Drivers accomodation in Sri Lanka - India?

Dayglowhamster · Feb 9th, 2004, 01:43

For Sri Lanka everybody is told that drivers get free accomodation at hotels. They drive us all day and for safety I'm sure most of us would like to make sure they have a good nights sleep. IF YOU AGREE READ ON......

Well I already knew that sometimes the accomodation is a chair in the lobby - but I thought that was the exception with most hotels offering a room. Chatting to a friend who's a driver in Sri Lanka he was describing a beautiful hotel a rich client had stayed at. Jokingly I said he was lucky because he got the stay for nothing. BUT NO - he said he had to stay in the 'hospital' ??? I was very confused so I asked more questions. The 'Hospital' is one long room with all the drivers sleeping in beds next to each other. Snoring makes sleep impossible unless you are already exhausted. A toilet or two are shared at each end (if you are unlucky enough to have the bed next to them you can kiss goodbye to sleep). Unlike the chair in the lobby this is not unusual! I asked whether he told his passengers - he said he doesn't like to because he can sleep in his car. So is this the same in India?

If it is the same I don't think as travellers we want this - so what the F**K is going on?? How did we get sold the idea that all was well? I don't think that this can be anybodies idea of a safe trip - nor do I think most travellers want to do this to their driver and guide.

I've asked the friend to write to me and name the worst hotels in Sri Lanka. I hope he will do it but he was unsure - because he didn't like to 'make any problem'. I hope I have been right in thinking as travellers we would like to know.

For travellers I think maybe ask about the accomodation offered to your driver - in front of the driver, ask how many people will share the room.

I tried explaining that we don't know this, how can we know? But that many travellers would care. So if it is the same in India what can we do??

I have to add in this conversation there was no gain to be had. I find things out a little at a time as I become much less of a customer. What scares me to death is how little we know. How can I have known this person for 5 years and only now I get to learn what the free accomodation is like? Why did I never ask? Don't think there is anything to be gained by me writing this here, it's just in the belief that this does matter. That we don't want it to be like this.

My friend is about to become a grandfather but he will drive a 16 hour day because it's not within his culture to say 'No'. He is asked if he had a good nights sleep - but lies because he says 'I can sleep in my car'.

What do we want? - The 'Hospital'??

rickshawwallah · Feb 9th, 2004, 14:07

Sounds to me like a dormitory, which is standard procedure for guides, drivers and kitchen staff in India in my experience. In my ten years as a guide in India, I stayed in many such dormitories. Your description strikes me as extremely overly dramatic.

Hotels are businesses. They offer their finest rooms at a premium price, and charge lesser sums for the lesser quality rooms. When they are providing a bed for free, they will naturally offer their lowest level of accomodation.

Dayglowhamster · Feb 9th, 2004, 14:59

Maybe it is over dramatic - it's not like I've actually stayed in one. BUT with LP and other publications saying there accom is free, surely as travellers we should be making an informed choice, which I don't think is currently the case. I certainly didn't know. For the sake of a few rupees between a few passengers (personally) I would feel beter to provide at the least a basic room.

I would at least like to know whether the accom is good enough to get sleep inbetween 2 hard days driving.

beach · Feb 9th, 2004, 16:12

All standard car hire firms pay daily ‘bata’ to the driver. This is in addition to the salary. The money is meant for food and night bed. An average driver earns about rs4000 a month. Just like how we save they also tries to save by squeezing from this! Even if you tip a bit high thinking that they’ll go for an ok room, they won’t!
Most of the time I use them only to pick/drop at airport to office. To the possible extent I avoid car for overnight or long distance journey. I’m scared.
I always take them with me for food and pay the bill. Sometimes last week I asked one of the drivers about a similar question. He said they got used to all sorts of things. Having food at odd times, not sleeping in time, sleeping in intervals of 2 –3 hours..etc.

No doubt it’s a dogs life.

Alan D · Feb 9th, 2004, 17:32

Slightly off topic, as I have no experience of how taxi drivers in India or Sri Lanka live.

In Nepal we offered to pay for a hotel room in Kathmandu for our guide. Instead he stayed with friends or family, probably for free, and added the money to his earnings. We knew he had to support a large family in the Terai so this was completely understandable.

I would imagine, as Beach says, taxi drivers would act in the same way - taking the basic acommodation and saving the extra money, because in many cases they need it to support dependents. The safety aspect would remain the same.

Dayglowhamster · Feb 9th, 2004, 18:13

I think safety is an issue even when times are hard. If I was ever to hire cars and drivers again I would ask at the reception of the hotel what their accomodation was. If it was less than a single room I would offer to pay for a room for the driver. Ok maybe the most basic room but at the least a bed in private. I can't see how the condition of a driver is any less important than the condition of the car. If a trip has been booked with driver accom included and the driver has asked for no costs - surely in offering a room there would be no feeling of having been ripped off.

What shocked me was that I had no idea. I also can't see how I could ever have known - that's why I posted, I reckon travellers need to decide what to do knowing this.

Certainly forums like this one could be used to name and shame hotels that have the worst reputations for how they treat drivers. Obviously as far as India goes I'm about as much use as a chocolate teapot for that!

Feb 9th, 2004, 01:43	#1
Dayglowhamster Twit Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: uk Posts: 142	Drivers accomodation in Sri Lanka - India? For Sri Lanka everybody is told that drivers get free accomodation at hotels. They drive us all day and for safety I'm sure most of us would like to make sure they have a good nights sleep. IF YOU AGREE READ ON...... Well I already knew that sometimes the accomodation is a chair in the lobby - but I thought that was the exception with most hotels offering a room. Chatting to a friend who's a driver in Sri Lanka he was describing a beautiful hotel a rich client had stayed at. Jokingly I said he was lucky because he got the stay for nothing. BUT NO - he said he had to stay in the 'hospital' ??? I was very confused so I asked more questions. The 'Hospital' is one long room with all the drivers sleeping in beds next to each other. Snoring makes sleep impossible unless you are already exhausted. A toilet or two are shared at each end (if you are unlucky enough to have the bed next to them you can kiss goodbye to sleep). Unlike the chair in the lobby this is not unusual! I asked whether he told his passengers - he said he doesn't like to because he can sleep in his car. So is this the same in India? If it is the same I don't think as travellers we want this - so what the F**K is going on?? How did we get sold the idea that all was well? I don't think that this can be anybodies idea of a safe trip - nor do I think most travellers want to do this to their driver and guide. I've asked the friend to write to me and name the worst hotels in Sri Lanka. I hope he will do it but he was unsure - because he didn't like to 'make any problem'. I hope I have been right in thinking as travellers we would like to know. For travellers I think maybe ask about the accomodation offered to your driver - in front of the driver, ask how many people will share the room. I tried explaining that we don't know this, how can we know? But that many travellers would care. So if it is the same in India what can we do?? I have to add in this conversation there was no gain to be had. I find things out a little at a time as I become much less of a customer. What scares me to death is how little we know. How can I have known this person for 5 years and only now I get to learn what the free accomodation is like? Why did I never ask? Don't think there is anything to be gained by me writing this here, it's just in the belief that this does matter. That we don't want it to be like this. My friend is about to become a grandfather but he will drive a 16 hour day because it's not within his culture to say 'No'. He is asked if he had a good nights sleep - but lies because he says 'I can sleep in my car'. What do we want? - The 'Hospital'?? __________________ Mine's not as clever as yours!

Feb 9th, 2004, 16:12	#4
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,233	All standard car hire firms pay daily ‘bata’ to the driver. This is in addition to the salary. The money is meant for food and night bed. An average driver earns about rs4000 a month. Just like how we save they also tries to save by squeezing from this! Even if you tip a bit high thinking that they’ll go for an ok room, they won’t! Most of the time I use them only to pick/drop at airport to office. To the possible extent I avoid car for overnight or long distance journey. I’m scared. I always take them with me for food and pay the bill. Sometimes last week I asked one of the drivers about a similar question. He said they got used to all sorts of things. Having food at odd times, not sleeping in time, sleeping in intervals of 2 –3 hours..etc. No doubt it’s a dogs life. __________________ Hampi info

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Feb 9th, 2004, 14:07	#2
rickshawwallah I know cheap and best! Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: New York City, USA Posts: 204	Sounds to me like a dormitory, which is standard procedure for guides, drivers and kitchen staff in India in my experience. In my ten years as a guide in India, I stayed in many such dormitories. Your description strikes me as extremely overly dramatic. Hotels are businesses. They offer their finest rooms at a premium price, and charge lesser sums for the lesser quality rooms. When they are providing a bed for free, they will naturally offer their lowest level of accomodation.

Feb 9th, 2004, 14:59	#3
Dayglowhamster Twit Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: uk Posts: 142	Maybe it is over dramatic - it's not like I've actually stayed in one. BUT with LP and other publications saying there accom is free, surely as travellers we should be making an informed choice, which I don't think is currently the case. I certainly didn't know. For the sake of a few rupees between a few passengers (personally) I would feel beter to provide at the least a basic room. I would at least like to know whether the accom is good enough to get sleep inbetween 2 hard days driving.

Feb 9th, 2004, 17:32	#5
Alan D Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Southampton UK Posts: 1,866	Slightly off topic, as I have no experience of how taxi drivers in India or Sri Lanka live. In Nepal we offered to pay for a hotel room in Kathmandu for our guide. Instead he stayed with friends or family, probably for free, and added the money to his earnings. We knew he had to support a large family in the Terai so this was completely understandable. I would imagine, as Beach says, taxi drivers would act in the same way - taking the basic acommodation and saving the extra money, because in many cases they need it to support dependents. The safety aspect would remain the same.

Feb 9th, 2004, 18:13	#6
Dayglowhamster Twit Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: uk Posts: 142	I think safety is an issue even when times are hard. If I was ever to hire cars and drivers again I would ask at the reception of the hotel what their accomodation was. If it was less than a single room I would offer to pay for a room for the driver. Ok maybe the most basic room but at the least a bed in private. I can't see how the condition of a driver is any less important than the condition of the car. If a trip has been booked with driver accom included and the driver has asked for no costs - surely in offering a room there would be no feeling of having been ripped off. What shocked me was that I had no idea. I also can't see how I could ever have known - that's why I posted, I reckon travellers need to decide what to do knowing this. Certainly forums like this one could be used to name and shame hotels that have the worst reputations for how they treat drivers. Obviously as far as India goes I'm about as much use as a chocolate teapot for that!

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