a girl's first time in india

Coolwater

hi guys its my friend's first trip to india
and she wanted to know a couple of things which i am gonna ask y'all

1>shld she change all the money at the airport ?? or later once she comes to the city ? shes arriving at new delhi

2> are there any good ...clean semi-luxurious hotels in bombay ..prefrebaly near airport...?any reccomendations ?? and without the prostitution rackets running in em <i heard abt one named orchid ?? >

3>she is planning to divide her days between north and south goa....any reccomendations of the places in s and n goa ??? not too cheap places but normal clean places with a/c minibar pool etc ...


4>any other thing that a pretty european girl shld note or shld watch out for ?
5?has anyone biked around goa ?? and how fun is goa at this time ???

well guys thanx to all ppl who answer
all of my love muah muah and beer on the house for the gents.....

thank you all

Merchant

1. Change most of your money at the airport (hold some $$ back for emergencies). It's not useful to go from bank to bank searching for good exchange rates, as the rupee doesn't fluctuate much against the dollar. The airport exchange booths are perfectly safe and legal. Hang onto the "encashment certficate" they give you, since you are supposed to present it in order to have your rupees turned back into dollars (though no one has ever reported having to furnish to the document).

2. Semi-luxurious hotels near airport? There are tons of them, springing up like mushrooms, to cater to business travelers. There are more modest and cheaper ones in Andheri. I've stayed at the Ashwin and the Silver Inn, both of which are three-star, 1200 rupee/night places, clean, bathroom ensuite, a/c. Prostitution rackets? Not likely.

3. No advice here.

4. The fact that one is pretty and European doesn't mean anything special in India. The fact that one is white trumps finer distinctions of ethnicity and pulchritude. Common sense, exercised in India, as well as in the capitals of Europe, is the best advice.

5. Haven't biked Goa.

Coolwater

hey merchant thanx for the reply....silver inn hmmm...
where the hell wld i find their website ....

well why no advice on the 3rd ???

havent ya been to goa ????

well appreciate the prompt help ...
thanx man
cherzzzz

SHIMLA

1. If your friend is arriving at Delhi, its better she changes currency in Connaught Place, the heart of New Delhi. The agencies there will give a better rate than what she is likely to get at the airport, with a valid exchange certificate.

2. There's Hotel Atithi, near the domestic airport in Mumbai(also near Orchid). Its 3-star.
http://www.mumbaibombay.com/mumbai-h...el-atithi.html

3. Goa's not my cup of tea !

4. Merchant has put it aptly.

5. Never biked in Goa.

__________________
Whoever said money can't buy happiness didn't know where to shop !

akt

Hi,

1. I have decided it makes most sense to pay with a credit card when I can (though I don't select a shop with that requirement) and to use the ATM card to withdraw cash (possible in major Indian cities). Less hassle than tc's, less risky than cash in any currencty. Of course, you should have some cash, probably enough for 1-2 days' needs. Change at the airport what you think you'd need for about 2 days.

2. I don't know Bombay well.

3 (and 5). Wow! Just the question I have been posting. Looks like all Goa experts are on vacation. My friends are leaving in a few days and hope to be in Goa around Sep 1. Only three days there.

Basically one hears that north is better developed and south is more picturesqe. So: north if you are looking for parties, markets, facilities; south for solitude and beauty. However, in low season, north should be less hectic than the impression given by guide books.

My friends had at one point narrowed it down to either Baga (N, Alidia or Ronil) or Colva (S, Loughanos?) or Benaulim (S, Palm Grove?). Hotel suggestions are out of LP and Rough guides, we have no other source. However, the latest I heard they decided to start with one night in Panjim Inn and then check out the beaches themselves!

Let me know what you have found. As nobody else is helping us, maybe we can each other.

4. White/woman/young are more important than being european or pretty by western criteria. This will be true in much of the world, India being nothing special in this regard. Follow common sense in how you dress, where you are alone at what time, in striking conversations that are more than casual and in accepting invitations of any kind.

On the other hand, don't be oversensitive about people simply looking at you or asking questions. Salary, family, why aren't you married yet, why no children, etc., are routine questions in India (you don't have to answer them, but don't misunderstand their intent, just be ready with a polite dodge). However, anything related to sex is not, and that should be a red flag.

Basically, try to distingush what is merely unfamiliar from what seems malicious, but err on the side of safety.

Good luck.

wonderwomanusa

Your friend is much better off using an ATM card to withdraw cash as she needs it -- especially if she's going to Goa and intends to spend a lot of time on the beach,where she will not want to have to take care of a lot of cash.

Hotel rooms are not good places to leave cash and other valuables.