Never made a hotel reservation in my life!

cpfreeatlast

Well thanks to all at IM you have set my mind a rest, I feel reassured I can go on my way with no reservations on how I be and travel.

Ad Hoc is one nostril, from the nose I follow, the other nostril is reserved for self-belief with a wiff of courage.

I hope my chess board will make my journey's more enjoyable, nothing beats playing a game when you might not be able to speak the other persons language. All you both need is to know the rules and a table to play it on (could be a little difficult in the unreserved carriage!)

Joibanglaforevu

You're probably going to have a few problems and unpleasantries, but if you (sounding like you are_) willing to take that in stride, then you'll be just fine.

I stayed in India for 4 months my first time, was on a study venture. They had me in a room in a hostel with an Indian roommate (who i didn't know) who was snoring all night long and I couldn't sleep. I had just been awake for 48 hrs flying into Bangalore, through Bombay. I didn't have a map, or know what I was doing ,but in fatigued desperation I got in an auto and told the driver "Hotel!" and off I went...

I wish I remembered the name of the place. It had about ten floors, cost about rs450, I had a room on an upper floor, and had a balcony, where I stepped out at sunset, looking out across Bangalore.. and listening to the horns of traffic beeping below, all into the night. I remember I could see a dome not far away, which was possibly the Parliament building. I was now in the middle of a scene I had only dreamed about from magazines and books about India. I slept soundly that night, and it's still to this day one of the best days in travel I've ever had in my life. It was 8 years ago.

For this trip I'm taking next month, I've made some reservations (for Bombay, because it's Bombay) but mostly will rely on some maps where hotels are marked, and I'll just walk in and hope for the best. If you're looking for the local flavor, budget experience, I find telling the auto driver "Indian hotel" works pretty well, they know what you mean by that!

ananda2193

Reservations are for tourists!

Not to be a snob, but I've never in all my years of traveling and the many countries I've visited have made pre-arranged reservations. And I always found a room. Sometimes out of my budget, but the next day you can always move.

But if your going to be somewhere where theres something popular going on, e.g. Pushkar Camel Fair, then I would think reservations are highly recommended.

It depends, I guess.