Frequently Asked Questions for kids travelling to India
Whenever you travel to a new country it is common for your children to ask many different questions about the place to which you are travelling to. Children are very inquisitive beings and taking them to a country such as India will broaden their horizons and give them a great insight into this beautiful country. We have prepared for you some frequently asked questions when it comes to travelling to India.
Indian food is extremely spicy isn’t it? Will my children be able to eat the food that is given to them?
Yes, Indian food is usually very spicy and is naturally hot and travelling to the country where the food comes from can of course present you with all kinds of issues in adapting to local cuisine. There are numerous places in the major cities in India which can offer you some relaxed Indian cuisine that won’t blow the roofs off your mouth straight away, so have a bit of a look out for such places to let you and your family adapt to the new foods.
Can I find fresh food out in public and on the road when I am in India?
Of course you can, India is just like any other place on Earth and will offer a wide variety of healthy, fresh and natural food for you to enjoy. You can find many markets in India that can give you all kinds of fruit and fresh produce that you can always take with you on the road if you are travelling long distances out in the open.
I swear every single hotel room I stay in doesn’t have a bed? What is with this?
If you go to India and plan to travel on a budget then you should expect some very different sleeping arrangements to what you would be used to at home. There are many cheap accommodation options that will essentially be a shoebox type room with fold out beds and tiny cot like beds as well. You will find though that the service at these hotels will be top notch, as these lower range hotels staff will make your stay as pleasant as possible by being extremely nice and receptive to your needs.
I want to go out with my partner but don’t want to take the kids. What can I do?
You will find if you are staying in a higher end hotel that these places will actually provide you with babysitting services with extremely reliable staff. You should always ensure that you have at least 12 hours worth of notice to give to the staff and you can always phone up your room to check on how things are going. If you are staying in budget accommodation you will also find that they can arrange a babysitter if you just ask around.
A lot of people seem to be staring at us? Why?
Indian people are fascinated by the appearance of foreigners and you will find that if you have blonde haired children with nice bright blue eyes that you may even be asked to have photos taken of you and the kids. If you don’t wish for this to happen then you should politely decline and be on your way. You should never be over the top in declining the chance to have your photo taken.
Can I buy toys for my children when in India?
Of course you can! But you should always check to see the quality of the toys you are buying. There are endless amounts of stores available in India where you can buy toys and other gifts for your and other kids, but sometimes these toys aren’t made to last that long and aren’t subject to the same safety standards as you will find back home. Be careful what you buy and look out for and you can always make sure you buy something safe.
My kids get bored easily on long trips, how can I cope with this?
You will probably find yourself doing large amounts of travel on things such as buses and trains as they are generally cheap and fairly comfortable. Always pack lots of different entertainment items for your children so that they can remain occupied during these trips and make sure they don’t become too bored otherwise they may start to cause mischief!
Isn’t India just all temples and things like that? My kids will hate that.
India is famous for its many temples, but it’s not just all about these! You will find many different activities spread across the entire country with kids in mind, from everything from a pony ride to an ice rink! You should always find yourself a good travel guide with tips for kids in it to make your holiday even better.
My child needs to go to the toilet! What do I do?!
Well, simply take them to a toilet! You will find that unlike some countries, most restaurant and shop owners won’t refuse a child to use its toilet. Even if you aren’t a customer in their place of business at the time, most of the time they will oblige.
My child has a belly ache the poor thing, how can I fix this?
India is known for its strong food and it can produce a variety of different reactions such as a tummy ache or vomiting. You should always take with you a basic first aid kit with different medicines in it, or if you really need to you should contact your hotel and ask them to provide you with details of a nearby doctor or hospital that may be able to help.