European Hotel Rates?

Curryking · Jan 26th, 2008, 02:06

I plan to travel around Southern India in a years time starting from Trivandrum, then trains to Cochin, Bangaloor, Hyderabad and end up in Chennai. Plan to travel alone for 6 monts and am really looking forward to it although a little nervous. A year ago I spent 2 months working on an offshore project in Chennai so am used to the culture to some extent.

As I will be in India for 6 months, I need to keep accommodation costs down to hopefully 500+ rps per night to stay in budget. My question is that i've been told that some hotels charge European rates to European customers and not local rates and that is a worry to me considering my cost restraints. Is this true, if so would I have a problem finding accommodation to fit my budget.

This is my first ever post so please be kind to me if this has been posted before

machadinha · Jan 26th, 2008, 02:14

I'd be hoping to travel there on a low budget today all included at Rs. 600-800 per day.

If that is realistic others can tell. I might find it works out cheaper; or way more expensive.

Other than that, I find the question too vague. European rates vary widely too. (But that's not a critique, and welcome to IndiaMike

)

Remember and it's been brought up on other threads again recently too: What you find on the web will not be all there is, will likely be overpriced, etc.

Anyway don't let me give you the illusion you can live there off nothing; as said, let others fill it in. Did your Chennai stint not give you some insights to this?

Curryking · Jan 26th, 2008, 02:29

My Stay in Chennai was prepaid for by my employer at a company residency and didn't get much time to find out the costs of budget hotels. I did visit some lovely places though like Mamalampuram and Ponducherri.

wonderwomanusa · Jan 26th, 2008, 05:02

You might want to pick up a copy of a guidebook (I like Lonely Planet) and take note of the prices of the various hotels in the places you plan to visit. They will not be accurate, but might give you an idea of what you're getting into at that low rate.

The hotels I found for less than Rs500 a couple of years ago were either in small towns or had shared bath & toilet facilities, or were what I call "Hindu warehouses": small plain rooms with attached bath, but no actual shower -- just a bucket and a pitcher for bathing. These are usually clean, not always very comfy, but how much time do you spend in your room, anyway?

Curryking · Feb 11th, 2008, 03:38

from what i read I can get a reasonable room for about rs 800 even in the bigs cities which is the kind of budget room i am after. My question is am I likely to get charge more than this for being a westerner as I know this can happen and if so how common is it?

Has anyone had a problem with hotels asking for more than the going rate for local Indian people. I will be in India for 6 months and will be in serious financial trouble if this is true and can't get a room for the price to fit my budget.

machadinha · Feb 11th, 2008, 05:04

Don't worry. Yes, you may be paying more than a local would, and if so only sometimes, just don't pay it attention. Advertized room rates you run into will probably refer to foreign tourists, not others. A least I've never had it otherwise.

Hotels need a permission to accommodate foreigners. So you may hear of rock-bottom cheapies that have you envious but that you wouldn't be allowed to stay in anyway. (Which is not to imply every hotel that doesn't have such a permit will be a fleapit, of course.)

Most of all: Don't fret, just go and enjoy

Not everyone out there is out to fleece you. Just keep half an eye open. But simply put: If you find a room advertized for Rs. 800, it won't suddenly be double just because you're a Westerner. What you may of course run into is those advertized prices are no longer correct, this comes with the business, anywhere in the world. But rest assured all visitors in that case will be equally "ripped off" (and I say this with a wink, as it's not seldom an expression among travelers for gee whiz prices have gone up since that book was published or that website was last updated. Not every price increase is a rip-off, of course. Likewise, service goes up and down all the time, etc. It doesn't mean it's done just to spite you alone.)

ps I've not been for a while but I reckon Rs. 800 for a room should see you by just fine. Could be a little more in the major cities, although I think it would be ample and for more than just a dump; could be quite a bit less in smaller places.

Oh and as a:

Moderator note: All members are kindly requested to read the site's Forum Rules on multiple posting, which is not allowed, as it helps no one. So your two near-identical queries on the subject have now been merged into this one. Thanks.

Jan 26th, 2008, 02:06	#1
Curryking Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwich UK Posts: 3	European Hotel Rates? I plan to travel around Southern India in a years time starting from Trivandrum, then trains to Cochin, Bangaloor, Hyderabad and end up in Chennai. Plan to travel alone for 6 monts and am really looking forward to it although a little nervous. A year ago I spent 2 months working on an offshore project in Chennai so am used to the culture to some extent. As I will be in India for 6 months, I need to keep accommodation costs down to hopefully 500+ rps per night to stay in budget. My question is that i've been told that some hotels charge European rates to European customers and not local rates and that is a worry to me considering my cost restraints. Is this true, if so would I have a problem finding accommodation to fit my budget. This is my first ever post so please be kind to me if this has been posted before Last edited by machadinha : Feb 11th, 2008 at 05:11. Reason: merged threads

Jan 26th, 2008, 02:14	#2
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,587	I'd be hoping to travel there on a low budget today all included at Rs. 600-800 per day. If that is realistic others can tell. I might find it works out cheaper; or way more expensive. Other than that, I find the question too vague. European rates vary widely too. (But that's not a critique, and welcome to IndiaMike ) Remember and it's been brought up on other threads again recently too: What you find on the web will not be all there is, will likely be overpriced, etc. Anyway don't let me give you the illusion you can live there off nothing; as said, let others fill it in. Did your Chennai stint not give you some insights to this? __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Feb 11th, 2008, 03:38	#5
Curryking Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwich UK Posts: 3	western room rates from what i read I can get a reasonable room for about rs 800 even in the bigs cities which is the kind of budget room i am after. My question is am I likely to get charge more than this for being a westerner as I know this can happen and if so how common is it? Has anyone had a problem with hotels asking for more than the going rate for local Indian people. I will be in India for 6 months and will be in serious financial trouble if this is true and can't get a room for the price to fit my budget. Last edited by machadinha : Feb 11th, 2008 at 05:11. Reason: merged threads

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Jan 26th, 2008, 02:29	#3
Curryking Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Norwich UK Posts: 3	My Stay in Chennai was prepaid for by my employer at a company residency and didn't get much time to find out the costs of budget hotels. I did visit some lovely places though like Mamalampuram and Ponducherri.

Jan 26th, 2008, 05:02	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,534	You might want to pick up a copy of a guidebook (I like Lonely Planet) and take note of the prices of the various hotels in the places you plan to visit. They will not be accurate, but might give you an idea of what you're getting into at that low rate. The hotels I found for less than Rs500 a couple of years ago were either in small towns or had shared bath & toilet facilities, or were what I call "Hindu warehouses": small plain rooms with attached bath, but no actual shower -- just a bucket and a pitcher for bathing. These are usually clean, not always very comfy, but how much time do you spend in your room, anyway?

Feb 11th, 2008, 05:04	#6
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,587	Don't worry. Yes, you may be paying more than a local would, and if so only sometimes, just don't pay it attention. Advertized room rates you run into will probably refer to foreign tourists, not others. A least I've never had it otherwise. Hotels need a permission to accommodate foreigners. So you may hear of rock-bottom cheapies that have you envious but that you wouldn't be allowed to stay in anyway. (Which is not to imply every hotel that doesn't have such a permit will be a fleapit, of course.) Most of all: Don't fret, just go and enjoy Not everyone out there is out to fleece you. Just keep half an eye open. But simply put: If you find a room advertized for Rs. 800, it won't suddenly be double just because you're a Westerner. What you may of course run into is those advertized prices are no longer correct, this comes with the business, anywhere in the world. But rest assured all visitors in that case will be equally "ripped off" (and I say this with a wink, as it's not seldom an expression among travelers for gee whiz prices have gone up since that book was published or that website was last updated. Not every price increase is a rip-off, of course. Likewise, service goes up and down all the time, etc. It doesn't mean it's done just to spite you alone.) ps I've not been for a while but I reckon Rs. 800 for a room should see you by just fine. Could be a little more in the major cities, although I think it would be ample and for more than just a dump; could be quite a bit less in smaller places. Oh and as a: Moderator note: All members are kindly requested to read the site's Forum Rules on multiple posting, which is not allowed, as it helps no one. So your two near-identical queries on the subject have now been merged into this one. Thanks.

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