Daughter going to India - Any Advice?
Daughter going to India - Any Advice?
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Discussion

Jockman

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

190 months

Sunday 8th May 2011
quotequote all
My daughter (29) intends traveling around India with a girlfriend for 3 weeks in October.

Are there any Travel Agents that specialise in this sort of area?

Any Tips on what to do and see ? smile

tobeee

1,436 posts

298 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Don't need travel agents - they should just have a few places in mind, and work out how to get there and the best route as they go. Travel is cheap and easy there, and it's much more fun to make up a route as you go along. Being two women is obviously a bit harder than a couple of blokes, so they should try and stick together (assume they would anyway) and maybe expect the occasional rub or grope! I'm serious! My girlfriend used to get blokes brushing past on purpose, and one was brave enough to to touch her breast, though she gave him an enormous wallop in return which echoed around the narrow street we were in! Not just a problem for women - my mate found a man's hand down his trousers on an overcrowded train! hehe Most blokes are happy to just stare at the tourists, which can be a bit unnerving. Fantastic place though! I've been back a few times.

LuS1fer

43,542 posts

275 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Bear in mind that getting anywhere takes a long time and often over uncomfortable roads in uncomfortable cars, often driven by uncomfortable drivers.

ChiChoAndy

73,668 posts

285 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Tell them not to do whast me and a few workmates did, and travel a few hours from Bombay to see the animals in Ghandi national park, only to discover when we got there that they had been moved into the city, about 100 yards from where we were staying.

Jockman

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

190 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for the advice so far guys.

I did a lot of travelling around Southern China in the 90s, after uni, and most of Canton and Hainan Island were scary without streetlights.

Also travelled with a girl in Amman in Jordan, and she made the mistake of going out one night with a a low cut top. Bit intimidating.

I shall be advising my daughter on appropriate dresswear etc smile

LuS1fer

43,542 posts

275 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
tobeee said:
my mate found a man's hand down his trousers on an overcrowded train! hehe Fantastic place though! I've been back a few times.
Yeeeeeees.... wink

Jockman

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

190 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
LuS1fer said:
tobeee said:
my mate found a man's hand down his trousers on an overcrowded train! hehe Fantastic place though! I've been back a few times.
Yeeeeeees.... wink
biggrin

Wasn't his own hand by any chance?

BigAlinEmbra

1,629 posts

242 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
I've not been to India with them, but have done tours in South America and SE Asia with this mob.

http://www.gapadventures.com/destinations/asia/ind...

Would highly recommend them. When you've got a short period of time like 3 weeks it means you cram in as much good stuff as you can, and minimal hassle.

Yes doing stuff independently is cheaper, but personally I value my time on holiday and don't really want to spend it attempting to sort out flights/trains etc.
It's so nice just to rock up somewhere and the guide sorts out the dirty bits you'd rather not.

Brother D

4,452 posts

206 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
1. Only eat food that is piping hot or fruit that can be peeled. - No exception.
2. Only drink fluid you break the seal on yourself.
3. Standard traveler stuff.


BluePurpleRed

1,138 posts

256 months

Monday 9th May 2011
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Don't watch the film Taken.

Unless you have a certain set of skills. smile

JohnG1

3,487 posts

235 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Agra - Taj Mahal is a must see - just awesome.

Beware of "Eve teasers". That's the local term for gropers, starers and people making inappropriate advances.

Dress modestly. Remember that India is a pretty religious place with lots of different sensibilities. A single western girl will stick out a lot. If she has long blond hair then it's best to tie it back. The locals will stare at blondes since they don't see them much.

Never drink the local water.

Enjoy it though - it's an amazing experience, I absolutely loved my time there and I think she'll have a blast!

bompey

630 posts

265 months

Monday 9th May 2011
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Take some immodium. She will need it.

Jockman

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

190 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
JohnG1 said:
If she has long blond hair then it's best to tie it back. The locals will stare at blondes since they don't see them much.
Thanks John - yup she is 5'11 and has long blonde hair. I shall pass on the advice.

BigAlinEmbra

1,629 posts

242 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Jockman said:
Thanks John - yup she is 5'11 and has long blonde hair. I shall pass on the advice.
For a modest fee I will consider chaperoning. Please send photos. biggrin

Victor McDade

4,395 posts

212 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
Brother D said:
1. Only eat food that is piping hot or fruit that can be peeled. - No exception.
2. Only drink fluid you break the seal on yourself.
3. Standard traveler stuff.
+1000

And eat absolutely nothing which is 'cooked' by street vendors. As well as the likes of immodium it's wise to take a few boxes of dioralyte oral rehydration salts with you too.


172ff

3,776 posts

225 months

Monday 9th May 2011
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Pics of these girls are needed.....

Thankyouplease.

LuS1fer

43,542 posts

275 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
My wife and I disembarked the aircraft in Kerala and found ourselves at the back of a long queue. On seeing her natural blonde hair, we were embarrassingly called to the front of the queue and processed first. OK, it wasn't that embarrassing but we had to sit in the prehistoric transfer bus with its one speed fan for even longer....

Jockman

Original Poster:

18,414 posts

190 months

Monday 9th May 2011
quotequote all
172ff said:
Pics of these girls are needed.....

Thankyouplease.
biggrin

You and BigAlin need to take a nice cold shower.

LuS1fer

43,542 posts

275 months

Tuesday 10th May 2011
quotequote all
Don't worry too much, you can buy antibiotics over the counter.

Jammiedodger

634 posts

228 months

Tuesday 10th May 2011
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My friend just came back from India...biggest piece of advice he gave me was "trust no one".

When they arrived at Delhi and tried to get a train ticket, everyone was trying to scam them including taxi drivers, station masters, ticket inspectors etc etc.

They were taken to 4 different "Office of Departmental Government Tourist Offices", each said that there were no trains for 3 weeks but for a fee of £400 they could be supplied with a car and driver for a week.

Considering £400 is probably a year's salary for some people, it's ridiculous.