Comments for the article "Traveling in India with Kids"

Boston123 · Apr 2nd, 2009, 09:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitra0828

Hi Dhans: sounds like you've travelled quite extensively in india but still prefer the car-car driver combo? We are a family of 4 travelling in Karnataka this august 09. Would you have arecommdation for a car-driver that we should talk to about renting/hiring? Do we really need to get the combo? can;t we drive by ourselves? We;ve done it thru the mountain roads of Costa Rica, Mexico and even Greece where we found drivers amazingly Indian-like in their road etiquette!!

Best Chitra

Chitra,

I learnt to drive in India about 30 years ago, before moving to the United States. Since then my driving habits have changed, and I would not dream of driving in India.. at least not in one of the major cities.Unless you have been visiting India every year or so, and driving each time; you might find your reflexes and road habits incompatible with what is needed to survive on Indian roads. Then there is the issue of what to do if you are involved in a accident( minor or major)? You could be stuck in a unpleasant situation for a while.
Finally, it does not cost much more to hire a car and driver, than just a car. Check out the car hire company, make sure you,the passengers, driver and the car are insured.

Dacoit Chief · Apr 2nd, 2009, 21:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boston123

Chitra,
Then there is the issue of what to do if you are involved in a accident( minor or major)? You could be stuck in a unpleasant situation for a while.

This is a VERY valid point! Thanks for bringing it up! Some foreigners I knew were detained in India for several months whilst court cases were going on!

Not a pleasant situation at all!

As much as I enjoy driving in India, there are some nasty realities that can dampen the fun at times!

chitra0828 · Apr 2nd, 2009, 23:00

Hey thanks so much for all your thoughts. Sounds like the car-driver is the way to go. I did grow up in India, and love it all but I guess no point messing around. that said, we do want to keep it very simple..In other words we're hoping to make all the arrangements, and i'd just love to find a good, honest, reliable car-driver. Most of the shops seem to be into tailor-made packages etc. (whatever that means!). Any good ambassador driving drivers that you might be able to recommend to drive Bangalore into the Deccan Plateau?

Also, is there any point considering kerala or is it very wet then? Sounds like 08 was a drought year, and as i recall predicting monsoon in INdia isn't an easy thing to do...

Thanks Chitra

dhans · Apr 2nd, 2009, 23:49

And as an additional thought: I've found out that hiring a car without a driver will actually cost you more if you're from outside India. I'm sure that Faith (travel operator mentioned in our 2005 journal) can find you a good car and driver in karnataka.

Have fun,

Hans

chitra0828 · Apr 2nd, 2009, 23:58

Hey super I will reach out to Faith. Also if Dacoit Chief and Boston123 have any thoughts on recommendations, would much appreciate it..

Best Chitra

Dacoit Chief · Apr 3rd, 2009, 00:23

I forgot the name of the last company we booked out of Bangalore. There are many though. The one I booked from was a Maloo in Bangalore (i.e. a guy from Kerala)

I had a quick look online and on doing so I stubled across these guys. They are not the same, but have very reasonable published rates too and have a Bangalore branch:
http://www.keralatravels.com/kerala_taxi.php.

We had an indigo which is better for 2 adults and 2 kids than a Indica or even than a "Ambyastard"

The air con version of the indgo is Rs.1400/- per day, (which includes the first 100km) and every additional km is 9 Rs. You also have to pay the driver Rs.100/- per day for his night stay and food etc. Even if these guys are no good, at least you get an idea about current prices!

1965-1970 · Apr 9th, 2009, 20:56

When I first travelled to India in 1965 it was not possible to hire & drive. A car came with its driver, bas!

I returned for a visit in 2006 & in my opinion, anyone with children who has not been to India before & wants to hire a car should:

1. Use a recommended (on places like this) hire company.

2. Hire WITH a driver & check him out when you get the car.

I have academic friends who travelled round much of South India in 2006 with a car & a driver & he was great - really helped them out in every way.

People forget both how BIG and how FOREIGN India is. There are 14 or more major languages that the others do not speak!

Hire a car with a driver & relax.

Regards,
Nico M
London UK

Sharmscharms · Jun 29th, 2009, 19:12

Thank you for this great article! I'll be travelling to India in 2 weeks with five children. We have very long plane rides as we'll be coming from the U.S. I was thinking to get some games and activities from the dollar store before we leave to keep the kids occupied. I can try to take some books, but not many with 5 kids could get to be too many books to carry. Do they have movies on the flight? Any other ideas to keep the children occupied?

Do you still think it's necessary to bring all those different kinds of medicine to India? If you want to buy the medicines in India, is there a way to spot a fake?

snehansu-love2travel · Jun 29th, 2009, 20:04

There are plenty of medicine shops and clinics and doctors , so apart from few necessary medicines( which you will definitely need) there is hardly any point of carrying loads of medicines. Self medication may be dangerous. Private hospitals are also there. This is the way to prepare for towns and cities and muffisils(areas around towns and cities).

Travelers going to remote places like mountains,forests for climbing trekking,NGO work in remote areas etc need to carry everything (whether they buy it in India or from else becomes immaterial).

dhans · Jul 3rd, 2009, 02:25

@ Sharmscharms; India with five kids; not bad

. Keeping them occupied may be a problem, but if you're flying an airline with individual TV-screens it won't. I'm not sure about their ages, but if they are over 5 they should be able to carry a cheap backpack with some reading and some dollar store games and books.

You are speaking english, and s is India, so you'll have no problem finding books there. Donate the stuff they've read to a school.

@ snehansulove2travel; yeah, you can buy everything in india, but not everywhere. Selfmedicaton has it's risks, so we look for a doctor when necessary (read our journal. Once a diagnoses has been made, it;'s good to have practical stuff like watersolvable antibiotics. For the rest it's pretty standard stuff against diarhoea and headaches etc.

rav.9999 · Jul 22nd, 2009, 19:53

we don't see many 'foreigners' travelling in India with children. In fact it is rare to see such families. indians on the other hand do not go anywhere without their kids.i wonder what could be the reason?

Apr 2nd, 2009, 23:49	#19
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,842	And as an additional thought: I've found out that hiring a car without a driver will actually cost you more if you're from outside India. I'm sure that Faith (travel operator mentioned in our 2005 journal) can find you a good car and driver in karnataka. Have fun, Hans __________________ Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids Stories about our travels in India: Journal

Apr 9th, 2009, 20:56	#22
1965-1970 Nico Morrison Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: London UK Posts: 22	Rent a car with a driver. When I first travelled to India in 1965 it was not possible to hire & drive. A car came with its driver, bas! I returned for a visit in 2006 & in my opinion, anyone with children who has not been to India before & wants to hire a car should: 1. Use a recommended (on places like this) hire company. 2. Hire WITH a driver & check him out when you get the car. I have academic friends who travelled round much of South India in 2006 with a car & a driver & he was great - really helped them out in every way. People forget both how BIG and how FOREIGN India is. There are 14 or more major languages that the others do not speak! Hire a car with a driver & relax. Regards, Nico M London UK

Jun 29th, 2009, 20:04	#24
snehansu-love2travel Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Bangalore Posts: 154	There are plenty of medicine shops and clinics and doctors , so apart from few necessary medicines( which you will definitely need) there is hardly any point of carrying loads of medicines. Self medication may be dangerous. Private hospitals are also there. This is the way to prepare for towns and cities and muffisils(areas around towns and cities). Travelers going to remote places like mountains,forests for climbing trekking,NGO work in remote areas etc need to carry everything (whether they buy it in India or from else becomes immaterial). __________________ Snehansu http://snehansu-love2travel.blogspot.com

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Apr 2nd, 2009, 23:00	#18
chitra0828 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CT USA Posts: 62	Hey thanks so much for all your thoughts. Sounds like the car-driver is the way to go. I did grow up in India, and love it all but I guess no point messing around. that said, we do want to keep it very simple..In other words we're hoping to make all the arrangements, and i'd just love to find a good, honest, reliable car-driver. Most of the shops seem to be into tailor-made packages etc. (whatever that means!). Any good ambassador driving drivers that you might be able to recommend to drive Bangalore into the Deccan Plateau? Also, is there any point considering kerala or is it very wet then? Sounds like 08 was a drought year, and as i recall predicting monsoon in INdia isn't an easy thing to do... Thanks Chitra

Apr 2nd, 2009, 23:58	#20
chitra0828 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CT USA Posts: 62	Hey super I will reach out to Faith. Also if Dacoit Chief and Boston123 have any thoughts on recommendations, would much appreciate it.. Best Chitra

Apr 3rd, 2009, 00:23	#21
Dacoit Chief Dosai, Idli, Sambar eating Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Madrid Posts: 273	I forgot the name of the last company we booked out of Bangalore. There are many though. The one I booked from was a Maloo in Bangalore (i.e. a guy from Kerala) I had a quick look online and on doing so I stubled across these guys. They are not the same, but have very reasonable published rates too and have a Bangalore branch: http://www.keralatravels.com/kerala_taxi.php. We had an indigo which is better for 2 adults and 2 kids than a Indica or even than a "Ambyastard" The air con version of the indgo is Rs.1400/- per day, (which includes the first 100km) and every additional km is 9 Rs. You also have to pay the driver Rs.100/- per day for his night stay and food etc. Even if these guys are no good, at least you get an idea about current prices!

Jun 29th, 2009, 19:12	#23
Sharmscharms "Pani peanut!" Join Date: May 2008 Location: Ferozepur, India Posts: 152	Thank you for this great article! I'll be travelling to India in 2 weeks with five children. We have very long plane rides as we'll be coming from the U.S. I was thinking to get some games and activities from the dollar store before we leave to keep the kids occupied. I can try to take some books, but not many with 5 kids could get to be too many books to carry. Do they have movies on the flight? Any other ideas to keep the children occupied? Do you still think it's necessary to bring all those different kinds of medicine to India? If you want to buy the medicines in India, is there a way to spot a fake?

Jul 3rd, 2009, 02:25	#25
dhans Uru Buru member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: The Netherlands Posts: 1,842	@ Sharmscharms; India with five kids; not bad . Keeping them occupied may be a problem, but if you're flying an airline with individual TV-screens it won't. I'm not sure about their ages, but if they are over 5 they should be able to carry a cheap backpack with some reading and some dollar store games and books. You are speaking english, and s is India, so you'll have no problem finding books there. Donate the stuff they've read to a school. @ snehansulove2travel; yeah, you can buy everything in india, but not everywhere. Selfmedicaton has it's risks, so we look for a doctor when necessary (read our journal. Once a diagnoses has been made, it;'s good to have practical stuff like watersolvable antibiotics. For the rest it's pretty standard stuff against diarhoea and headaches etc.

Jul 22nd, 2009, 19:53	#26
rav.9999 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Rajasthan Posts: 35	we don't see many 'foreigners' travelling in India with children. In fact it is rare to see such families. indians on the other hand do not go anywhere without their kids.i wonder what could be the reason?