My travel agent told me to go somewhere else! WHY!?!

kara

I've just booked my flight for my first trip to india in November! While i'm VERY excited i was sightly disconcerned when my travel agent asked how old i was and who i was travelling with. When i told her i was 20 and that i will be travelling with another 20 year old female she started ranting about how dangerous it would be for us and that we should consider going somewhere else. i was gutted to say the least as i have been dreaming about going to india for years now and this person was making money off selling me a ticket so why would she be saying this!?!
I've travelled on my own in Europe and thailand last year and my travel partner has also been travelling all her life. Of course i expect india to be a totally different experience (thats one reason i'm going!) but is it really that dangerous for 2 young girls?? were not normally stupid but this agent has got me thinking we might not know what were in for! I've read the good and the bad in on this site and elsewhere and i know that its all part of the travelling experience. Is this lady just paranoid? are there others my age who've been there and done that??? ultimately its not going to stop me from going but i would like some advice to whether or not other people agree with this lady.
thanks to anyone who can help ease my mind!!

Kanbe

you'll be fine

personally, I felt safer travelling alone in India than I did in Thailand (not to say I had any bad experience there)...I guess one few reasons I feel this way is because I found Indians are generally friendly and open to conversation. They are always willing to help you out. Also, the level of English seemed better in India so it was easier to get around.

SHIMLA

India is certainly not dangerous for two young girls ! Of course, one should not throw all caution to the winds and behave carelessly.

There are certain unwritten rules on dress, behaviour, etc. etc., which have been discussed in depth on various threads on this forum; and you'd do well to pay heed to these.

Your travel agent seems to want you to visit a place of his/her choice, rather than yours!!

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Hyderabadi

On what basis did she say this? Personal experience or if she books a lot of tickets to India, have most of her customers come back robbed, mugged or worse? What is her experience as a travel agent with regard to India? She does have to give you some reasons for her advice.

BhuttaJi

Hi Kara,
I had my 1st visit to India two years ago and I can say without reservation it was the best experience of my life. It is a place of extremes however, these are so rewarding in so many ways I don't have time to tell you. Once we lift the fog of ignorance we see the beauty. I can only say go..here take my car! It's the most magical of places I love it.
Good and bad things happen where ever we are. So when you make up your list of things to pack don't forget to bring your sense of humour. Don't let the B@$£&?)'s grind you down. Your a long time dead and a short time alive get out there. Have a Fantastic and safe journey Bhuttaji

Alan D

Your travel agent sounds very unprofessional - I think you have a more realistic idea of India than she has. Just keep in mind what you've read on this forum and you should be fine. Where is she suggesting you go?

Anyway, there's a simple solution. Just find another travel agent or make your own arrangements.

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trvl_in

Your travel agent has it seems appointed herself as your censorious "big sister". Perhaps you remind her of someone she knows who is extra naive and vulnerable. Perhaps she is racist. Perhaps she has been touched by a bad experience having to do with India. Perhaps she has a quota to sell tickets to someplace else :-)

I don't know about OZ, but I do know that in Canada the airlines have cut commission space down so sharply that most travel agents haven't much interest in selling just airfares anymore -- no money in it. It's a brutally competitive business as well, both internally and externally. Meaning that travel agents / airlines / etc. play savage games with eachother, all day, every day. They lie to eachother, keep eachother on hold, waste time, hold back faxes, shout at eachother, refuse standard service to some while giving over quota to others, and on and on. Any successful agent gets wound up and strung out even on a quiet day. When they don't smell a large commission (read full tour deal), and they sense an "easy" or "obvious" target, they may just wind up and blow off some steam. There's nothing like a moralizing tirade to give a stressed out person with limited insight into their own situation a transient sense of release.

Even if it was "personal", don't take it personally. Do be careful (there is a grain of truth in what the agent said). But don't cancel your plans just because one suspect personality tried to put the wind up your skirt.

Indojingai

Did you also ask her quote for say Brazil or Sweden... ?
Cos i heard they (travel agents) get more commisions for tickets there.

Ofcourse India is not the safest country for a 20 years old female nor is it the unsafest. Keep to places where travellers go in groups & do not accept food and drink from anyone - these will keep you from being killed or sexually assaulted. (not counting unabashed stares.)

Learn how to be worse to bad people...
Now go catch that plane and report if you could.

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Clare Turland

Kara, ignore this woman, she has no idea. Of course there are certain things you can do to minimise hassles in India as a young western female traveller. Such as dress appropriately (wearing Salwar Kameez is good and comfy for travelling too) and keeping your valuables in the right place etc. There is plenty of material you can read about how you can travel safely in India. I have been a leader with an international travel company in India for the past 8 months, taking small groups of people around North India with passengers ranging from 16 to late 70's in age, and if you respect the culture you are entering you will generally be fine. You have your heart set on coming here and you should come as its an amazing country and it would be a shame to believe what this woman says and miss out. Many of my passengers remark that their friends all ask them why on earth they would want to go to India before they come, India is challenging but everyone comes away having learnt a bit more about themselves from their time here....I'm sure you will too. Stuff this woman and book your ticket elsewhere!

Hyderabadi

How did you know!! That's an almost accurate description of my past life as a travel agent back in India, before I almost burnt out after over 15yrs of it

kara

thanks guys, your posts have made me happy. I was never going to let what she said stop me from going and my ticket is booked!! I just wanted to ease my mind so i can stop worrying and get on with enjoying planning for my trip! The more i read about india the more excited i get. i just dont know if i can wait til November!!

BhuttaJi

Kara, I'm new to this fantastic IMER site! I've spent the past few days reading the stuff here and I'll tell you this would be the best place to check things out and prepare. The information is invaluable and given with such a good heart and love of all India. You could do a lot worse than stay tuned in. Happy trails. BhuttaJi:thumbsUp

kara

i know!! i should have gone to sleep 3 hours ago but i keep finding new interesting threads to read! thanks guys!

crvlvr

If you have travelled safely through Europe and Thailand, you should be ok from a safetly standpoint. You might India a more conservative when it comes to clothing, and more disorganized.

rangss

Did you ask your Travel Agent's opinion about where you outght to be going, if not India? She probably does not make much money on tickets to India.:-)

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