[whiteb]

Hi all.

Just found this site while googleing for info about India, and what a gold mine of info.

I am sure this has been asked OVER and over and over and over....

I am planning to go to india (Ahmedabad), from Australia at the start of February, my Passport application is in the process. Then I have to sort out the Visa, I understand my passport is REQUIRED to do this.

From the bit of reading on here, people are recommending NOT booking accomodation online, whats the best way ? Just rocking up in India and being driven all over town looking for accomodation.

I have looked at SOME online places around my budget.
Royal highness Ahmedabad at AU$59 (Taxes included, Internet not needed).

I have to visit Anand a few times during my stay (Primary reason for trip), shall I befriend a taxi driver for the time of my stay ?, and probably make him rich for a short while

I'll continue to read the MOUNTAIN of info here, but any suggestions are appreciated.

Also, whats the best way to take Money (US$) into India, what are the banks like for large sums of money, ? (around US$3500, less than the declareable amount for customs).

Thanks.
Brian.

[steven_ber]

Originally Posted by whiteb

I have to visit Anand a few times during my stay (Primary reason for trip), shall I befriend a taxi driver for the time of my stay ?, and probably make him rich for a short while

Hello Brian and welcome to indiamike.com

I'll leave hotels to someone else.

You Will need your passport to get your visa.

I normally take some travelers cheques and a credit card, the travelers cheques are just in case something happens to my credit card.

There is a new (ish) toll road from the outskirts of Ahmedabad going towards Anand, I used it once and found it very convenient and fast.

Using a driver may depend on the length of your visits to Anand, if just daytrips a driver may be useful, but busses should be fast and there is always the trains.

I visited a village very near to Anand when I went on a trip with a friends father, he went looking for a husband for his daughter, it was a fascinating experience, read about it here.

The village I visited seemed wealthy, just like the village I was staying in close to Nadiad, I was told that lots of people from these villages had gone to the US and UK to earn money, most of the money was sent home, also, the standard of English was very good in these places.

Gujarati vegetarian food is (in my opinion) the best in India.

[whiteb]

Originally Posted by steven_ber

Hello Brian and welcome to indiamike.com

I'll leave hotels to someone else.

There is a new (ish) toll road from the outskirts of Ahmedabad going towards Anand, I used it once and found it very convenient and fast.

Using a driver may depend on the length of your visits to Anand, if just daytrips a driver may be useful, but busses should be fast and there is always the trains.

I am planning several one day visits to Anand, from Ahmedabad.

I was thinking Taxi's, because some places i read, say that trains are as expensive as flying, not to mention the entire carriage stares you out, and buses were non existant

[machadinha]

Originally Posted by whiteb

some places i read, say that trains are as expensive as flying, not to mention the entire carriage stares you out, and buses were non existant

<cross-posted with Steve>
What you read was probably in reference to cheap flights being comparable to the most expensive classes of trains these days.

You will get stared at in India, not just on trains, if this is a problem reconsider your visit You get used to it though.

Buses will go almost everywhere and besides I'll take Steven's word for it. Funny that you read otherwise somewhere.

As for hotels, from this forum you'd get the impression many people book online. It's up to you. I personally wouldn't bother, maybe cover your first (few) night(s) for your own comfort. I don't think there's anything special about that season and I wouldn't expect room shortages to be a problem in a place like Ahmedabad (but I can't be sure).

Good luck with it.

[steven_ber]

Originally Posted by whiteb

I am planning several one day visits to Anand, from Ahmedabad.

I was thinking Taxi's, because some places i read, say that trains are as expensive as flying, not to mention the entire carriage stares you out, and buses were non existant

Couldn't you stay in Anand for a week or so?

If you book a flight the day bookings become available, if the flight is between the places you want to get between, the flight can be as cheap as traveling in a high class on a long distance train journey, other than that, the trains are cheaper.

It's slightly more than one hour on the train from Ahmedabad to Anand.

People may stare on the train, but they will do the same in restaurants, markets and on the streets, it's just something you'll have to get used to.

[whiteb]

Originally Posted by steven_ber

Couldn't you stay in Anand for a week or so?

If you book a flight the day bookings become available, if the flight is between the places you want to get between, the flight can be as cheap as traveling in a high class on a long distance train journey, other than that, the trains are cheaper.

It's slightly more than one hour on the train from Ahmedabad to Anand.

People may stare on the train, but they will do the same in restaurants, markets and on the streets, it's just something you'll have to get used to.

I could stay in Anand, but finding accomodation in Anand is more difficult, it seems, than ahmedabad. And considering the Singapore airways flight (Cheapest via Singapore) arrives at 22:30 Indian time........, and Qantas only fly to Mumbai (Bombay) with arrival times in the 20:00 to 21:00 timeslots (Via Sydney).

[machadinha]

Should you land in Mumbai and esp. at night btw, do book ahead, it's difficult to find a room there and you may have to settle for something very different than you had in mind if you don't. While my info is old it seems this hasn't improved. The 60 Oz bucks (2100 Rs.) should get you a most decent place btw I think, I imagine in that bracket booking ahead is the way to go anyway. I understand that provided the cash you can get around India pretty insulated (AC car etc.), wouldn't be my choice but it's an option. I hear complaints that in the higher train classes people leave each other alone too much ("not real India" etc.), never tried.

Like Steve indicated, don't carry that money in cash if you don't have to.

[steven_ber]

http://www.savshantihotels.com/anandamclub/index.htm
http://www.southtravels.com/asia/ind...rat/index.html

It would only take an extra hour to get from the airport to Anand, you might be able to get the hotel to arrange a driver to pick you up from the airport.

[steven_ber]

I can almost guarentee that the people you are visiting in Anand will try to make sure you have a great stay (as long as you have the right attitude) and show you all the sights and the best places to eat and drink.*

It will be harder for them to do this if you're staying in Ahmedabad.

*There is no alcohol allowed in Gujarat, so getting a drink is difficult, unless you know someone, though I was offered alcohol loads of times by people I met.

[whiteb]

Alcohol is not a problem, I would not go to India for the alcohol, when its like AU$10 a litre for butterscotch Schnapps (MMMMMM Yummy).

I am visiting Anand, on business, so the place i am going to will only be open business hours, but its... erm, Personal Business so hence the TOURIST visa. They wont care where I stay, Anand *OR* Ahmedabad.

Thanks for the links steven, the Savshanti I have seen before, but I did not understand what the EP, AP, MAP and CP are for, but i guess the prices are in INR, but 600 rupees for executive single (AU$17) thats a BARGAIN, even with 14% added on top (Luxury/Sales tax). I gave them the miss because of the 10am CHECK-IN ? I cannot find a flight from Australia to arrive at that time.

The second Website (southtravels) is showing more prices as to what i would expect for there, from US$32 per night (No food) so I dont know where the first website got their prices from.
I dont know if they do Airport Pickups, especially at that time of landing, I just read somewhere on here that Hotel/resort pickups from the Airport generally rip you off for the price they charge.

I appreciate this info guys, its really helping.

[machadinha]

The check-in time doesn't mean you have to check in or out at that time, it just means you'll be paying for the difference if you don't (if enforced at all). Depending on the establishment this may go by the half day so it's usually no big deal (but I don't know about the higher-end places). In case of check-out, make your plans clear in a timely fashion.

I don't think airport pick-ups have to be a rip-off necessarily (although I'm sure they can be), you just pay extra for the luxury of not having to arrange it yourself.

Find some info on the airport and its facilities at http://www.airportsindia.org.in/allA...sengerinfo.jsp , browse around a little there, site only open during Indian business hours I think.

[whiteb]

ahhhhh awesome, I had some weird vision of me camping out at the airport till sunrise , You can tell I dont travel very much, this will be my first trip in 20 years, since i emigrated to Australia from the UK

nice site BTW.

[whiteb]

I just emailed Savshanti (Anand) and their Indian Rupee rates, and they confirmed the costs per night, Room, Breakfast and 2 meals for a grand total of AU$19 per night.

SouthTravels.com wanted US$39 (AU$50) per night for room and two meals at the SAME location.

No Airport pickups, so I'll Taxi it over when I land.

[steven_ber]

Originally Posted by whiteb

I just emailed Savshanti (Anand) and their Indian Rupee rates, and they confirmed the costs per night, Room, Breakfast and 2 meals for a grand total of AU$19 per night.

SouthTravels.com wanted US$39 (AU$50) per night for room and two meals at the SAME location.

No Airport pickups, so I'll Taxi it over when I land.

Thats great news.

Having a reason to be somewhere like Anand is a great opportunity, it's not often people get away from the touristy areas and enjoy India without the hassle of touts, you should have fun.

[machadinha]

An afterthought just for general interest, if you'll be getting a taxi this shouldn't affect you anyway: from the above airport site it looks like there are no state buses from the airport directly (unsurprisingly). I've been through Ahmedabad as a land transport transit point on several occasions and always found it horribly hectic and congested and confusing, esp. the area where the bus and train station and many travel agents are. Having just arrived on a first visit and late at night it's something to best be avoided if you can I'd say, so should you have to stay in town having a booked hotel with a pick-up or at least clear directions is probably a good idea, or grab that cab like you're thinking of.

Have a good trip. ps

Originally Posted by whiteb

SouthTravels.com wanted US$39 (AU$50) per night for room and two meals at the SAME location.

Hmm... another good reason to be wary of online booking then it looks like. Thanks for the reminder! The odd and significant price difference had struck me too. Better to deal with hotels directly then and be critical of travel booking sites I guess.