View comments by: Most Recent - first / last | Most Popular - first / last | Replies - hide / show

Advice on a tour to india

Tour to india - any tips please, also best way to obtain currency as cannot take rupees into country. Also best way to obtain visa?


Created By on 19/08/2016

Not a member?

You need to be a member to interact with Silversurfers. Joining is free and simple to do. Click the button below to join today!

ThatManViv
21st Aug 2016 10:48:16 (Last activity: 21st Aug 2016 11:15:41)
0
Thanks for voting!
I dont know about touring india, I've never done it, but I have been to mumbai, delhi, and Goa many times. India is huge and youll need to do quite a lot of work to plan what you do and where you do it. A lot depends on how long you plan staying there.

Most people get rupees on arrival, but you wont get the best exchange rates at the airport, local shops will offer preferential rates. Crime is rife there. Pickpockets work in gangs, watching people at ATMs, and following people all day if nec looking for an opportunity to steal their bag, purse, phone etc. My phone was taken at a bus station from a shorts pocket which had a zip, and my gf had her small rucksack on her lap on a bus and a lady moved close to her and somehow cut her bag and stole her bum bag containg £100 she had taken from an ATM earlier in the day and her phone and cards. They are good so be very aware. I used safety pins to secure my zips on my bags and clothes. it might be fiddly but no one will be robbing you.
Its a great idea to get yourself shorts with zips and buttons on the pockets. I had mine made for me.
Pay by cash. Handing over your cards is an invitation to steal your info. My gf worked for a national bank and heard many many stories of people holidaying abroad and a year later a stranger is trying to use their card info in a different country. Did you know there are sites where card info is shared and can be purchased ?
Use ATMs inside banks and try to mask your PIN, even bank employees cannot be trusted.
Everyone who goes to India gets deli-belly. Mostly its caused by kitchen staff not washing their hands, but can be because food is left hanging around too long. Carry some hand steriliser with you. Another common problem are ear and eye infections. You will need antibiotics to clear it up, ignore the locals who say get some drops from the chemist, that alone will not clear it up for tourists.
Many taxi drivers are honest but some are not. Same with Tuk tuk drivers.
Buses are great to travel on but do get incredibly crowded. Quite a lot of sexual touching games are played on buses and dont go thinking its a men only pursuit, it is not.
Beggars are everywhere. In the major tourist areas its very well organised, Its a bit like scammers online. Gangmasters will own a bus and ferry the beggars to one area and then move them the next day. Babies are used to gain your sympathy but these babies are often borrowed, drugged so they dont cry, and, horrible as it sounds, known to be killed and buried if they show signs of brain damage. Don't go thinking you can change the world by your charity, you cant. If you want to help someone tip kids working in cafes with Rs100, or give to the disabled single people, or provide some food for a poor family ... usually any gifts will be sold, what they want is the money to buy food and clothes, if you get the chance go and see how people live in fields and huts and share their lives for a day ....

There are two sides to many indians, the lovely warm welcoming person, and the one in need who will take advantage of visitors with no hesitation. For instance, a shack restaurant on a beach or in a village, will try to charge you for a cheese sandwich and a tomato sandwich when what you bought was a cheese and tomato sandwich.

Be alert. Corruption and crime IS a way of life, but, so is the appreciation of tourism by honest indians. Good Luck
Response from Wilf made on 21st Aug 2016 11:06:06
We went to india a few years ago and while I did get ill the rest of the family didnt. We were very careful about food and I put it down to the money which is filthy
Response from ThatManViv made on 21st Aug 2016 11:15:41
the bugs that cause deli-belly do not live on money, they die very quickly.
its mostly caused by the disgusting sanitary arrangements in toilets, the lack of washing and sterilsing of toilets, the kitchen staff who do not have access to toilet rolls and soap, and even if they do they dont use it ....even in fairly decent hotels the toilet facilities for staff are deplorable ...
kman35
20th Aug 2016 20:14:27
0
Thanks for voting!
We were able to get rupees when we went 6 years ago, as far as I can remember I think I got them from the Currencyclub.co.uk
When we applied we were all nature where to get a visa and went to the Indian embassy in Belfast were we live, they don't actually process them there but gave us the address and telephone number to get one but alas I have not kept it so do approach your local Indian embassy.
Do not book with India airlines, they are very prone to giving your seat away to others for a bribe, this is known as bumping. We flew with Emirates which we booked through Last Minute.com who were very helpful.
As we were being hosted by an Indian family I really can't advise a lot on anything else but to assure you that we felt safe and really enjoyed our trip. The best time to travel is December/January as it is very hot outside these times.
If you have any further questions please ask.

Community Terms & Conditions

Content standards

These content standards apply to any and all material which you contribute to our site (contributions), and to any interactive services associated with it.

You must comply with the spirit of the following standards as well as the letter. The standards apply to each part of any contribution as well as to its whole.

Contributions must:

be accurate (where they state facts); be genuinely held (where they state opinions); and comply with applicable law in the UK and in any country from which they are posted.

Contributions must not:

contain any material which is defamatory of any person; or contain any material which is obscene, offensive, hateful or inflammatory; or promote sexually explicit material; or promote violence; promote discrimination based on race, sex, religion, nationality, disability, sexual orientation or age; or infringe any copyright, database right or trade mark of any other person; or be likely to deceive any person; or be made in breach of any legal duty owed to a third party, such as a contractual duty or a duty of confidence; or promote any illegal activity; or be threatening, abuse or invade another’s privacy, or cause annoyance, inconvenience or needless anxiety; or be likely to harass, upset, embarrass, alarm or annoy any other person; or be used to impersonate any person, or to misrepresent your identity or affiliation with any person; or give the impression that they emanate from us, if this is not the case; or advocate, promote or assist any unlawful act such as (by way of example only) copyright infringement or computer misuse.

Nurturing a safe environment

Our Silversurfers community is designed to foster friendships, based on trust, honesty, integrity and loyalty and is underpinned by these values.

We don't tolerate swearing, and reserve the right to remove any posts which we feel may offend others... let's keep it friendly!