There are several privately run guesthouses and bungalows on offer in the hills these days. No doubt many be a real fun experience, especially because many of these are offbeat and one can truly commune with nature.
However I would suggest one checks out a few things for oneself before planning such a vacation.
One is generally not required to pay the entire amount upfront and one should be wary about giving in to such a demand. If you should change your mind either before you arrive on holiday, or during the course of it, there is no way anything will be refunded to you. The logic is that since these are small enterprises, they lose out enormously should you cancel. Opinions may differ, but I feel this is an unfair trade practice, even though you may be told you could shift your vacation dates for later.
If you are a family with young children and still like to holiday in quiet places, it is important to ensure that the guesthouse at least have a small play area / garden for kids to expend their energy in and not entirely depend on you for their entertainment. Should such an arrangement be lacking, it can prove to be quite a frustrating experience for both parent and offspring. I should add here that most guesthouses are not ideal getaways for families with young children. We have learnt this by experience? our kids love the outdoors and could do very well without TV/PC/Video, but they need their space to run around in.
Always be very clear about the time of your arrival and ensure that
a fresh, wholesome meal will be made available to you when you get there,
should you and your family request it.
It also makes sense to carry some packs of pre-cooked food, noodles, some cereal, soups, cheese, UHT milk etc, specially if traveling with kids. Children can be fussy eaters, especially if they are not used to the kind of food on offer. If you are heading for remote and little known places, you may buy your supplies en route, but do not expect to find them in the local markets!!
It is also wise to carry packaged drinking water. Water supplies in the hills may be sourced from springs and the like and may be said to be safe, but it is definitely not worth the risk.
Important to check out what the electricity and water supply is like; it can really be very erratic. An emergency light comes in very handy? as several of these establishments do not possess invertors. If you are looking for a certain degree of comfort, it would be wise to check out if what is being promised actually holds good. What is being charged should be commensurate with the services available.
Makes sense to carry with you an anti allergic lotion/ medication/ cream since you may fall victim to nasty bites from unseen creepy ? crawlies. A quick remedy suggested by a friend who?s a veteran traveler was to simply rub in white toothpaste over a very itchy bite! I didn?t believe him at first, but it actually works! Mosquito mats may come in handy. Of course insects come along with a holiday package in the hills, but it is best to be prepared for them.
That?s a long enough list!! Of course, there?s a lot else to keep in mind while planning a holiday away from the madding crowd, but I?ll confine myself to just this much.
Happy holidaying!!
:)