Going home between December and February? How to add a few hotel nights to the family visit, what rooms cost on average, and how to book it on one enquiry.
At a glance: hotels in India for a winter trip from the UK
Winter is the best time to add a short hotel break to a family visit. Goa and Kerala are warm and dry. Jaipur and Agra have cool mornings and pleasant days. Shimla and Darjeeling are cold, with a chance of snow. Average hotel rates shown on manntravel.co.uk on 7 October 2026 run from about £12 a night in Kerala to about £55 in Goa; rates change and depend on the hotel, room and dates. Book hotels and flights on one enquiry at manntravel.co.uk/hotels or call 0208 099 9900.
Why add hotel nights to a winter family visit
Most UK families fly to India in winter to see parents, attend a wedding or simply be home. The flights get booked. The hotel nights get forgotten until the week before.
Three nights away mid-trip changes the whole holiday. The children get a beach or a hill station. Grandparents get a break from hosting. And in December and January the weather across most of India is at its best. This guide covers the six destinations UK families ask us about most, with the average hotel rate from our homepage so you can budget before you call.
Six winter hotel destinations compared
Average rates are per night, as shown on manntravel.co.uk on 7 October 2026. They are averages across the hotels we list, not a specific room. Rates change and depend on the hotel, room type and dates. Christmas and New Year are higher.
Destination | Winter weather | Who it suits | Nearest Mann Travel destination airport | Average per night |
Goa | Warm and dry, sunny days | Young children, beach lovers, first-timers | Mumbai, then a short domestic flight | From about £55 |
Kerala | Warm and dry, pleasant evenings | Houseboats, slower pace, grandparents | Kochi | From about £12 |
Jaipur | Cool mornings, pleasant days | Forts, markets, teenagers | Delhi, then road or rail | From about £25 |
Agra | Cool mornings, mild afternoons, some fog | One or two nights for the Taj Mahal | Delhi, then road or rail | From about £23 |
Shimla | Cold, chance of snow | Families who want a proper winter, toy train | Delhi, then road (most of a day) | From about £13 |
Darjeeling | Cold, clear mountain views, possible snow | Tea gardens, older children and adults | Delhi, then a domestic flight to Bagdogra and road | From about £36 |
Goa
The easy beach break with small children. Hotels run from simple guesthouses to resorts with pools, and the average on our site is from about £55 a night, the highest of the six.
Kerala
Warm, green and gentle. A night on a houseboat plus two nights near Kochi suits grandparents and children alike. Average rates from about £12 a night make it the best value of the six, and Kochi needs no onward connection.
Jaipur
Forts, markets and good food, with days warm enough to walk around. Average rates from about £25 a night. Pair it with Agra as a short triangle from Delhi.
Agra
One night for the Taj Mahal at sunrise. Winter mornings can be foggy, so book two nights if you want a second chance at a clear view. Average rates from about £23 a night.
Shimla
For families who want cold weather, woolly hats and the chance of snow. Average rates from about £13 a night. Allow most of a day to get there from Delhi.
Darjeeling
Tea gardens, the toy train and Himalayan views on a clear morning. Average rates from about £36 a night. It takes effort to reach, so suits a five-night break.
What "average rate" means, and what to ask for
The figures on our homepage are averages across the hotels listed for each destination. A family in a simple guesthouse in Shimla and another in a heritage suite will pay very different amounts.
Rates also move with the calendar. Christmas week and New Year are the most expensive nights of the winter in Goa and Kerala. February half-term, 15 to 19 February 2027 for most English councils, is busier than the weeks either side. Midweek nights in January are often the best priced.
When you enquire, tell us these four things:
- Family rooms. Our hotels page lists family rooms, serviced apartments and hotels with child-friendly facilities. Say how many children and their ages.
- Breakfast. Some rates include it, some do not. With children it is usually worth having.
- Airport transfers. We can add transfers to the hotel, which saves haggling with a taxi after a long journey.
- Budget and star category. Our hotels search lets you set both.
Book the hotel and the flights on one enquiry
Tell us the whole plan in one message: UK departure city, Indian arrival city, family dates, and the nights you want away. We price the flights and the hotel together and send back one quote. The hotel dates then fit around the flights, and if a flight time changes we already know which hotel nights are affected.
Flights from London, Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh and Glasgow are on manntravel.co.uk/flights. The hotel search and enquiry form are on manntravel.co.uk/hotels, or send everything through our contact page. In the West Country? Our guide to flights from Bristol to India explains the options.
Students and education staff can join MannPass for £25 off selected return flights between the UK and India. Valid 30 days, renewable, not combinable with other promotions.
A sample 10-day winter plan with three hotel nights
How a UK family might split a 10-day trip to Delhi in late December. Swap the cities for your own family home.
Days | Where | What happens |
Day 1 | Fly UK to Delhi | Overnight flight, family collects you. |
Days 2 to 4 | Family home | Rest and the first round of visits. |
Days 5 to 7 | Jaipur and Agra, three hotel nights | Two nights in Jaipur, one in Agra. Taj Mahal at sunrise on day 7, then back to Delhi by evening. |
Days 8 to 9 | Family home | Shopping, last visits, packing gifts. |
Day 10 | Fly Delhi to UK | Airport transfer arranged with the booking. |
Family home in Mumbai or Kochi? Swap Jaipur and Agra for Goa or Kerala. Flying into Amritsar? Shimla is the natural three-night break.
4 practical tips for UK families
1. Book Christmas hotels by November
Christmas Day is Friday 25 December 2026. Beach hotels in Goa and Kerala fill fast for that week, and family rooms go first. Enquire by early November.
2. Book February half-term hotels by December
Half-term runs 15 to 19 February 2027 for most English councils. Enquire before Christmas.
3. Pack for two climates
Goa and Kerala need summer clothes. Shimla and Darjeeling need proper coats, hats and gloves, especially for children and grandparents. Jaipur and Agra need a jumper for mornings.
4. Check documents and travel advice before you go
British passport holders need an Indian visa or OCI card. Read the latest UK government travel advice for India before you travel, and check hotel cancellation terms.
Why book with Mann Travel
Mann Travel has been taking families home to India since 2007, and our Southall office has looked after UK travellers since 2019. Our team speaks Hindi, Punjabi and English, offers phone and WhatsApp support, and specialises in group and family bookings. We know which hotels take a family of five without fuss and which are worth the extra pounds a night.
Let’s take you home this winter, with a few nights away.
Search flights at manntravel.co.uk/flights, browse hotels at manntravel.co.uk/hotels, or call our Southall team on 0208 099 9900.
frequently asked questions
Which part of India is warm in December and January?
Goa and Kerala are warm and dry through the winter. Jaipur and Agra have cool mornings and pleasant days. Shimla and Darjeeling are cold, with a chance of snow.
How much do hotels in India cost per night?
Average rates shown on manntravel.co.uk on 7 October 2026 were from about £12 a night in Kerala and £13 in Shimla, up to about £55 in Goa. Rates change and depend on the hotel, room and dates. Christmas and New Year are higher.
Can I book hotels and flights to India together?
Yes. Send one enquiry with your flight dates and the hotel nights you want, and Mann Travel will price both together. Use the hotels page or call 0208 099 9900.
When should I book hotels in India for Christmas?
By early November. Christmas week in Goa and Kerala fills quickly. For February half-term, book by December.
Do Indian hotels have family rooms?
Many do. Mann Travel’s hotels page lists family rooms, serviced apartments and hotels with child-friendly facilities.
Hotel rates are averages shown on manntravel.co.uk on 7 October 2026 and depend on the hotel, room type and dates. Flight fares change daily. Always check live prices before booking.
