How to Plan a Memorable Family Vacation to India
We’re talking about a new destination this week! Sarah Steiner joins us to share all of her great tips about traveling to India with your family!
Here is all the info you need to get started planning your family vacation to India!
How do I get to India?
New Delhi is the most popular place to fly into. The airport is super modern and updated.
Make sure that you get a visa before your visit.
Where should I visit?
Take a tour of Delhi! It’s very helpful to take a tour to get oriented.
It is very popular to visit the “Golden Triangle”. This includes Delhi, Jaipur (6 hours south), and Agra (4 hours from Jaipur). This lets you see the best and most iconic parts of India!
How should I get around?
The most common mode of transportation between cities is to hire a driver.
You have to ride the trains while you’re in India! It’s an adventure! There are 8 different classes to choose from. You can even take sleeper cars overnight. The trains are super affordable.
Around town, it’s fun to take tuk-tuks!
Where should I stay?
There are so many options! You can stay in luxurious hotels or guest houses.
Sarah recommends staying in guest houses because it allows you to really experience the culture. The rooms are also super affordable! This is also a great way to meet other travelers who stay in other rooms in the guest house.
To find these houses, Sarah uses Booking.com. This is a great place to be able to check reviews.
You can also research on blogs! Also, look around social media and reach out to people who have already traveled to India.
Most of the time, guest houses will provide simple breakfasts.
What food should I expect?
There is a huge variety of cuisines across the country.
Sometimes guest house hosts will cook for you! They are so kind and will often cook home-cooked meals for you if you want them to.
There are lots of great curry and rice dishes.
A lot of India is vegetarian, so you probably won’t eat a lot of meat. But there are SO many delicious vegetarian options. This also helps you avoid food poisoning from meat.
Drink bottled water to be safe. Or a high-quality water filter.
What activities should I experience?
There are many historic sites to visit! There is such a rich culture here.
Traveling on the train is an experience in itself! It’s an adventure!
Sarah’s family’s favorite activity is going on camel safaris in the desert!
You drive out to the desert and ride camels for about an hour and a half. You can also watch the sunset over the desert.
You cook dinner over a fire and sleep under the stars.
In Delhi, you can visit the Lodi Gardens. It is a 90-acre garden with beautiful tombs and plants. It was created in the 14th or 15th century.
Take boats down the River Ganges.
The Taj Mahal is obviously a very popular destination for tourists. It is located in Agra. Most hotels and guest houses in the area have a view of the building.
The best time to visit is at sunrise. It is so pretty and so peaceful.
You probably want 2-3 hours to see everything here.
You can purchase your tickets any time leading up to your visit. Prices are very reasonable. Guest houses can help you schedule your visit and transportation.
The Taj Mahal is closed on Friday for prayers.
Do I need to tip people in India?
Because the wages are so low for workers in India, it is kind to tip. You should definitely give back to the people here.
Prices of everything are so cheap, that giving anything extra is much appreciated.
What should I wear?
India is a modest country, however there aren’t explicit rules about what you have to wear.
The most common outfit for women is a salwar kameez, which is a loose cotton outfit. You can purchase these outfits for $5-10 USD when you arrive and wear them during your trip if you want.
Just do your best to dress respectfully. They also appreciate it when you wear local clothes.
Sarah’s kids usually wear shorts and t-shirts. For visiting temples and mosques, they need long trousers.
If you go to a mosque, they will give you robes to cover your shoulders.
General safety of India
Sarah and her family have always felt safe during their time in India.
The cities are huge, so just be aware of your surroundings.
Educate your kids about staying aware.
Watch out for traffic! There are so many vehicles and animals in the streets.
Sarah’s hosted trips
Sarah’s family has decided to host group trips! They are 11 days and take you from New Delhi, all the way out to the deserts, and around to all of the best places around India.
They plan to host more trips next year!
Follow along with Sarah!