Moving to Udaipur!?

linnmenzel

Hi guys,

I`ve just come back from a month of travelling i India, and all
I can think of is that I need to go back. Very soon. Im a 26 year old norwegian law student. My wish is to go to Udaipur and live there for the last months of my studies(from september-desember 2008)while I finish my masterdegree. I will not be able to work during those months so I will have to save up some money before I go. What do I have to expect to pay for a room? Is it difficult to find accomodation for long term stays? About homestays- how can I get in touch with Indian families?

Im greatful for any response

Linn

nayan

sept to december will be high tourist season for rajasthan.

linnmenzel

right..so the prices will double I guess..but will this make it hard to find an available room for a long-term stay?

machadinha

Rajasthan has a pretty well-developed "paying guest scheme" in certain cities, probably including Udaipur. This is meant for tourists to stay with a family short-term, instead of in a hotel.

You could look into this, it may well be extendable to a couple of months. Try http://www.rajasthantourism.gov.in/ for information, or ask them (and hope they answer).

Note that "paying guest" more commonly refers to (usually) Indians renting a room with a family long-term. This could be another option for you, I don't know how to go about arranging this from abroad though, but look around for it.

If you'll be staying anywhere for as long btw (in hotels I mean, not necessarily with those families), you can expect to arrange a handsome discount no matter what the season I think. You'd normally have to work this out on the ground though, and be willing to bargain for it. Any hotel would probably love you for it -- it just means a guaranteedly rented-out room to them.

Bottom line: I'd just head out there and find something on the ground, can't be very hard. You could just enquire with the local tourist board about staying guest options and stuff, may work out much easier than trying to arrange it online (which is not to say you can't try). I suppose you'll have some idea of hotel prices from your visit; now again, try to arrange a discount for your extended stay. If you make up your mind somewhere along the line, you can always move around (if you've just arranged that discount and immediately move out though, they're obviously not gonna like you for it). It's how friends of mine have lived there for a few months though. Just start out with a hotel, then scout around if you feel like. A furnished apartment or something, those are all among the possibilities.

A tip on staying long-term in a hotel: bring some stuff that makes you feel homey, some favorite posters and books and stuff, buy some local sheets or ornaments to dress up the place, etc. That drab bunker you moved into will have never looked the same I've stayed with one of those friends in a hotel, her place was cosy as hell. I stayed in the same room later; it was in fact a concrete bunker indeed.

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edwardseco

If you can dig out the local colleges and universities the Registrar's may well know of paying guest connections. Highly recommended..

linnmenzel

thanks alot for advices,just the kind of stuff I need to know

anjuli

some hotels also offer long-term staying option, it might help to email them and ask. Besides you can get an idea about the prices.

otherwise, take a hotel room for a week and look around when you are in udaipur.