Hi,
I have 4 small kids (ages 9, 6, 4, 2) and I'm wondering if New Delhi is a safe and suitable destination? We usually visit resort style hotels (Penang, Phuket, Hawaii, etc.) and lounge around the pool all day. We will be going in July/August so I guess it will be very hot (we live in Japan so humidity is not too much of a problem).
If I could find a hotel with a BIG pool I'm sure they would be happy. We could sightsee on some days and relax around the pool on others. Which hotel(s) have the best pools or kids activities.
We all love Indian food which is one of our main reason for going.
Any advice would be most welcomed.
Thank you.

I know your question is about kids, but I would strongly suggest not going to Delhi in July, especially with small children. The heat is blistering and many places do not have air conditioning or back up generators (the electricity goes off frequently - this doesn't affect hotels). Either go at a later time or go further south.

I have to agree that taking young children, esp the 2 year old toddler, to Delhi in July is not the greatest idea. I don’t even encourage adults to do it at that time of year. Delhi heat in the summer, both pre and post monsoon, is very fierce, and July/august the monsoon will either be breaking our will have broken a few weeks before so it will be very humid. Temps will average in the low 90s F and temps over 100 F are very common. I think you will find touring exhausting, and I think the children will be more prone to getting ill and you will definitely have to be very careful about making sure they drink enough water. Air conditioning is available, but not as prevalent as in other places and as noted above, electricity failures in public places are not uncommon. In addition, the main tourist sights are outside or places like the Red Fort which are not air conditioned and nothing nearby is air conditioned, so there is no way to escape for a few moments or an hour to cool off.

I agree that a beach holiday in southern India, like Goa or Kerala would be a better idea. Conversely, a holiday in one of the cool hill stations like Shimla, Darjeeling, etc would be a good alternative. Finally a place like Bangalore which is pretty temperate all year would be another choice.

Delhi of course has more sights, as does Rajasthan, but I really would not encourage this with young children. If you really still want to do this, then consider staying at the Oberoi, which has a good size pool with some shade. The Sheraton also has a good size pool which gets some shade during the day:

The Oberoi Hotel
Dr. Zakir Hussain Rd.
Delhi
Phone: 91-11-436-3030
Facsimile: +91 11 2436 0484
www.oberoihotels.com

ITC Hotel Maurya Sheraton Hotel & Towers
Diplomatic Enclave , Sadar Patel Marg
New Delhi
Phone (91) (11) 2611 2233
Fax (91) (11) 2611 3333
Starwood.com




If you really like Indian food, consider spending your holiday in Singapore where you can get great Indian food from all regions AND it is not quite so hot. Hotels for the most part have large pools (some with kids clubs), and there is lots of available air-conditioned indoor activities. They have an excellent zoo, bird parks, and parks. I think this is a better place for a vacation with a young family at that time of year. Save north India for the winter months when temps are great for touring.

Congrats on the 4 kids. But honest. New Delhi is not the place to be in July. You (the adults) want to go sightseeing? - it's not just humid, it is totally enervating.

I would say go north for hiking and scenery - but you are unlikely to find a lux hotel there. And no good for kids. Why not go to Australia? Would be cold down south, but perfect time of year to visit the Top End (Darwin). And facilities for tourists are excellent.

I disagree with Alice 13 that you won’t find luxury hotels in the cooler northern hill stations. The Oberoi hotel group has a hotel outside Shimla in the restored summer lodge of Lord Kitchener, a former CIC of British forces in India during the Raj. The hotel is called Wildflower Hall; and it made Conde Nast's top 100 hotels in 2003 list, take a look at http://www.oberoihotels.com/oberoi/I...ecil/index.htm. The pool on the cliffside looks great! Lots of good walks in the area. I agree you would need to keep an eye on the kids on some hiking paths, obviously the 2 year old would be better in a backpack. They also have another property in Shimla which I don't know much about, but looks interesting.

Australia is an interesting option, and you will find some Indian food.

For the type of vacation you want (i.e. for younger kids) have you considered Fiji? The Sheraton in Nadi is very nice, the weather in July there is ideal (its winter in the So. Pac. and its mid 80's then and dry), the people are most friendly, the exchange rate is favorable and as practically 50% of the population is of Indian descent you will get Indian food. we were there in 2001 and consider Fiji to be the best vacation we have ever had. The BI of is #2 so perhaps Fiji may appeal to you too. Cheers, Larry. PS, I agree with the others. Delhi is not for small kids at all, esp. in the summer.

To add to what Cicerone said you could consider combining Banglore with Kerala - the Casino group www.cghearth.com has great properties with fabulos pools and by August the monsoon should be over in Kerala.

Hi there uniopp. I would advise against going to Fiji, especially if it is for the Indian food. It's a long way to go to hang out by a pool and the Indian food we tried at the best Indian restaurants, did not match Delhi's second choice places. Just my humble opinion.

Singapore or Sthn India sound like the best alternatives to Delhi, to me.

Some very knowledgeable people have answered your questions!

Actually Lyndie air time Toyko to Del. and Tokyo to Fiji are about the same and if she wants a resort type locale the Sheraton Nadi fits the bill. Some people don't mind going a long way for that sort of thing. Its fine if that is what you like to do. There is more to Fiji than Indian food of course. JM2C.

Sure, jw, I agree, there is more to Fiji than Indian food! However, OP says Indian food was "one of our main reason for going" so I thought I'd add my 2 cents worth.

We are Fiji lovers and it is so close for us and not bad value, either, except that during our several trips, we have not been impressed by the food-Indian or otherwise, especially at the Sheratons,(3 of them) where we've stayed on 4 occasions, during the past 5 years.

No offence to you, meant! Fiji just does not impress us foodwise and we are absolute foodies, me having worked in food and beverage admin for over 20 years and getting to taste the very best in food in Sydney and around the world. It's just my opinion. All the best!

To each there own. I disagree about the food however. we really liked Chefs and the Japanese Steak house as well as some of the hotel restaurants. That aside it was the kindness of the people that impressed us the most as well as its natural beauty. C'est la vie. Bula.

For sure, Cicerone, there are lux hotels in Shimla. But when I said north I meant further north. Could be there's a resort by now in Manali. But when there's one in Naggar or in Tabo - then I will shed copious tears.

To the OP - Fiji is a great place.