Budget for South India with family and accommodation

Hi everyone! I’m slowly planning a 2-month trip to South India with my partner and our two kids (ages 5 and 9) this coming November, and I’ve been reading posts on this forum to get an idea of the budget. It’s tough to pin down because there are so many ways to travel, and every traveler has their own budget, but I’d love a clearer picture. We’re thinking of staying in guest houses or small, simple but clean hotels. We plan to get around by train or bus and hope to travel on a budget.

Do I need to multiply the prices I see by 4, or are there child rates? Is it common to find rooms with 4 beds?

A shout-out to traveling parents who’ve been to India—what budget should we plan for?

Another question: I keep reading that many travelers book their accommodation in advance online. Is that really necessary? Considering we’ll have kids, it might not be much fun to wander from hotel to hotel looking for an available room...

Same question for trains—is it possible to buy tickets last-minute, or just a few days in advance?

Thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions!

Hi, South India is pretty broad—there are a lot of regions. Do you have specific cities in mind that you plan to visit?

No, we haven’t planned a route yet and think we’ll figure it out once we’re there, but we’re planning to arrive in Chennai, definitely stop in Pondicherry, and after that, I’m not really sure. We’d like to wander around Tamil Nadu and maybe Kerala... Kerala is a lot more expensive, right? And is it very touristy in November or not?

Arrived in Chennai and staying a few days there. Lots to visit. Marina Beach is a must-see. Mahabalipuram or Mamallapuram—I personally avoid it. Not much to see there. Heading to Pondicherry by bus. Much cheaper than by car. Less than 200 Rs per person. By car, you’d be looking at around 5,000 Rs. Spend a few days in Pondicherry—you can decide once you’re there. It’s a lively city with lots of pubs and restaurants. After that, take an overnight bus with a sleeper berth to Alleppey. Beaches and backwaters to check out. Cochin and Munnar, where there are tea plantations.