arriving in delhi- disorganised

minoo

oh help!

this will be my first trip to india

Im due to fly into delhi in a couple of days for my backpacker travels, but because of red tape i cannot be certain of the exact date (its a looooooong story)

Because of this i havent been able to organise accomodation, not even for the first few nights.
do you think i can turn up at the tourist info at arrivals and hope i can book somewhere on the spot. I'll be flying in the afternoon. Im on a budget around rs200- 500 ideally. But i want a decent room where i will feel safe, that has AC and a private bathroom. Could i get all this at my price without booking in advance?

Or should i stay somewhere thats around rs1000 for a few nights and look around for a cheaper place once ive kinda settled.
I take it it isnt high season, can i get a good discount/good rooms as its april?
Im solo female too.

I have previously asked about cheap hotel rooms and got some good links and recs too- thanks! Im going to try and phone a few places but here im thinking worst case scenario for the disorganised among us.

Anders

Take a taxi to Paharganj and start walking down Main Bazaar, there is lots of Guesthouses/Hotels to choose from.

minoo

i might do that once im more familiar with delhi and the sights, sounds and people. But i defintely dont want to be doing that on my first day, not after an exhausting flight and not with luggage to be carried.

Has anyone used the tourist kiosk place in the airport
shall i ask a driver for recommendations if im firm about budget/standards

roopesh_kohad

Better not ask for reco from taxi driver because you may be taken for a ride. Atleast book an accomodation for the day you land before getting in the flight and go there straight away. Apart from the contacts you have got, some accomodation records are available here as well: http://www.fhrai.com/hotelsrch.asp.
From your earlier query about Majnu ka tila, its a tibetan settlement and should be safe to stay. You will have to come to "Shahdara" metro station and you could reach any part of Delhi by it.

mercedes10

Why not try somewhere on Arakashan Road? There are several hotels there and it essentially runs parallel to Paharganj, so you can rest there, relax, and face the mayhem of Paharganj when you feel ready!

I stayed in Hotel Legend - it was a lovely double room, air-con, fridge, TV, private bathroom, hot water etc. for 800R per night. I know this is not within the budget you state, but there are plenty of other hotels on the same street that you might get for less. Legend is Western standard hotel though, so a good price for what you get.

In Paharganj itself you will easily get a room for 150-200R - but I can understand your reluctance to traipse around there on first arrival. Why not take a pre-paid taxi from airport to Arakashan Road and negotiate a room price when you get there. You're sure to find an available room and have more chance of haggling face-to-face.

I definitely wouldn't ask a taxi driver for a recommendation. He'll probably end up raking in commission, you'll pay over the odds and God knows where he might take you!

Good luck!

mercedes10

Once you feel ready to face Pahrganj you might want to check out Namaskar Guesthouse. It's a bit shabby, but it's cheap, the staff are really friendly and helpful, and it felt very safe.

anandi

Personally, I'd agree and go straight to Paharganj... I always feel safe there with sooo many backpackers around. Hotels like Shelton, Hari Rama, Ajay, Vivek, Anoop are all within 2-3 minutes walking distance from each other, it is very convenient... cheap... safe...good food. Besides those hotels, there are many others to choose from but I have stayed at those ones personally.
I recommended a friend of mine who had never been to India to go to Shelton Hotel directly from the airport and they had no problem at all. Spent lots of time on the balcony overlooking the chaos of Paharganj below, but they loved it!
No need to worry about luggage at all. It will be in the taxi... say you get off at Shelton Hotel, they will put it in the lobby for you. If they do not have space or you want to look around it will not be a problem.
Have fun!

Annett

I'd say go to Paharganj...

I've stayed in Hotel Vivek, Hare Rama and Starview (all budget hotels). And I’ve paid 200 - 250 INR per night. With Starview I've arranged a pick up service from the airport (450 INR) which was quite convenient in those early morning hours…

If you wanna mail them: starview@vsnl.com or check IM's hotel listing for Delhi here

rajiveanand

Hi,

A nice place to stay- clean, relatively cheap and safe, is the YWCA.

Good luck and stay safe!

R.

__________________
www.rajiveanand.com

Annett

ahem...WHICH YWCA in Delhi?

YWCA (CP)looks nice - but unfortunately no budget (between 200 and 500 INR)

YWCA Tariff (CP):
Single Room - Rs. 1300/-
Twin Room - Rs. 1660/-
Executive Single Room - Rs. 2100/- Executive Twin Room - Rs. 2400/-

rajiveanand

Dear Annett,

Well, last time I was there, it was relatively cheap, and there is also the YMCA (not just for men but many solo women stay there too)...

Hey, if you think Minoo wants to live in a fleabag motel on her first day in India, then direct her elsewhere!

I'm just tryin' to look out- When you're in a city, it's gonna be expensive, but it's much easier to have a bit of comfort for a day or two at 30 bucks a night, and then set out to try cheaper places after a bit of research and exp.

R.

Annett

I had never ANY probs with fleas or any other funny bugs in India...

akt

Your post gives no indication of the time of the day you'd be reaching Delhi. Obviously, somethings you can do at 2PM that won't make sense at 2AM. Like walking the steets in search of a hotel; I would especially discourage any woman from this approach.

I know people who have. I have used similar facility at Delhi's domestic terminal, and in a few other cities. They work fine. Take your time and choose without undue hurry. Splurge a little on the first night. After a good night's sleep, you can walk whichever street you want and find a cheaper hotel if you wish.

Absolutely not. Make all arrangements, at least for the 1st night, before leaving the airport. Either reserve from home, or at the airport's tourist kiosk. Do not even entertain such discussions with the driver and insist he take you straight to your hotel. If he looks/acts "lost", ask him to go to the nearest police station for directions. Also, make sure the driver has no other friend in the car with him.

Merchant

All you have to do is go to the hotel bookings desk at the airport at whatever time you arrive. You can choose a hotel from their listings based on price and location. They will call ahead and make your reservation. Either there is hotel pick up available (probably) or they will set you up with the pre-paid taxis. Just ask. People get distressed about arriving in India without a hotel, but getting one via the airport desk is painless, efficient, and free.

There's no weirdness involved. If one hotel is booked, they'll call another one and make your reservation, and your taxi will take you only where you want to go. When you arrive, even if it's at 4 AM, they'll be a guy at the desk to check you in.

200-500 rupees is very low for big city like Delhi. Cheap, respectable, and safe is in the 750-1000 range, and thoroughly middle class (flush toilet, air con, television) starts around 1,200. That's very cheap anywhere in the world. It's not a bad idea to stay in a slightly more expensive place on your first night after a long-haul flight. It will probably be quieter, and you will worry less about your surroundings. One's first night in India, arriving late and exhausted, can be quite disorienting.

minoo

thanks everyone, i feel a lot calmer now there was some good advice. Will defintely not be asking any taxi drivers or touts.

I do arrive in the afternoon, thanks for the replies