Prices in new Lonely Planet

Shikari

I'm going back to India for the first time in 5 years and have just bought the new 11th edition Lonely Planet India. I've been to India a number of times before but reading this book it seems that the price of accomodation has increased a lot. Is this true or has the Lonely Planet gone upmarket?

thirdreel

I think inflation is a natural thing, particularly as more travelers come to India. I traveled with the 2003 edition, and some of the prices were outdated--perhaps they were already outdated when it was published, and the changes in the latest edition were updates they should have made long ago.

Nick-H

Whether inflation is natural or not is a matter for the economists to argue ---but it is certainly higher in India than UK.

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cyberhippie

Yeah things are changing and to be honest not before time, we can't expect India to remain a rock bottom price destination for ever!
150 Rps rooms are becoming 250Rps rooms, a 15 rps thali is becoming 25 rupees, chai is coomonly 4Rps instead of 2, rickshaws a little more expensive as are taxis.
All these changes are more marked in the tourist destinations as described in the LP, due mainly to a burgeoning tourist industry creating more demand.
Remember in all this our currencies have mostly done well against the Rupee over the past 5 years and India is seeing increase in the likes of fuel prices and commodities like rice, so sooner or later price increases were inevetiable.
Bargains still abound, you just have to look harder especially in the more touristed areas, despite these natural price rises India remains a very cheap destination!

Jorge Reverter

Hi Shikari,

Inflation in India is around 3.5 percent. In the past years has always moved on this level. So, prices have not gone up as LP says.

-m2-

He's referring to the price of accommodations listed in LP -- on top of inflation and a general increase in tourism which affects demand, there is 'the LP effect'. After a hotel or restaurant is recommended, it becomes more popular and management can raise prices more easily.

Here's an illustration of the LP effect that Jorge and cyberhippie can relate to -- it is a description of Palolem from the '96 LP

"In the far south of Goa, at PALOLEM, is an impossibly beautiful palm-fringed cove of white sand that is becoming a popular spot for day-trippers from Colva and Cavelossim. There's only one hotel to stay in at Palolem, although it's possible to rent rooms in villagers' houses by asking at the restaurants lining the beach. The Palolem Beach Resort is a low-key affair with basic doubles at Rs 150, and tents (better, since they catch the breeze) for Rp 90.....There are only two buses a day from Margao to Palolem..."

GoanCanuck

Prices of hotels, cabs, restaurant food etc are not included in the inflation rate which is measured by the increase/decrease of a predetermined basket of essential commodities. In Goa for example the hotel prices have increased by 20% in one year!