Help with an itinerary for this motley crew!!

dcmred

Has anyone ever taken their parents to India????

My parents are very keen for us to do a family trip to celebrate my Dad's 65th birthday in 18 months time. My husband and I are desperately trying to convince them that India is a possibility!! Are we mad? I really hope not. There will be 7 of us....2 in their mid 60s (!) three in our mid-thirties (incl my sister) plus our two kids who will be 6 and 3. My husband and I have been to India a few times and have taken our older daughter twice. She was 18mths and 2 1/2 and we loved every minute of both those trips. So did she.

My Mum is desperate to go and always has been.....my Dad is a little more conservative so to convice him I'm going to need to present him with a few options.

I had thought we'd do Mumbai, Cochi, a backwater trip which I know he will LOVE, a beach place for the kids like dare I say it Kovalam but I'd also love to squeeze a trip to somewhere like Ooty (I've been reading about Munnar but it doesn't appeal quite as much for some reason....can't see a tea factory?) I also wondered about Periyar which the kids would love. I think this would be slightly more relaxed than further up north which I think my Dad would enjoy more. (Mum and Dad travel A LOT but seriously cushy travel- renting vilas in Italy, cruises etc! Yep I know India will be a shock but Mum is up for it!)

So anyway, I was talking this through with Mum and she was gutted that we wouldn't see the Taj fair enough....so back to the drawing board...... it is....

At this stage I'm really open to ideas but it looks like Agra is a must, I'm wondering about just doing a big trip round Rajasthan...do you think that would entertain kids and 60 y.os?!! I'm trying to work out how we can squeeze in Mumbai whihc is one of my favourite cities! My Dad would be in heaven if he got to watch a cricket match but I'm not sure that January is even cricket season I'm completely ignorant when it comes to sport!!

Any suggestions for wonderful places that would appeal to both young kids and their grandparents?!

Thanks in advance....this site is amazing!

wonderwomanusa

If you haven't booked tickets yet, why not think about flying in to Cochin (or Bangalore) and out of Delhi, then you can travel up the West side and see however many places you think your folks might enjoy. Flying is always an option.

Oh you could hand your folks the guidebook and ask them what they want to see

__________________
The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

bruce3404

Mid '60s...heavens, you mean they actually let people THAT old still travel While I don't know your parents and what they're like, I wouldn't be too concerned about traveling with them. After all, they're the ones that want to go to India (well, your mum at least). A trip around Agra/Jaipur/Rajasthan would be a fine adventure and keep things fairly localized. You could book all your travel in advance on IRTC. If you must head to the beach, then you could return to Delhi and fly from there.

dcmred

Yeah Bruce, apparently they do!! You should see the itinerary for the trip they are taking in August and Sep- I'm pea green with envy! BTW, I don't think mid-60s is old.... the ! was tongue in cheek.

Actually, my mum is keen, my dad not so much..... he would rather do something like Phuket or Bin Tan or God forbid...the Gold Coast of Australia! I am seriously considering creating an i-movie to sell it to him!!! anything to avoid a package holiday to Surfers' Paradise!!

wonderwoman- good point, flying is definitely an option....it just costs so much more- money I'd rather have for incredible food and paperback books!!


thanks for your encouragement....i am so excited and desperately hope this comes to fruition!!!

bruce3404

Well, it seems that since your dad is skeptical, a good route might be the old Golden Triangle, with a bit more of Rajasthan thrown in (maybe Jodhpur and Jaisalmer). All of those places have international quality hotels that will allow your dad to "escape" the sometimes (hell, USUALLY) chaotic street scene in India. I've found Jaisalmer to be very laid back compared to Agra or Jaipur. While this is a far cry from the Gold Coast of Oz, nice accomodation might be the selling point to help your folks reach an agreement to head to India instead of somewhere more pedestrian.

rajeev1008

I think if the trip is an alternative plan for Phuket, Bin Tan, Gold coast, then it would be better to stick to Rajasthan - very different and not open to obvious comparisons .
As i guess you know, Rajasthan has loads of stuff for all ages - camel(elephant too) rides, boat trips, acrobats for children, vistas and history and palaces for elders , and yes delicious food for all.

Indian cricket team is touring Pakistan in Dec-feb - no international matches in India during that time unless the tour gets cancelled.

kalbarri

dcmred, i think the first itinerary you posted is perfect. tell mum she can see the taj mahal next trip. i am 60 and 2 years ago i went back to india and stayed only in kerala going to the places you mentioned and it was perfect. no real hassles, very comfortable. it would be especially so for first timers.

capt_mahajan

Just a thought. Since cost doesnt seem to be too much of a concern, and if the Taj is a must, what about flying into Delhi, doing Agra and flying out of either Mumbai or from somewhere South?

Or the other way around, ie flying into Mumbai etc.

The OP doesnt say how much time they have in India, but it would be a shame not to see a part of Rajasthan too, in a relaxed manner. Maybe one or two smaller places?

My overriding advice, given the travellers, would be to take it easy.

dhans

Great crew!!

For some tips: folow the links below.

Have fun,

Hans

__________________

Tips for trips to India with (young) children: India with kids
Stories about our travels in India: Journal

dcmred

Thanks everyone for your encouragement! I know we will have a ball....it is just finding the best itinerary to keep everyone happy.....my sister will be happy with bazaars and bookshops....and of course coffee...perhaps I can convert her to a good, sweet masala chai......my parents will be happy if they can see the Taj and go for a walk most mornings to prepare them for the day's excitment hence the suggestion of going South, the kids will be happy if there isn't too much darting madly around..... and Dave and I, well we'll just be happy to be in India again! It is all good!

kalbarri- Thanks for that! I am still tossing up between the two- Rajasthan and Kerala etc.... but either way we might just have to bite the bullet and go to Agra....which is fine by me...I never tire of seeing the Taj! And I think they'd all love Fatepuhr Sikri too. Hmmmmmm.....

rajeev- OH NO! Is that Jan 09....or 2010?! I know it sounds ridiculous but this trip is planned for Jan 2010!! Got to save our pennies..... What about the 20 20 or whatever its called? My Dad loves that stuff!

captmahajan- GReat suggestion. I need to look into that.....its just that it usually costs a lot more to do it that way. I have heard a rumour that Air NZ is going to start flying into India...not sure when so I'm waiting to see which cit/ies?? Would be thrilled if it was Kolkota...or Chennai.... sigh.....so many wonderful places to see......

I find that with trips to India the planning and POTENTIAL is a huge part of the excitement and the experience, don't you??? I'm always reluctant to commit and rule out other exciting options..... its like naming children, we leave that to the very last minute too!!!!

Thanks again for all your help! Believe me, I'll be back!!!

Off to read your journals Hans! I'm sure I will be extremely inspired!

rajeev1008

He He. I has assumed it to be 2009 Jan . I checked and as it turns out Indian team is slated to tour Bangladesh in Dec 2009-Jan 2010. But the exact dates (and tour itself) would be confirmed later, around middle of 2009. looks like, it would be possible to catch only domestic cricket at that time - not really worth it as compared to other activities.
And yes, Fatehpur Sikri remains a favorite place of mine too .