Usually, resorts are big and there’s ample open space on the premises, which makes it a perfect choice for families. However, there are many hotels which have their own lawn area or they have a small kid’s play area. Even if there are no specific activities for kids, an open space is all that can keep them happy.

3- Rooms

Selecting the right room for your family is very essential. First of all, the bed size matters if your kid prefers to sleep with you. Or else, you can ask for an extra bed or baby cot/crib (check with them if they provide that or not). Rooms should be spacious enough for the child to sit on the floor and play.

Also, rooms should have basic amenities, like a kettle and a refrigerator.

While booking rooms, tell your preference to the reservation staff. Even if you are booking online, call the hotel and ask for room details & availability. We usually book rooms on the ground floor and garden facing.

We, often travel with our mother & mother-in-law and in that case, we look for connecting rooms or villas with 2 bedrooms. Or 2 side rooms in a hotel, again you need to convey your room preferences to the staff beforehand. And don’t forget to take that confirmation on mail.

4- Facilities

Most important, a kid-friendly hotel should have a separate kid’s pool. Also, do check if they provide pool essentials like rings/swimming floats for kids. If the pool is not required then definitely look for some outdoor space or indoor kid’s activity area.

Indoor and outdoor spaces must be well maintained and safe. You can even ask for pictures of these areas on mail. If the hotel focuses on customer service, they will definitely help you in providing all the details.

Next important thing to check with the hotel is the food options for kids. Do they take special requests or not, in case you want something to be prepared for the child? What is the opening & closing time of the kitchen? Do they have high/booster chairs for babies?

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

During our last 2 vacations, we had booked family villas through Airbnb. And, we have found these to be the perfect choice for families traveling with kids. The best part of booking a BnB is that you get the whole place for yourself, you get a kitchenette, your own living room and some even provide private pool facility.

Another facility I want to mention here is the babysitting service provided by the hotel. It’s a great option to look out for if you are planning a dinner date or want to have some ‘couple time’ together. You can leave your child under the care of the hotel’s staff at the childcare for an hour or two.

5- Reviews

Last but not least, checking hotel reviews on trusted websites like Tripadvisor is a must. I guess we all do that. But don’t rely on old reviews, look for recent ones, not more than a year old.

Some Kid-friendly Hotel Recommendations from our Travels in India

1- Mayfair Hideaway Spa Resort, South Goa

Website – http://www.mayfairhotels.com/mayfair-goa/

2- Abad Turtle Beach Resort, Alleppey, Kerala

Website – https://www.abadhotels.com/mararibeach

3- Aranyaka Resort, Munnar, Kerala

Website – http://www.aranyakaresorts.com/travellers-skit.php

4- Riverarch Greenfields Resort, Jaipur

Website – http://riverarch.in/

5- Hotel Chevron Mountain Villa, Kausani 

You can read my post on Kausani and hotel review here.

Website – https://www.chevronhotels.in/mountain-villa-kausani/

6- RKN Beach Resort, Pondicherry

Website – https://www.rknresorts.com/

7- Orange County Cottages, Mukteshwar

Website – Booked through Airbnb

8- Kolahoi Green Resort, Pahalgam, Kashmir

Website – http://www.kolahoigreen.com/

You may also read – An ultimate Kashmir travel guide!

9- Pristine Beach Resort, Diglipur

Website – http://www.andamanpristineresorts.com/

10- Ixzire Resort, Port Blair

Website – http://ixzire.com/

You may also read – Andaman Trip Itinerary!

11- Havelock Holiday Beach Resort, Havelock

Website – http://hhbr.in/

12- Pine Hill Homestay, Shillong

Website – Website – Booked through Airbnb

13- Pala Resort, Cherrapunjee

Website – https://www.palaresort.co.in/

14- The Grand Leoney Resort, North Goa

Website – http://thegrandleoneyresort.com/

15- Shatsngi Homestay And Adventure, Camping at Dawki, Meghalaya

Website – Facebook Page

You may also read – Meghalaya Trip Itinerary!

16- Solang Valley Resorts, Manali

Website – https://www.solangvalleyresorts.com/

We have traveled to many places and have stayed at various hotels, resorts, camps, and Airbnb. Every place has something unique to offer, but the best ones are those which make us feel at home when we are far away from home. The above list of 16 stay options is our best stay experiences in India with family.

I hope you liked this post and found it helpful. What do you look for in a hotel/resort when you plan your stay? Do let me know in the comments. Also, I would love to know your best stay at a hotel/resort recently. Do tell me in the comments below.

And, don’t forget to share this post with your friends and family!

Today is Day 8 of #BlogchatterA2Z and the letter of the day is ‘H’. My theme for the challenge is ‘Traveling with kids’ & I have chosen H for Hotel. 

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The post 5 Tips to choose the best kid-friendly Hotel 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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Hey guys, am back with yet another travel post. And this one is for adventure junkies, who thrive on thrill & adrenaline rush! Mommies and daddies, if you think that after having kids you can’t plan adventure trips with your children, think again! Well, having kids doesn’t mean you have to kick out adventure from your travels. Stay put as I will be sharing the 7 amazing family adventure trips you can plan with your toddler in India! All based on our experience.

In recent times, India has emerged as one of the best adventure travel destinations in the world.

Many people from around the world come to India to seek adventure & explore the astonishing locations. But the sad part is, we the people of India, are unaware of the treasures of our own beautiful country. Our Incredible India has so much to offer to every kind of traveler including the adventure lover families.

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7 Family Adventure Trips to plan with a Toddler

I am listing down 7 places in India which any adventure lover would love to visit. We have visited all these places with our toddler during the last year.

1- Explore Baratang Caves in the Andamans 

Plan your family adventure trip to the caves in the Andamans. The Baratang island lies between the South & Middle Andaman. And, it is famous for the mangrove creeks & limestone caves. I would say more than the caves, the whole journey towards the Baratang caves is what makes the experience more exciting.

There are 2 ways to reach Baratang island, by ferry & by road. Take the road for that adrenaline rush which you will feel while crossing the tribal (Jarawa) forest area in a convoy with armed policemen. I don’t have any pics of that since clicking pictures was not allowed there.

Speed boat from Baratang Jetty

After you safely cross the Jarawa Forest Reserve, you have to take a vehicle ferry to reach the Baratang jetty. And then from there, one has to take the speed boat which will take you along the mangrove forest to a creek.

Finally, a small trek from the forest & fields to reach the limestone caves. The whole experience was exhilarating. Our 2 year old loved every bit of the journey.

Nemit pulling his grandmother to go inside the Baratang caves

2- Trek to the mesmerizing waterfalls in Cherrapunjee

We planned a trip to Meghalaya last year on Diwali. There’s no doubt, Meghalaya is one of the most sought-after travel destinations for nature and adventure lovers in India. And if you happen to plan a family adventure trip with your kids to this beautiful place, you must include Trek to Wah Kaba Falls in Cherrapunjee.

Trekking down at Wah Kaba Falls

Now, if you want to witness the majestic falls, the best time to visit is definitely during monsoon. But I would suggest, if you are going with kids, plan before or after the monsoon. It will be easier to hike down towards the falls otherwise the whole trail will be slippery & not safe for kids.

3- Ride the World’s highest cable car at Gulmarg, Kashmir

We were so lucky to plan a trip to Kashmir last year. Looking at the current situation in Kashmir, I really hope that everything gets back to normal soon. Kashmir is truly a heaven on Earth. It’s difficult to describe the beauty of its charming landscape, it just hypnotizes you & embraces you in its beauty.

Crossing Phase 1 – Gondola cable car

If you plan a trip to Kashmir, do visit Gulmarg & experience the Gondola ride. The cable car takes you to the top of Apharwat. It was one thrilling ride for us. The cable car operates in 2 phases, one from Gulmarg to Kondoor & second from Kondoor to Apharwat. A must visit if you are not afraid of heights.

4- Camping at Dawki, Meghalaya

Every kid loves camping, even if that means setting up a bed sheet/blanket camp at home. Why not give your kids a real camping experience? Plan a camp night at Shnongpdeng, Dawki.

Nemit sitting in front of our camp

It was our first camping experience, we had so many doubts considering we were the only family with a child there. It was scary but too exhilarating. The camps were set up by the riverside & all we could see was the river on one side & the jungle on the other.

 

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We woke up the next day to the chirping of birds & gushing water and we felt a sense of accomplishment. If you really want to experience the adrenaline rush, do visit Dawki for camping with your kids.

5- Jungle safari at Jim Corbett National Park or Kaziranga National Park

Jungle safaris are a great adventure option to try with kids. There are numerous options of Jungle safari in India, be it jeep safari or elephant safari. We have done 2 jeep safaris with Nemit.

 

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One at Jim Corbett National Park when Nemit was 2 yrs old. Not a good option to look for wild animals if your kids are young & can’t sit quietly for a long time. But, just take them to experience the fun.

 

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The other jeep safari we did was at Kaziranga National Park, Assam which is famous for one horned rhino. We had a great time at Kaziranga, even Nemit had a lot of fun while spotting rhinos, deers & elephants.

6- Crawl through the hidden Arwah caves of Cherrapunjee

If you ask us our favorite adventure activity with Nemit, it is definitely the caving expeditions. And exploring the Arwah cave is the best one till now. It was like we entered an underground world where not even a single ray of sunlight shines.

Exploring the Arwah Cave

The best part about the cave is that it is relatively a new discovery hence not many people know about it. Also, Arwah cave is huge & an interconnected network of various caves branch out of it.

Once inside, the natural light diminishes & you will feel the need for a guide & a strong hiking torch. We were on the mercy of our mobile lights. However, not having a guide and a torch made the whole experience quite raw & thrilling but I would still not suggest to try it out when traveling with small kids. When you go on an adventure, go prepared!

7- Hidden caves of Nanital

Last year, while returning back from Kausani, we made a pitstop at Nainital. While taking a walk on the mall road, we saw a signboard of Eco Cave Park. Thinking it to be a normal park we decided to spend some time there. However, as soon as we stepped inside the park, we realized it was not any normal garden. In fact, it was a house full of adventure.

There were 6 natural caves all with different dimensions & named after various animals on the basis of resemblance to their natural habitat. One has to bend down and crawl to pass through the narrow passage of the caves. It was a full-on adrenaline rush activity for us.

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I can keep on adding many places to this list but these are the 7 best adventure activities we enjoyed with our 2-year-old toddler. Hope you liked the post & found it helpful. Don’t forget to share this post & do leave a comment below.

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