haggling and budgeting

caton

Hi All,

I am lowly brit who is travelling to india for the frist time and although I have a decent budget of around £50 per day per person, all in, I would like to be able to get the best I can for my budget.

I will be spending 2 weeks in Kerala (the north part of our trip is already paid for) and would like to know the best strategies people have for haggling down the price of rooms. I am of course with my English sensibilites rubbish and scared of asking for discounts as british shops and hotels tell you to bugger off and rarely enterain this type of thing! Thank hevens for the internet!

I am travelling with my girlfirend who has never been out of Europe and so it would be nice for us to have decent rooms that we remember for the right reasons......

Any suggestions on great places to stay, prices and how to haggle the costs down much appreciated!!!

machadinha

Some thoughts I left just recently on haggling for esp. rooms: Where to stay in Paharganj...

Some general thoughts I left on my personal expenses just earlier this year: India a price guide!!

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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

caton

Yes I read your price guide, it was very good!

vkochar

Try tripadvisor.com for hotel ideas.

I am recommending Bed & breakfasts in Delhi these days as they are very good.

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Alcohol is living proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy !!!

skk

Have you looked at paki nuttah's blog ?
She also describes, pretty accurately, how the haggling works and I'm cool with going offline in discussing this stuff. Enjoy.

-skk

newislander

I wonder how much you intend to spend on accommodation per day? You will probably be looking at midrange guesthouses/ hotels for that much money. I rarely try to bargain over room rates. I don't think you should expect to do this unless you feel the price is too much which might be difficult for you to judge anyway since you won't have spent much time in india. I suggest you buy a guidebook and or get references from other tourists you meet whilst there to get an indication of what to pay.

In fact, i don't remember needing to bargain for anything much in Kerala. Auto rickshaws/taxis you will have to bargain for. Find out how much the trip you intend should be before starting to negotiate a price. Ask other locals. Or ask someone in your hotel. And talk to other tourists.

Then its about being firm but not getting angry or rude. Just be firm and if you don't get what you want or think is fair walk away. If too many people reject your offer, its probably too low. You will work that out pretty quickly.

You may be able to bargain for accommodation in a town where there is a lot available such as Varkala. There's a lot in Kochi also but if the town is busy with tourists, most rooms will be full anyway.