How to Handle Touts in India

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#1 Sep 6th, 2013, 21:54
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How to Handle Touts in India

One thing is common to every place which gets a lot of tourists are touts. Experiencing touts while travelling in India is something you are likely to come across, especially while visiting the major tourist areas, at train stations, or at airports ... basically, any place that is frequented by tourists, both local and foreign. This article provides some tips on how India Mikers deal with the situation.  ... read more »

#2 Sep 7th, 2013, 00:53
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Some 15 years back was in the temple town of Palani. It was quite late by the time we reached. In no time a tout jumped at us, fished out an official ID, and promised to take care of everything. He tried to show us a couple of hotels and sell canned panchamrtitam which is one of the main offerings made at Palani. Anyway, the next day we went to the temple. Also deciding to report the matter went to the temple office.
"He was also carrying an official ID".
The officials looked at each other very amused and amidst guffaws, the head official said "Everyone in the town has an official ID, except us."

So do check the credentials of even the 'offical' touts before anyone avails their service; May be from the local tourist office or official departments (Forest office, police men etc)
#3 Sep 7th, 2013, 01:16
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The traveler's demeanor is everything. A confident assured look with a determined stride cuts through the crowd, aloof but polite. It doesn't hurt to know a little local language as well, mulla nuko, nai chaiyay. Avoid at all costs the panicked indecisive demeanor, that saucer eyed deer in the headlights look. That attracts touts like flies. Some people act rudely to touts. I don't go to India to act that way. Sometimes a way to slip by is to use another language, German, French, or Dutch. if you don't know these languages it doesn't matter as the tout doesn't either. Lastly, one tip given me was to get out of the scrummage at the entry point and organize oneself at a nearby coffee shop. The general rule is to have such a good time in India you don't notice the small stuff..
#4 Sep 15th, 2013, 05:23
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When walking down the Main Bazaar in PJ I just pretend to very talk about shares and stocks very loudly and very obnoxiously down my mobile phone whilst keeping a fast pace. No one bothers me.
#5 Nov 5th, 2013, 18:17
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My approach is what I call "Adopt a Tout". I select a likely candidate from the throngs before me, explain to them that I have adopted them and then let them help me enjoy my visit to their town/temple or whatever. I even visit their cousins shop for a tea and chat and at the end of their period with me, be it an hour. a day or a week I tip them for their time with a thank you and some rupees. Everybody is happy. Once you have your Tout, nobody else hassles you.

David
#6 Nov 5th, 2013, 20:58
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That's a bit like protection money!
#7 Nov 6th, 2013, 17:53
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True, but it works a treat and everybody is a winner.
#8 Feb 3rd, 2014, 12:58
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Are touts always men? Even if I did want to employ someone to help me it seems like it could be awkward or possibly inappropriate for a single woman.
#9 Feb 4th, 2014, 16:13
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Originally Posted by PixieOakland View Post Are touts always men? Even if I did want to employ someone to help me it seems like it could be awkward or possibly inappropriate for a single woman.
Touts/Scammer are almost always men.

Never heard about female one but in Metro train beware of female pickpockets specially Delhi.
#10 Feb 4th, 2014, 17:06
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All the touts I have been bothered by were men, and the one pickpocket I caught in Delhi was a woman, on a bus. I put my hand in my bag and found her hand inside it.
#11 Mar 28th, 2014, 20:41
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Golden Chapati View Post When walking down the Main Bazaar in PJ I just pretend to very talk about shares and stocks very loudly and very obnoxiously down my mobile phone whilst keeping a fast pace. No one bothers me.
I would be hesitant to do this because if you are talking about stocks loudly and shares..they will kind of guess that you have lots of $$$ . Best is to just say "No I am not interested thanks!" and keep walking and ignore them. Yes it might sound rude but yes ignore and keep walking. Being from South India, even the auto guys try to quote high fares and I tell them point blank "Ya right...I can walk" and then just walk off. In 8/10 cases, they will come back and say "Ok give how much ever you said " .
#12 Jun 18th, 2014, 17:34
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Thumbs up How to Handle Touts in India

If you are new to India and scared about Touts, then just follow some simple Principles.

Is your taxi driver a tout?

The answer is may or may not be. You can find lot of helpful people. But for your safety reason any service you are looking you can call Just dial 08888888888 which one of the convenient way to get any any information. If you are near Railway station just book prepaid Taxi or auto.

For any airline or travel related book your ticket at Yatra.com or makemy trip. This 2 are popular and convenient portal of India.

Try to avoid buying from roadside venders. For any major help or any type of confusion ask to Traffic police or Duty police
#13 Jul 4th, 2014, 22:49
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Originally Posted by Priyanka Mishra View Post But for your safety reason any service you are looking you can call Just dial 08888888888 which one of the convenient way to get any any information.
Is this a real information number or are we being touted online here?
#14 Jul 5th, 2014, 00:13
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Very astute. I didn't know either! But it looks as if the phone number is that of Justdial who are an on-the-phone information service. Yes, they have a commercial edge (so does Google, in a big way!) and they give your number to service provicers, so you may find yourself being touted as a result of calling them, but local people do use them as a way of discovering what you can buy where.
#15 Jul 5th, 2014, 05:37
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hmm yeah I thought that might be the case. thanks.
keep up to date with my latest travels here: http://www.foreverforward.net
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