Recently, our Co-Founder Alex took her family on an unforgettable adventure through India. A journey full of colour, connection, and inspiration. In this Q&A, she shares her travel highlights, tips for exploring India with kids, and a few of her favourite moments along the way.
Let’s start with your itinerary, where did you go?
We packed a lot in without having to cover too much ground.
We started in Delhi, staying at the historic Imperial Hotel, celebrating a mini Holi festival with friends, exploring Gujarati street stalls, and soaking up the city’s energy.
Sight seeing in Delhi
Next was Agra, where we joined a few thousand others to experience the majesty of the Taj Mahal – hard going for the kids but well worth it, plus it’s an excuse to go to the Oberoi which is almost as amazing as the Taj!
Taj Mahal, Agra
From Agra, we headed to Dholpur to stay at Raj Niwas Palace, took a river cruise and explored the area by jeep.
After Dholpur, we travelled to Ranthambore National Park where we did an incredible tiger safari.
Then we made our way to Jaipur, staying at Swaii Man Mahal and Samode Haveli. We visited the Dera Amer elephant sanctuary for a magical breakfast, caught up with friends, shopped, and soaked up the magic of the Pink City.
Flower Market, Jaipur
From Jaipur, we travelled to Neemrana Fort Palace, which was absolutely magical and a great spot to slow down toward the end of the trip.
We finished with a final night back in Delhi, before heading home.
What keeps you coming back to India?
India is just electric. There’s a hum of life and colour that is like nothing else I’ve ever experienced. From the second you walk out of the airport, it hits you right in the guts. India doesn’t let you stand on the sidelines, it pulls you in, completely. You can’t just dip your toe in; you’re fully immersed from the start. Every time I leave, I carry home a heart full of technicolour memories, a belly full of spicy goodness, and a spirit lifted by the incredible connections we make there.
What are your tips for travelling in India with small children?
My biggest tip is not to overstretch yourself. India is vast, so tackle it in bite-sized chunks. We focused on Rajasthan this trip, which is a well-trodden tourist path that makes travelling with kids easier and more predictable. That said, the kids were such a novelty and were treated like little queens wherever we went!
I’d strongly recommend hiring a driver and doing as much travel by land as you can. It’s a brilliant way to see the country, with roadside chai stops being a highlight, and so much easier than dealing with airports.
Roadside chai stops
We travelled in summer, which was hot, so we planned early outings and made sure every hotel had a pool for afternoon downtime (and a much-needed cool-down!).
What was your favourite hotel?
It’s so hard to choose! The Imperial Hotel in Delhi has my heart, wonderfully historic with incredible staff, and we’ve been returning there for close to 15 years now. The Oberoi in Agra is truly jaw-dropping, with views of the Taj Mahal and ornate interiors that will blow your mind. (Hot tip: even if you don’t stay there, go for lunch - it’s well worth it.)
Raj Niwas Palace in Dholpur has a real “Best Exotic Marigold Hotel” vibe - lower key but so full of character, with peacocks roaming the grounds and a blue restaurant that’s a masterclass in colour.
The Raj Niwas Palace Hotel
Possibly my favourite, though, was Swaii Man Mahal in Jaipur. It’s adjacent to the Rambagh Palace so you get access to those incredible grounds, but it’s stunning in its own right and the service was some of the best I’ve experienced anywhere. They offered loads of great (and free!) kids’ activities like traditional petal art, kite flying, and magic shows. Samode Haveli in Jaipur was also so freaking cool — walking distance to the buzz of the old town, but an oasis inside, and an Instagram lover’s dream.
City Palace, Jaipur
What was the best meal you had on the trip?
That’s a tough one, but I think our meal at Rambagh Palace in Jaipur stands out. The setting is spectacular: peacocks roaming the grounds, stunning architecture and the Indian cuisine was phenomenal. Add in some killer cocktails, and it was the perfect experience.
What was the highlight of the trip?
It’s impossible to narrow down! Visiting our friends in India, who hosted a mini Holi festival for us in their home, was unforgettable - such generous, beautiful hospitality.
Holi Festival, Delhi
I loved all the roadside chai stops, which became a joyful little ritual. Tiger spotting in Ranthambore was a total pinch-me moment, as was wandering through the streets of the Pink City in Jaipur. Visiting the Dera Amer elephant sanctuary was really special, and of course… the shopping was incredible. I think getting to see these places through my kids eyes for the first time was the greatest part of all.
On the road to tiger safari in Ranthambore
Where was the best shopping?
Jaipur was an absolute dream for shopping. There are so many incredible places — Nila House, Ecru Exports, Hot Pink, and Heritage Textiles are some of my favourites, along with plenty of hidden gems on those local shopping strips. And in Delhi, the little market stalls on “Grandma Street” near the Imperial were perfect for picking up small treasures and fun nicknacks.
Nila House, Jaipur
