I am a 38 year old single female traveler going to Asia and the rest for 6 months. I have already planned some parts of my holiday but need some advice with the rest.
I'll list below the parts I need your help for:
18th Feb - Landing in Bombay in India (The plan is to stay in Bombay a couple of days before I head for Goa).
25th Feb - Flying to Sri Lanka from Goa ( I wanted to book a tour which was not available in 2008! I still think I should book another one?).
8th Mar - Flying to Delhi. A week in Delhi and surroundings. I haven't made up my mind about what to do?
29th Apr - A week in Fiji. I'd like to relax as well see the island(s)?
7th May - 5 days in Auckland. No idea what can be done in such a short time in NZ?
Reply to this Cheers Jo!
I might spend a few days in Auckland and a few days outside Auckland.
Can you recommend any accommodation as well?
Reply to this I'm originally from Auckland so never have to look for accomodation when I am back there, but if you google 'Auckland hostels New Zealand' or 'YHA New Zealand' there should be plenty of options. Reviews other people have written are always helpful in making the decision. It shouldn't be too busy in May.
Btw, I should have some photos up later this week of some of the places I mentioned.
Reply to this Hello Turkish Delight 😊
If u have not booked accomodation in Bombay yet how about u book this place.
http://www.bentleyshotel.com/
It is very popular because it is good as well as good value and it is central to much of what a tourist would want to see in Bombay.
I recommend that u go to the Taj Mahal International Hotel near the gateway of India for tea and miniture pistacio cookies. Go inside and up the stairs and sit at one of the tables looking out over the bay. The view is lovely. Of course staying at this hotel is unaffordable for most of us but having tea or even dinner is not. But I dont recommend dinner because I heard it is not that great.
Mel
Reply to this :-) cheers Mel. i will right now checkout the hotel in Bombay. what about Goa? have u been there?
Reply to this Hello Turkish Delight 😊
I havent been to Goa so cant help with that.
U could try posting a thread specifically about Goa in the Asia forum.
There will likely be more people who can answer questions about India there.
Mel
Reply to this ok thanks. i'll have a go at threads. i am very new to blogs so don't know much about them:-)
cheers,
Oz.
Reply to this Hello Turkish Delight 😊
I am going to answer your private message here in case others are also looking for the same information.
If u have not travelled to India before be prepared to stand your ground. If u arrive there and tell a taxi driver or anybody in the street u have not booked accomodation u will be literally mobbed by touts. Well u will be mobbed by touts anyway but I would not encourage it by announcing that u need a service or dont have accomodation booked. Because of this and a few other things India is a daunting place for a first time visitor.
It is such a pity the Bentley is booked up. It costs a little more than backpackers generally spend on accomodation in India but many of them feel it is well worth splashing out the extra for. Bombay has the most expensive accomodation in India but there are some places which cost less than the Bentley and are not fancy but are OK.
What I suggest u do when u arrive in Bombay or Delhi (I dont know much about Goa) is phone hotels from the airport and find out if they have a room for u. Then book a taxi at the prebook taxi desk. These taxis are safe because they take your name and they keep a record of which taxi u booked so taxi drivers are unlikely to do anything too bad. I think u actually pay at the booking desk but if u dont then be sure to ask what the trip will cost. Also ask them for the taxi drivers name and registration number and keep it until u are safely at your destination. Dont get out of the taxi until u see the the name of the hotel. Ask the taxi driver to point out where it is. Do u have a Lonely Planet of India book? If so I will tell u which areas are the ones to aim for when phoning the hotels from the airport. Otherwise I will send u the list of the budget hotels in central areas listed in the Lonely Planet via private message.
Mell
Reply to this hi Mell.
thanks for your message. much appreciated!i totally agree with u. that's why i wanted to book my accom. b4hand. i noticed Bombay is reallty expensive for accom. i read about prebook taxi's and i was relieved. i will definetely use them!
i booked a flight from Mumbai to Goa by spicejet. i read all Indian domestic airlines are reliable. i hope they won't disappoint:-)
i wanted to take the train but i didn't want to waste any time as the journey last about 11 hours i think. i didn't realise the distance was big. Maybe there is faster train that i don't know about.
it may sound odd but i didn't buy the lonely planet of India. it's so thick. i was hoping to get something in Mumbai.
thanks,
Turkish Delight:-)
Reply to this What u could do is book acccomodation on the internet.
That would however make it more expensive.
The area to stay in Mumbai is Colaba if possible. It is central to most of what a tourist wants to see.
Google Mumbai, Hotels and a list will come up with a link to book.
Some hotels have an airport pick up service and if they do it will be listed on their list of services on the internet.
Or else choose any hotel that says central location. Same for Delhi. U can google hotels, Delhi and then choose one with a central location.
U could try taking an overnight train.
Trains should be booked in advance. If u travel first class it should be fairly safe. The Indians who travel first class are the well to do professional types and look after each other and will watch out for u too.
Here is a link to book a train irctc.co.in
I never tried booking with this link so hopefully people resident outside India can do it.
If u do not book the train on the internet then book the tickets as soon as possible when u get to India. Check at the airport if there is a train booking desk there. Also if u are staying at one of the hotels listed on the internet u could ask them if they have a train booking service.
Yes, flying is also a good option. I have never heard any complaints from people who have flown in India.
Mell
Reply to this i thought it's the other way round; cheaper to book online.
i feel more comfortable if someone tells me they stayed in X hotel and it was great than checking all those websites. my friend who is currently travelling also adviced to speak to people who have been to these places.
i have 6 days in Delhi. I think I am gonna book a hotel for those days in central location and do day trips to sorroundings.
r u curently in Iran? r u gonna go to Tehran?
Reply to this No, certainly not cheaper to book online.
It is in fact possible to stay in Bombay or Delhi for around 5 Euros per night and sometimes less. But those places are not bookable online. One just has to show up at them and hope for the best.
The Taj Mahal is in Agra. Just a few hours train ride from Delhi. Also u will be not far from parts of the Ganges so u could go there too. I will be in Delhi next December. I am so excited about it because I have not been in India for 10 years.
I am in Germany where I live at the moment. I went to Iran last October. I stayed in Esfahan for the entire time. Just arrived in Tehran and took the first bus out of there. I was told that Tehran is not worth spending much time in. Big, sprawling, grey and smoggy.
Mell
Reply to this Thanks Mell. So i take u r from Germany? where abouts?
thanks 4 all the hints about India.
I am also off to Fiji and Auckland. If u have any experience u want to pass on, feel free.
I am also doing a tour between Nepal and Tibet in March. I think it's gonna a challanging one...
Ozz.
Reply to this I am from Ireland.
We have been living in Germany for 6 years. My boyfriend is Dutch. First we lived in Hamburg. Then we moved to Munich where we are now.
I have never been to Fiji or Auckland. Or even Nepal or Tibet. The world is soooooo big. The more places I go the bigger it seems to get. :D
Where are u from? This isnt your first trip by any chance is it?
I forgot to mention, it is now possible to buy individual sections of the Lonely Planet on the interent. I have not tried to do that yet. I think what u do is pay for a section and then u can down load it. :S Anyway I prefer to buy the whole book. That way I can browse through it to look for future destinations.
Mel
Reply to this i am turkish as u may have guessed but live in London. i came here when i had my 1st sabbatical leave to improve my English:-)
Well i can say this is my 1st trip. i have been to some places b4; on holiday!
let's see what happens this time on my 2nd sabbatical leave:-P
Ozz.
Reply to this LOL
I thought u are Australian because u call yourself Ozz. 😊 I thought u might be an Australian who likes Turkish Delight. :D
I used to live in London too. I love it there. Good memories!!!!!
Mell
Reply to this hahaha. My full name is Ozlem but colleagues find it easier to call me Ozz or Ozy.Take care.
Reply to this Hi Mel. i will take ur word and book accom. at airport in India.
i have received a couple of emails about free pick ups from airport. i am not sure if they genuine.
Reply to this Beware of emails offering pick ups. The hotels who offer pickups will send one of their own staff to pick u up.
So what u do is phone the hotels from the airport and ask if they have rooms. Be sure to ask the price while u are on the phone because when u are newly arrived in India they will see u as vulnerable. I will send u a list of hotels in Colaba, Mumbai and a list for the area most of the backpackers stay in in Delhi. These hotels wont do pick ups because they are budget hotels. U can get a taxi at the prebook taxi desk. If u want to cut costs look out for other foreigners who may want to share a taxi with u.
If u can do without airconditioning the hotels will be much cheaper so if this is the case be sure to ask the price
without airconditioning when u phone.
In the meantime u could take a look at this link that I found. It may have budget hotels u can book on the internet.
http://www.stargroupofhotels.com/html/star_paradise.html
Mel
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