With dozens of different regional cuisine all grouped under the blanket term “Indian food,” the country is a gastronome’s paradise. Cities like Mumbai and New Delhi are bases from where you can sample the country’s diverse fare, without actually going to every nook and cranny of the country.

The Mughals who ruled the country for over 300 years left India with a treasure trove of architectural beauties – the Taj Mahal, Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb were all built during this period. They also influenced much of the cuisine of the northern part of the country, and traces of these influences remain in the North West Frontier cuisine that’s popular in cities like New Delhi. A novel method of cooking in this part of the country is Dum Pukht cooking. Meats, spices, rice and vegetables are all stuffed in a large pot, and covered with a tight lid to prevent steam from escaping. The pot is then buried in a large clay oven, and coal placed on all sides of the oven from outside. The meat is cooked slowly in its own juices. Because of the elaborateness of the preparation, this is mainly available at five star restaurants in cities like Mumbai and New Delhi.

The food gets lighter, healthier and markedly different in texture and ingredients as you head down south. The Southern cuisine of the country consists of mainly rice in the form of cakes, pancakes and as a main dish. Cakes and pancakes are steamed or roasted in contrast to the north where oils and clarified butter rule.

South Indian cuisine is big on accompaniments and dips – freshly ground coconut and mint chutneys, mango and lime pickles, roasted papadums, all form an essential part of every meal. This type of cuisine is also known for its unique method of dining on plantain leaves. South Indian restaurants specialize in this kind of all you can eat dining where a single washed plantain leaf is piled high with rice, Indian breads, curries and vegetables, all to be washed down with thin spiced buttermilk. Portions are unlimited, and waiters walk around the diner with large steel buckets of curries and rice, pouring and piling where ever they see a leaf looking a little bare for comfort!

The coastal region of the country including Mumbai, Goa and Kerala is justifiably famous for its seafood, and restaurants in Chennai are famed for their catch of the day specials, where you walk in, pick your choice of seafood from ice boxes piled high with fish and sit back while the chef grills up your meal.

Whether you’ve booked your entire family into an all inclusive kid friendly resort or are just camping at a hotel, make sure you have all precautions for your children’s safety outlined. Thus is not to make you paranoid but your hotel is also home to hundreds of strangers, guests, staff and service people who use the premises on a regular basis.

Never let your child play unsupervised in any part of the hotel. Whether in the garden, by the pool or just hanging out at the arcade, there must always be an adult supervising.

Make sure the locks in your room are working properly.

If the room has a balcony, make sure the door is locked. Lock all windows too.

Use duct tape to seal off the open switches. Kids can stick their fingers in these leading to disastrous consequences.

Teach your kids never to open the door, no matter who they think is on the other side without asking you first.

Follow the same rule yourself. If someone is at your door and he says he’s hotel staff and you have no peephole in the door to verify if he’s a staff member, make a call to the reception desk or housekeeping, and inquire if they have sent a staff member to your room. It’s better to be safe than sorry.

Always book a hotel which has a babysitting service. If you want to go out as a couple, never do it when the kids are fast asleep.

Check if the bathroom is safe enough for kids to use. If there are cracked or slippery tiles, ask for another room.

Make sure the crib provided in the hotel room is safe.

Don’t give out your room number to anyone, even other guests that you might have gotten friendly with. This might not seem dangerous when you’re traveling solo or as a couple, but when you add kids to the equation, a certain amount of caution is best.

Never entertain new friends or guests in your hotel room. Keep all your entertaining to outside the room, once you have managed to lave your kids at the hotel babysitting service.

If you’re a single woman using the hotel lift with a child and a stranger gets in, get off the lift and wait for your turn again.

You don’t have to be neurotic about your child’s safety and ruin his trip. But the above are must follows that will ensure a safe and happy trip.

A first aid kit is an absolute must when you’re a family on vacation. The kind of medication that you’re used to might not be easily available at your destination. Your hotel might offer you emergency supplies, but beware that those hefty taxes will be applied to your emergency essentials as well. You don’t want to be wandering about in a strange city in the middle of the night looking for stomach ache medication.

You can either buy a first aid kit that’s easily available, or create your own box by throwing in a few essentials. A large plastic box that’s easy to open will do. Use zip lock bags to compartmentalize pills, creams, ointments etc. so they are easy to find in an emergency. Remember to label each bag so a quick glance will tell you what’s inside.

Here are a few things that your first aid box should contain:

• Sterile gauze
• Adhesive bandage
• Anti septic ointment
• Anti histamine medication (These can be used not just for allergic skin rashes and colds, but also for coughs and as a mild sedative for your child. They tend to make kids drowsy so don’t give your child a spoonful just before you set off for sightseeing at the beginning of the day. A spoonful at night will give her a fitful sleep.
• Moleskin. If you’re going to be doing a lot of walking during your trip, blisters on the feet are a definite possibility.
• Mild pain reliever (Keep in mind that not all chemists will carry the same medication. Also remember to keep the prescriptions of all your kids’ medication. In case things go bad and you need to visit a doctor, knowing what medication he was on will help.
• Diaper rash cream
• Tweezers
• Pair of scissors
• Pain relieving gel or spray
• Sun block
• A mild antibiotic
• Anti diarrhea medication
• Anti nausea medication
• Anti septic wipes
• Disposable cold packs
• Calamine lotions
• Insect repellant
• Disinfectant
• Cotton

A happy vacation is one where nothing goes wrong through out the trip. For all those small emergencies that always seem to crop up when you’re on the road with kids, just keep these essentials handy, and you have nothing to fear!

Many resorts advertise themselves as child friendly resorts which means that they come with a full range of services that include baby sitting services, lots of activities for the kids etc. If your holiday does not involve being holed up in all inclusive resorts with all kinds of kid friendly amenities within easy reach, here are some things you can look out for in a hotel.

Make sure the hotel is located close to kiddie attractions. Traveling to a favorite theme park can take forever when there are kids in tow.

Before you make reservations, look for services like crib facilities or rollaway beds, (depending on the age of your child), baby sitting services, doctor on call, and coin operated laundry services. If you’re traveling with more than one child, who all have their own unique diet requirements, booking a room in a hotel that offers a full or partial kitchenette with refrigerator is a must for a happy hassle free holiday. Otherwise, you could find yourself dialing room service every time you need pre boiled water, or need to heat up formula. Rooms should be available with a sleeping capacity for at least 6.

A swimming pool is an obvious must, and a wading pool is a definite plus. Check to see if their swimming pool security system and emergency response mechanisms are up to par. Picnic areas on site mean impromptu outings for your family without having to leave the premises. Many hotels offer kids programs and activities. Some will offer kids gifts at check in. The hotel’s website will give you an idea of what you can expect outlined in detail.

In house restaurants should preferably have a kid’s menu to choose from.

If you’re traveling abroad for your holiday, you can expect to come back with kids who’ve been exposed to another culture which is a wonderful thing. To make sure your holiday jaunt is one your kids will always remember, make sure that your hotel includes a few basics that you take for granted in the US, but may not be easily available in a foreign hotel.

Not all hotels in Paris for instance, have a 4 person sleeping capacity in their rooms. Make sure that bakeries, coffee shops and fruits stalls are close to your hotel. If your kids develop a disliking for the local food, you can always get by with fruit and baked goods. The hotel must be in a busy commercial area with plenty of access to transport, shops, amenities etc. You don’t want to compound the stress of being in a foreign place by being stuck in the middle of nowhere. If possible, look into apartment rentals for your holiday – they are perfect for family vacations.

If you’re traveling with an infant who you’re still nursing, breastfeeding is a gift from the gods…literally! There are no bottles to remove from cumbersome, bags, no precarious balancing of bottle, baby and formula, and no need to sterilize bottles or ask the snooty stewardess to warm your pre boiled water for you. Breastfeeding is completely safe, extremely convenient and doesn’t take any space in your carry on luggage!

Having said that, be aware that not all passengers will be comfortable with the thought of a mother nursing in such close proximity to them.

For some reason, people are accepting of breast feeding if the mother is question isn’t sitting very close to them, or is discreet about it. But on a plane where passengers are all packed together in a tight space for a few hours, the sight of a nursing mother has even led to controversy. Last year, a mother was asked to get off a plane after she refused the stewardess’ request to “cover up.” As a mother, you shouldn’t be apologetic about nursing in public, and you are under no obligation to use a blanket to cover your baby while you do. As any mother who’s ever used another piece of cloth to cover up her nursing baby knows, holding a cover over your baby when he’s nursing only works when the baby is a couple of months old. Once they get a little older and more curious, they want to not just nurse, but have a look at everything else that’s happening around them as well! Difficult to do if they are being blocked by a blanket.

Consider asking for a window seat and using the blanket not to cover your breast, but to create a screen between you and other passengers by attaching it to your seat and the seat in front with pins.

If that sounds like too much trouble, ensure that you’re dressed for nursing. Wear a loose tee and a bra with extendable straps, so all you have to do while nursing is pull the top up and the bra down. Avoid tight tops and bras that require you to expose the entire length of your side, your stomach and a considerable portion of your breasts.

Always make sure you ask for your window seat, or ask passengers to trade. If the plane isn’t full, ask the crew to keep the seats around you empty – this is easy if you’re traveling during off season.

If you have a co passenger, let him know right at the beginning that you will be nursing during the flight – it gives him time to look for another seat if he’s uncomfortable.

A family vacation can be a hassle free trip provided you have all the gear you need. To avoid leaving behind things that are really important, begin creating a checklist a couple of weeks before your flight, and add things to them over the days. If you sit down to make a list a couple of days before the trip, you’re likely to forget something that strikes you later – when you’re on the plane!

If you have a baby, your bag should contain the following items:

• Lots of diapers
• A changing pad
• Diaper rash cream
• Stroller
• Front pack or backpack
• Feeding bottles
• A feeding bowl with lid and spoon
• Sterilizer
• Bibs – lots of them
• Baby wipes
• Pacifiers
• Baby toys
• Tins of formula
• Bottled water

If you have a toddler, don’t forget to take along:

Lots of clothes if you don’t intend to do laundry. If you want to take a limited number of clothes and do a few wash cycles during your trip, leave behind jeans and other clothes that take forever to dry. Light fabrics that dry in a few hours are ideal. For boys, pants that can be unzipped to create shorts are good for separate looks with the same clothes. Take along two or three sets of swimwear if you’re heading to a warm climate, and lots of jackets and vests for colder climes.

If you have a stash of old clothes that you want to get rid of, take them along on your trip, and throw them after they’ve been worn a couple of times. It’ll cut down your luggage dramatically.

General

No matter how many of you are on the trip and how many kids are going along, you’ll absolutely need:

• A first aid box with essential medication, bandages, gauze, anti allergen medication and other must haves
• Trash bags for wet clothes.
• Camera
• Zip lock bags to store little things like your daughter’s accessories and hair pins.

As far as possible, try to compartmentalize your possessions into separate zip lock bags. It makes finding everything in a hurry a lot easier if you just have to glance at a few bags, see their content and find what it is you’re looking for instead of rummaging through clothes and more clothes to find a safety pin.