Hi,
A friend and I will be going to India at the end December for two weeks. My friend has never been to India, but I visited India when I was 13. We do not speak Hindi or any of the local dialects. We are planning on taking the Golden Triangle tour. After doing the Golden Triangle tour, we are planning on going to Goa, but we would like to squeeze a trip to Mumbai in to the trip. I have a couple of questions.
1. Will the lack of knowing the language be a problem navigating through the Golden Triangle/Goa/Mumbai?
2. Can we fit a trip to Mumbai in to our trip without the trip being so tiresome?
3. Are there any good websites which can tell us where to shop in Goa/Delhi/Mumbai?
4. Are there any good sites which reviews the different kinds of tours?
5. When will be a good time to book our flights for December?
It would be great if anyone could answer any of the questions above..
Thanks!
Reply to this Hello P Patel 😊
1. Will the lack of knowing the language be a problem.....
No, most people will be able to speak English in the places you are going to .
2. Can we fit a trip to Mumbai in to our trip without the trip being so tiresome?
With just 2 weeks, I personally would skip Mumbai and Goa.
3. Are there any good websites which can tell us where to shop in Goa/Delhi/Mumbai?
I dont know of any sites, but the Lonely Planet Guide to India will give you good tips on where to shop. It is available in most bookshops around the world and also on the internet.
4. Are there any good sites which reviews the different kinds of tours?
If you do choose tours, make sure the companies are reputable. Many are dishonest. Trust only the tips given by genuine travellers.
5. When will be a good time to book our flights for December?
I would book them now. The earlier you book, the better the chance of getting good priced flights.
You can also book your train trips in India on the internet in advance. You can buy them in India too, but it can be time consuming and involve some hassle. Here is the website for booking the train tickets.
irctc.co.in
Mel
Reply to this Hi, Mell has answered most of your questions! Language is not an issue in India, though its always advisable to pick up some basic words when you travel, such as greetings, asking for directions, etc.
You can perhaps fit in Goa and Mumbai but it would be hectic and you'd just get a brief glimpse of all these places and you wont be able to do anymore than a day or two in each place - can be quite hectic.
Could help you with places to shop - need to know what stuff you are looking for.
As for booking local tours, if you could share your budget I can mail you a couple of links you could check out and decide on.
Hope this helps!
Reply to this I am a genuine traveler that went to India in May 2009. From Misouri, USA, Retired.
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