Accommodation in Delhi, Mumbai and Goa?

Hi everyone

I'm planning to go to India (my first time!) in December this year, and think I'd like to start in Delhi, travel down to Mumbai and then to Goa. I'll only be spending a few days in each as I'll be there for 3 weeks. Can anyone recommend any places to stay? I'm female and travelling with another girl, and would like somewhere central, mid-price range in Delhi and Mumbai (easy for sight-seeing etc) and somewhere by the beach in Goa.

Any recommendations, or even travel tips, would be much appreciated.

Thank you!

Bonsai

Hi bonsai,
For actuall hotel info you can take a look at the very good hotel listings provided by IM.
You will see it in the top left of the page!!
For Delhi I always use the Star Paradise but there are other options!
Goa has many nice spots to suit all tastes Candolim for the Spanish costa type holiday Ajuna, Vagator for a look at freaky Goa, Benaulim for a quiter more Goan type holiday, nice food, long beaches pretty relaxed!
Palolem offers a bit of everything but is busy busy busy although there are some other beaches in the area that offer a more relaxed atmosphere with all the facilities Palolem has to offer just up the road!
All these beach resorts offer plenty good affordable accomodation to suit all tastes, try a home stay they can be good fun!!!
Take some time to get away from the beaches. With temples churches wildlife beautiful rivers and lovely forested mountains Goa has more than meets the eye, grab a taxi or better still hire a scooter and explore!!
On the way to Mumbai stop of in Rajasthan ( Jaipur, Kota, Bundi Jodhpur or Mt Abu are just a few places where could stop off) or Madhya Pradesh (Gwalior, Jhansi, Bhopal, Orccha Sanchi)
Perhaps between Mumbai and Goa you could catch the Ajanta or Ellora caves or the hill station at Amboli or indeed some of the many fine forts beaches and temples on the Konkan coast in Maharashtra.
You may want to see the Taj Mahal in Agra, well stop off in Bharatpur 4 hours south of Delhi and 2 hours out of Agra, a bit of Rajasthani life coupled with the magnificent bird park (good base for Fatehpur Sikri as well)
Mumbai I know nothing about so the other folks will have to fill you in there. I'm not even sure if I'd want to see both Mumbai and Delhi in one trip, cities are busy and polluted, but hey thats just me!!
So there you go that's something to chew on!! Don't go overboard with your itinery though, this is a fair bit of traveliing in 3 weeks. Maybe one place in Rajasthan on the way down or the Maharashtra option and maybe Maharashtra or Madhya pradesh on the way back to Delhi.
Oh and get a guide book !!

Happy Traveling

Thanks Cyberhippie! I'm waiting for my Rough Guide book to arrive and will certainly read up on those places you've suggested. I was planning on doing the Taj Mahal as well (just forgot to put that on!).

And thanks for pointing out the hotel link up the top. For some reason I'd looked at most other things but somehow totally missed that! Durh.

Thanks for your help!

Your welcome!!

Hi there.. I see you are planning a three week trip from Delhi-bombay-goa, and seeking safe and mid-range accomadation along the way. First off, i gather you will be visiting other locales en route, speicifcally between Delhi and bombay. I would probably suggest u add a foray into Rajasthan between Delhi and Bombay..then you can proceed to bombay via Udaipur later....
Delhi
Rajasthan, (for example, jaipur, pushkar, jodphur-udaipur)
Bombay
Goa...
Okay, YOU mention seeking mid-range places en route, and i will offer some suggestions..dO note* In INDIA, mid range seriously varies and means differnt things for different people...Ones persons mid-range may be anothers cheap option..
I have written alot about lodging options in Delhi on other posts, (perhaps look through the forum and do a search) as i am a American woman who lives on/off in Delhi for many years, and has and does travel extensively! However, for mid-range, i would suggest seeking a place in one of two neighborhoods, either KAROL BARGH or SUNDAR NAGAR. Karol Bargh is a middle-class residential and market area, only a few KMS from Connaught Place. It has alot of lower-mid range guest houses, but it is not a backpacker ghetto. Also, it is not as noisey, dirty or frantic as PARHAGANJ OR ARAKRASHAN road area..I am not the greatest fan of that area these days, but it serves a good purpose posing good budget places to stay in a central bustling location, hey i mean, u are across the road from the train station.....The funny thing is, many of my dELHI freinds would not ever go to that area, way too sleezy for them, ha ha.. ..Anyways, for budget, Parhgang is the place, for sure!...gotta love India!. Okay, back to mid-range, another area i like, are the lovely guest houses of Sundar NAGAR, a very upscale, clean and green New Delhi residential neighborhood. This would be a good option for female travelers...There are about 5/6 guest houses in this area, including Sheravani Fort view, Jukasco, La Sangrita, etc..There are also a few mid-range hotels scattered around the city, but nothing to write home about...Some nicer options where you can sometimes get a good deal include the PARK on parliment street and the Oberoi Maidens near old delhi, and even the Intercontinental on CONNAUGHT PLACE....aGAIN, depends on your definition of mid-range and deal!..as i say, feel free to drop me a note about delhi..happy to help.
bOMBAY/MUMBAI!..Mujhe pasand hai! Yes, i love bombay as far as far as InDIAN cities go, and yes, that city sure has energy!...well, i would suggest you stay in the very colorful, lively and also historic Colaba area of downtown..For a Landmark*, this is located near the gateway of India, and u will also find the ultra glam Taj MAHAL INTERCONTinental hotel!. A royal splurge..In the Colaba area the are loads of cheap and mid-range places, but do note that bombay is a expesnive city!..some of my mid-range favorites include the Godwin, Shellys, Suba Palace, and the noisey but well located Causeway...if you can pay a bit more, there is the old Fariayas HOTEL, which even has a roof pool..This area, Colaba, great shopping,resturants, nightlife and alot of street life!!
I will not go into mid-range options for Rajasthan, as the region is too fast, and do not know your plans, but feel free to ask me any questions about the region and i will suggest.
Okay, about Goa..Well, cYBERHIPPIE has given you a run-down, so really, it depends on what type of beach place-experince you are seeking, more sedate, hip, relaxing, luxurious, party--filled, etc, etc, has all the spectrum. I have been quite a few times to goa over the years, and although i enjoy a few days on the beach here or there anywhere in the world, it is not my favorite region in INDIA, but will not go into a lengthy chat about it, as there have been plenty of posts on Goa.. Anyways, plenty of people love it, continue to do, and it is certainly worth checking out if ya want to combine a slice of beach life into your trip and you like beach party scenes, or relaxing days, good eats, drinking, swimming, sun-tanning, etc..etc..,Well, come to think of it, it is not that bad, ha ha!!.. . Of course, another beach filled state i do prefer for its variety would be KERALA, but i gather u do not ahve enough time to travel so far in your time-frame..
OKAY, were to stay IN gOA???, well, most places like in Anjuna, vagator, Arambol, Paolem, u really need just to go, SHOW UP, wing it and seek a place out on site..It is hard to book these small places beforhand, and things get seriously tight during season!Decemberr/january. sometimes u have to wait a day or two or three to get in to your favorite..hOWEVER, if ya want to book ahead, which might be suggested during the peak Dec/jan season and if ya want something mid-range/nice, i might suggest u try Benulim, Candolim or Baga beach, as you can find more mid-range places at these locales and hopefully secure them beforhand..Really, it depends on the type of place, experince, scene you are seeking..Note*If ya stay in Baga/candolim, U are not so far from he northern beaches/parties and also, very intersting Saturday night market nearbye.. Also, alot of nightlife options, plus you will get a heady mix of foreign tourists and Indian tourists in the more mid-range places..
OKAY, happy travels, and feel free to drop me a line if ya have some questions, concerns, or would like some help.