is it allowed for an unmarried couple to stay in an hotel room?

justatraveller_kundu

Guys i am not a very ardent traveler, so i don't know the rule of tourism in India.
Recently i am planning a small one day trip with my girl friend, to Mayapur, which is a local tourist spot near Kolkata, west bengal. as for the need of the journey, we might have to rent a room at a hotel for a few hours to refresh. so is it legal if we rent one room for both of us, just for a couple of hours, or do we have to rent separate rooms? i mean is it legal in India if an unmarried couple hires a room in a hotel? if yes then what are the necessary documents that we should be carrying, to avoid trouble.
i will be waiting for your replies....

edwardseco

I doubt anybody will notice unless you make a point of hiring it by the hour..

justatraveller_kundu

thanks man that was fast reply, but even if it is not for an hour, say it is for a night, is it illegal??
i mean is it illegal for an unmarried couple to share a room in a hotel?? or or do they always have to take different rooms??

skk

Booking a room for several hours to "freshen up" ? I'd heard of "holiday in Goa" but this ? I'm trying hard to keep a straight face. Ignore that, please.

My wife and I keep our own last names and book and register in that fashion, and have no kids in tow, so, just to be clear, it looks like we are unmarried doesn't it ? ( and unlike Harold and Hilda from "Ever Decreasing Circle, an old Brit comedy series, we don't dress alike and haven't grown to look alike either ).

We've never had any problems in hotels in India, in several states, with different religious managements and room rates, high and low, over the last 25 years. But who knows, your local mileage may vary. Doubt it though.

We do usually book overnight though.

-skk

robotvoice

No problem, in multiple occupancy rooms they don't seem to care what the guests relation is.

On a side note, some hotels might frown if you were a single occupant having a member of the opposite sex stay over 'for the night'. I think India on the whole is a rather conservative country and some western dating practices might be taken as a little, ahem, loose.

machadinha

The question gets asked quite a lot on this site, so you could just search around for it.

The basic answer and consensus and my experience seems to be that no, no one could care less, and they'll normally just be interested in renting out that room. But... one can always run into a funny hotel owner I guess.

Having someone over for the night, yes, that might be a different thing, and depending on the keeper's tolerance no doubt. And all of this could get more complicated still if one were Indian and the other wasn't, and so on and so forth.

But normally: No, I shared rooms with all and sundry there, was never an issue nor did it even raise any eyebrows. Come to think of it: Spent a short week with a lady friend (not: girlfriend) of mine in a hotel in Paharganj who was staying there long-term, they never charged us extra for it even.

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edwardseco

The OP may be innocent enough to have missed the implication to the "entertainment" trade. Don't ask for just a few hours. Check in for the night regardless of stay. 'Course when I was young there were time times when I needed such. But, that was a long time ago..

machadinha

Sure. On the other hand, I've known hotels with just that remarkably high overturn of rooms indeed (& the according constant noise in the hallways, which is likely as much as you'll ever notice of it. It's no real bother, just doors opening and closing all the time, and high-spirited people chatting away some.)

Not too many in India, I agree. Perhaps more so in that way-bottom-bracket that even you & I let alone the guidebooks will have trouble to find.

camelgirl

The OP seems concerned with "legality" and special paperwork required.

No, it isn't illegal. Just don't make a big deal about it or pretend you are married if it makes you more comfortable!

Don't really understand the "few hours to refresh." If you are not planning to spend an overnight, you shouldn't bother with getting a hotel at all. A day trip is a day trip! If you need to relax (unless I'm being a completely naive knucklehead here), find a nice hotel lobby to sit in & use their toilets to wash your face to freshen up! We always go into luxury hotel lobbies to relax & no one ever bothers us.

To check in overnight we just give our passports--don't know what you need if you live in India to check into a hotel. I have a different surname name than my husband & no problem.

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machadinha

Someone mentioned using a hotel room for a few hours (nudge, nudge). Yes, this happens, although again I can't say I ran into it very much in India. (In fact I think I remember exactly one such place, and this was indeed rock-bottom, in a place popular with honeymooners but hence with young non-married couples as well. Prostitution probably played a far lesser role in it.)

So someone else made a joke about wanting to freshen up there for a bit.

That's it I think, again, it's normally really not any sort of problem.

Some people here report on it getting possibly more tricky with interracial affairs involving one party being Indian though. Probably just well-meant to protect the perceived "lesser" party anyway. But no doubt a nuisance if you're in that situation. Just stay calm and kind I guess, is a good approach to get you by in most situations.

singsub

its possible to refresh in the open too, if no hotel allows you in. me, two guys and a girl had no problems "refreshing" tho for a night in Mandarmoni.

machadinha

That's really mighty cool of you, Sing. Wow. Gee.

(You don't mean to say you actually did it, did you? Or should I say, did it?)

nomad

few times in budget hotels, i have been asked to mention that we are married and sign, and once denied entry because my wife does not use mangalsutra, sindoor etc (got a lecture on indian culture also).

so its possible that someone may object and refuse to give you room. but dont worry, just move to next hotel. it shouldn't be their concern how you use the room but "management reserves the right refuse or grant addimmison". :-D

i know certain areas in bombay where hotels quote hourly rate and dont insist on mangalsutra.

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vandy

Conservative Population Too !!!!

I Pity the Poor Stork(S) delivering all those babies.


vandy

Aishah

Mod Note: I have moved this thread from Indian Travel Partners to Lodging and Hotels in India. Whilst OP is not asking 'for' a place he is asking 'about' hotels.

Justatraveller - as mentioned before the question has many times been asked. The general consensus is just act as if you are married, you sign the register, don't even speak about your situation, just be normal. Usually no one even asks if you are married, most assume you are. And if you strike a problem, there will be another place who will take you, I'm sure.

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