Everyone thinks of Goa as a party place, but believe me, it is one of the most baby-friendly destinations in India. One sentence sums it up better than anything – “Goa is like a fridge, everyone just wants to chill here!” There’s something for everyone in this beautiful, laid-back, sun & sand state. So while the late-night party scene will most likely be missed when you’re travelling with a baby, you can still enjoy the beachside shacks for the day or an evening cocktail.
A mere three and a half months after Baby H, Daddy & Mommy set eyes on each other, the blissfully happy (and mostly sleep-deprived) trio was off for their first vacation to the sunny climes of Goa. In the midst of all the eat-burp-poop-sleep-repeat that new parents are going through, a holiday with the baby may seem like a most distant dream, but it is, in fact, the most needed respite that you must aim for. The is the time when Mommy is healing from the medical miracle of heaving a human out of her body; the baby is adjusting to, well… to being alive; and daddy is dealing with mommy’s hormones, baby’s colic and the abysmally low amount of paternity leaves he had. Trust me, a first holiday is definitely best timed in the first six months.
Why did we pick Goa?
Goa is Goa! It’s a place that immediately evokes surreptitious satiated smiles in those who’ve been, and wistful wishful smiles in those who haven’t. Goan cuisine is delicious, and the weather is great all year round. The so-called peak season (i.e. November to March) gets crazy crowded and expensive and is a great time to experience the vibe of the place. The monsoon months (i.e. July to October) have their own charm, and while the beaches will be closed for swimming, one can still enjoy walks along the shore and swimming in the pools of the numerous properties spread all across. Even in the peak heat of April & May, which is when we went, I can’t say the weather played too much of a spoilsport. The advantage, in fact, was that we were able to get good deals on the best properties in this lean season.
Flight Training
Goa’s Dabolim Airport has decent connectivity with most major hubs in India, and we found the 40-minute flight from Mumbai to be the ideal “test flight” so to say. We had landed and were off to the gorgeous resort before the journey started to get unbearable.
In the initial months, babies sleep a lot. To coincide with typical nap times, we picked the mid-afternoon flight and tried to keep baby awake at the airport and check-in; just long enough that he knocked off after take-off. (Pro-tip: feed your baby – bottle milk, breast milk, or water – during take-off and landing. The basic aim is to make them swallow, which is the only way to keep from cabin pressure building up in their ears. And ear discomfort is the primary reason for the crankiness that babies have while flying.)
The good thing is that having a babe-in-arms helps to cut through all of the lines that air travel has come to symbolize. All airlines have dedicated check-in counters for people travelling with infants, fellow passengers are kinder and let you pass through the security check, and families with infants get to board the aircraft first. You’re sitting in the aircraft easy-breezy, even before you realise it! We also made sure to keep our handbags light – only baby’s diaper bag and his pram – and checked in all the other luggage. The idea was to try and be “hands-free” as much as possible – which can be achieved by babywearing (if your little one allows it), or a lightweight pram/stroller. Airports involve a deceptively large amount of walking, so don’t forget to cater to how you will manage baby through it all.
Picking the Right Property
The thing about most resorts in Goa is that there is rarely anything to do or see close by. In fact, one of the reasons we decided to splurge on a fancy property for this trip was that we were unsure of how Baby H would take travel. The point of the holiday was to spend some time with each other and get thoroughly pampered, in a beautiful location. Plus, we realized that rather than the party-vibe experience of North Goa, a holiday with the baby would be better spent in South Goa which is known for its pristine white beaches and top-class luxury.
So our search for the best family-friendly resorts in Goa led us to The Leela Goa located on Cavelossim Beach in South Goa. It is a beautiful property spread over 75 acres of lush landscaped gardens. The rooms are laid out to overlook a small river or the golf course. The adjoining beach is private enough and clean. The hotel provides you with sunbeds and beach towels. The staff at the hotel is extremely helpful, and mindful of the fact that babies have special needs. We requested for a baby cot to be placed in the room, which is normally done for no extra charge. On one of our subsequent trips to the same property (yes, we loved it so much that we went back when Baby H was 20 months old!), whatever we ordered for Baby H was on the house – milk, curd, khichdi, fruits, etc.
Breakfast was at the all-day dining called The Restaurant, as were most of our other meals. Food is really good at the hotel (even the room service menu has adequate variety). On his first trip, Baby H was still on breast milk so we didn’t need to bother about his meals! But I do know that the hotel is happy to provide boiled water for mixing formula. You would need to plan for bottle sterilizing though, so try and get a 2-3 bottle sterilizer that is not so difficult to pack and carry.
The pool at The Leela is so much fun! Their kids’ pool is also big enough for toddlers up to 3-4 years to enjoy. On our next trip, we also discovered their Kids Zone to be a good find – especially to keep the young ones occupied on rainy days.
Making the Most of your Holiday
In our first few trips with Baby H, we had to mentally re-adjust our idea of holidays. We kept itineraries more open and flexible – we had to, of course, adjust things to account for his sleep/meal schedule. Even on this trip, we kept it simple and spent our time inside the hotel, on the beach adjacent to the hotel, and just a walk to nearby places on one of the days.
We loved our morning and evening walks, and bonding time with Baby H. There are gorgeous landscaped gardens and walkways all around The Leela, and a small meandering river too. Daddy and Baby H enjoyed spotting the birds as we walked around the mini-golf course.
Our only “outing” on this trip was dinner at the nearby Fisherman’s Wharf – a beautiful restaurant which is a must-visit for the seafood and riverside seating. Baby H obliged by falling asleep as soon as we entered the restaurant – Mommy and Daddy got a perfect date night!
To have a hassle-free holiday, make sure you spend a little extra time pre-planning your packing. Your list of things to carry while travelling to Goa with a baby must include enough and more clothes so that you don’t need to wash (we keep 2 sets for each day of travel), favourite toys and some books, a small pack of standard medicines (we checked with his doctor on what all to take on a holiday and she gave us a list to cover the basics – fever, tummy upset, diarrhoea, cough and cold), and don’t forget mosquito repellant, sunblock and a sunhat wherever you’re going! Of course, there will be feeding paraphernalia – nursing covers, bibs, bottles, formula, travel sterilizer – that may take up half your suitcase. Despite that though, milk is the easiest and most accessible feed to manage – ask any mum of a fussy eating toddler!
All in all, this was a trip that was deeply cherished by the husband and me (and we hope Baby H too!). I’m really glad that in the midst of the daze that defines the first few weeks of welcoming a mini-human into our lives, we made sure to plan a holiday with the little bub.
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