Family friendly picks from my last few travel spots!!

Hey all back with another blog this time picking out some family friendly places of stay based on my own personal experience after becoming a mom!! Though we all know travel with kids is a totally different ball game, the difference really hits you only when you actually travel,

The place you stay playes a huge role in making your trip unforgettable for all the right or wrong reasons, while you are traveling with an infant or toddler trust me you are not going to be upto ticking of every single must visit place in the destination or that must visit resraurant of coffee shop. Your trips are going to be half staycation and half vacation and so we come back to place of stay.

We have been traveling with Dhriti since she turned 6 months old and have almost been heading somehwere or the other every 8 to 10 months, so here are a list of some places we really enjoyed staying and none of these are sponsored, we have paid and booked each of these hotels!!

KUMBAKONAM:

Hey there! So, the first random road trip I ever wrote about was when we went to Kumbakonam and Karaikudi. Let me tell you, that resort in Kumbakonam is a gem! Even though we only stayed there for a night back in 2021, the memories are still so vivid. It's like this traditional agraharam-inspired resort tucked away on the outskirts of Kumbakonam, right by the Kaveri river. As soon as you step in, it's like entering a whole new world where all you can hear is the soothing river, birds chirping, and peacocks calling out to each other.

And let me tell you about their restaurant - not only do they serve up delicious authentic South Indian Tamil cuisine, but they were also super sweet and made special meals for my 6-month-old baby, and get this, at no extra cost! They really went above and beyond.

Now, if you're the type who's planning to rush around visiting every temple in the area and won't be spending much time at the resort, then maybe it's not the best bang for your buck. But if you're traveling with seniors or kids and want to kick back, relax, and enjoy your stay, this place is a must-visit. Trust me on this one!

CHETTINAD:

Our next stop during the same roatrip was the Chettinad region, Now this is a region with quite a few small towns and villages put together and you would be blown away looking at the kind of luxury and money people have here. We choose to stay in the Chidambara Villas palace hotel, located in the Kadiapatti village in rooms which were more than 100 years old, we slept in 110 year old cots and ate out of centuries old tables.

So, these spots are perfect for staycations where you don't have to do much exploring. But hey, they are still a feast for the eyes! It's a wonderful place to snap some amazing photos with your little one, and the hosts are super accommodating, especially with little Dhriti. The kitchen staff even went the extra mile to head out to the market, pick some apples, mash them up just the way she likes. I thought that was really thoughtful and would definitely make life easier for traveling new parents.

(Ps the above two resorts have cradles at the restaurants so if you have a sleeping infant, being them along and make them sleep right next to you while you have your meal!!)

MARARIKULAM:

About a year later, we decided to go on another road trip, this time to Kerala. We opted to stay in this hidden gem called Mararikulam, which is only about 6 to 7 kilometers away from the town of Allepey. If you're traveling to Allepey with a toddler who might feel too cramped on a houseboat, then these beach resorts in Mararikulam are the way to go. The one we chose was the Azure Tides Resort, a decent 3-star place that wasn't super expensive but also not dirt cheap. We lucked out with an awesome beachfront room offering stunning sunset views and direct beach access. Picture a clean and tidy room leading straight to a pristine private beach with white sands and crystal-clear blue waters – perfect for a relaxing staycation with a 1.5-year-old. The only hiccup I encountered was that the food service was a bit slow, and the vegetarian options were somewhat limited. So, if you're picky about your meals, give them a heads-up a few hours beforehand to ensure everything goes smoothly.

COCHIN:

A beautiful little heritage property in the quaint historical neighbourhood of fort kochi is a place you should not miss while there. Located at the heart of Fort Kochi, rosetta woods castle is just a walkable distance away from all the major attractions of this neighbourhood. It feels so good to be in the middle of all the action and yet have a calm and homely atmosphere once inside the hotel. Said to be a colonial building, there are quite a few dutch themed rooms here with highly instgram friendly corners and common areas. Their restaurant and food was again a super hit with us and would absolutely recommend them. yet again ensure you are able to confirm the ground floor rooms if climbing stairs is an issue,

COORG:

Coorg the coffee capital of Karnataka is dotted with several plantation stays like this. Located in Siddapura, this easily accessible place is a pretty big plantation farm, known as estate stay riverside coffee also doubles up as a resort, with just 6 to 8 cottages the experiences you get over here are pretty personal. Even though its easily accessible, they do not have the capacity to take in too many guests at a time which makes your stay all the more quaint and charming. Their food is delicious home cooked meals which is prepared after taking a head count of the number of guests having the meals, their restaurant is complete with board cames and books to also keep and your little one entertained.

A cute little Island kind of a place with some pintrest worthy hammoks make for amazing photo ops. Oh and they sell some delicious pickles and coffee powder too, dont forget to get some for yourself before you leave.

PONDICHERRY:

On the Pondicherry, Tamil Nadu border close to Pondicherry is an experimental township called the Auroville which is home to plenty of beautiful homestays, resorts and farm houses. Auroville is an international township and a world of its own, a place which was our home for 5 days last year. Having a beautiful ecosystem for small businesses and agriculture, auroville is also a heaven for digital nomads.

So we found this hiddem gem called sun farm house, ideal for family and solo stay with great wifi too. They have two care takers who cook up some yummy breakfast,The cafes of Auroville and the restaurants of pondicherry give you ample options for lunches and dinners. Ensure you get a ground floor room if stairs are an issue as this place does not have an elevator

A small pool and a childrens play area with a slide, swing and a merry go round is sure to keep your child occupied for the day and the place also has an amazing common room with TV and some books for all ages.

JAIPUR:

Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, the Pink city has left a lasting impression on all of us, even my 3 year old toddler and the place we stayed there is no different. Alsisar Haveli a palace themed hotel which screamed the Rajput culture from the word go is owned by an erstwhile royal family and is right at the heart of the city pretty easily accessible to all the main markets, city palace, Hawa Mahal, Jantar Mantar and not a very long drive from the Amer and Nahargarh fort.

This hotel had a charm on its own which makes you mostly want to stay indoors and admire the beauty of it all. A very subtle Rajput themed room, well decorated corridors with common seating area where we had fun catching up with some other tourists, a pretty fansy looking restaurant with both indoor and outdoor seating area, a pool and so many nice instagram friendly corners, what more can you ask for?

Yet again if you have knee issues or traveling with older people ensure that you get the ground floor room as this too does not have elevators.

MASINAGUDI:

Last but never the the least, coming to my latest getaway, where my heart still is Masinagudi, We stayed in Labdhi resorts a beautiful farm resort with mountain facing rooms. They have 8 rooms, 4 standard rooms and 4 wodden cottages and their wodden cottages have my heart, wheather you are a bunch of friends or cousins or a family of 4 or you could be a honeymoon couple, Show me something more romantic, ill wait. Their amazing staff cook up 3 delicious meals a day which are amazing on taste as well as hygine. Ensure you give them a heads up if you are specific of your meal time and would like your food before hand, They take a head count and cook food for the exact number of people who could be eating, so do inform them if you would be having breakfast/ lunch / dinner with them and let them know your preferred timing if any.