At a time when travel influencers fill social media with luxury stays, exotic destinations, and curated aesthetics, a young Kerala family has captured the hearts of thousands with their refreshingly simple and grounded journeys. What makes their story special is not glamorous travel — but the joy of setting out as a small family, with minimal plans and maximum spirit.
Meet Santhanu Suresh,33 and his wife Neethumol, 33, who, along with their two-year-old Venkat, have become a social media sensation by documenting their humble road trips to ordinary destinations across India. Unlike most young parents who hesitate to travel long distances with toddlers, this duo from Kanjirapilly in Kottayam has been hitting the road with their child since he was just five month old. From the rugged terrains of Ladakh to the winding roads of the North East, their travel stories are proof that adventure doesn’t need to wait until the kids grow up.
“We never over-plan our journeys,” says Santhanu, an IT professional who enjoys the flexibility of working from home. “Whenever we feel like taking a break, we just pack our bags, load the car, and leave. I make sure my work commitments are met on the go. I’ve attended meetings and finished assignments even while travelling,” Santhanu told “Open Digest“.
Their unfiltered approach to travel has resonated deeply with audiences. Their posts often feature raw, everyday moments — a quiet breakfast by a roadside tea stall, a playful halt at a village pond, or their little one’s laughter echoing through the hills. “Being a common man with limited resources, I always plan my travel trips that are of interest to ordinary people,” he adds. “We follow a simple itinerary so that others can follow suit.”
Their followers love how their content breaks away from the glossy perfection of mainstream travel vlogs. Instead, the family celebrates the essence of slow travel — discovering the charm in the ordinary, the warmth of local people, and the spontaneity of the open road.
For Santhanu, it all began when he bought a GoPro camera, convincing his family that he would make videos of his trip to Lakshadweep. Though he did travel and capture several moments of his adventures on the island, he never published the videos — mainly out of laziness. For over two years, the footage remained untouched on the camera’s memory card. However, constant teasing from his family — who jokingly praised the “beautiful unseen videos” he had promised to release — finally pushed him to edit and publish one of them on his Facebook profile, with a narration in his own voice.
“To my surprise, the video got over one million views and received hundreds of comments,” he recalls. “That gave me the confidence to continue with my style of presentation. I’m really happy that people enjoy my way of narration. We often revisit our favourite destinations like Ooty and Kodaikanal, and each time, we discover something new and refreshing there. Our mission is to find happiness in small journeys together,” he adds. In a world obsessed with perfect travel plans and postcard destinations, this family’s unscripted adventures have struck a chord with the people.
