Dreamyard Udaipur

I am a nineteen year old eldest daughter in a family of six tasked with writing this review, but I don't mind because I enjoyed my experience here so much. We burst into the lobby with six hiking bags, six backpacks, six satchels and all clutching one thing or another like shoes or a jumper or in mum's case, the sacred bag of passports (us youths and dad are rarely permitted to hold our own passports due to our disorganisation). Instantly we were greeted with smiles by what seemed to be a friend group of men in their twenties who decided that instead of being party-starters they may as well open a hostel. And what a terrific job they have done. I was traveling as the oldest of four kids - me (19), my brother (17) and my other brother and sister (14 - twins) as well as my parents. I was torn between being the age that people go solo travelling and exploring off by themselves while feeling younger and slightly embarrassed as I shuffled alongside my family. This hostel was without a doubt my favourite accomodation in the entire trip because of its welcoming environment. From the moment we were greeted and the kids and I were shown to our dorm (private 4 person dorm with a daily cleaned ensuite) and our parents were shown to theirs (beautiful 2 person with a view of the water and the floating palace) I personally felt the effects of a hostel environment that cultivated forming new relationships, something especially important among friends and backpackers travelling. We were given complimentary chai on the rooftop as we watched the sunset, which bled into happy hour (2 drinks for the price of 1). I'm a teenage girl from New Zealand, so I ordered a vodka cranberry - they didn't know what that was and it wasn't on the menu, but after a short explanation "it's two shots of cheap vodka with enough cranberry juice to take away the taste of said cheap vodka" they produced an excellent one. The hostel also ran out of cranberry juice the next day. There's a common area on the floor just below the rooftop which our dorm opened out onto - the first night, my sister and I played uno until midnight with about ten people we'd just met, and sat watching the karaoke set up on the rooftop. After probably an hour or two of coaxing we finally agreed to sing one song - 'dancing queen'. Immediately after we finished the karaoke was packed up and the rooftop was closed for the night. I still don't know how to feel about that... The food is really good - it was affordable enough that we could eat there for breakfast and dinner, and our family usually spent the day out getting lunch. Heaps and heaps of options as well, Western style pancakes and paneer tikka masala (my favourite) and pretty good coffee. (Our standards are high as NZ coffee is phenomenal). One day I didn't finish my dinner and they agreed to save it and heat it up the next morning for breakfast and it was still very yum. Which reminds me of the incredible effort they made for my mum's birthday. Ma

Best-est experience with most amazing host and also superb travellers, always in my list when i travel to udaipur.