http://www.indiamike.com/india Need help in finding a place to stay? Ask here! en Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:30:22 GMT vBulletin 60 http://www.indiamike.com/india/images/misc/rss.jpg http://www.indiamike.com/india http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/bad-hotels-in-india-t95842/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:39:24 GMT Hotel Amar, in Agra:
I want to report that I had a very bad experience in Hotel Amar in Agra. It was listed as a good mid-range hotel in one of the travel guides, and I unfortunately believed them.

When I got to the hotel in late October, 2009, I found it to be ostentatiously decorated with heavy carpeting and drapes that were not being maintained. The first step out of the elevator on my floor I was greeted with barnyard smells emanating from a heavy stain in the hall carpet just outside the elevator door.

The first room I was put in smelled of cigarette smoke, and the throw rug at the foot of the bed was grey with dirt. So I asked for another room. The next room smelled better, but had the same greyed throw rug dirtying the marble floor at the foot of the bed. I asked the "room boy" to take it out. Who needs a dirty throw rug on a nice clean marble floor?

In both cases the room decor was a pastiche of decorating styles garned from fire sales of "great decorating ideas" from the 1970s and 1980s. Nothing matched. If they tried less hard, and just worked on simple, clean, and Indian style, it would cost a lost less and look much better.

As I relaxed into my room, I started to see cockroaches, just one at a time. The first one, I wasn't sure, it was so small, but when I saw the familiar larger version of my past days in India, I started going after them. Altogether I saw 8, and was able to smash four with my sandal before they escaped, scrape them up and toss them into an ashtray. I later carried these treasures down to the front desk and told them there was a problem in my room. They expressed serious regret, and sprayed my room while I ate dinner. I didn't see any cockroaches the rest of my time there. I just wondered what the spray was doing to my lungs.

I kept my luggage piled up high on a table in center of the room, hoping that the cockroaches would stick to the usual routes and not enter my luggage. It seems to have worked.

Stay away from Hotel Amar, no matter what any guide book tells you. Even if you have to stay in a well-trodden tour group hotel where you feel alternately herded and milked by hotel employees and touts outside the door, stay there where it's clean and hopefully less toxic, than risk a disgusting night in Hotel Amar.
Fiber Tiger:mad: ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India Fiber Tiger http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/bad-hotels-in-india-t95842/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/budegt-hotel-in-gwalior-t95813/ Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:25:23 GMT Does anyone know any decent budget hotels in Gwalior?
We'll be arriving about 9pm so it would be great if we knew where we were going to sleep and could maybe even book it.
Any top tips gratefully received.
Imli ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India imlicricket http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/budegt-hotel-in-gwalior-t95813/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/male-dominent-society-rules-for-hotel-accomodation-t95625/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:03:36 GMT I read the thread of hotel accomodation policies.. I am indian origin female going to India in January 2010 with my American husband. I am arranging the whole trip starting from Haridwar to delhi-agra-vrindavan-agra-fatehpursikri-jaipur-ranthambhor-jodhpur-jesalmer. I realise two problems... one, the hotels have ripoff charges for americans, so I m going to book hotel on my name. however my concern is if I tell we are married, they change their prices, If I dont tell we are married, they may report us to police??? [cry] it is rediculous that the chances of hotels questioning a couple when the female is Indian origin. I don't want to pay more becus of my white husband, and I dont want to be labled as an escort... uhhhhhhhhhhh... do u think my concern is right about the situation?? we are on $ $1500 budget.. I don't know what to do.. [Blush] ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India stickler31 http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/male-dominent-society-rules-for-hotel-accomodation-t95625/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/accomondation-in-or-near-kerala-t95609/ Tue, 17 Nov 2009 10:20:10 GMT Namaste, We (2 adults and 3 children, 9-15 years)are arriving in Trivandrum on the 12. of december. Now we are looking for a nice hotel, guesthouse or homestay near the see for the first days, later we want to stay some weeks in a nice place in a village or so where we can join the real life in India. We are not looking for a place with unbelivable high prices. We are looking for something where we and the owner is happy. If it is ecologigal recommandet it will be great. Thanks you for answering. Gubi Namaste, We (2 adults and 3 children, 9-15 years)are arriving in Trivandrum on the 12. of december. Now we are looking for a nice hotel, guesthouse or homestay near the see for the first days, later we want to stay some weeks in a nice place in a village or so where we can join the real life in India. We are not looking for a place with unbelivable high prices. We are looking for something where we and the owner is happy. If it is ecologigal recommandet it will be great. Thanks you for answering. Gubi ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India Gubi http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/accomondation-in-or-near-kerala-t95609/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/pushkar-hotel-to-avoid-t95405/ Sun, 15 Nov 2009 02:47:44 GMT I stayed at the Hotel Oasis in Pushkar, having booked it on line because I thought hotels would be full due to the camel fair. The staff at the hotel made me uncomfortable by being overly friendly and touchy. I was traveling alone and this was the only hotel I stayed at where I felt unsafe. I stayed only 2 nights. I stayed at the Hotel Oasis in Pushkar, having booked it on line because I thought hotels would be full due to the camel fair. The staff at the hotel made me uncomfortable by being overly friendly and touchy. I was traveling alone and this was the only hotel I stayed at where I felt unsafe. I stayed only 2 nights. ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India farmerirene http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/pushkar-hotel-to-avoid-t95405/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/look-for-email-address-for-afonso-in-panjim-goa-t95386/ Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:54:50 GMT Hi,

I'd like to book a room in Afonso Guest House, do someone know the email address of Afonso? if they only accept booking by call, could someone recommend some guest houses in Panjim with email address available?

thanks a lot. ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India weeklylotus http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/look-for-email-address-for-afonso-in-panjim-goa-t95386/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/irtc-booking-t95347/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:22:15 GMT Have booked and paid for a hotel through IRTC hotel booking site. Realized after reading agreed terms on voucher that the rate quoted was for residents or foreigners with work permits( I don't qualify for either). Have contacted IRTC who advise I could be charged some additional rate, which is ok as long as not an excessive amount.I'm just wondering what might happen when I present voucher to the hotel. Will they care? Will they try to hit me for an excessive amount[whoa]Any advice or reassurances welcome.
Thanks
Nicola1 ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India nicola1 http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/irtc-booking-t95347/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/backpackers-accommodation-goa-t95333/ Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:57:34 GMT Hi I'm planning to travel to Goa from the UK on 24th November can anybody recommend a backpackers hostel or low budget hotel in the Calangute area. Hoping to meet up with other backpackers and travel round India for the next 2 months. ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India Yorkshirelad http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/backpackers-accommodation-goa-t95333/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/places-to-stay-in-siliguri-njp-t95206/ Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:07:32 GMT We planning a night stay before we get the toy train up to Darjeeling, any good places to stay on a budget of around r500? We planning a night stay before we get the toy train up to Darjeeling, any good places to stay on a budget of around r500? ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India anamhaq http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/places-to-stay-in-siliguri-njp-t95206/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/what-happened-to-anoop-hotel-s-web-site-in-paharganj-t95153/ Wed, 11 Nov 2009 19:51:06 GMT Hi there,
I was trying to book a room via their web-site,for the anoop hotel, or ajay guest house in paharganj, new delhi, but somehow their website expired because it may HARM MY COMPUTER??? (thats the message I get when I try to go on their website)...
I can't get to it..[cry] ..anybody knows anything about that? ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India sonusoul http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/what-happened-to-anoop-hotel-s-web-site-in-paharganj-t95153/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/wondering-about-jnu-guesthouse-s-delhi-t95069/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:48:22 GMT Hello!
I'm a former (and terrible!) Urdu student, traveling to India for the first time and meeting up with a good, though less-traveled friend.
My Urdu teacher has arranged for us to stay at the Jawaharlal Nehru University Guesthouse for the first few days in Delhi, and I recently found out there are three houses and was wondering if anybody had ever stayed at them and what the bathrooms/mosquito nets/screens/campus/noise/close food etc was like.

Oh, and are there atms on campus or would I have to go somewhere else?
Also, I know they have a 24 hr check-in/check-out system, how strict are they? My flight arrives at 6am and my friend's arrives 43 hrs later at 1am, so I'd rather check-in at a later morning hour so I'm on track to check-out at that hour, rather than 7am.

Anyways, if anyone has ever stayed there or knows anything about what it's like, I'm arriving on Nov 19th so I'd love to know!

Thanks!
Nicola ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India Grapefruit_Traveler http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/wondering-about-jnu-guesthouse-s-delhi-t95069/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/bed-and-breakfast-chennai-t95065/ Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:28:27 GMT Are there any good B&B with private bathroom you would recommend in Chennai? Tripadvisor recommends a couple but as soon as any establishment gets rated on Tripadvisor, the costs go up. Looking in the 1500-3000 INR for 2 adults. Many thanks. ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India BULLDOG http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/bed-and-breakfast-chennai-t95065/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/indians-in-india-t94951/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:52:20 GMT Hey --

First off, thanks for all the quality help on this message board.

I'm traveling to India for the second time this December. The first time I went I stayed with family but this time I'll be backpacking all over.

I've read in a few places that some hostels/hotels will not take Indians (I'm Canadian of Indian descent, no accent, I understand and can speak 80% Hindi)?

I'll be traveling to major tourist destinations (Delhi, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Mumbai, Dehradun, Hardiwar, Amritsar) with two white male friends. And Bhopal, Hyderbad, Calcutta, Varanasi, Agra, with my white girlfriend. I'll be traveling on a budget and expecting to stay at places that charge from 250-500 rupees for a double room.

Has anyone experienced any outright rejection for being, essentially, Brown? The reasoning that I've heard is that they think Indians in hostels/hotels will scare away Western tourists. ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India AAK87 http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/indians-in-india-t94951/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/helllp-what-to-do-t94939/ Mon, 09 Nov 2009 12:26:47 GMT I am flying out to Delhi in January....but the two girlfriends i am travelling with don't arrive for 11hrs after me (I arrive at 1 in the morning, them at 11.45 the next day). I am an 18yr old girl who's never travelled anywhere, let alone India, so I am wary of the culture shock! I'm not too keen on going out and finding a hotel, but I want to know whether there is an airport hotel or whether it's advisable to just stay put in the airport?
Also, once my friends have arrived we want to stay in a (cheap) hotel just to settle us in somewhat...can you suggest anywhere? And, silly as it sounds, can we check in in the morning and then just sleep that day?
Cheers ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India januarytraveller http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/helllp-what-to-do-t94939/ http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/magdaon-accommodation-t94671/ Thu, 05 Nov 2009 14:37:56 GMT Hi, We are looking for accomodation in Magdaon just for one night. Our train arrives on evening from Mumbai and leaves next morning thus we prefer places close to the railway station. Thanks Hi,
We are looking for accomodation in Magdaon just for one night. Our train arrives on evening from Mumbai and leaves next morning thus we prefer places close to the railway station.
Thanks ]]> Lodging and Hotels in India alta http://www.indiamike.com/india/lodging-and-hotels-in-india-f77/magdaon-accommodation-t94671/