Our Weekend Stay at a Farmhouse Near Navsari
A first-hand account of booking a farmhouse in Manekpur, Navsari for a family get-together — what we looked for, what it cost and what we would do differently.
What it cost us
The slot rate is ₹11,396 on a weekday and ₹13,200 at the weekend. On top of that there is a per-person charge of ₹500 above the included headcount, which with 16 of us moved the total more than the base rate did. There is also a refundable deposit of ₹3,000 collected at check-in. It comes back when you leave, but it is cash on the day and I nearly forgot it. Make it one person's job. Split across the families, it worked out well under what the restaurant would have cost for the same number of people — and we had a garden and a pool for the whole afternoon rather than two hours at a table. The one thing I would say about the money: work out your total for your actual headcount before you compare two properties. The cheaper-looking one was not cheaper for us.
Why we were looking in the first place
This started with a family get-together and about 16 people who had not been in one place for two years. I run a chikoo and mango trading business here in Navsari, so weekends are the only window, and every idea we had was either a restaurant or somebody's flat. We are three families who have holidayed together since their children were small, which means a group chat with too many opinions in it. Payal, who runs a hardware and sanitary shop, was the one who said we should just book a farmhouse for the day and stop discussing it.
At a glance
| Property | JP Swarg (BMF-F253) |
| Where | Manekpur, Navsari |
| Type | Farmhouse · 2 BHK |
| Guests — overnight | 20 |
| Guests — day | 20 |
| Weekday rate | ₹11,396 |
| Weekend rate | ₹13,200 |
| Extra person | ₹500 per head |
| Refundable deposit | ₹3,000, cash at check-in |
| Check-in | 10:00 AM / 10:00 PM |
How I shortlisted
The thing nobody tells you is which number to search on. We were staying the night, so the sleeping capacity was the one that mattered — 20 on this property. That sounds obvious, but half the places I looked at listed a much bigger day-time figure and I nearly booked one that sleeps twelve for a group of 16. After that I was checking three things on every listing: whether we could bring our own food, whether the kitchen was usable, and whether there was any shade if it got hot or started raining.
I found BookMyFarm the way most people do — searching for a farmhouse near the city on my phone, at eleven at night, with a group chat waiting for an answer.
The place we booked
JP Swarg is a 2BHK farmhouse in Manekpur. What decided it for me was not the photographs — every listing has good photographs — it was that the details were actually written down. The listing says: Luxurious 2BHK farmhouse designed for comfort and privacy; Private swimming pool; Home theatre setup for entertainment; Living room with AC and 70 Inch TV. The pool is private, and the whole property is yours for the slot — we were not sharing it with another booking, which I had assumed would be the case. There is a play area, which mattered more than I expected by about four o'clock. All of that is on the listing before you pay anything, which is the part I had not expected.
Getting there
We went out along NH-48, picking up two families from Vijalpore on the way. The lesson I would pass on is about timing. Check-in was in the afternoon and I told everyone to reach by four. The last car came in after seven, in the dark, on a road nobody knew. A group of 16 does not arrive at a time — it arrives across three hours — so give people a slot that leaves daylight in it. If anyone in your group wants something to do besides sitting at the property, the chikoo orchards around Gandevi and Bilimora is the usual add-on from Navsari, though we did not bother. And check the last stretch of road with the property beforehand if you are driving something low. That is a question owners answer honestly.
What you can check before you pay
The thing that removes most of the anxiety from a booking like this is being able to see the detail up front. Every listing carries the slot rates split by weekday and weekend, the per-person charge above the included headcount, the security deposit, the platform fee, the day-time and night-time guest limits, the room-by-room amenity list and the owner's own house rules. None of it is behind an enquiry form.
That matters because the questions that actually decide a booking — can we bring food, can we cook, is alcohol allowed, are pets permitted, what time does the music have to stop — are answered on the page rather than after a phone call.
How it went
We reached in the afternoon, and by evening everyone had stopped looking at their phones, which is roughly the point at which these things start working. The children were in the water within twenty minutes and did not come out for three hours. We took turns watching, worked out in advance, which I would recommend to anybody. Lunch went on for a long time. Ankit, who works in a diamond unit and commutes to Surat and who had been the most sceptical about the whole plan, sat at that table for four hours. The play area took care of the younger ones for the stretch after lunch when the adults are least useful. We left the next morning after a slow breakfast. Two nights would have been better than one — by the time everyone had settled, it was nearly over.
Whole property, stated plainly
When you book here the entire property is reserved for your group — the listings say so explicitly, and the property FAQs repeat it. You are not sharing a pool with another family or a lawn with a second booking.
That is a meaningful difference from a room-based platform, where "entire place" can still mean a unit inside a compound, and from resort day-passes, where the pool is shared by definition.
Comparing what Navsari offers
| Property | Where | Sleeps / by day | From (weekday) | Pool |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| JP Swarg | Manekpur | 20 / 20 | ₹8,800 | Private |
| Eco Haven | Ubharat | 15 / 15 | ₹7,905 | Private |
| Wave Stone Retreat | Ubharat | 20 / 20 | ₹8,370 | Private |
| Hanuman Stay | Vesma | 60 / 200 | ₹24,500 | Private + kids |
Work the total out for your actual headcount before comparing these. Above roughly twenty guests the per-person charge reorders the list more often than not.
Would I book it again
If you are planning something similar, this is what I would do differently or the same: — Message the owner before booking. The one question worth asking is what usually goes wrong at bookings there — they will tell you. — Check the music cut-off time if the evening matters. Most properties stop at ten and they mean it. — Carry the deposit in cash and give one person the job of getting it back at check-out. — Tell everyone to arrive an hour earlier than you actually need them. — If you can move it to a weekday, do. The difference is not small. And book two nights if you can. One night is over before it starts.
No middleman
The chat on each listing goes to the owner or their caretaker. That removes the layer that causes most of the friction in this category — the broker who is not on site, does not know the property well and is not the person you will meet on the day.
It also means you can settle the awkward questions in writing, in the same thread as the booking, which is worth more than any verbal assurance when the person handing you the keys turns out to be someone else.
Where to book it
Everything described here is on the BookMyFarm app and the website — farmhouses, private villas, resorts and weekend homes across the country, searchable by city and by area in Navsari.
It is worth saying why people end up using it as an Airbnb alternative rather than as a supplement. Nightly-rate platforms cannot sell you a half day or a full day, cannot show a day-time guest limit that differs from the sleeping capacity, and cannot put you in a chat with the owner before you pay. All three of those are the normal way this category works.
If the stay goes well, leave a review and tell people which property it was. Owners in this market live on repeat bookings and recommendations far more than on advertising, and a specific recommendation — the property, the area, what it cost, what to watch out for — is worth considerably more to the next family than a five-star rating on its own.
Where to look
Browse all Navsari properties · farmhouses · villas · resorts.
Written up from a guest's point of view. The narrator here is a composite rather than one named customer — but the property, its rates, capacities, amenities and house rules are taken from the live listing and were accurate when this was published.
Frequently asked questions
Is this farmhouse or villa fully private or will it be shared with other guests?+
When you book JP Swarg in Manekpur, the entire property is reserved exclusively for your group. You will not have to share the space with other guests.
How many people can stay at this property?+
JP Swarg is suitable for group stays. The exact capacity depends on layout, so it's best to confirm guest limits before booking.
Is this a good option for a weekend getaway near Navsari?+
Yes, JP Swarg is ideal for weekend getaways near Navsari, offering a peaceful environment away from city crowds.
Can we plan a birthday party or celebration here?+
Yes, JP Swarg is suitable for small celebrations. Please confirm guest count and event details in advance.
What does JP Swarg cost?+
The slot rate is ₹11,396 on a weekday and ₹13,200 at the weekend. Above the included headcount there is a per-person charge of ₹500 a head, which at a large group moves the total more than the base rate does.
Is there a security deposit?+
Yes — ₹3,000, refundable, collected in cash at check-in and returned at check-out. It is not part of the online payment, so somebody in the group needs to be carrying it.
Can I book for the day without staying the night?+
Yes. Most properties sell a half day and a full day as well as an overnight, and the day slot is what a birthday or a family lunch usually needs. It is also why the day-time guest limit is often several times the sleeping capacity.
Is the whole property mine, or is it shared?+
The whole property is reserved for your group. The listings state this explicitly and the property FAQs repeat it — you are not sharing a pool or a lawn with another booking.