4 Month Stay. £300 per month, PLZ HELP!!!!

scotsman · Oct 7th, 2006, 20:48

Hi I am leaving from heathrow - delhi on the 30th october, I am going up to himachal pradesh first and the parvati and kullu valleys. I am taking £1200 for the 4 months (return on march 1rst) so it works out £300 a month

How is the best/safest way to deal with this?

I was going to take £100 ish out whenever I need it but what are the ATM's like in the kullu/parvati valleys? Im led to believe they are far more infrequent than "non rural" india, and there is possibly only some in manali? Not sure if this is fact or not.

So is it better to take out a months supply before I get up to rural north (ie £300) or is this a bit stupid incase i lose it etc..... i mean thats like 24,000 rupees quite alot to have on me.

I was at the bank today asking about it, and was told I can take money out wherever there is a machine.. So the Indian Machines will take my Bank of Scotland card just like they do here? i just put it in and type my pin? Im worried i get there and my card is useless!

I really need to know though, as its like 3 weeks I go, what is the best way of me getting the dosh especially up in the north where banks are going to be non existant and cash machines few and far between. Should I take my £300 (1 months supply!) streight out, i just think its alot of money to be on me at once.

Well.......... CHEERS if you can offer any assistance on this matter for me,

Kieran

IndeGuru · Oct 7th, 2006, 21:11

If i were you i would take full months expenses at one go, northern parts are rural & there are v slim chances that you would find an ATM M/c, northern parts are relatively safe & if you are careful you should not face any problems of any sort, you can carry varied denominaiton of currency so that its not a problme to carry on person.

On other note, have been there & done that, have carried about 12-15,000 INR with me, spread across car's glove and my wallet, had no issues,

Good Luck,

ananda2193 · Oct 7th, 2006, 22:53

I alway's take travelers checks when I travel. In $100 checks. If their stolen you get the money back, and most banks cash them. Though I've never had money stolen (knock on wood).I always wear a money belt in my pants.

lez · Oct 9th, 2006, 00:18

please let us know how you will live on £300/month?

lez

Wazen · Oct 9th, 2006, 17:17

There are money changers who take major credit/debit cards in Kasol village, Parvati Valley. All major destinations up there should have them, like Manali, etc...

I carried $1,000usd during 5 months in India.
Had a large nylon pouch with a FAT chain looped around my belt.
No one could jack it at all, unless they knock me out. In india you would worry more about sly thief, as the thought of being mugged seems highly unlikely.

Traveler checks are good options aswell. But ALWAYS carry a spare $100 bill.

You probably aint gona need that much cash for the north, unless your smoking up a storm and drinking 2+ beers a day.
The rooms up in Parvati are cheap, like 50-100rs cheap.

kullukid · Oct 9th, 2006, 18:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by lez

please let us know how you will live on £300/month?

lez

What is problem?

I think Scotsman will really struggle to spend half this amount in a month in Parvati, even if it's party party everynight. KK

cyberhippie · Oct 9th, 2006, 19:56

First up is your ATM/Debit card Cirrus enabled, if so there are heaps of banks who's ATMs are linked to the Cirrus network including the State Bank Of India!!

Secondly The money saved against the hassle of walking all over town to find an ATM isn't always worth is and sometimes the network goes down in rural Banks, leaving the ATM useless until the network is restored, plus ALL banks aren't signed upto the network (for instance The State Bank Of India is connected to the Cirrus network but not all their ATMs have this function!!)

All in all I would go for TCs, you can buy them online commission free, and in my experience they are easy to cash, as there are little money changers all over the place that can cash them for you!!

Wazen is of course right, many of these money changers WILL give cash on a card but beware the charges for this can be huge!!

So grab yourself some TCs and use the ATM card where you find a suitable machine to top up your funds, easy peasy!!

Oct 7th, 2006, 20:48	#1
scotsman Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: scotland Posts: 54	4 Month Stay. £300 per month, PLZ HELP!!!! Hi I am leaving from heathrow - delhi on the 30th october, I am going up to himachal pradesh first and the parvati and kullu valleys. I am taking £1200 for the 4 months (return on march 1rst) so it works out £300 a month How is the best/safest way to deal with this? I was going to take £100 ish out whenever I need it but what are the ATM's like in the kullu/parvati valleys? Im led to believe they are far more infrequent than "non rural" india, and there is possibly only some in manali? Not sure if this is fact or not. So is it better to take out a months supply before I get up to rural north (ie £300) or is this a bit stupid incase i lose it etc..... i mean thats like 24,000 rupees quite alot to have on me. I was at the bank today asking about it, and was told I can take money out wherever there is a machine.. So the Indian Machines will take my Bank of Scotland card just like they do here? i just put it in and type my pin? Im worried i get there and my card is useless! I really need to know though, as its like 3 weeks I go, what is the best way of me getting the dosh especially up in the north where banks are going to be non existant and cash machines few and far between. Should I take my £300 (1 months supply!) streight out, i just think its alot of money to be on me at once. Well.......... CHEERS if you can offer any assistance on this matter for me, Kieran

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Oct 7th, 2006, 21:11	#2
IndeGuru Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: New Delhi- national capital region Posts: 239	If i were you i would take full months expenses at one go, northern parts are rural & there are v slim chances that you would find an ATM M/c, northern parts are relatively safe & if you are careful you should not face any problems of any sort, you can carry varied denominaiton of currency so that its not a problme to carry on person. On other note, have been there & done that, have carried about 12-15,000 INR with me, spread across car's glove and my wallet, had no issues, Good Luck,

Oct 7th, 2006, 22:53	#3
ananda2193 Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: you essay Posts: 1,582	I alway's take travelers checks when I travel. In $100 checks. If their stolen you get the money back, and most banks cash them. Though I've never had money stolen (knock on wood).I always wear a money belt in my pants.

Oct 9th, 2006, 00:18	#4
lez Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: GOA Posts: 329	please let us know how you will live on £300/month? lez

Oct 9th, 2006, 17:17	#5
Wazen Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Wahiawa, Hawaii Posts: 264	There are money changers who take major credit/debit cards in Kasol village, Parvati Valley. All major destinations up there should have them, like Manali, etc... I carried $1,000usd during 5 months in India. Had a large nylon pouch with a FAT chain looped around my belt. No one could jack it at all, unless they knock me out. In india you would worry more about sly thief, as the thought of being mugged seems highly unlikely. Traveler checks are good options aswell. But ALWAYS carry a spare $100 bill. You probably aint gona need that much cash for the north, unless your smoking up a storm and drinking 2+ beers a day. The rooms up in Parvati are cheap, like 50-100rs cheap.

Oct 9th, 2006, 19:56	#7
cyberhippie Account Closed by User's Request Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: the Netherlands Posts: 6,012	First up is your ATM/Debit card Cirrus enabled, if so there are heaps of banks who's ATMs are linked to the Cirrus network including the State Bank Of India!! Secondly The money saved against the hassle of walking all over town to find an ATM isn't always worth is and sometimes the network goes down in rural Banks, leaving the ATM useless until the network is restored, plus ALL banks aren't signed upto the network (for instance The State Bank Of India is connected to the Cirrus network but not all their ATMs have this function!!) All in all I would go for TCs, you can buy them online commission free, and in my experience they are easy to cash, as there are little money changers all over the place that can cash them for you!! Wazen is of course right, many of these money changers WILL give cash on a card but beware the charges for this can be huge!! So grab yourself some TCs and use the ATM card where you find a suitable machine to top up your funds, easy peasy!!

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