Our Kerala Trip with Two Kids: Beautiful, Exhausting and Slightly Disastrous

I had been looking forward to our Kerala vacation for weeks.

We were travelling with our two daughters — one six years old and the other just one-and-a-half — and I had imagined temples, beaches, good food, beautiful hotels, photographs, and a nice break from normal life.

Technically, we got all of those things.

We also got fever, allergies, antihistamines, late-night pharmacy runs, doctor calls, coughing, sneezing, and one very exhausted family.

So yes, our Kerala holiday was beautiful.

It was also slightly disastrous.

And strangely enough, I would still say we enjoyed it.

That is probably the most accurate description of travelling with children.

Day 1: Pune to Thiruvananthapuram — We Started With Full Enthusiasm

We left Pune on Thursday, travelled to Navi Mumbai Airport, and flew to Thiruvananthapuram.

At this point, everyone was healthy, excited, and still behaving like normal tourists.

We stayed at Vivanta Thiruvananthapuram, and after settling in, we went to Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple.

The temple has a strict traditional dress code, so this is something families should check before visiting. Men are required to wear traditional mundu/veshti, and there are specific dress requirements for women as well. Phones, cameras, smartwatches, and several other electronic items are also not permitted inside.

With two children, temple visits are never exactly peaceful meditation.

There is always someone asking for water, wanting to be carried, or suddenly deciding that standing still is against their personal values.

But we managed.

Later, we visited Shangumugham Beach and ended the evening with dinner at the hotel.

It felt like a wonderful beginning.

Which, in hindsight, should probably have made me suspicious.

Day 2: Kanyakumari — Amazing, Exhausting and Worth It

After breakfast on Friday, we left for Kanyakumari.

This was probably the most tiring sightseeing day of the trip, especially with a toddler.

There were queues, walking, managing the children, waiting for the ferry, and the usual question every parent asks during a long outing:

“Why did we think this was a good idea?”

But then we reached the Vivekananda Rock Memorial area.

The memorial sits around 500 meters from the mainland and is reached by ferry.

And then came one of the highlights of the trip — the Kanyakumari Glass Bridge.

The glass bridge connects Vivekananda Rock Memorial and the Thiruvalluvar Statue. It stretches 77 metres over the sea and was an especially exciting experience for the children.

Standing above the sea on a glass bridge with two kids was equal parts:

“Wow, this is amazing!”

and

“Please do not run. Please do not jump. Please just walk normally for thirty seconds.”

We also saw the massive Thiruvalluvar Statue, which rises to a total height of 133 feet.

It was an exhausting day, but one of those experiences you remember.

And then, sometime after midnight, our holiday changed direction.

The 3 A.M. Fever That Every Parent Dreads

Our younger daughter suddenly developed a fever at around 3 a.m.

Nothing changes the mood of a family holiday faster than touching your toddler’s forehead in the middle of the night and thinking:

“She feels hot.”

We had carried children’s paracetamol from home, but the bottle had already been opened a couple of weeks earlier and we were unsure about using it while travelling.

Rather than guessing, my husband took a hotel cab in the middle of the night, found a medical store, and bought a fresh bottle.

The next day, we spoke to our daughter’s doctor in Pune and followed the treatment she recommended.

Thankfully, our little one settled and remained manageable over the next couple of days.

One thing I would do differently now is discuss a basic travel medicine plan with our pediatrician before leaving — what medicines to carry, the correct dose for each child, storage instructions, and when we should seek medical help instead of trying to manage symptoms ourselves.

For families travelling with children, the CDC similarly recommends discussing the itinerary and children’s health needs with their healthcare provider beforehand and carrying necessary medications.

Important: This is only our family’s experience, not medical advice. Fever in young children can have many causes. Follow your child’s doctor’s advice and seek medical attention if you are concerned.

Day 3: The Holiday Became a Rest Day

By Saturday, I was also feeling unwell, and after everything that had happened the night before, we finally accepted that this was not going to be a packed sightseeing day.

So we slowed down.

My husband and his friend stepped out for a while to shop for a saree, while I stayed back at the hotel with the girls. We rested, slept, and gave ourselves permission to do absolutely nothing for a few hours.

No sightseeing checklist.

No rushing.

No guilt.

And honestly, that pause was probably exactly what we needed.

By evening, everyone was feeling much better and suddenly the day did not feel wasted at all.

We decided to keep things easy and went to Varkala Beach for a quiet evening. After the chaos of the previous night, simply walking around, enjoying the sea breeze, and not having a strict plan felt surprisingly refreshing.

We had dinner at Little Tibet, a small restaurant near the beach, and it turned into one of the calmer meals of the trip. No rushing from one attraction to another — just food, conversation, and two kids who were thankfully doing much better.

After dinner, we spent some time browsing the little shops around Varkala and picked up a few souvenirs.

That evening reminded me of something I often forget while travelling with children:

A slow day does not have to be a lost day.

Sometimes the best part of a family holiday happens after you cancel the original plan.

When travelling with young children, it is easy to plan every day as if everyone will wake up energetic, healthy, and cooperative.

Children have other plans.

Sometimes adults do too.

Day 4: Kovalam and the Stay We Really Needed

On Sunday, we travelled to Kovalam and checked into The Leela Kovalam, A Raviz Hotel.

This part of the trip felt completely different.

The property sits on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea, and our cottage had a beautiful sea view.

For a moment, I remembered why we had gone on holiday in the first place.

The sea.

The greenery.

The views.

The room.

The quiet.

We later learned that purple jellyfish are seen along the Kovalam coast seasonally and sometimes wash ashore with the currents. Locals even have names for them such as kadachori or onachori.

We also visited the hotel’s organic vegetable garden. The resort calls it Aaramam, a five-acre organic garden within the property.

The kids enjoyed wandering around, and for us it was a simple activity that did not require queues, traffic, or complicated logistics.

We also had lunch at the hotel.

A very nice lunch.

A very, very expensive lunch.

Luxury apparently has excellent views and equally excellent confidence while presenting the bill.

Then the Swimming Pool Entered the Story

But by then our family health scoreboard looked something like this:

Husband: allergic reaction
Toddler: fever and congestion
Me: unwell
Older daughter: severe nasal allergy symptoms

Kerala itself was doing perfectly fine.

It was apparently just us.

Monday: Just Get Us Home

Our return flight was at around 5 p.m. on Monday.

By then, the idea of sightseeing had completely disappeared.

The only destination everyone cared about was:

HOME.

We made it through the journey, landed at Navi Mumbai, travelled back toward Pune, and went directly to the doctor.

Our doctor diagnosed our older daughter with severe allergic rhinitis and found congestion in our younger daughter’s chest/cough symptoms.

Our elder daughter eventually needed another two days away from school even after we came home.

There is something deeply comforting about reaching your own house after a difficult family trip.

Your own bed suddenly feels like a five-star hotel.

Your kitchen looks beautiful.

Even unpacking medicines feels reassuring because at least you know where everything is.

But Was the Trip Ruined?

Surprisingly, no.

That is the strange thing about family travel.

When I look back, I remember the illnesses.

But I also remember:

• visiting Padmanabhaswamy Temple
• watching the sea at Shangumugham Beach
• taking the ferry at Kanyakumari
• walking across the glass bridge
• seeing the Thiruvalluvar Statue
• the beautiful drive
• our sea-view stay in Kovalam
• wandering through the vegetable garden
• dinners and lunches with friends
• watching the children enjoy experiences they had never seen before

The trip was both enjoyable and a nightmare.

Apparently those two things can exist at exactly the same time when you travel with children.

The People Who Saved Our Trip

One thing deserves special mention.

We travelled with friends who do not have children.

And ironically, they were one of the biggest reasons we survived the trip.

They helped with the kids.

They waited patiently.

They adjusted plans.

They gave us breathing space when someone was sick or cranky.

Travelling with helpful people is an underrated parenting luxury.

Sometimes the best thing you can pack for a family holiday is another adult who genuinely likes your children.

What This Kerala Trip Taught Me About Travelling With Kids

1. Carry a Proper Children’s Medicine Kit

Before travelling, I would now speak to our pediatrician and prepare a basic kit appropriate for both children’s ages and health needs.

For example:

• regular prescribed medicines
• thermometer
• medicines specifically advised by the doctor
• oral rehydration packets where appropriate
• basic first-aid supplies
• copies/photos of prescriptions

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends discussing children’s travel needs with their pediatrician and carrying regular medicines and relevant health information.

Also check medicine labels for expiry dates and storage instructions rather than assuming how long an opened bottle remains usable.

2. Save Your Pediatrician’s Number

Calling our daughter’s doctor in Pune made a huge difference.

When your child becomes sick at 3 a.m. in an unfamiliar city, having access to someone who knows their medical history is incredibly reassuring.

Also identify nearby hospitals or clinics before travelling, especially when travelling with babies or toddlers.

3. Do Not Over-Pack the Itinerary

Our Kanyakumari day was memorable, but it was also tiring.

With young children, one major activity per day can sometimes be enough.

Leaving space for naps, meals, meltdowns, and unexpected illness makes the holiday much easier.

4. A Rest Day Is Part of the Holiday

Saturday initially felt like a day we had “lost.”

Now I think it probably saved the rest of the trip.

Kids do not care whether your itinerary cost money.

When someone needs rest, rest.

5. Be Careful With Long Pool Sessions

Our daughter would happily have stayed in the pool forever.

After this trip, I would set clearer swimming breaks, keep the children hydrated, and watch closely for signs that they are cold, tired, or uncomfortable.

Children should also be closely supervised around pools and other water activities.

6. Do Not Diagnose Every Holiday Illness Yourself

It was tempting to think:

“Maybe the wind caused the fever.”

or

“Maybe the swimming pool caused the allergy.”

But illness is rarely that simple.

A fever can have many causes, and nasal symptoms can be triggered by infections or allergens.

What mattered was getting medical advice rather than trying to confidently diagnose the reason ourselves.

7. Travel With People Who Understand Children

Our friends were amazing.

If you are travelling as a family, having supportive adults around can completely change the experience.

Even twenty minutes of someone else entertaining a toddler can feel like a spa treatment.

8. Keep the Return Day Light

Our Monday flight was already enough.

In future, I would avoid planning major sightseeing on the same day as a flight when travelling with young children.

Airport transfers, luggage, meals, naps, and boarding are activities themselves.

9. Pack a Few Warm Layers — Even for a Beach Holiday

One thing I did not expect was how windy some places could get.

Kanyakumari, especially around the ferry, rock memorial, and glass bridge area, was much windier than I had imagined. When travelling with young children, weather can also change quickly from one location to another.

So even if you are heading somewhere warm, I would still pack:

• A light jacket or sweatshirt
• One full-sleeve layer
• A light blanket for the toddler
• An ear-covering cap or beanie
• An extra pair of socks

You may never need them, but when the wind suddenly picks up, you will be very glad they are in the bag.

For me, this became another reminder that “beach destination” does not always mean “warm and comfortable all day.”

Would I Do the Trip Again?

Yes.

Maybe with a bigger medicine kit.

Definitely with fewer plans.

Possibly with a rule that nobody is allowed to get sick.

Although I suspect my children would ignore that rule too.

Our Kerala holiday reminded me that travelling with kids is rarely the smooth, smiling version we see in photographs.

There are beautiful views just outside the frame.

And somewhere next to them, there is probably a parent searching Google for the nearest pharmacy.

But we made memories.

We crossed the sea on a glass bridge.

We watched our daughters experience new places.

We spent time with wonderful friends.

We laughed.

We worried.

We rested.

We came home exhausted and incredibly relieved.

And somehow, despite everything, I am still glad we went.

That is family travel, I suppose.

Beautiful. Chaotic. Expensive. Exhausting. Completely worth remembering.