Travelling to North India

orrange · Jul 21st, 2009, 05:55

Hello,

I'm gonna travel to India this saturday, first time.

Among many concerns regarding this trip, one of the biggest is money.

I will arrive at Delhi and then head up to Leh, stopping in Manali, Darhamsala, Jaisalmer and then problably go down passing Rishikesh and head up to Nepal (Pokhara and Katmandu).

The thing is i don't think i will encounter many atm's using this route.

I was thinking of exchanging like 400Eur upon arriving at Delhi, it's about 550USD. And then, atm more money when i see i'm running low on cash.

A friend of mine did this and it was okay.

Now, my problem is whether 400eur is too much but if i don't cash that amount i will run out of money in a place where there are no atm's available.

Any thoughts fellow travellers?

wonderwomanusa · Jul 21st, 2009, 08:48

Welcome to IndiaMike...hope you have a great visit!

I think you will find plenty of ATMs on your itinerary, and there's no need to change that much money in advance.

I think you difinitely should take some cash with you, to change if you cannot find an ATM (there are always money changers around) but you will get the best rate from the cash machines, and will limit the amount you could lose if you run into some not-very-nice people on the way.

Have a look at other threads in this "money matters" forum.

And watch out for scams.

thirdreel · Jul 21st, 2009, 08:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by orrange

I will arrive at Delhi and then head up to Leh, stopping in Manali, Darhamsala, Jaisalmer and then problably go down passing Rishikesh and head up to Nepal (Pokhara and Katmandu).

The thing is i don't think i will encounter many atm's using this route.

I think you will. I just googled "manali bank" and "dharamsala bank" and found web links saying that there are ATMs in both locations.

Brisso · Jul 21st, 2009, 12:01

Plenty of ATMs in all those locations ...

orrange · Jul 21st, 2009, 18:24

Okay, thanks for all your input.
I browsed through several posts but even the ones who had the atm lists didn't have any in the places i plan on staying so i was getting concerned.

how much do you reckon i should carry with me in advance then? if i spend 10-12USD a day, not counting the days where i'll have to take trains or buses to other locations..

K_J · Jul 21st, 2009, 22:47

Anything less than Rs. 5000 to 7000 (i.e. USD 100-150) is OK unless you intend to do a lot of shopping and provided that all tickets etc. are booked. More importantly keep notes of smaller denomination (getting change for Rs. 500/- or Rs. 1000/- notes can be difficult, especially in smaller cities. Keep plenty of change at all times - you can never have too many Rs. 10 notes on you.

Brisso · Jul 22nd, 2009, 05:29

Yeah, take your larger notes to a bank and change to 50 rupee notes.

orrange · Jul 22nd, 2009, 05:54

Okay, since i don't have anything booked transportation wise, i think i'll carry 200USD and when i get to Leh i'll atm some more, cause then i'll problably head for Rishikesh and then Nepal where it will be more difficult to find atm's.

Or i'll do that in Manali, and that way i won't need as much in advance.

newbie07 · Aug 25th, 2009, 03:43

Hello! Really great site!

I was wondering, if the ATM machines in India accept foreign bank cards (austrian), only carrying the maestro sign, therefore not being VISA or MASTERCARD creditcard, but intended for withdrawal of money here. It´s worked in Europe but then again this is my first major trip in Asia.. wouldn´t like to find myself with no money over there

Will I also be able to book train tickets with maestro only? In Europe I would need a VISA card or something similar.
Thanks for the input!

machadinha · Aug 25th, 2009, 05:46

I have a Dutch debit card that's Maestro-only. Yes, it's accepted there (in ATM's); as with any card, you may have to figure out which bank machines accept it.

Many of those machines are manned (guarded); you can always ask the guard if he can suggest a machine that will work for you.

Mine is not a credit card mind, and so I wouldn't be able to pay with it. Any PIN card schemes or whatever it may be called where you live (electronic wallet, sort of and in short) won't work abroad I don't think, no. Nor will this work for any online transactions. You would need a (accepted) credit card for it.

As already noted, having some cash and/or traveler's cheques on you for emergencies can never hurt.

Jul 21st, 2009, 05:55	#1
orrange Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Porto, Portugal Posts: 6	Travelling to North India Hello, I'm gonna travel to India this saturday, first time. Among many concerns regarding this trip, one of the biggest is money. I will arrive at Delhi and then head up to Leh, stopping in Manali, Darhamsala, Jaisalmer and then problably go down passing Rishikesh and head up to Nepal (Pokhara and Katmandu). The thing is i don't think i will encounter many atm's using this route. I was thinking of exchanging like 400Eur upon arriving at Delhi, it's about 550USD. And then, atm more money when i see i'm running low on cash. A friend of mine did this and it was okay. Now, my problem is whether 400eur is too much but if i don't cash that amount i will run out of money in a place where there are no atm's available. Any thoughts fellow travellers?

Jul 21st, 2009, 08:48	#2
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 4,261	Welcome to IndiaMike...hope you have a great visit! I think you will find plenty of ATMs on your itinerary, and there's no need to change that much money in advance. I think you difinitely should take some cash with you, to change if you cannot find an ATM (there are always money changers around) but you will get the best rate from the cash machines, and will limit the amount you could lose if you run into some not-very-nice people on the way. Have a look at other threads in this "money matters" forum. And watch out for scams. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Aug 25th, 2009, 03:43	#9
newbie07 Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Vienna, Austria Posts: 4	Maestro Hello! Really great site! I was wondering, if the ATM machines in India accept foreign bank cards (austrian), only carrying the maestro sign, therefore not being VISA or MASTERCARD creditcard, but intended for withdrawal of money here. It´s worked in Europe but then again this is my first major trip in Asia.. wouldn´t like to find myself with no money over there Will I also be able to book train tickets with maestro only? In Europe I would need a VISA card or something similar. Thanks for the input!

Aug 25th, 2009, 05:46	#10
machadinha brother my cup is empty member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 14,373	I have a Dutch debit card that's Maestro-only. Yes, it's accepted there (in ATM's); as with any card, you may have to figure out which bank machines accept it. Many of those machines are manned (guarded); you can always ask the guard if he can suggest a machine that will work for you. Mine is not a credit card mind, and so I wouldn't be able to pay with it. Any PIN card schemes or whatever it may be called where you live (electronic wallet, sort of and in short) won't work abroad I don't think, no. Nor will this work for any online transactions. You would need a (accepted) credit card for it. As already noted, having some cash and/or traveler's cheques on you for emergencies can never hurt. __________________ 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

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Jul 21st, 2009, 12:01	#4
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,084	Plenty of ATMs in all those locations ...

Jul 21st, 2009, 18:24	#5
orrange Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Porto, Portugal Posts: 6	Okay, thanks for all your input. I browsed through several posts but even the ones who had the atm lists didn't have any in the places i plan on staying so i was getting concerned. how much do you reckon i should carry with me in advance then? if i spend 10-12USD a day, not counting the days where i'll have to take trains or buses to other locations..

Jul 21st, 2009, 22:47	#6
K_J Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6	Anything less than Rs. 5000 to 7000 (i.e. USD 100-150) is OK unless you intend to do a lot of shopping and provided that all tickets etc. are booked. More importantly keep notes of smaller denomination (getting change for Rs. 500/- or Rs. 1000/- notes can be difficult, especially in smaller cities. Keep plenty of change at all times - you can never have too many Rs. 10 notes on you.

Jul 22nd, 2009, 05:29	#7
Brisso Specialist muddler Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Brisbane Posts: 1,084	Yeah, take your larger notes to a bank and change to 50 rupee notes.

Jul 22nd, 2009, 05:54	#8
orrange Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Porto, Portugal Posts: 6	Okay, since i don't have anything booked transportation wise, i think i'll carry 200USD and when i get to Leh i'll atm some more, cause then i'll problably head for Rishikesh and then Nepal where it will be more difficult to find atm's. Or i'll do that in Manali, and that way i won't need as much in advance.

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