Anybody get ripped off staying in a dorm?

chad

I have noticed in looking at my Rough Guide to India book that many hotels offer dorm rooms where you can get a bed for less than 100INR per night. I'd like to hear others' experiences in general who have stayed in such accommodation -- positive and/or negative. When I travelled to India before, I always stayed in a single room by myself, but I have no problem sharing space and using community showers/toilets/etc. My main concern/question is whether there usually is a place that's safe to put your stuff in these places. Or do you just lock your luggage with a bike chain to the bed, or what? I won't be carrying much valuable, but still would hate to have a suitcase full of clothes disappear on me. I also would like advice on good dorms that anyone has stayed in for Delhi, Varanasi, Rishikesh, and Vrindavan. (Especially Vrindavan, since I can't seem to find anything about any place offering dorm in Vrindavan through my research thus far). My upcoming trip will be a very long one -- at least 8 months in India -- and I really have to make my money stretch when it comes to accommodation. Thanks.

machadinha

No, I haven't had trouble with it (which doesn't mean it can't happen).

Yes. Others wouldn't. Keep your valuables on you at all times, of course.

Safes may very well be available btw. How well you trust those is then up to you. Keep your valuables on you at all times, etc. I think in Varanasi the popular Shanti Guest House (not all that easily found, and there are copy cats) used to offer dorms, but it's over a decade ago. Don't know about the other places, I don't think it's very common in Delhi nowadays. It is in many other places, even if not advertized many low-end hotels will offer communal arrangements or let you bunk up on the roof or so for half a penny. On a longer trip the relative extra costs of your own room may well be worth your mental equilibrium mind. On a shorter one too for that matter It's handy in metros where accommodation costs can run up (e.g. Mumbai) though. In other places, you may have the dorm more or less to yourself which can be a consideration. They can be fantastically cheap yes.

Basically all of this applies not just to India btw. Be a little wary of other travellers seeking to make their money stretch I guess. Most of them tend to be nice folks like yourself. Not all of them, and it's sometimes hard to tell the difference. You'll run into folks thinking they had a love affair going only to end up with their money and return ticket gone.

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chad

Thanks for your reply, machadinha...
Are you saying others' wouldn't lock their luggage to the bed, so if I were to do that, I'd actually be drawing more attention to my bags than if I just left them, say, on top of my bunk? Of course the passport/ATM card/$$$ will be on my person, but don't want my clothes or Ipod to get stolen, and assume I'll leave clothes and ipod in my luggage case.

How does one go about asking to stay on the roof? Just ask if it is possible, how much, etc? And they will let me use a bunk up there? Awesome!

Because they trusted someone they thought was their new buddy, and fell in love, and then that person ripped them off? Makes one overly obsessive about the money belt, but I guess that's just the way it is.


Anyone else got any good dorm stories, positive or negative. Any specific recommendations for Delhi, Varanasi, Rishikesh, and Vrindavan would be highly appreciated.

70s-80s overlander

Check out what the dorm actually IS versus what a single room actually IS. I remember that my wife and I rented an entire dorm room in Khajuraho years ago, which gave us a lot of space. Somewhere in Afghanistan I rented what I recall as all 16 beds because that was the best looking room. Here in the States I routinely take naps while still carrying loads of electronic gear in my pockets, and when I travel in iffy places [read "dorm rooms in India"] I routinely go to bed or to the shower wearing shorts with "cargo pockets" holding most of my valuables. You can also put a certain amount of stuff in a bag under the pillow-end of the mattress. In a previous post I've preached the virtues of traveling with a zip-top mattress cover into which you can slide yourself and few other things. It certainly helps not to carry much of value in the first place.

**Whether "at home" or "in a foreign country" burglars are most likely to snatch things that easily seen and easily taken. The harder you make it for a person to be tempted or to get away with something, the less likely you will have problems. I'd even go so far as to say that the smaller your travel bag the less likely you will be viewed as having something worth stealing.

machadinha

Excellent advice by Overlander again.

Chad, you're welcome.

Yes, but I wouldn't necessarily see it that way. It's true that there's something funny about locking up your dirty underwear. But, yes, this is always a consideration, in trains and stuff too. I guess just go with what you're comfortable with, the don't-look-tempting advice above is very good (it's one reason why I prefer a large shoulder bag over a backpack even). Sleeping in a bed cover with your valuables on you and in there is also a good idea. Like Overlander indicates, traveling with a dynamite-proof safe is impossible anyway, it's more some first-line prevention against snatch-and-run type stuff (direct robbery of tourists is uncommon in India anyway, it's more about petty theft), then cross your fingers. Traveling alone in Europe I find more difficult, I'll usually look for some reliable-looking fellow passenger and ask them to mind my stuff (then cross your fingers ) Chaining up my pack on Indian trains I mostly found handy because you then don't have to think about it anymore and can just walk around, but of course it doesn't guarantee anything (it usually suffices though). I sometimes wish this were common in Europe.

I guess so yes, or it will become clear once you're there. I've moved around through rooms staying somewhere for longer (wanting some luxury for a few days or so).

For example, it happens yes. I wouldn't get overly paranoid about it, you make a lot of true friends on the way and it's part of the fun, but just keep your wits about you. I've advised solo women travelers to be wary of fellow male travelers before worrying about Indian men, and they've told me it was good advice.

Arun

Is the Salvation Army hostel in Colaba, Bombay still open? They had little safes for valuables. Fun place.

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machadinha

Apparently, yes: Red Shield Guest House, Mumbai, Maharashtra

Lou Wilson

This may be dated but had a very nice unique sweater ripped off in a youth hostel in Germany in October 1970 and saw it on a dude in New Delhi in January of 1971. All I said to him was - nice sweater. I was heading to Goa and had no need for winter clothing.

wonderwomanusa

In Delhi, both Ringo's and Sunny's guest houses have dorms. Both are owned by the same persons. I've stayed at Ringo's; it's cheap, clean and well-managed.

I don't stay in dorms these days, but I did in the early 70s, and never had anyone tamper with my stuff.

If you're planning on sleeping on roofs, take a gallon of DEET with you. I like Cutter's, which comes in "stick" form and doesn't take up much weight or space in my bag. I found it at an online fishing supply site.

chad

Thanks everyone... Are Ringo's and Sunny's in Paharganj?

Shiver me Timbers

Best dorm I stayed in was 'Lalghat Guest House' in Udaipur, a very popular place......the lockers were in the base of the bed, which folded up - you locked them with a pad-lock. Also got a curtain that surrounded the bed, and a reading lamp and shelf.

Not bad for 50 Rupees.

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chad

Cool, Connor M!... btw I found that Sunny's and Ringo's are in CP Janpath area. Thanks so much you all.

machadinha

That's correct yes. Both old backpacker's haunts (esp. Ringo's I think); no idea how they are today.

shmoogadelic108

Im trying to figure out a budget for my trip to India this Nov., and i was wondering if anyone could tell me the average price for a dorm?
thanks!

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chad

According to Rough Guide / Lonely Planet / etc. they range from rupees 50-100 depending on which city and which one, but I haven't seen any listed over 100 per night.