us dollars to bring or not

rskerrett · Sep 1st, 2009, 22:55

would 3 wheel drivers and taxis take 1 and 5 dollar us currency as payment? i will be in bangalore mysore and chennai

rskerrett · Sep 1st, 2009, 22:58

was just checking

Haylo · Sep 1st, 2009, 22:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by rskerrett

would 3 wheel drivers and taxis take 1 and 5 dollar us currency as payment? i will be in bangalore mysore and chennai

Why would they? The currency of India is the Rupee.

You might get an auto driver who is prepared to take dollars, but I bet that for his trouble, he'd want a whole lot more of them than you'd pay in Rupees.

Get used to thinking in Rupees, you're going to be in a very foreign country, the sooner you get your head round that, the easier your time in India will be.

rskerrett · Sep 1st, 2009, 23:07

Thanks point taken ...who wonts this worthless money anyway i wouldnt take it either......looking forward to my trip 7 weeks in mysore and chennai 1 week to go thanks again

hfot2 · Sep 1st, 2009, 23:11

At many World Heritage sites we've visited (and even some ASI sites) the entry price is listed in Dollars and Rupees - take your choice.

Figure out the rate of exchange and you will sometimes see a savings by using dollars.

Be sure you have the exact amount. For example, in Mandu 2 years ago, the USD2.00 entry worked out to be less than the Rupee charge for admission to the Royal Enclave. But they wouldn't break the $5.00 I offered. After finding a guard in the upper office and negotiating at length with him, I was able to get him to get them to break the 5. It was a matter of principle.

Bring some one dollar bills.

rskerrett · Sep 1st, 2009, 23:14

Thanks for the info.....can i buy vegemite,lipitor or anti biotic in india?

Nick-H · Sep 1st, 2009, 23:22

Sure, auto drivers will take dollars instead of rupees... $50 instead of Rs50!!

edwardseco · Sep 2nd, 2009, 03:18

That last point has the ring of truth in it given the inconvenience of changing the money.

Quote:

At many World Heritage sites we've visited (and even some ASI sites) the entry price is listed in Dollars

I heard this changed when the dollar started dropping in value. Has it returned?

In any case OP money has value, people die for it and sometimes for the lack of it..

Haylo · Sep 2nd, 2009, 03:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

That last point has the ring of truth in it given the inconvenience of changing the money.

The ASI sites in Delhi that I visited recently had the $5 sign covered over with tape, which leads me to suspect that they might not accept US$ in payment any more. Certainly the ASI website now quotes the foreigners fee only in Rs.

The great news is that it's very simple to overcome, there is a currency that is definitely accepted by everyone all over India, you can even get it out of cash machines...

Nick-H · Sep 2nd, 2009, 03:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by edwardseco

That last point has the ring of truth in it given the inconvenience of changing the money.

I have been asked, "pay me in dollars!". The conversation never gets very far, but I do expect the exchange rate would be more or less 1:1!

sarah_evans · Sep 9th, 2009, 14:19

They will surely take dollars but your will pay more than in Rs.
I do not recommend it except it is some kind or unexpected situation or an emergency.

Nick-H · Sep 9th, 2009, 14:33

You will not just pay more, you will pay hugely more!

The whole pay-me-in-dollars thing relies on the customer then thinking in terms of their home economy. It is, essentially, a scam.

AwayFromHome · Sep 9th, 2009, 14:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

You will not just pay more, you will pay hugely more!

The whole pay-me-in-dollars thing relies on the customer then thinking in terms of their home economy. It is, essentially, a scam.

Yep!

As visitors, we thought shelling out $5 was meaningless. To a certain extent, it still is. But, please don't think you're obliged to do so - it is a scam of sorts.

Nick-H · Sep 9th, 2009, 15:02

Shelling out Rs250 ($5) is not meaningless!

Even if it doesn't count as much to the sheller-out.

nedhopkins · Sep 9th, 2009, 16:05

I found ATMs all over India, from Delhi and Varanasi in the north to Chennai and Madurai in the south. Why bring any dollars?

Sep 1st, 2009, 22:55	#1
rskerrett Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: usa Posts: 18	us dollars to bring or not would 3 wheel drivers and taxis take 1 and 5 dollar us currency as payment? i will be in bangalore mysore and chennai

Sep 1st, 2009, 22:58	#2
rskerrett Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: usa Posts: 18	money was just checking

Sep 1st, 2009, 23:07	#4
rskerrett Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: usa Posts: 18	dollars Thanks point taken ...who wonts this worthless money anyway i wouldnt take it either......looking forward to my trip 7 weeks in mysore and chennai 1 week to go thanks again

Sep 1st, 2009, 23:14	#6
rskerrett Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: usa Posts: 18	money Thanks for the info.....can i buy vegemite,lipitor or anti biotic in india?

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

Sep 1st, 2009, 23:11	#5
hfot2 MemberS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 647	At many World Heritage sites we've visited (and even some ASI sites) the entry price is listed in Dollars and Rupees - take your choice. Figure out the rate of exchange and you will sometimes see a savings by using dollars. Be sure you have the exact amount. For example, in Mandu 2 years ago, the USD2.00 entry worked out to be less than the Rupee charge for admission to the Royal Enclave. But they wouldn't break the $5.00 I offered. After finding a guard in the upper office and negotiating at length with him, I was able to get him to get them to break the 5. It was a matter of principle. Bring some one dollar bills.

Sep 1st, 2009, 23:22	#7
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Sure, auto drivers will take dollars instead of rupees... $50 instead of Rs50!!

Sep 9th, 2009, 14:19	#11
sarah_evans Member Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Europe Posts: 3	They will surely take dollars but your will pay more than in Rs. I do not recommend it except it is some kind or unexpected situation or an emergency.

Sep 9th, 2009, 14:33	#12
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	You will not just pay more, you will pay hugely more! The whole pay-me-in-dollars thing relies on the customer then thinking in terms of their home economy. It is, essentially, a scam.

Sep 9th, 2009, 15:02	#14
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,213	Shelling out Rs250 ($5) is not meaningless! Even if it doesn't count as much to the sheller-out.

Sep 9th, 2009, 16:05	#15
nedhopkins Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: California Posts: 268	I found ATMs all over India, from Delhi and Varanasi in the north to Chennai and Madurai in the south. Why bring any dollars?

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Laptop-- to bring or not to bring?	geegollygosh	Electronics in India	2	Jul 8th, 2009 00:54
Rupees to dollars	MeCasa	Chai and Chat	19	Jun 27th, 2006 08:41
Dollars or Sterling?	jollygirl	Chai and Chat	7	May 11th, 2005 23:18
euros or dollars?	ar seizh sant	Kerala	8	Oct 4th, 2004 14:06
T/C Australian Dollars	old india hand	Chai and Chat	11	Jun 27th, 2004 19:43