I took a road trip to Ahmedabad up to Surat with my FamilyHere's the full experience

There's something special about loading the car -or, as in this case, a comfy taxi -- with your family members, a cooler of snacks, and with no plan other than "let's get there and figure it out" that makes you feel various. My wife, two children (ages nine and thirteen) along with my father-in-law took a cab on a day in the month of March on a Tuesday and what transpired was one of the most memorable trips we've made over the course of a long period. We weren't going all that far -from Ahmedabad to Surat approximately 265 km along one of Gujarat's busiest roads.

I'd like to share this in the manner I did this, rather than as a professional travel guide. Since traveling on the road can be messy and hilarious, sometimes even stress-inducing, those are precisely the things worth keeping in mind.

Why We Chose a Cab Over Driving Ourselves

Let me be honest in the beginning: I'm a competent driver. However, the thought of driving down the NH48 with my father-in law commenting on my speed from the back of my car and my son demanded "are we there yet?" every twelve minutes, had zero appeal. We decided to take taxis.

We made our booking through Real Rental Cabs that a colleague of mine utilized for similar travel a few months earlier. He couldn't stop talking about how simple booking went and I wondered if it was worth a try. The entire process took around 10 minutes on the internet and we received confirmation within minutes. It was booked as a one-way taxi service as we planned to travel to the station by train. The kids wanted to experience the train when they returned and that would be fine.

The car they sent was a large sedanair-conditioned sedan with the driver Rameshbhai arriving five minutes earlier. Five minutes earlier. This already puts me in a great mood.

The Road: What the NH48 Actually Feels Like

If you've never been on this route let me paint an image. The Surat road trip isn't spectacularly scenic in the "mountains and waterfalls" kind of way. This is more of an industrial Gujarat Sugarcane farms, textile mills far away, tiny Dhabas that have hand-painted signs or the occasional overloaded truck which makes you think there's no one else driving. There's a rhythm to this that makes me feel soothing.

We left at 7:30 am and it was a great choice. The travel breeze in Ahmedabad was manageable for the time, and when we were on the road the traffic slowed down beautifully. Rameshbhai had a keen sense of how to accelerate and when to pause. You are the type of driver who's quietly proficient? That's him.

The children were playing with their tablets for the initial 30 minutes, but almost without a reason they became absorbed in watching the roads. My 13-year-old daughter began to spot state borders and transport trucks from cities. My daughter fell asleep near Bharuch and awoke to ask whether we'd travelled through any rivers. We did, but she had not seen the Narmada, which is an amazing crossing along this road.

Bharuch -- The Unplanned Stop That Made the Trip

We had planned a quick tea stop; however, Bharuch was a complete thirty-minute detour. Rameshbhai suggested an excellent spot near the highway to have breakfast, and considering we'd left with some juice and biscuits, we said yes. We ended up at a basic Gujarati snack spot Poha as well as fafda and the kind of Chai that makes you forget everyone you've hurt.

My father-in-law, who'd been somewhat quiet and angry about the early start and a late departure, ate two plates of poha and declared the journey "worthwhile." An incredibly high praise from someone who only communicates through subtlety.

This, in my opinion, is the most convincing argument for making the Surat cab booking that has a chauffeur who is familiar with the way. They know the best places to stop. They are aware of which stretch of road has potholes approaching. They know the right time to stop and allow the family to breathe. It's not like doing Google Maps your own way -- there's local knowledge you cannot duplicate.

The Highway Stretch After Bharuch

When you reach Bharuch the road smooths out significantly. The Gujarat highway feels more efficient along this stretch of road with a wider lane with less truck volume and the landscape changes a bit towards a more fertile agricultural landscape. We drove through several tiny towns. At one point, we saw this gorgeous old Step-well, visible off the roadway. we had not googled. We just spotted it and thought about it. My wife snapped a picture. We are still trying to figure out the exact location of it.

My kids were playing a sloppy game that was going on at this point. They were attempting to count different auto-rickshaws of various colors. It's a complete waste of time which is precisely why it was able to work for 90 minutes.

I'd like to note that the car was never as if it was rushed. It's something to be concerned about when using Bharuch taxi service -- will the driver be hurrying to pick you up and take you back? Rameshbhai was not. He slowed down and stopped whenever we requested, and did not make us feel an inconvenience for taking a little more time to contemplate the viewpoint. The kind of calm professionalism is hard to come across.

Arriving in Surat -- First Impressions

We arrived in Surat at 11:15 am, much earlier than we'd anticipated. Surat traffic in the vicinity of markets for textiles is an entirely different beastit's dense and chaotic. However, Rameshbhai walked it with ease and we arrived at our relatives' home without incident.

Surat is a great city and merits its own story, in all honesty. Food alone - the Surti undhiyu or locho, the gharis in the right time of year -- is worth the journey. We spent three days in the area and I would guess that we ate about seven times a day. My wife keeps a better track of her meals than me.

What struck me when I arrived that morning following a relaxing drive, was how relaxed everyone seemed. My father-in-law wanted to take us out for lunch right after he arrived. The children were running around off walls and wanted to play. My wife and I were not exhausted. Compare that with some journeys when you arrive, and the very first thing you'd like to do is lay on the bed for over two hours.

The difference is that we didn't drive ourselves. We didn't have to spend 3.5 hours at the steering wheel, looking at mirrors, or calculating overtakes. We sat in the sun, sip Chai, sat back and observed Gujarat move by and arrived in good spirits. It sounds easy because it really is.

What We'd Do Differently (Honestly)

Since I mentioned that this wasn't going to be a perfect trip guide for travelers, I've included the actual talk section.

Begin earlier to avoid both the traffic in cities and the heat of the afternoon. Try to get up at least 6:30 am if you are able to do it, particularly during summer. The Narmada bridge looks prettier in the morning sun.

Make sure you have a cooler that contains actual food, not packaged snacks. We ate chips and biscuits at first and, while I'm not going to claim that I didn't love chips, a more proper sandwich could have been better.

Don't skip Bharuch. Seriously. It's not the definition of a "place" in the tourist sense but it's an excellent halfway point, and is worthy of taking a moment to stop.

This is the most practical option to plan your cab service outstation at least a day or two before in the morning of. We had no issues, but it's a popular route and cabs tend to be full, particularly during the weekend or during school holidays.

On the Cab Booking Experience

I'd like to go back to this as it was more than I had anticipated. The booking was simple and straightforward. There were no surprise charges, no complicated additional charges. The quoted price was exactly what we paid. The driver was courteous and knew the exact route. This sounds like a baseline expectation However, anyone who's experienced negative experiences at the outstation will know they're not always guaranteed.

When you take a cab with your family particularly, the smallest details matter -is the driver playing music at a moderate volume? Are they able to alter the AC without needing to ask three times? Do they listen when you're nine years old and require an emergency bathroom stop 20 minutes after you've just gone to the bathroom? Rameshbhai is a complete success on every level.

We've discussed making use of the Real Rental Cabs in our planned Ahmedabad and Vadodara trip in the next couple of months. This is the most definite recommendation I could offer for repeated use.

The Route in Numbers (Approximate)

It is helpful:

• Distance: ~265 km
• Time to drive: 3.5 to 4 hours (depending on the traffic and stoppages)
• Ideal departure: 6:30 - 7:30 AM
• The Midway Stop: Bharuch (roughly 120 km from Ahmedabad)
• Road condition: Excellent on NH48 but expect some roughness in Surat's city boundaries
• The best time to enjoy the season is from October until March

Would I Recommend This Route?

With no doubt. There is no doubt that the Ahmedabad from Surat taxi ride and especially an established service is certainly one of the most relaxing and economical ways to make this route. If you're traveling with your elderly relatives or children, or simply aren't looking forward to the stress of driving, it makes total sense.

Gujarat's roads have seen a dramatic improvement in the last decade. The NH48 is generally smooth and well-marked and the infrastructure surrounding rest stops has become improved as well. The Ahmedabad travel services are also evolving and you can now book online and receive a clear confirmation and be sure of a professional experience.

This isn't a trip that will be in your top 10 travel memories. It's not Leh-Ladakh or Meghalaya. It's true -the poha in Bharuch and the sleepy kid not having the Narmada as well as the old step-well we can't even be able to identify, the father-inlaw quietly admiring his second plate. These moments add up to something that, a few years afterward, you're talking about at dinner time.

That's really the entire point of a roadtrip, isn't it? The destination isn't as important as the time between, when everyone's traveling together.

Are you planning a similar trip? Take a look at the Real Rental Cabs for dependable cab booking for the Ahmedabad-Surat route as well as others Gujarat Intercity Connections.