Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with travel and India

I'm traveling to India (New Delhi), for business in a week. Need advice!

PetiePal — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 10:26:41 -0800

It's my first time out of the USA, and I don't know what to pack! I am an IT manager whose job is to train offshore support overseas. I have a trip to New Delhi, (Gurgaon) coming up in the next two weeks. I've never been overseas or out of the country really, (except for the Bahamas or Bermuda as a kid) Got a lot of questions:

1. Climate? What type of clothes should I pack? I did a few weather reports and saw 60s-70s. Does it get chilly at all? Would a sweatshirt be prudent etc?

2. Type of dress? (On the weekends would I be fine wearing shorts, or would you recommend more like long pants like jeans?) I know that covering the lower parts of your body tends to be more culturally acceptable, especially if I visit someplace like the Taj Mahal etc. I will likely be in business shirt/pants attire for most of the time in office at least.

3. AC/Power Adapters/Voltage converters. How many should I purchase-one, two, three? I will likely have a few electronics with me such as laptop, iPad and some other things I need to charge. Is it smart to have more than one of these and perhaps a small power strip surge protector to multiply outlets?

4. Phone. I'll be using Skype while there, but I am looking into getting a world compatible phone for use while there. Are there prepaid SIMs I can easily purchase while there? I'm considering grabbing something like a Nexus 4 or smartphone I can use while there and then possibly as my business phone back in the states. Any recommendations?

5. Suitcase. I have a 28" hard shell suitcase, one of those really light ones. I'll be there for 2 weeks, and I know there's a 50lb weight limit. I'm planning on bringing some sort of backpack/daypack as well for my laptop/tablet/etc.

What are other things I should bring for the plane trip? I was considering a really compact blanket and maybe one of those neck pillows. I don't really sleep on transportation but for a 17-18 hour flight I may have to try. Should I get a money belt and keep my passport on my person at all times?

Anything else you can recommend is highly appreciated.

RIP Ravi Shankar

Flamingo — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 20:46:02 -0800

Going to India in two weeks and I need some answers to some fairly basic questions. A group of five friends and I are heading to India on Christmas, starting in New Delhi and then travelling through Rajasthan. We're pretty well prepared, but I have a few basic questions that for some reason I can't really find the answers to.

A) Socks. I have seen recommendations to wear shoes that require socks so you can tuck your pants into them to avoid mosquitoes. Aside from sounding really attractive, is this really done? Is it necessary? I know mosquitoes are nothing to cuss with, but, really?

B) Shoes. Obviously depending on the answer to the above question, I was thinking of wearing Toms and/or boat shoes. I am a lady. Does this sound appropriate? What other shoe types should I consider? I know I should bring at least two pairs. (FYI we are going to be using camping-style backpacks.)

C) Chai. I have, of course, heard the warnings about consuming local water, but I really want to try authentic chai. Is this a fools errand? Would a water purifier wand (example) be useful? (Can those things even work on hot water-based beverages?)

D)LADY ALONE. The group was unable to book our travel at the same time and as it shakes out, I will be alone in New Delhi for one day. We will be staying in a nice hotel so I plan to have the hotel request my cab to the airport. The answers to this ask.mefi question gave the impression that I should just write my will out now and say my goodbyes to all loved ones. True/False? I feel like I'll probably be fine, especially since it's only for one day, but I'll gladly accept my fate should it shake down that way.

E)Long, long flights. Any tips on surviving the 20+ hours of travel would be appreciated. We are not taking laptops/kindles/etc., but we will have iPhones/iPods/books and I am planning on sleeping as much as possible. Is that reasonable? Is there something else I should think of?

I'm super excited for this trip and with your help (hinthint) it could be great.

Emirates experience anyone?

pakora1 — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 13:28:38 -0800

Emirates Airline? We are travelling on a long haul flight on Emirates next month (ecornomy) and wondering about the comfort level and other experiences you all could share. Haven't booked tickets yet but looking at Emirates and other airlines. We have heard that the seats are really bunched up and may be smaller than what other airlines offer.

Questions-

What has your experience with Emirates in an economy class been like (US to Dubai ideally but any other experience is welcome)

Can you suggest an alternate airline to Bombay that worked really well for you (economy)

Thanks al!

Cheap, safe and in New Delhi- any ideas

Tamanna — Tue, 22 May 2012 00:29:51 -0800

Where can a single woman stay in Delhi for a few days that's both cheap and safe? A friend wants to spend a few days in Delhi (24th-28th of this month) and needs a place to stay. She's a single woman in her early 20s and is pretty concerned about safety. Plus she doesn't have much money and would prefer to spend under Rs 1000 a night. Location doesn't matter as long as it's reasonably close to a metro station, but she'd prefer to avoid anything too far out of the way. Central/South Delhi would be nice, but other locations are good, too.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Help with a health question for an India traveler

specialk420 — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 16:34:51 -0800

India Travel Filter: Does my favorite girl have a mild case of Meningitis? Shes in northern India and has a mild rash, headaches, and some dizziness. My favorite girl and fiance is in Delhi and has a mild rash, small red dots on various spots of her body about 20 total that don't itch and dont seem to be from insect bites, has been having on and off headaches and neck stiffness, as well as some dizziness. She's not really too sick but the rash and headaches have been kind of persistent. Anyone familiar with such conditions in Northern India?

India Travel Tips

melizabeth — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 08:34:58 -0800

Solo traveling in northern India. What should I know/prepare? Is it safe for women travelers? Planning a 2 week trip to northern India in July. I'd like to know everything I should expect for travel in India--

-recommended attire (conservative I'd imagine)
-travel tips getting around on budget (train, plane, bus??)
-good eats
-places to check out (I enjoy outdoor/nature attractions opposed to cities). so far, I am interested in Varanasi, Agra, Delhi.. any national parks/preserves you would recommend?
-border crossing from nepal into india- how did you do it?

And finally a lingering overhead question.. is India REALLY safe for woman solo travelers? I've read and heard mixed reviews. Some people recommend in a group and other women have had some horrible experiences. I can adhere to not staying out late at night, leaving food/drinks unattended.. will I be OK?

kicked out of india!

genmonster — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 23:10:48 -0800

I'm in Mumbai. I just found out my visa situation in India is not ok. I need to speak to an expert about this. Who should I call or where should I go? So I've got a student visa valid for 6 months. I'm studying for one month, then made very expensive plans for travel in India for another 3 weeks. I just registered today (a requirement on my visa) and was told that I must leave the country within 7 days of the end of my studies. Beyond the expense, I'm meeting my mom when traveling, and I think it would break her heart if our trip-of-a-lifetime was cancelled. At this point I'm willing to do anything- fly anywhere- pay anything- to make this work out. BUT who should I call or meet? I need professional help at this point. I've already posted on indiamike , but haven't had much luck with people being helpful there.

Why does the Chinese government make it so hard to visit?

grak88 — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 09:28:42 -0800

Canadian getting China travel visa abroad? In the last year, has anyone (not a Chinese citizen) gotten a travel visa to China while outside their home country?

My problem: I'm leaving for a round the world trip. I won't be in China until July of next year. If I apply for a travel visa in Canada now, it will expire before I get there (it only has a shelf life of 3-6 months). My alternative is I apply for a multiple entry visa which costs three times more at $150 which is valid for one year.

My question: Has anyone gotten a China travel visa while on the road? I read online that they used to issue travel visas in Hong Kong, but they stopped doing this in 2008 and now you gotta go back to your home country to get the visa??? Also, has anyone been able to get a China travel visa from India? I will be in India and Hong Kong in the two months before China so getting it in either of those places would be ideal.

Best vacay evar!

bardic — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 20:27:47 -0800

India! Where should I go? What should I do? I have February off. I want to go to India. I know it's a big country and I can't "do" the entirety of it with 3-4 weeks so, lovely hivemind, what would be the perfect itinerary for a solo traveler who will be on a bit of a budget, but not something too restrictive?

I will have a backpack and some clothes and some money. That's about it. I like to walk around and take pictures. I'd love to eat some "real" Indian food, the spicier the better. Also, I'd really like to see the Taj Mahal.

Specifically, as I price plane tickets, where should I fly into and where should I depart from (coming home to Seoul, South Korea)?

Backpacking trip planning advice.

melizabeth — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 09:37:55 -0800

Help with planning a backpacking trip covering Asia->SE Asia. Details inside. I am currently living in China and have roughly 6 weeks off for the Chinese New Year. My plan is to set out to Tibet/Yunnan Provinces and then from there take off to Nepal, India, Thailand, and possibly Vietnam.

I am a female solo-traveler, planning to bring camping gear along just in case the moment arises or I'm in a pinch. (I know, I know-- traveling as a female solo is dangerous in all sorts of ways, but I've traveled alone before and find that just using common sense and following your instincts works best for keeping you safe)

I will mostly be traveling and staying in cities, using the guide of Lonely Planet and internet resources. Some hostel stays will probably be booked prior while others will be more spontaneous.

I was wondering if mefe's could lend out any advice about how to prepare for the trip, how much time do you think would be needed in each country (I'm thinking about 1 week in each), how to budget accordingly, currency conversion information, etc.

Roughly, my budget is looking like it will be around 16,000 Yuan (~$2,500 USD).

I will be budget traveling-- eating low cost meals, staying in hostels, and taking trains/buses as much as possible. Only considering a flight on the return after finishing the trip. Most of my trip I'd hope to be just touring the cities on my own, hiking a bit, etc (no need for tours so much with the exception of Tibet).

Does this sound feasible? From your past experiences hopefully you can fill me in on what worked/didn't work/wish you planned for, etc during a backpacking trip you embarked on prior.

Many thanks in advance. :)

Delhi Filter - tips for researcher headed to India

specialk420 — Sun, 25 Sep 2011 21:05:36 -0800

Delhi Filter: Help a PHD with her upcoming long research trip to New Dehli - Housing, and general tips on life and work in Dehli. My favorite girl is headed to New Dehli on a Fullbright for a good stint (6-9 months) in about a month and half. She's been to India a few times and speaks fluent Hindi - never the less and tips, suggestions, or connections in Dehli would be greatly appreciated.

Curious if the good ask.metafilter folks might have tips on housing (she has some leads but hasn't inked accomodations yet)? best neighborhoods (defense colony has been suggested)? safety tips? cool folks living and working there (she's super bright and cool)? and tips on the performance art scene (her area of research)?

Thanks in advance.

Am I putting my children at excess risk with this crazy plan?

Slarty Bartfast — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 22:31:44 -0800

Describe your experience traveling semi-adventurously (developing country, language barriers, etc) with a very small infant, like a few weeks old small. Specifically concerned with health and safety issues but also comfort and parental sanity. Ok, we've been to India several times and wife was born there. Haven't been back since the 2 year old was born and we are thinking of taking the three of us, plus our as yet unborn child at the end of maternity leave (January or February). As we hear from the family several times a month, it's time for us to go back and they all want to meet the kids. There's a big festival and a big wedding. Our trip will include modern houses in big cities, modern hotels in big cities, but also travel to small towns where we'll stay with family and probably a few excursions to more remote places with dodgier lodging options; it's almost mandatory to take the kids to the Venkateshwara Temple in Tirupathi where you stand in a mob of people for hours and they shave the kids heads as an offering -- this a really big deal culturally. It's also really important for our half-ling son who is asking us all kinds of questions about India these days and we really want to make his mother's cultural heritage come alive for him(we live in Seattle and have very limited contact with Indian relatives here).

We're both doctors and we know all about vaccines and compounding malaria prophylaxis into breast milk, etc. I also anticipate a not trivial chance of car accident, injuries, animal bites, etc. We are looking for advice on how you approached these threats, whether you actually had to deal with any emergencies involving your family and what that was like for you. I think we know too much and are focused excessively on the horror stories we're dreaming in our heads. What happens when the 8 week old gets a high fever -- here in the U.S. it's blood cultures, xrays, a spinal tap and a week of IV antibiotics, is that even going to be possible in rural India? What do we do when my 2 year goes up to pet the puppy and is then bitten by a feral dog, since we aren't doing rabies vaccinations before we leave. And how do we keep him from putting every single thing in his mouth?

Finally, we'll have to contend with keeping the children entertained on an 18-24 hour flight, long car rides on Indian roads, train rides, etc. I think we can manage this, but our longest trip so far was about 8 hours on a plane, so maybe I don't really have a clear understanding of what it is we're signing up for and need to think up on this.

Is this crazy, Metafilter?

Rural India.

LittleMissItneg — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 23:35:34 -0800

I am planning a trip to India by October and so far, places to see in my list include Delhi, Agra, and Varanasi. There's a whole lot more I want to visit but I don't want to exhaust my self with all the traveling as I will only have 2-3 weeks. In addition to the above mentioned places, where do you think can I visit to get a feel of rural India? Somewhere not so populated, countryside, and great interaction with the locals, possibly homestay too. Only requirement is that, it shouldn't be too far from my chosen destinations, somewhere I can stay for like 3 to 4 days immersing myself with the rural life, local culture.

First trip to India

These Premises Are Alarmed — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 20:22:15 -0800

I'm going to India on business. It'll be my first time in the country. I'm looking for general advice and have a couple specific logistical questions. I've travelled around North America for work, and been to Europe several times on vacations. I'll be travelling with a coworker but he's never been there either. I'll be there in early July (yes, it will be HOT), in 3 days in Delhi, a mostly-free weekend, and 1 day in Pune. I prefer to pack and travel light, but need business-acceptable clothes.

General questions:
- What must I bring? What should I leave at home?
- For the most part, I'll rely on the businesses I'm visiting to recommend lodging and drivers. Any concerns there?
- I'd love to pick up something unique for my kids (3 and 1) and wife. Maybe something related to the cricket team?
- Really, any other advice? Travel can make me anxious so I love to over-prepare.

My specific logistics: After our 3 days of meetings around Delhi, we've got Saturday and Sunday free, and need to get from Delhi to Maharashtra. I was thinking of going to the Taj Mahal on Saturday and catching a train or flight on Sunday. Is this a good plan? (If it were just me, I might try something more out-of-the-way with my one free day, but as my coworker said, "You can't go to India and not see the Taj!") Cost is not our chief concern.

I know about IndiaMike and Flyertalk. Any other forums I should read, books I should buy, or iPad/iPod apps I should download?

Bangalore city guide

bove — Wed, 11 May 2011 15:55:46 -0800

What are your recommendations for things we should see, do, and eat in Bangalore? I leave for Bangalore with my family (myself, my wife, and 3 children from 3 to 8) on Saturday and we will be there for a month. I asked this question previously about our travel after our time in Bangalore.

I would love to hear any recommendations for great things to do in the city, or great restaurants, or must-see places, etc. I have gone to other places on the web, but I just thought that some MeFites might have some direct knowledge.

What's the easiest way to get back and forth to Agra on a weekend trip?

Drylnn — Tue, 10 May 2011 23:08:24 -0800

What's the easiest way to get back and forth to Agra on a weekend trip? I'm in Bangalore (Bengaluru) India on a trip for work. Since I don't know how often I'll be able to get to India, I thought I'd take a trip on the weekend to Delhi and Agra to do the touristy things like Taj Mahal. Not the best time of year to do it, since it's the height of the hot season, but not much I can do about that. However, I have several issues...

My main issue is I have to do this on a weekend, because I have to work. Even worse, I have to do this from Saturday to Monday because I work NY hours, so I can't leave on Friday night. Nothing can be done about this, and I can't legitimately take the Friday off.

I think I've pretty much figured out the flying legs (namely, fly Saturday morning, fly back Monday afternoon). My problem is the "getting to Agra" part and back.

Most guidebooks and online groups say the train, however, every single coworker I have who has done the trip says to get a private driver from the airport to take me to Agra. They all overall say it will be a more pleasant experience. My main issues are:
1) I have no idea how to get a driver in Delhi. I was told "Oh, they have desks at the airport", but it was a very vague description. Most people recommend "getting a car at your hotel in Delhi", but I'm coming directly from the airport.
2) Trains would seem to be to be faster than a car just based on Bangalore to Mysore traffic alone. Am I mistaken?
3) So... if I hire a driver to Agra.... how do I get back? Do I pay for him to stay in Agra. I'm thinking about spending a night in Agra at the highly priced Oberoi just for the experience, then driving back on Sunday and staying in Delhi on Sunday night. So... do I pay for my driver to stay some place in town? Or do I get a new driver in Agra? How does that work?

I posted this in one other place, and they recommended Hertz or Avis and negotiating a deal there for a driver. I'm trying to figure out how to do this.

Any ideas?

What skills can I learn to become a better traveler

travis08 — Wed, 05 Jan 2011 08:01:43 -0800

I am planning to take a year and travel India (mostly) and maybe a little Nepal and bits of S.E. Asia. I have over a year before my planned departure and would like to start preparing both physically and mentally. What skills can I learn to make me a better traveler. I am looking for things I can start doing over this time that will prove beneficial for when I start traveling. Some examples I am thinking of.

• Start a walking regiment
• Break in Shoes
• Get used to walking with backpack
• Start learning Hindi
• Learn some knots

I am not looking for packing lists or itinerary help, just physical or mental skills I can start developing now for travel later. Thank You!

Shit Translation, French and Spanish speakers help!

DOUBLE A SIDE — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 02:26:44 -0800

Do any French or Spanish speakers have time to look at 30" of footage to tell me what this guy is saying? Shit Tony. We met a clothes salesman in Varanassi who goes by the name of Shit Tony. He talks briefly about his 'Shit' in French then in Spanish. I'm shit at translation so wondering if anyone could clarify what he's saying. It's for a travel show we're doing and your help is greatly appreciated!

Traveling in India

bove — Tue, 19 Oct 2010 10:24:40 -0800

What are the best things to do with my family during our trip to Southern India? I am taking my family to India this summer. I will be teaching a class in Bangalore for four weeks. Our plan is to spend another 10 days to 2 weeks in India after my teaching is completed. What are the things we absolutely must do or see?

Here are some relevant details. It will be me, my wife, and my three kids. My kids are 8, 6, and 3. My teaching will be from mid-May to mid-June and it will be every weekday.

I know India is huge and that is why we are trying to decide what we should see. We are leaning towards going up to the Taj Mahal, and we are also considering going to Mysore.

So all of you world travelers, help us out. We will also happily take any general advice about traveling/living in India especially advice that is relevant for families with young children.

Help a California girl spending 9 months in India feel connected to family and home?

chrisco — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:17:22 -0800

Genius MeFi Brain Trust: my very sweet, very sharp fiancee will be conducting the bulk of her PhD research on a Fulbright in India this year (Delhi and points beyond TBD). She's been once before for a couple of months and she's asked me to get her a birthday present that helps remind her of home and her family. Because the program appears to limit her outside travel to a total of two weeks, and because I may be stuck with my regular Tourist visa that seems to limit me to two months between visits, I am extra motivated to come through on this one in a big way.

We are both former designers with computer science / engineering backgrounds, so my mind naturally drifts to techy ideas like digital picture frames, printed pictures, buying her Skype-worthy internet service, etc. Those might be good options, but I was inspired by this thread on homesickness that recalled how evocative smells from home can be, and wanted to throw the door open a little wider. Did someone find you the perfect thing to help you feel connected when you were away? Did you find a great way to connect with family abroad?

She leaves in about a month. I've got an open budget and a lot of passion and would love your suggestions. Thanks!

Where should I travel in Asia and the wider world between February and August 2011?

Kirn — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 13:58:53 -0800

Where should I travel in Asia and the wider world between February and August 2011? Should I travel there and then at all? I'm trying to plan a round-the-world trip and am finding it very difficult. Apologies for my rambling question - I could really do with your help. The time I have allocated for the trip is around February 16th to July 27th 2011. I've never traveled before, and I'll be going alone. I'm interested in cities and urban spaces as much as anything - not (necessarily) long treks up mountains.

Starting from the UK, my plan was to go to New York for a week or so, the rest of the U.S. (maybe a bit of Canada) for another month, Japan for a month, then S.E. Asia (definitely China and Thailand, maybe Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore...) for a few months, then finish in India for a month before flying back home.

Various things keep cropping up. One of the big ones is the climate. Someone tells me that February is a terrible time to visit NY. Other websites seem to tell me that most of S.E. Asia, plus India in particular, are impossibly hot and humid during most of the Feb-Aug period, and the time to go is more like autumn/winter.

I'm not that keen on the heat - I coped OK with Japan in June 2009 (to give you some indication) but now I'm worried that the whole period of my trip is wrong and I should either be picking a different period of the year (inconvenient at minimum) or going to a completely different part of the world.

So help me out. Should I go to these places from Feb-Aug? In what order? Is there a better route or set of destinations? Tell me what you would do. Any and all advice is most welcome. Thanks everyone.

WWOOFing in India?

comfortinsound — Sun, 18 Jul 2010 09:44:19 -0800

Can anyone recommend specific WWOOFing farms in India? I'm WWOOFing in India from January to June with my friend, and we are just starting to contact farms that we'd like to stay at. We are planning on staying at 5-6 farms over the 6 months in order to experience life in different parts of the country and at different kinds of places. I was just wondering if anyone who has WWOOFed in India before could tell me about their experience, good or bad, or possibly recommend specific places.

Also, any advice that has to do with WWOOFing or even just travel in India would be much appreciated.

India in 3 weeks

moorooka — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 21:23:59 -0800

Three weeks in India. Where to go? I have three weeks solo in July, arriving and leaving from Delhi (staying in Paharganj initially). I've never been there before, and I don't know much about the place, but there seem too many worthwhile places to go and I need help choosing. North to Amritsar/Kashmir, west to Jodhpur, east to Varanasi or south to Mumbai and Goa? There's no way to fit it all in.

Any tips on where to go, or broader advice about traveling there more generally?

Recommendations for books, films or music in preparation for a trip to India

cymru_j — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 05:20:05 -0800

Recommendations for books, films, or music in preparation for a trip to India? I'll be visiting India for the first time for 10 days at the end of May. I'll be based in Mumbai but will be traveling to Agra and Kerala. The visit is prompted mostly by a desire to visit a friend in Mumbai, but I also want to use my travel plans as an excuse to learn something about Indian culture. What music, books, or films would you recommend I check out before my trip? I'm not thinking about practicality (guide books, etc.) so much as cultural resources (an influential musician, a remarkable travel essayist, etc.). I'm certainly not deluding myself that a handful of books and records will produce some kind of "mastery of Indian culture." I just want to get my feet wet and enjoy the trip as much as possible.

Thanks in advance!

Help! So many India honeymoon options!

iknowizbirfmark — Sun, 31 Jan 2010 13:35:25 -0800

We are planning to honeymoon in India for around 12 days in November. We are overwhelmed by all of the options and places to go. For first time travelers to India, what did you love, what did you hate, what would you do differently? What is your personal best advice that you would tell your best friend about a short vacation in India? I know that we can't travel the entire subcontinent in 12 days, so we want to do 2-4 locations and see the sites, relax a little, be amazed, be pampered a little, etc. We are normally pretty laidback about international travel but want to pre-plan a lot of sites and tours closely in the cities and regions were are looking at, so pre-planning is a must. We are interested in wildlife, nature, cultural and historical sites and of course want to spend some time in India's amazing cities. A few days in a resort or beach area would be very nice as well. We dream of seeing some tigers and riding some elephants and camels. We also want to pamper ourselves a little without being detached and isolated? What are the best places to do those sorts of things?

The internet and books are hard to use to make the cuts about where to go and what to do when time is at a premium. All the research we've done overwhelms us, and that's the first time travel planning has done that to us. All our Indian-American friends say "Geez, I've been all over when I was a little kid, now when I go I spend lots of time visiting my family. Where do you want to go?" None of our close none-Indian-American friends have traveled there.

Some of the places we have been thinking about Mumbai, Udaipur, Kochi and Goa. We have not planned to go to Delhi but we are thinking about adding it so we could take a day trip to the Taj Mahal, although it seems to be somewhat remote and we're wondering whether to travel to it just for that.

Help me return to being appropriately-whelmed in terms of planning travel to India!