Christmas and New Year Dog Boarding in Trivandrum 2026: When to Book, What to Arrange and What to Pack

Several things overlap in the last two weeks of December:

• •Kerala school holidays. In 2025, the General Education Department moved the Christmas vacation to 24 December to 5 January because of the local body elections, according to Onmanorama; the original plan had been 19 to 29 December. Check the 2026 school calendar when it is announced.
• •Gulf winter breaks. Gulf News reported in October 2025 that UAE schools on the September calendar would close from 8 December 2025 to 4 January 2026, and travel agents described winter demand on Kerala routes as very high, especially around Christmas. Many NRI families arrive home in this window.
• •Weddings, church festivals and family gatherings, which often mean a house full of guests or a trip to relatives elsewhere in Kerala.
• •Holiday trips to Munnar, Wayanad, Varkala or out of state, where most hotels do not take dogs.

The result is that the most popular dates go first, and pickup slots around 24 to 26 December and 31 December to 1 January are in demand.

A simple plan, working back from Christmas:

• •Early to mid November: decide your travel dates and call or WhatsApp to check availability. If your dog has not boarded at Neolokam before, book the trial visit now.
• •Late November: complete the trial visit and temperament assessment. Check the vaccination card for anything due before or during your trip.
• •Early December: see your vet for any boosters, and make sure tick and parasite prevention is current as your vet advises. Confirm boarding dates and the pickup slot.
• •One week before: portion and label food, write the care note, and collect medicines with written instructions.
• •The day before: pack the bag using the checklist below, and charge your phone so you can receive updates.

If your plans are not fixed yet, tell the team your likely dates anyway. It is easier to adjust a booking than to find space in the last week.

Every dog's first stay at Neolokam starts with a trial visit and temperament assessment. Neolokam is a 1.5-acre cage-free farm where dogs are grouped by temperament, so the team needs to see how your dog behaves with people, other dogs and new surroundings before they can plan its stay.

The requirements, in full:

• •A trial visit and temperament assessment.
• •Up-to-date rabies and core vaccinations, with the record.
• •Current tick and parasite prevention as advised by your vet.
• •Dogs must be comfortable around other dogs.

If your dog is anxious, reactive or very young, tell the team before the visit. It may need a longer settling period, a different plan, or a different time of year for its first stay.

Bring the original vaccination record or a clear copy, and keep a photo on your phone. If a booster falls due during your trip, get it done beforehand rather than asking anyone to manage it.

For dogs on medication, bring enough for the whole stay plus two extra days, in the original packaging, with your vet's written instructions on dose timing. Give the team your vet's name and number, and the name and number of a family member in Trivandrum who can make decisions if you cannot be reached while travelling.

If your dog has a health condition, speak to your vet about whether boarding is suitable and share the advice with the team.

Neolokam serves home-cooked meals, and owners may also leave their dog's own dry food. Whichever you choose, avoid changing your dog's diet in the week before boarding; a sudden switch plus a new place is a recipe for an upset stomach.

• •If you are sending dry food, pack it in daily portions in labelled bags.
• •Write down feeding times, amounts and any treats your dog is used to.
• •List allergies and foods your dog must never have.

At home over Christmas, keep plum cake, chocolate, alcohol, raisins and cooked bones from the table away from dogs. If your dog eats any of them, call your vet straight away.

Neolokam's published plans, all plus 18% GST:

• •3-Day Dog Village Vacation: ₹5,555, including meals, grooming, home pickup and drop, and videos. It suits a short Christmas trip or a few busy days of hosting.
• •Long-term boarding: ₹444 a day standard, ₹555 a day with additional care, ₹666 a day for heavy and giant breeds, for longer stays.
• •Monthly boarding: ₹9,999 to ₹17,777 a month, personalised, for families away for most of the holidays or travelling abroad.
• •Multi-dog monthly: ₹8,888 per dog for two dogs, ₹7,777 per dog for three.
• •Annual memberships: Essential, Villager Elite and Royal Resident, each with 30 boarding days within 12 months, useful if you also travel at Onam, Vishu or in summer.

Ask for the full written quote for your exact dates when you book, so you know the total before you travel.

Pickup and drop-off is available by appointment for confirmed boarding and daycare from Kollodu, Edathara, Malayinkil, Kattakkada, Nemom, Karamana, Balaramapuram, Neyyattinkara, Kovalam, Pattom, Kowdiar, Vellayambalam, Sasthamangalam, Kazhakkoottam, Technopark and Sreekaryam. Charges and timing are confirmed when you book.

The farm is east of Trivandrum city, near Malayinkil and Kattakada, and is open 6:00 AM to 5:00 PM daily, with visits by appointment. Around Christmas, roads near churches and shopping areas are busy in the evenings, so morning handovers are usually calmer for the dog and for you. Plan your pickup slot around your flight or train, not the other way round.

Fireworks are the hardest part of the season for many dogs. In 2024, the Kerala government limited crackers to 11:55 PM to 12:30 AM on Christmas and New Year, with only green crackers allowed for sale, according to Onmanorama. In practice, bangs often start earlier and carry on longer, and the rules for 2026 may differ.

If your dog is afraid of loud noises:

• •Tell the boarding team exactly how your dog reacts: hiding, pacing, trembling, trying to escape, refusing food.
• •Tell them what helps: a covered corner, a particular blanket, company, a chew.
• •Make sure the collar fits snugly with an ID tag showing your number. Frightened dogs can bolt.
• •If your vet has prescribed anything for noise fear, bring it with written timing instructions, because some treatments need to be given before the noise starts.

Our guide to dogs and fireworks in Kerala explains how to build a safe den and start desensitising weeks ahead. For dogs with more serious anxiety, see our page on boarding for anxious dogs.

• •Vaccination record, original or clear copy
• •Collar with ID tag and a lead (an old lead is fine)
• •Your dog's dry food in labelled daily portions, if you want it used
• •Medicines with your vet's written instructions
• •A familiar blanket or toy
• •A one-page care note: feeding, routine, fears, health issues
• •Your phone number, a local emergency contact and your vet's number
• •Your travel dates and the time you expect to collect your dog

Not every family travels. If you are hosting, a house full of visitors, open gates and late nights can be just as stressful for a dog. Give your dog a quiet room it can retreat to, ask guests not to feed it from the table, check the gate every time someone leaves, and keep the ID tag on. If the week is going to be chaotic, a short stay away from the noise can be kinder than staying in the middle of it.