One week at Novotel Visakhapatnam - the best hotel in Andhra Pradesh

When we travelled to Visakhapatnam last November, choosing which hotel to stay at was the most difficult decision for us to make. Eventually we had decided to stay at the Gateway hotel on Beach Road, thinking it would be the best option for a family/work trip and offer great service and comfort as it used to be a part of the Taj group of hotels, the best in India. Unfortunately, we were a bit disappointed with Gateway's standards, so after one night's stay, we decided to shift to Novotel Varun Beach on the opposite side of the street. Join us for a hotel tour and our regular day at Vizag's best hotel and take a look at what Novotel has to offer from rooms and spectacular views to infinity pools, rooftop gardens and great buffet!
#vizag #travelvlog #india
*SUPPORT*
Love the videos I create? You can support this channel by,
BECOMING A PATRON: / johannanorth
BUYING ME A COFFEE ☕: www.buymeacoff...
MY FILMING GEAR: amzn.in/bVZmJc3
MY AMAZON STOREFRONT: www.amazon.in/...
WHERE I GET MY MUSIC: share.epidemic...
THE VPN I USE: surfshark.deal... - Enter promo code JohannaNorth for 83% off and 3 extra months FREE!
Some of the links above are affiliate links, which means that if you click through my links and decide to make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you.
› ABOUT ME
My name is Johanna North. I’m a Finnish woman travelling in India since 2016. In 2019 I married my Indian husband and we moved to the state of Kerala in southern India, where we are still living. In 2021 we welcomed our baby girl into this world. On this channel I share videos on blending our Finnish-Indian family life, culture, food and travel mostly in India, and sometimes in Finland too.
› FOLLOW ME ON INSTAGRAM FOR DAILY LIFE AND ADVENTURES IN INDIA:
/ johannanorth_

[@lachminsarjue6248]

Annika is very trusting and confident of her papa,it’s a very strong bond,I understand what you are saying about the situation at the pool,people stare and they make you uncomfortable,

[@ramakrishnagorty9165]

Perhaps the best vlog you've made to date. I am a veteran from the Army, and I lived all my life in vizag but now settled in Bangalore. I have been following your channel eversince you started vlogging a few years ago. Your previous stay at vizag with vinod was another fantastic romantic vlog next only to your expedition to Himachal on his motorbike. I really wished I was at vizag so that I could greet you both. Your narration and cinematography have improved leaps and bounds. I wish you would graduate to making short films, etc. Please accept my compliments for making me realise how important it is to enjoy every small moment of life. My son is doing his bachelor studies in Jaipur, and now I wish I had also made some vlogs like you when he was with us in North East and Kashmir😊 Warm regards

[@selmakadiric4763]

Tako imas lijep glas opustajuci, iako ne razumijem al volim tvoje vlogove ❤ Anika je posebno zanimljiva❤❤

[@sumitamukherjee3447]

Lovely view of beach and road from the hotel, it's superb to watch and Annika was enjoying every moment, her talking, playing, swimming, everything is very refreshing to watch, I always enjoy Annika's all activities and her calling papa and mamma...so sweet to listen❤, again it's a beautiful video to watch ❤

[@JohannaNorth]

She’s always very busy with wanting to do just about everything all the time! 😊❤ it’s so good that she actually loves doing almost anything as it makes life a bit easier for us 😅

[@baljeet3314]

@@JohannaNorth visit my town

[@Helen78SouthAfrica]

Looks beautiful looking out of the window 🪟 Annika is happy in the hotel 🏨

[@resillagovender6363]

Breathtaking views you are one lucky lady.Wishing this beautiful family a happy holiday

[@sriramprasannaarikapalli472]

Hi, I am from vizag. It's a small city but it does have significant places to visit. If you have time, I would recommend: Kailasa giri Narasimha temple& Yarada beach

[@vasanthajennings8653]

Wow, place and hotel looks good. Annika was enjoying herself in the water. I would have thought that swim wear is just appropriate for a swim, well, there you go. Annika is so close to her papa. So you must have had your Tea and snack, followed by your favourite Dosa😄😄 you look good. This place seem to be interesting, quite clean and lots to see. Tks for sharing. Safe journey. Hugs to Annika. Good day.

[@nesamalarkandiah9348]

What a beautiful view frm Novotel hotel (stayed in a few during our travels) the beach views 👍🏼 loved the sunset on the Bay of Bengal 👌🏼🏞. Interesting to see Annika eating the tea-time snack nd she is getting more expressive now ❤

[@monikaazariah9237]

Love the way Annika speaks 💕

[@kvmadhav1]

That's a beautiful view of the hotel. Annika is very happy and different from her payyanur and Mumbai. She is not lonely and has people around.

[@JohannaNorth]

She’s not lonely in those other places either 😊 I don’t film all her daily activities for my vlogs, and mostly I don’t publish videos of her playing with her friends to respect the privacy of other kids 😊

[@kvmadhav1]

​@@JohannaNorth absolutely their privacy is important

[@udhayakarthik2393]

That was wonderful buddy's love it ❤❤❤❤

[@subhasishchatterjee9278]

O ho very nice 👌 i too much enjoy my guria Rani activity, so cute Annika guria Rani, enjoy your trip and take care all of you from Kolkata namaste ❤️ 👌 👍 😊 🙏

[@neeragupta6033]

Lovely place with marvelous view and with your past memories. Enjoyed a lot ♥️

[@justvideos3483]

Dada dadi were teaching Hindi papa is teaching English mummy is teaching Finnish Annika had too much homework too do.

[@ajaykumargupta2232]

Enjoyed watching it !!! 👌👌👌👍❤️💐🙏

[@saurabhade1079]

Novotel Visakhapatnam, the best hotel of Andhra Pradesh is debatable because there are better or at least comparable hotel in Tirumala - Tirupati itself with beautiful jungle and valley views instead of sea view ie The Taj Tirumala, Fortune Select Grand Ridge and Marassa Sarovar. May be its best hotel in Visakhapatnam.

[@JohannaNorth]

Thankfully questions of taste are always debatable! Maybe i will have to go visit those other hotels too for comparison’s sake 😊

[@aghilanmayan97]

Hai sis 😇 try to do some Local Street Food Vlog wherever you're visiting next and tell vinod bro to do a vlog by himself like good OG days😉

[@JohannaNorth]

Vinod is OK with being on my videos, but he’s not interested in vlogging himself 😊 i did just share a street food vlog of my favourite streetside dosa in India, but we don’t really eat street food much - especially while travelling it’s better to minimise the chances of an upset tummy!

[@aghilanmayan97]

@@JohannaNorth it's okay 🙂no worries

[@AnupSingh-pj2dg]

Nice family👪 and very beautiful😍✨❤ video👍 ji

[@Helen78SouthAfrica]

Johanna the breakfast 🥞 looks delicious 😮

[@hahahap9844]

Gussa little baby cute annika

[@ritasingh9513]

Lovely view enjoy guys lots of love ❤

[@innufmagrud]

Hope to meet you some day when I start travelling

[@stephaniehale946]

*It seems like Annika loves sausages. :)*

[@JohannaNorth]

Those are her favourite just like for basically every Finnish kid ever 😂❤

[@stephaniehale946]

@@JohannaNorth She is a treasure and so precious. It brings a smile on my face and I automatically feel happy whenever I see her. I can't even imagine what she does to you and Vinod. She is an adorable and a precious child.

[@marisolsharma1421]

HELLO EVERYONE’S……………HAPPY FMILY LOVELY COUPLE ,CUTE ANNIKA AMAZING VIEW ❤❤❤…🤗💐🙏🏻🤲🏼🇬🇧

[@Classygaming4091]

Geetha karnataka,waiting for u r vlog

[@vamsikrishnadas967]

It's our state Anika ❤.. Lots of love from Andhra Pradesh to Anika

[@innufmagrud]

Keep it up and go on always

[@sarangrao3677]

Happy navratri

[@Alfablue227]

Great tip Johanna. A shame one can't enjoy pool attire in most of India. In the Muslim areas you can't even get away with a short-sleeve Tshirt! 😮. I remember in Trichy being hounded by this muslim man, circuling my 2 friends and I, like a cheetah eying its pray, as we waited (dressed in baggy pants and Tshirts) for the arrival of our 🚉 to Kerala. It was an ungodly hour @ 4:45AM, and maybe ladies are not supposed to be out and about at that x in India 🇮🇳 but we felt deeply uncomfortable. I gave him a dirty look and thankfully found the Ladies Room of the station open; our salvation for he looked menacing. Never stayed at a Novotel in 🇮🇳 but this hotel chain is wonderful; the ones I stayed in the NE of 🇧🇷 were just soo amazing. Can't believe how tall Anika is getting! It's so wonderful to see her develop amidst travel experiences, led by two down to 🌎 , loving parents such as you and Vinod. Hats off to you both and much XO❤ fm 🇵🇹

[@kvmadhav1]

Becareful of those creepy 😢 fellows who take a chance of women differently dressed. They are taught in their culture that women who don't wear clothing are cheap and prostitutes. I am sorry for you.

[@akartmedia3534]

India's own culture

[@Alfablue227]

@@akartmedia3534 A culture that should not make women feel as 2nd class citezens IMHO!

[@saurabhade1079]

Madam, its my suggestion that you should not wear too much revealing clothes outside touristic areas and even in Muslim dominated sec tion of touristic areas if you want to avoid people stare, talking about you and may be l follow upwhich may be fo r entire reason of generous help or product pitch or even scam. If you are comfortable with it and willing to spend more than standard Indian expense but relatively less pricy accommodation according to international standard, you can have wonderful experience even in Muslim dominated region Wynad of Kerala. For example a private tree house with private pool with almost all modern facilities in just near about 80 $ for a day in Coffee County Wynad Kerala.

[@Alfablue227]

@@saurabhade1079 I appreciate your help, but I was modestly dressed, I just happened to hace a lose Tshirt and should my arms from my forearm down! I also was not at a high end hotel and we were at the Trichy railway station. Trichy is overwhelmingly Hindu, but it seems I was in a town with about 15% Muslim population. I just wish the culture respected women, no matter where they are from. Staring and oogling women in my culture is considered bad manners, so obviously I felt cery uncomfortable. Still I love India.

[@bharathbalakrishna5153]

Ma'am when she say papa papa it's so heart touching. Ma'am sorry to say that she loves papa more than you 🤭🤭🤭. Ma'am y didn't you visited Araku valley. Very nice place

[@meenasingh9601]

No matter how much mum loves to daughter’s but girls are always daddy’s 😊 no matter what! Boys are mum’s boys 😊

[@bharathbalakrishna5153]

@@meenasingh9601 so true ma'am

[@padmajapadma9128]

Happy family Lovely couple cute kid super video bro view Amayzing bro ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️👌👌👍😍

[@Helen78SouthAfrica]

Lovely watching ♥️🍀👋🍀🍀♥️🍀👋

[@indlamadhav3898]

Andhra pradesh Nice place madam

[@asharavishankar7445]

Happy journey

[@nitinchand196]

I love your vlog ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@malhanneera]

So sweet! Mamma Gusssa 😠Papa Godi 😇

[@travellingyoginikas]

Nice vlog Johanna. I remember feeling uncomfortable in a bikini in Varkala as many men asked for a selfie with me. It was a lot different in Agonda Goa and also in parts of Gokarna where bikini wearing is more normalized. I was a solo traveling woman and in some parts of India women wearing swimwear and being single is still very alien to the communities. But the whole of India isn't like that. And that's positive as it shows that india is starting to move forward with ways of thinking. ❤

[@SayaniDhar]

Don't you think when you travel to some countries you should respect the culture of the place/community?

[@travellingyoginikas]

@@SayaniDhar yes and I do. I always ask the hotel about the appropriate dress code and if bikinis are suitable then I wear a bikini. But sadly being in a bikini shows me the downside to Indian culture. Re creepy men. That is sad. And to be honest with you creepy men is not at all real Indian culture. Real Indian culture is love, acceptance, support, hospitality and helpfulness. That's what I love about India. But sadly some people do not respect their Indian culture and behave in creepy ways. As I said India is becoming forward thinking in terms of women choosing what to wear and women traveling solo. In my opinion the more women who wear bikinis and travel alone in India the better. As that way India can normalize the woman. We no longer wear coverings from top to toe and become chained to the kitchen sink. Plenty of men wear their underpants on the beach so women should feel free too as women are equal to men.

[@SayaniDhar]

@@travellingyoginikas I agree with you to some points that men should not stare or touch women who wear bikinis . Sorry about your bad experience. everybody has their own choice afterall. But I don't agree with you saying the more indian women wear bikinis the better. I myself am a 25yr old indian girl doing my masters. And I don't want to wear bikinis especially where it's not appropriate. Because historically and culturally a lot of places/states are not appropriate for women wearing bikinis. Goa is an exception though. In my opinion when I am visiting a place that has historical or religious values I should dress or behave accordingly. And wearing bikinis does not make you modern. Getting proper education and be able to self reliant and fulfill one's dream is more important than wearing bikinis. I am an young and ambitious indian girl and I don't want people wearing bikinis everywhere in this country. Because I am afraid in that way it will become like some western countries. And we will loose our indian culture which is very distinct from western culture trust me we Indians love and respect our culture to the core. Hope you understand my point. Good night.

[@travellingyoginikas]

@@SayaniDhar yes of course I understand dear. For example, I would wear a bikini on the beach but in a temple I would cover my whole body. I would wear a bikini on a beach in Goa but certainly not if i was walking around Mumbai. I guess that goes for any country. Re bikinis are acceptable on beaches but not in towns. I do love the culture in India. I am actually a British Indian woman who has done 3 years of solo traveling in india. Although my country of origin (India) is AMAZING, it has pitfalls too. I honestly believe that sex education and freedom for women are issues in India and those issues need sorting. As it's those issues that are causing some men to stare at women and behave badly around them. However at the same time I do understand the complexities of India too and how things can not be black and white. There are many grey areas. And we all somehow have to navigate our way around the grey areas.

[@sauravkumarchand9691]

@@travellingyoginikas For yours kind information, freedom of Women and their empowerment is very much exist in Indian Society since ancient times. May be wearing bikini makes Western Ladies looks cool but beauty of Indian Women lies in colorful traditional Indian attires from various States/Provinces of our Country, which even European and American ladies also love donning from time to time. Indian Women today are no lesser than Indian Men when it comes to opportunity provided, whether education, jobs, sports, Armed Forces or even driving Buses, Trains, Commercial and Fighter Aircrafts, Indian women empowerment is quite visible which probably you aren't aware.

[@Praveen1991917]

Sad part of Vizag is that people overthere think its metropolitan city, but in terms of behavior and attitude towards women (especiallyforeign women) is still archaic. I noticed this in 2012 and thereafter, i never wanted to do my job even though I belong to this state. I would attribute this behavior to not having enough exposure to foreigners in this state. I can only hope it will improve in the upcoming days. Btw, those salads and porridges are fancy names in the name of pathetic dishes. I never liked them. I did taste that once, and that is it. Even to this day, even if I go to buffet which has so many types of vegetable biriyanis (btw, I am a vegetarian ), I still go for dosas at the counter and my usual rice meals, which will never go wrong with me. Of course, I end my buffet with cakes, ice creams, fruits, and sweets, but for some reason , I had this worst experience with new and unknown dishes since then I touch dishes only that I am aware of. Not anything else. Its always a hit and miss with new dishes in the buffets. You want to try to new dishes since you are paying more than normal meals (my indian brain activates here), but it always comes with a caution. The only salvation is that you get to try different desserts, pastries, sweets, and fruits so you go for buffets, or else, if someone is going for special dishes, you are just wasting your money, especially if you are a vegetarian. My friends always used to tell me that I am unnecessary for buffets as I dont eat meat and dont try to new or unknown dishes., but I still go. 😂😂😂

[@carolgoergens9275]

Johanna you could always get surf shorts for women and shirts ! we were in Hawaii and that’s what most women wear it protects back and should from sun and the shorts are great you swim and dry off in minutes then off to the next activity

[@indlamadhav3898]

Very nice beach madam

[@ashasr9827]

So cute…cartoon😊🥰😊🥰😡😍😍😍😍

[@ravikumar-tb1gy]

Nice vloggg😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎😎

[@Helen78SouthAfrica]

Hello Johanna and void Annika 🍀👋

[@TAPANiDEEP]

how can such 5-star hotels allow people to jump into a pool with their clothes on, that is very unhealthy, Novotel must improve. I frequented a club pool in Delhi, any swimmer entering the pool without a bath was barred from the pool for a year. Pools must enforce systems to keep swimmers safe.

[@ioannavoudouri308]

❤❤❤

[@Chaubeyjiiiiii]

💛💛💛💛

[@mistidasrocks3360]

My addiction 😅

[@vijaysonwani6159]

👌👌👌

[@RG-iw4c]

Yaar ek baat to btao. Ye itna paisa aakhir laate kahaa se ho🤔🤔

[@MK-hb8lo]

Exactly my question. They aren't from a business family. She has mentioned he has a govt job. First of all how come he gets so many leaves and secondly a whole week stay at 5star hotels is v expensive. Bill will not be less than 2lakhs. Yeh dono toh harr mahine ek ya do trip maarte hai and 90% five star mai hi rehte hai. Saal Mai logon ko ek trip ka permission mil Jaye boss se wahi mushkil hai.

[@supz26]

Tabi toh indian se shaadi kya hai verna finland mein toh pati ke paise se isko sirf bread khane ko milta 5 star hotel toh dur ki bhaat hai , feel sorry for the husband and child who looks so tired , yeh koi zindagi hai, living like caravan !!

[@supz26]

@@MK-hb8lo she lives an unrealistic lifestyle, isko ghar mein nahi betna hai , the poor spouse and kid looks so exhausted

[@1485josh]

Fab and would you please share how is the dinner was it worth the price ....is it only indian food

[@JohannaNorth]

There's also a good selection of continental and asian food, and quite a big salad bar. And then of course the desserts too. We did very much enjoy :)

[@s.p.1536]

Generally if you are in a place with many foreigners from abroad, like Phuket Thailand , the local visitors and hotel staff are accustomed to bikinis and bathing suits. But, if you go to a remote beach in rural Thailand where only local families visit, then you do as the locals do which is to swim in shorts and tunic or dress. Always check what is the norm before appearing in a bikini, or you will receive unwanted attention in India or any country where modesty is held high traditionally.

[@nsfuturefield6442]

Visit at Jaipur Rajasthan India

[@kpdas125]

Why not you learn Ayurveda and become Doctor. Tour and trip once in year a month you can take. The great Indian History . Greek , Rom , Even Columbus's, Vascoda cama tring to find rout in sea to visit India.

[@ritasingh9513]

Lovely view enjoy guys lots of love ❤