Best places to stay in Shimla with family

We formed this list of best places to stay in Shimla with family before our trip to Shimla & Manali. As, we did a lot of research to figure out the best places to stay in Shimla for us. Since, we were traveling with our 1.5 years old daughter and a big family this time. So, we had a list of constraints in order to chose the best places to stay in Shimla. One of the most important things to consider included where to stay in Shimla with family and kid. And then, we also wanted to stay close to the places to visit in Shimla. Thus, we searched hard for Shimla stay options which had all that we were looking for.

In this process, we not only considered the accommodation in Shimla, but also looked at places to stay near Shimla. Then, we shot individual mails to these hotels in Shimla enquiring about the different things that we were looking for and that were not clearly mentioned on their website or the online booking agency website. Overall, it was a lengthy and tiresome process. And, this is what led us to realize that lots of travelers like us must be going through similar process, spending a lot of time trying to find out the best possible stay options for them.

So, this time around, we decided to not only review the place we ended up staying at, but also make a list of the close contenders along with their pros and cons, so that fellow travelers would benefit from it.

Budget places to stay in Shimla with family

Prim Resort, Shimla

This is a beautiful bungalow located near the mall road, Shimla. There are many cheap hotels in Shimla mall road. But, this budget stay option was on top of our list as one of the best places to stay in Shimla with family.

It is a heritage resort of British times. While, it reminds one of a British Manor in Windsor, UK. Also, it is a heritage resort. And, it’s the erstwhile post office (circa 1893) which has made the transition to a 19 room resort for the discerning. Overall, it is adorned with Victorian furniture and several antiques viz. a 100 year old Piano, an even older fireplace, the place is full of memories and memorabilia. And, it’s located quiet near the Mall Road, giving it the advantage of being near mall road and still being a quaint resort.

The resort is a haven of peace away from the buzz of the city while still being at walking distance from it. Finally, a charming forest full of birds and a Golf Course (Annadale) across the premises complete the whole resort setup . We talked to the manager and he was very keen at having us there. Actually, he was providing a very decent discounted package as well, since we were visiting at just the start of tourist season. Also, the in-campus restaurant is renounded to serve delicious food.

Pros:

1. Nice food options
2. Lots of options inside with a sprawling living room and outside with a big lawn to leisure and relax
3. Although close to Mall road, it’s set at an incline and hidden from the hustle and bustle of the town

Cons:

1. The last few hundred meters stretch to the place is steep and narrow. It requires a skilled driver to drive with confidence on this stretch.
2. If one wants to walk all the way from Mall road, it will be little tiring because of the steep incline.

Reason we didn’t end up here:

We had a toddler and parents with us. Also, we had two big vehicles that we had hired right from Chandigarh. So, we didn’t feel confident enough to take a ride down the steep slope to the hotel. Also, walking on the steep hills was not an option for our parents. Although, the hotel was ready to send across it’s own vehicles for pickup from Mall road , or, it’s own skilled drivers in case someone with a personal vehicle didn’t feel confident enough to drive. But, still we thought not to go for these options this time. In case we happen to visit again, we will love to consider staying here.

You can book this hotel in Shimla from here with one of our partner sites.

Hotel Kapil

This is yet another budget accommodation in Shimla with around 15 rooms right on the heart of the mall room. And, this turned out to be a good budget option when looking for best places to stay in Shimla with family right amidst the town. Also, at minutes distance from the mall road. However, it didn’t meet many criteria which we were looking for, so, we had to drop off the option.

Pros:

1. Budget property
2. Situated in the heart of mall road
3. Arranges for site seeing

Cons:

1. Lack of many on – premise facilities like they have only partial power backup, no laundry, recreational room or lawn
2. Car parking was not available on the premises
3. No lifts facility
4. The only way to access this hotel from mall road was the government installed public lifts.

Reason we didn’t end up here:

For our parents, a lift was a must to access the upper floors as they have knee problem. And for our toddler, we were looking for a little space to engage her, so a lawn or basic minimum recreation was a must. Overall, for someone who would love to just stay for the night while roam around Shimla most of the daytime, this hotel can be a good option. But one should be prepared to take the government lift at the mall, which at times has huge queue and long waiting times.

You can book Hotel Kapil through this link.

Hotel Springfield’s, Shimla

It is an old bungalow converted into a hotel. The rooms are huge, with complete rustic décor, wooden floor, aesthetically decorated roofs, and a fireplace in each room. Most of the rooms here have a generous valley view. And the property is located some 15 mins away from mall road, Shimla. Also, cars are available at the premise to drop the tourists to mall road. Located in a quaint location with all the facilities one looks for in a hotel, lovely corridors, seating area, parlors and breathtaking view of the surroundings make this place an obvious choice. Definitely our choice for one of the best places to stay in Shimla with family.

Pros:

1. Good hospitality and courteous staff as per reviews on the net.
2. All the amenities one looks for in a hotel
3. Nice food
4. Breathtaking view

Cons:

None that we knew of

Reason we didn’t end up here :

We almost ended up booking here but there was a last minute addition in our group, when a friend joined us and unfortunately there were no more rooms available here. Although we will love to stay here next time.

You can book Hotel Springfield’s from here .

Toshila Royal View Shimla

This is a beautiful resort, located little far from the mall road. It is actually located on the fringe of the triangle where the roads from Shimla, Chail and Kufri merge. To be precise, it is located on the Chail-Kufri road. The resort is located amidst dense pine forests. Every room is provided with a private balcony that opens towards the magestic view of Himalayas. The resort has all the basic amenities that one looks for : 77 well furnished rooms, multi-cuisine restaurant, a well-stocked bar, health club, sauna, steam, gym, Jacuzzi, indoor games and a sophisticated conference hall overlooking the pine valley with modern conference equipment

Pros:

1. Very nice location
2. Well appointed with all basic amenities
3. Car parking and driver’s dormitory are also available

Cons:

None that we knew of. No doubt it is one of the best places to stay in Shimla with family.

Reason we didn’t end up here :

We were preferring a location nearer to the mail town of Shimla compared to where this resort was. In future, we will definitely love to stay here. If one plans to book a stay here, it will be a good idea to deal directly with the hotel management, cutting off any third parties involved. That will definitely land a better deal.

You can book this resort from here.

United 21 Resort Chail

Located almost 4km from the Chail palace, in an absolute tranquil place with great valley views, right in the lap of nature is United 21 Resort Chail. Tripadvisor reviews are quiet strong. Looked like a promising stay option if one were willing to stay here for the tranquil experience of a hill station, away from the hustle and bustle of the town. Hence, it’s yet another of the best places to stay in Shimla with family in our shortlist.

Pros:

1. Mesmerizing view of the natural surrounding
2. Nice food and courteous staff

Cons:

None that we could make out

Reason we didn’t end up here :

We were going to a cold weather/ hill station for the first time with our toddler . So, we were not very sure how she would take it. Also, we didn’t want to stay too far off the reach of the main town in case she needed anything at odd hours. But, we will like to experience a stay at this place some time in future. Also, we will love to make a trip to Chail for the tranquil experience it has to offer and this hotel would be one of our top choices there.

Village Live in Resort Chail

Centrally located in Chail. Close to Kali Mandir, Palace, and most of the other attractions of Chail. As per the inputs of fellow travellers who have been here , the place has particularly mesmerizing views of sunset. It is located amidst serene surroundings of Chail, at a nice peaceful location with beautiful panoramic views of the hills and valleys. Again, one of the best places to stay in Shimla with family that we will like to call out.

Pros:

1. Nice and courteous staff, good food
2. Very nice location in Chail

Cons:

None that we could make out

Reason we didn’t end up here :

Same as the previous one, Chail was a little offbeat and this being our first trip with the toddler, we were seeing how she adjusts to the hills and the change of climate. So, we wanted to stay a little nearer to the main town of Shimla. But we would now love to stay here in future whenever we will go stay in Chail since it looks like one of the best options in Chail.

You can book this resort from here.

High to Premium places to stay in Shimla with family

There were some premium budget places and also 5 star hotels in Shimla that we would have very much loved to stay at, but we didn’t want to take it this high on our pockets. However, if you want to go for one, here’s the list for you:

Hotel Grand Sunset, Chail

Located almost the entrance to Chail, this hotel provides a very attractive view of the valleys surrounded by the hills, and of course the sunsets right behind the hills. All the rooms have full glass windows that have view of the valley. The rooms are well appointed with all the modern facilities.

You can book the Grand Sunset from here.

Kufri Holiday Resort, Shimla

As the name suggests, this resort is located in Kufri, which is at a higher altitude than Shimla, less populated and surrounded with dense pine plantations, very near to the reserve forest sanctuary. Perfect location, high standard stay, not so high prices!

Koti Resorts, Shimla

Koti resort is located on a hill top, about 6600ft above sea level. The resort is surrounded with deodar forests and apple orchards. And it is located between Mashobra and Naldera Golf Course , almost 30 minutes from Shimla. It has 54 elegant rooms to choose from.

Book this resort using our partner link here or here.

Maple Resort, Chail

This is yet another resort located amidst the deodar trees, appple orchards and wild flower beds. The resort has a kids club in house, with several recreational facilities for kids like chess, carrom, badminton, cricket etc. And the playgrounds have swings and there is an in-built waterfall in the premise.

Again, you can book this resort from here.

Torrentium Lodge, Shimla

It is a drive – in heritage property in the heart of Shimla. The property is more than 100 years old. It’s in house restaurant, Moti Mahal, is operational since 1920. Also, the property is situated at 10 minutes drive from Shimla bus stand and is at 15 minutes walk from mall road. Make a booking to the Torrentium Lodge, Shimla by clicking this link.

Flag House Resort, Shimla

It is a luxury resort located in the hills of Shimla. It is strategically located 18km from Shimla, 18km from Chail and 28 km from Kufri. Also, has various categories of luxurious rooms.The superior rooms and cottages have private balconies with panoramic view of the valley and mountains.

You can book Flag House Resort, Shimla from here.

Snow Valley Resort, Shimla

A centrally air conditioned hotel with 72 rooms, with all modern facilities and surrounded by beautiful views on all sides – that is Snow Valley Resort, Shimla. It is located at 15 mins drive from mall road. And it has all the amenities required for a comfortable stay.

You can book this Resort from here or, here.

So, where did we ended up staying ?

We choose a homestay, Little Chili, Shimla. It was located around 5km off the main town. Serene locality, aesthetically done interiors, a property with just 4 rooms, and the warmth of the host won our heart. We could even use their kitchen to cook meals for our daughter. Also, we & our family were the sole occupants of the homestay and it became more like a home away from home !! We discovered a little known gem at the end…

Although we did learn after this exercise that Shimla is very touristy. And in order to book a good accommodation in Shimla, one must book in advance. We highly recommend if you are planning to stay in Shimla, book your hotel in Shimla via booking.com or agoda.com in advance with zero cancellation options.

PS: Some of our links are affiliated, this means we will earn a commission when you buy a service or product by clicking those links. However, this will have no extra cost for you.