Overnight extended layover in Delhi?
September 29, 2010 4:58 PM Subscribe
We're going to be hiking to Everest Base Camp and right now we're trying to figure out the logistics of our very long commute. We're traveling to Nepal from the US, and will be landing in Delhi on October 9th around 9 PM. Our flight to Kathmandu leaves the next day at at 3 PM. Is it safe and/or reasonable to stay the night in the Delhi airport? Or would it be easier to book a hotel or homestay in the area?
If so, any recommendations for a hotel/homestay?
If so, any recommendations for a hotel/homestay?
I would not recommend staying overnight at any Indian airport -- it's quite unlike anything else you ever experienced. Terrorist scares non-withstanding I'd get a hotel room close to the airport.
posted by zeikka at 5:44 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by zeikka at 5:44 PM on September 29, 2010
Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) is in the middle of nowhere. I'd be very surprised if there's a "small family-run hotel or homestay" anywhere nearby. Your options would be either to stay at a generic airport chain hotel, stay in the airport, or head into town - about 45 min away by taxi.
Staying in the airport might be difficult, considering the heightened security around the Commonwealth Games. Not saying this for certain, but the police might force you to move on. On the bright side, IGIA has at least been rebuilt, so it shouldn't be the complete & utter shithole that it used to be.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:51 PM on September 29, 2010
Staying in the airport might be difficult, considering the heightened security around the Commonwealth Games. Not saying this for certain, but the police might force you to move on. On the bright side, IGIA has at least been rebuilt, so it shouldn't be the complete & utter shithole that it used to be.
posted by UbuRoivas at 5:51 PM on September 29, 2010
(afterthought: sorry, you'd be in transit for an international flight to Nepal - the authorities should have no jurisdiction to make you leave the "international" zone of the airport & actually enter India. My previous comment assumed that you would've passed through immigration into the country - in which case they would probably want to avoid loiterers in the "general public" areas of the airport).
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:06 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by UbuRoivas at 6:06 PM on September 29, 2010
Based on the information from www.sleepinginairports.com (check it out), I wouldn't suggest staying in the airport, if you can avoid it. (Though check the dates of the comments if the airport has been rebuilt as the previous poster has indicated)
Personally, I'd fork out for a night in an airport hotel. Whether you're camping or staying in tea houses on trek, you're not going to be getting the best night's sleep, so it would be better to start from a position of being well rested, than start from a position where you've not slept for 48 hours.
Though as you're arriving in the middle of the Commonwealth Games, that might be more difficult than it normally is.
The other option is to check out buying a pass for a business lounge (but again, www.sleepinginairports.com isn't particularly enthusiastic about the Delhi options - although again that might have changed).
Regardless, enjoy your trip! We'll pass each other on the trail (you'll be on your way down as I'm on my way up)
posted by finding.perdita at 6:08 PM on September 29, 2010
Personally, I'd fork out for a night in an airport hotel. Whether you're camping or staying in tea houses on trek, you're not going to be getting the best night's sleep, so it would be better to start from a position of being well rested, than start from a position where you've not slept for 48 hours.
Though as you're arriving in the middle of the Commonwealth Games, that might be more difficult than it normally is.
The other option is to check out buying a pass for a business lounge (but again, www.sleepinginairports.com isn't particularly enthusiastic about the Delhi options - although again that might have changed).
Regardless, enjoy your trip! We'll pass each other on the trail (you'll be on your way down as I'm on my way up)
posted by finding.perdita at 6:08 PM on September 29, 2010
There's a pack of not so bright and shiny hotels fairly close by in an area called Mahipalpur, more like five minutes away than 45 (at least in the dead of late night). I stayed in the "Eurostar International," bookable on venere, for the night/early morning before a flight last year -- nothing to write home about, but no horror story, and reasonably priced (including the airport transfers).
posted by deeaytch at 6:09 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by deeaytch at 6:09 PM on September 29, 2010
Having once spent 8+ house in that very airport (on our way out of India) I really don't recommend it. Looks like there are some good suggestions upthread, and even if you do need to go a bit far to find a cheap hotel, everything is SO cheap there that it will be worth it.
posted by girlalex at 6:48 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by girlalex at 6:48 PM on September 29, 2010
The new terminal has been opened but when I went through there six weeks ago large sections were still under construction and you don't want to be stuck in the business lounge for too long either. Stay in an airport hotel.
posted by koahiatamadl at 7:52 PM on September 29, 2010
posted by koahiatamadl at 7:52 PM on September 29, 2010
I would recommend researching beforehand a hotel near the airport. Nine pm might be an ok time to arrive, after rush hour...or is it? Can you line up transportation to the airport, too?
I've traveled in many countries around the world and India--and Dehli especially--was the place that most felt like a warzone. Not because of any danger, just the--to my mind, anyway--duplicitous and opportunistic nature of many in the tourism trade. In other words, liars and cheats. But you're just staying at a nearby hotel. Just make sure the driver takes you there; if it's anything like me, he might take you way the hell out of the way to a crappy hovel at twice the price. Hence, reserving beforehand, even if it's pricier, is definitely what I would do.
posted by zardoz at 10:25 PM on September 29, 2010
I've traveled in many countries around the world and India--and Dehli especially--was the place that most felt like a warzone. Not because of any danger, just the--to my mind, anyway--duplicitous and opportunistic nature of many in the tourism trade. In other words, liars and cheats. But you're just staying at a nearby hotel. Just make sure the driver takes you there; if it's anything like me, he might take you way the hell out of the way to a crappy hovel at twice the price. Hence, reserving beforehand, even if it's pricier, is definitely what I would do.
posted by zardoz at 10:25 PM on September 29, 2010
Best answer: 1. Centaur and Radisson are decent hotels very close to the international terminal.
2. Take a pre-paid taxi to your destination.
3. There are other small hotels near Radisson. Take a pre-paid taxi to Radisson and then walk North along the road. It is lined with small hotels meant precisely for travelers like you. (orient yourself with this Google Maps link).
4. You are reaching at 9pm. I am going to assume that this is your flight landing time, in which case you'll need perhaps another hour to get out of the terminal. Probably not the best time to be walking around looking for a hotel. My personal recommendation is to book online or over telephone with either Centaur or Radisson. It won't cost you much, by Western standards.
posted by vidur at 10:52 PM on September 29, 2010
2. Take a pre-paid taxi to your destination.
3. There are other small hotels near Radisson. Take a pre-paid taxi to Radisson and then walk North along the road. It is lined with small hotels meant precisely for travelers like you. (orient yourself with this Google Maps link).
4. You are reaching at 9pm. I am going to assume that this is your flight landing time, in which case you'll need perhaps another hour to get out of the terminal. Probably not the best time to be walking around looking for a hotel. My personal recommendation is to book online or over telephone with either Centaur or Radisson. It won't cost you much, by Western standards.
posted by vidur at 10:52 PM on September 29, 2010
On prepaid taxis:
There is a prepaid taxi service which works 24 hrs under the control & surveillance of the Delhi Police. Just after the Customs glass exit gate there is a Delhi police Pre paid taxi booth on the left side. Here you can book a taxi and catch the assigned cab from the stand outside. Else you can exit the arrival hall towards the taxi stand and get a taxi booked from the pre paid taxi booths there.
The rates are government approved and each passengers details and the taxi allotted to him/her are noted. Taxi service to whole of Delhi and adjacent areas such as Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad is available here. Ghaziabad and other state taxi are also available from the Interstate taxi booth outside the arrival hall. Taxi available are the hallmark yellow and black ones. The rates are very reasonable however only non AC vehicles are available.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:21 PM on September 30, 2010
There is a prepaid taxi service which works 24 hrs under the control & surveillance of the Delhi Police. Just after the Customs glass exit gate there is a Delhi police Pre paid taxi booth on the left side. Here you can book a taxi and catch the assigned cab from the stand outside. Else you can exit the arrival hall towards the taxi stand and get a taxi booked from the pre paid taxi booths there.
The rates are government approved and each passengers details and the taxi allotted to him/her are noted. Taxi service to whole of Delhi and adjacent areas such as Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad is available here. Ghaziabad and other state taxi are also available from the Interstate taxi booth outside the arrival hall. Taxi available are the hallmark yellow and black ones. The rates are very reasonable however only non AC vehicles are available.
posted by UbuRoivas at 4:21 PM on September 30, 2010
This thread is closed to new comments.
I understand that you can't just decide not to go. It'll be the trip of a lifetime, after all! But please be very careful about where you stay. I'd avoid sleeping at big-name hotels or airports like the (dengue) plague. To hell with the "this is letting the terrorists win" theory. Look after your own butt.
Hopefully someone else can recommend a small family-run hotel or homestay nearby.
posted by malibustacey9999 at 5:27 PM on September 29, 2010