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TRAVEL EXPENSES
India is a country where one can live like a pauper or a Maharaja. Travel expenses largely vary depending on your needs, wants and luxuries. However a little planning could save you some extra bucks.
Airfare
- Airfares on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are much lower than the rest of the days. Consider traveling on these days if your travel plans are flexible.
- Buying your Indian air tickets much in advance could be economical as fares are often lesser when purchased 7, 14 and 21 days in advance.
- Avoid flying on a weekend, as the fares could be expensive comparatively.
Accommodation
- If you plan to stay in inexpensive hotels, travel II class all the way and live on rice and dal (staple food of India), you will be able to see India on a daily spending of 15-20 US $.
- If you are looking for a slightly better stay (with attached bath), eat a varied diet and prepared to spend occasionally on I class or AC long distance train journey, it could cost you 30-40$ a day.
- Staying in midrange hotels, food in reasonably decent restaurants, travel first class and having your own occasional car with driver, the expenses will be somewhere around $ 45-55/day.
- Five star facilities and a stay in heritage Maharaja's Palaces will be as expensive as it is at home.
- The top end of Indian luxury hotels are with the Taj group, Oberoi and the Welcome Group Hotel Chains who run hotels in almost all the major cities .Numerous international chains including the Marriott and the Hyatt also run major five star hotels in most major cities.
- Dak Bunglows are present in most places. These were built by the British to put up traveling officials and are now being used by both the Central and State Governments for the same reason. Tourists are usually taken in for a reasonable fare if there is room. They have the basic amenities like ceiling fans and showers with no air-conditioning and bath tubs, ideal for tourists who do not want to shell out too much. There is usually a cook ,a gardener and a night watchman.
- Many long distance public phones called STD/ISD(State Trunk Dial /International Subscriber Dialing) booths usually found with an attender are found in ever nook and corner of the country .Metering is done as per pulse and a charge of Rs.2 per minute is billed for a local call.
- Calling the U.S /Canada/U.K over an ISD will cost you around Rs 7.20/minute.
- You can get your morning cup of tea (chai) for as low as Rs.2/- which is quite refreshing once you develop a taste for it.
- Tender coconut water and sugar cane juice,ideal summer drinks are as less as Rs.10 and below.