$17/day + travel manageable?

UsmanSalahuddin · May 25th, 2005, 10:30

Does anyone know if this tight budget of $17/day will still allow me to travel? I'm hoping I can see all of India in the two months I'm there on this budget. Please let me know of any tips you may have. Thanks!

~Usman

Vadim Chiline · May 25th, 2005, 10:34

Yes, if you really tighten your belt, I think it's doable... if you share a room with somebody, it can get really cheap. Also, if you stick to cheap food... that too. Certain sites might cost you lots, like the Taj Mahal, will make you overbudget ($25 US a visit).

I did India for 1 month at around $600-700 Canadian, which turns out to be around $20-24/day, but shared accomodations with a friend the entire time. This is what substantially reduced my costs.

I did take a plane, from near Darjeeling to Delhi to hurry myself back to the office... so, that set me back $180 US.... if you have time, you can take the cheap transport instead... so that shouldn't apply.

Hope this helps,

Vadim

beach · May 25th, 2005, 11:01

Travel by sleeper class (II class) train; A combination of cheap and expensive (less of big cities); Night travel by train sleeper (this would save you the cost of accomodation also time ); Stck to basic decent food places (with occassional treats); stay longer at cheaper locations; ....Also avoid the extravaganzas like luxury rooms, expensive tours etc.....If you manage smartly, you would be oK with $17 a day, a bit tight though.

welcome to India

UsmanSalahuddin · May 25th, 2005, 11:15

Thanks for the help... I need dough!!

cyberhippie · May 25th, 2005, 11:17

This is very doable! Hotels for around the 250 rupee mark are still easy to find anyhwere in India and eating at meals places with only the occasional tourist restaurant will keep your costs down!
For a break down of what things cost see here

Costs

Or here!

Costs

UsmanSalahuddin · May 25th, 2005, 11:24

Great, thanks. Are there any two or three week opportunities to teach and get paid a little $$$? I'll be in India for two months and don't mind setting up camp somewhere for awhile. Or, is there still a demand for people to help clean up the tsunami mess? Anything I can do to help around India?!!

Usman

camelgirl · May 26th, 2005, 05:47

You will probably find that you will spend less after you are there a couple of weeks. You will meet other people, get good tips, slow down and get your travel rythm.

I think you should not cheap-up when you get to an expensive tourist attraction like the Taj Mahal. They raised the prices really high a couple of years ago for tourists and I actually met a couple at the ticket booth who refused to pay and so missed seeing the Taj. If you think about that, it's pretty nuts to come that far and miss it on principal--the principal being it wasn't fair. I agreed it wasn't fair (museums and monuments certainly only have one price for everyone in most parts of the world!) but I'm sure I have wasted more money on a meal at home and missing India's treasures--and they are totally amazing and awesome and should NOT be missed--was never a consideration.

Have fun!! Oh, if you want a cheap local tour to get oriented, there are local bus tours in most cities that are dirt cheap, a couple of hours long, and give you a good overview of where you are. We always take them and we are usually one of the few foreigners aboard as they are geared to Indian tourists--who are great travelers in their own country.

andygoodyear · May 26th, 2005, 07:18

I have read lots of threads on people surviving on about 10 USD dollars a day so wouldnt worry. personally my budget will be 15USD at the most

UsmanSalahuddin · May 26th, 2005, 09:25

Thank you all for the feedback. As I am a Pakistani-American, I don't feel the food will be much of a problem. I intend to eat with the locals or as cheaply as possible. Thanks again for all the help!

May 25th, 2005, 10:30	#1
UsmanSalahuddin Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Columbia, SC USA Posts: 10	$17/day + travel manageable? Does anyone know if this tight budget of $17/day will still allow me to travel? I'm hoping I can see all of India in the two months I'm there on this budget. Please let me know of any tips you may have. Thanks! ~Usman

May 25th, 2005, 10:34	#2
Vadim Chiline Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 59	Yes, if you really tighten your belt, I think it's doable... if you share a room with somebody, it can get really cheap. Also, if you stick to cheap food... that too. Certain sites might cost you lots, like the Taj Mahal, will make you overbudget ($25 US a visit). I did India for 1 month at around $600-700 Canadian, which turns out to be around $20-24/day, but shared accomodations with a friend the entire time. This is what substantially reduced my costs. I did take a plane, from near Darjeeling to Delhi to hurry myself back to the office... so, that set me back $180 US.... if you have time, you can take the cheap transport instead... so that shouldn't apply. Hope this helps, Vadim __________________ www.vadimchiline.com

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May 25th, 2005, 11:01	#3
beach Lost in translation Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: India ! Posts: 2,234	Travel by sleeper class (II class) train; A combination of cheap and expensive (less of big cities); Night travel by train sleeper (this would save you the cost of accomodation also time ); Stck to basic decent food places (with occassional treats); stay longer at cheaper locations; ....Also avoid the extravaganzas like luxury rooms, expensive tours etc.....If you manage smartly, you would be oK with $17 a day, a bit tight though. welcome to India

May 25th, 2005, 11:15	#4
UsmanSalahuddin Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Columbia, SC USA Posts: 10	Thanks for the help... I need dough!!

May 25th, 2005, 11:17	#5
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	This is very doable! Hotels for around the 250 rupee mark are still easy to find anyhwere in India and eating at meals places with only the occasional tourist restaurant will keep your costs down! For a break down of what things cost see here Costs Or here! Costs

May 25th, 2005, 11:24	#6
UsmanSalahuddin Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Columbia, SC USA Posts: 10	Great, thanks. Are there any two or three week opportunities to teach and get paid a little $$$? I'll be in India for two months and don't mind setting up camp somewhere for awhile. Or, is there still a demand for people to help clean up the tsunami mess? Anything I can do to help around India?!! Usman

May 26th, 2005, 05:47	#7
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,082	You will probably find that you will spend less after you are there a couple of weeks. You will meet other people, get good tips, slow down and get your travel rythm. I think you should not cheap-up when you get to an expensive tourist attraction like the Taj Mahal. They raised the prices really high a couple of years ago for tourists and I actually met a couple at the ticket booth who refused to pay and so missed seeing the Taj. If you think about that, it's pretty nuts to come that far and miss it on principal--the principal being it wasn't fair. I agreed it wasn't fair (museums and monuments certainly only have one price for everyone in most parts of the world!) but I'm sure I have wasted more money on a meal at home and missing India's treasures--and they are totally amazing and awesome and should NOT be missed--was never a consideration. Have fun!! Oh, if you want a cheap local tour to get oriented, there are local bus tours in most cities that are dirt cheap, a couple of hours long, and give you a good overview of where you are. We always take them and we are usually one of the few foreigners aboard as they are geared to Indian tourists--who are great travelers in their own country.

May 26th, 2005, 07:18	#8
andygoodyear Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London, UK Posts: 275	I have read lots of threads on people surviving on about 10 USD dollars a day so wouldnt worry. personally my budget will be 15USD at the most

May 26th, 2005, 09:25	#9
UsmanSalahuddin Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Columbia, SC USA Posts: 10	Thank you all for the feedback. As I am a Pakistani-American, I don't feel the food will be much of a problem. I intend to eat with the locals or as cheaply as possible. Thanks again for all the help!

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