While there is no shortage of hotels in either Sikkim or Darjeeling (the small town of Pelling alone has 80 hotels), the better hotels do get booked up quickly. Lodging in Darjeeling is more abundant in the backpacker category and there are fewer upmarket hotels. Sikkim has plenty of mid-range choices, but really just one top quality hotel. At this writing, fast-growing Gangtok is opening several luxury hotels. The busy season is Christmas and New Year and during the school holidays of the Indian academic year (the only time kids get time off), which covers late April to early June, around Durga Puja, and Diwali depending on its date.