India Travel Tips (3 of 5)

Contd from previous post:

 

 India Travel Tips (3 of 5):

SECTION 9

Tips for better hotel experiences while traveling in India:

83) It’s possible to stay at $2 “el cheapo” hotels. If you’re on a real tight budget and don’t mind about basic conditions: no pillow, no bed sheets, squat toilet and cold showers, then it’s totally possible to find a $2/night “hotel”. You may have to ask around but in every town outside of big cities you will be able find such accommodation.

84) It’s also possible to stay at $500, 5 star palaces. If you’re wanting a luxury vacation then India also offers some of the best hotel experiences in the world.

85) Mid range hotels are a balanced blend of comfort and price. The hotels in the $40 to $70 range offer mostly Western standards e.g clean sheets, hot water and a normal toilet. For these kind of hotels and the 5 star palaces, I recommend doing research on TripAdvisor to get real opinions from other travelers.

86) Lock your room with an extra padlock if needed. If you’re staying in a cheap hotel it is wise to use an extra padlock to add security. I use a combination lock so that I can’t lose the key.

87) Wear flip flops in the shower. The bathroom floors may not be the cleanest place and so I recommend you use flip flops to keep you feet hygenic. This is especially true in low budget hotels that usually don’t get cleaned properly.

88) Remember, only brush your teeth with bottled water. It’s easy to forget, especially if you stay at a fancy hotel but the water everywhere in India is questionable and brushing your teeth is no exception.

89) Cheaper hotels don’t provide towels. The $2 hotels definitely won’t give you a towel and the mid range hotels will probably give you an old towel that you won’t want to use. For this reason I bring a light weight travel towel just in case.

90) Be aware of your hotels location. As with any kind of real estate, the location and proximity to the tourist attraction, temple or town can make a big difference with your experience. When I visit a temple town I like my hotel to be as close to the temple as possible.

91) Tip your staff appropriately. Whenever you get room service of any kind at a hotel I recommend you tip between 10 and 20 rupees. If you’re staying at a more fancy hotel you may want to tip between 30 and 50 rupees. This should will help you get better service and more alert staff.

92) Squat toilets are common at budget hotels. These toilets are fine once you get used to squatting but it’s good to be aware of if you’d prefer not to use them. All mid-range and above hotels have normal Western toilets.

93) Watch out for smoking DDT at mid to high end hotels!! Unfortunately many mid to high end ($50 to $90/ night) hotels have a “mosquito management” practice where they have a pot of burning DDT that they carry through the corridors on a daily basis. The fumes of course get into your room and it can be unbearable. If you’re sensitive to this like me, you may want to call ahead before booking a hotel to see what they do for “mosquito management”. This practice probably won’t happen at cheap or 5 star hotels.

Below is another tip from Doug, my friend and India travel expert:

94) “Sanitize the environment whenever you move into a new hotel room. A simple sanitary wipe will protect you from most germs left by several weeks of previous occupants. Especially remote controls and light switches and faucets collect germs. Also, the sheet on the hotel bed is rarely cleaned, so a light piece of silkbetween you and the mattress is helpful protection.”
 

– Doug Rexford, India travel expert & Himalayan monk with the Maharishi Purusha Program.

Read my full article for more details: 10 tips to have the best hotel experience in India
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SECTION 10

How to bargain like an Indian:

95) Learn how to bargain like an Indian: I would say that Indian’s are the best negotiators or bargainers I have ever encountered. They are incredibly good at going for your emotions, very comfortable with numbers and know how to up sell until the cows come home. If you want good deals, this is an essential skill and in fact may help you with negotiation once you return to your home country.

96) Quickly learn how the bargaining process works. The main thing is start out real low and then immediately offer a little higher so that they know you want to bargain.

Here is a sample sequence:

I was in a clothing shop in a town called Bhopal.
When I asked how much a certain sweater was, the owner said, “2000rs” (US $40).
I instantly replied, “50rs”.
He laughs and says, “no way”.
I reply, “100rs”.
He says, “1000rs”.
I reply, “200rs”.
He says, “800rs”.
I reply, “300rs”.
He says, “700rs”.
At this point I say, “too much” and start to leave the shop.
He freaks out and says, “500rs sir! this is best price, I have wife and baby at home”.
While standing at the door of the shop I say “400rs is my best price” and start to move away.
He comes running and says “okay, deal” with a slight grin on his face.

97) Look for fixed rate shops if you don’t want to bargain. These shops have the prices already set and are generally fair.

98) Know that “maximum retail price” is not the price tag. Most items that are packaged will have MRP written on it. This is the maximum retail price but it is always possible to bargain that price down but you definitely shouldn’t pay more than that price.

99) Shop around and compare prices. Before making large purchases and if you have the energy you can get better deals by comparing prices. Usually certain shops (such as jewelry) are grouped together making it easier to shop around.

100) Ask help from some local friends. If you befriend a local, they will likely get great joy helping you bargain down to rock bottom prices. Although, you may have to be out of sight so the shop owner doesn’t know what’s going on.

101) Have fun with it. The main thing is to not take things too seriously (especially since your savings may only be few dollars) and enjoy the process. Otherwise it can quickly get very emotionally and physically draining.

Below is a bonus tip from a fellow blogger and author:

102) “The entrepreneurial abilities of Indians in general has amazed me for years. It seems that Indian culture produces an uncommon blend of innovative thinking, business-minded aggression, and comfort with numbers. And, no matter what price you pay — if the sales guy is smiling when you leave — guess who won…”

– Tim Ferriss, bestselling author of The 4-Hour Workweek.

Read my full article for more details: How to bargain like an Indian
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SECTION 11

Pollution in India is the worst in the world:

103) Piles of burning plastic are everywhere.As far as I can tell, there are no real waste management programs offered for household waste. Instead what happens is the plastic items are swept into a pile and then set on fire!

104) Smoke from cooking fires is bad. A lot of impoverished families use dried cow dung as a fuel for their cooking fires which can lead to excessive smoke.

105) Exhaust fumes are asphyxiating. The large cities have an absurdly large number of vehicles all releasing toxic exhaust fumes.

106) Wear a gas mask or at least a bandana.If you have sensitive lungs, I highly recommend you bring a quality gas mask to overcome the asphyxiating pollution problem. A bandana will work somewhat but won’t be able to stop the fine particles such as exhaust fumes and burning plastic pollution.

107) Avoid the big cities like the plague.According to the World Health Organization, New Delhi is now the world’s most polluted city and is 2.5x more polluted than Beijing and a whopping 15x more polluted than Washington D.C. (as shown below). Therefore, I highly recommend you avoid big cities when traveling in India and be aware of this problem which is country wide.

 

108) “For pollution, I’d suggest alternating between big cities and countryside so you can recover a bit, if possible. Getting from A to B in India can be a nightmare-inducing epic. Bring a scarf to tie tight around your nose & mouth to filter smoky exhaust, earplugs to muffle the incessant symphony of honking on the streets.”

– Sonja Riemenschneider, travel blogger atBreadcrumbs Guide.

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SECTION 12

A sample packing list for India travel:

109) Passport pouch. I keep my money and credit cards in this pouch under my shirt so that I don’t have to have a wallet in my pocket. I have had beggars put their hand in my pocket and have found this small concealed passport pouch invaluable.

110) Charcoal tablets. They’re an incredibly effective way of stopping diarrhea and preventing dysentery (Delhi Belly). It quickly absorbs the toxins or pathogens that are causing the problem and keeps you strong. As always, be sure to get advice from your doctor.
 
111) Power adapter. The Indian power plugs are different from anywhere else in the world but very similar to what they use in Europe. Bring a couple of these plugs to avoid headache.

112) Female Urination Device: Okay, don’t get weirded out by this one. India is a place with limited toilets and when you do find a toilet they are often absolutely disgusting. For guys this is not a problem because we can stand at the side of the road to pee but for women that’s not possible. This little device enables women to stand and pee with no mess and no embarrassment. My wife uses it and says it’s great.

113) Probiotics. They boost the good bacteria in your stomach, improve digestion and increase natural immunity. They are a must before traveling to India, especially during your travels and afterwards when you get home. They’re also generally good for all round digestive health, even when you’re not planning a trip to India.

114) Electrolytes. Electrolytes save lives on a daily basis. When someone has dysentery they get very dehydrated and these will save you. Even if you don’t get sick it is important to stay well hydrated in the hot, dry weather of India and these satchels can easily be added to your bottled water for an extra boost of hydration.

115) First aid kit. It’s inevitable that you’ll get a cut or scrape or some little thing that would need a first aid kit. The item I use most are band aids to help prevent infection in a wound.

116) SteriPEN (Water Purifier): I generally only drink bottled water while traveling in India but occasionally it’s not available. In that case I bust out my travel SteriPEN which uses ultraviolet light to kill all bacteria and other amoebas in the water. It’s fairly pricey but totally worth it to prevent getting sick from waterborne illnesses.

117) Travel Insurance from World Nomads:World Nomads is the best travel insurance provider I’ve used because it’s designed by travelers for travelers and covers everything you’ll ever need. In India you need to expect the unexpected. This travel insurance plan gives me the peace of mind to go forth on the adventure while knowing I have support if I get into an emergency or have all my belongings stolen! (This unfortunately happened to a close friend. He had no insurance and so had to replace his belongings out of pocket).
View their plans at WorldNomads.com ->

118) Lonely Planet guide book. I highly recommend getting the latest India guide book before you go because it’s like a bible that gives all the insider tips of the most popular (and not so popular) locations around India.

119) FREE Step-By-Step Guide to India Travel: I have written a 39 page ebook with all my best tips for India Travel which you can download for free. I was compelled to write this ebook to help people learn how to survive, thrive and have a more enjoyable trip to India.Download the ebook ->

Other items to bring to India

120) Below are the rest of the India packing listitems I don’t travel without.  For your convenience, I have linked all items to the product I use on Amazon.com.

Ayurvedic medicines
Homepathic medicines
Hand sanitizer
Feminine items (for ladies)
Dried fruit
Almond butter
Thermal underwear
Dental Floss
Toothbrush
Band aids
Sunscreen

Lock for door
Lock for suitcase
Mosquito net
Sun hat
Head lamp
Passport photos
Map of India
Backpack
Crocs
Diary
Bug repellant

Suitcase
Tripod
Mini tripod
Camera
Camera bag
Small cheap computer
Power adaptor
Transformer/converter
Rope
Clothes pegs
Treking gear (if hiking)

 

121) “For women pack hats, cotton scarves, clothing that’s loose, light, and covers shoulders and knees. For men a few loose, cotton or linen button downs or collared shirts are good. Or don’t bring much and find a Fabindia. They have wonderful, loose natural cottons. If you’re carrying a backpack and traveling overland a lot, it’s a good idea to carry an extra duffel to pack it in for transport, and maybe invest in a steel cable with a lock for local train stations. Also, for those staying in cheap hotels, we got a lot of use out of our Sea to Summit cotton liner. They’re typically for sleeping bags, but we just used them in the hotel rooms that didn’t have the cleanest of sheets.”

– Anjuli Ayer, travel blogger at Traveling Monkeys.