SOME USEFUL TIPS & SUGGESTIONS - INDIA

Currency:

The local currency is the rupee (INR), which is divided into 100 paise.

Notes are available in denominations of INR1.00, 2.00, 5.00, 10.00, 20.00, 50.00, 100.00 500.00 and 1000.00. Coins come in 25 and 50 paise, and INR 1.00, 2.00 and 5.00 (although the latter is very rare).

Be careful not to accept torn notes from anyone as no-one else will accept them, making them quite useless. Change is often in short supply, so try not to carry large denominations.

Visitors are not allowed to bring Indian currency into India or take it out of the country. However, you may bring an unlimited amount of foreign currency or traveler's cheques with you. Note that any amount exceeding USD 10,000.00 must be declared on arrival in India. Most foreign currencies and traveler's cheques can be changed in the big cities.

During the day it is best to wear light, comfortable cottons with a pair of good ventilated walking shoes (Open-toed sandals let in dust and pebbles and cottons socks).

As the best season for traveling India is from October to March, so you need some warm clothes like jackets and pullovers as the winter season of India is quite cold.

For the sightseeing session you may find a good pair of sunglasses and sun-hat handy. At some of the monuments / temples, mosques, It is advisable to avoid sleeveless tops and shorts skirts. Your may also be asked to remove your shoes: in such cases shoe covers are useful.

Laundry:

Most hotels and resorts offer same day laundry service but rather expensive. So it is advisable to carry some washing powder sachets and a portable iron. In remote areas laundry service may not be available.

Airports and railway stations:

Tourists must also exercise caution while travelling in India. Air or Railway tickets should be purchased only from the designated counters or authorised travel agents. Touts selling tickets should be avoided. Many luxury hotels also have tie-ups with leading travel agents to provide tickets to tourists staying with them. While travelling by train in India, tourists should be extra cautious about their luggage in stations and also during the period of journey. It is better for the Tourist if they travel in A/C compartment because normally ordinary compartments are very crowded.

Shopping:

India provides splendid opportunities for the shopper especially for skill and cotton, marble handicrafts, gemstones, carpets, bed linen, handicrafts in all types of medium, miniature paintings and much more. If asked our local agents will advise on where best to buy particular items.

Be prepared for the occasional pressure selling from some guides/ drivers. Although they will generally take you to respectable establishment offering reasonable quality likely that they have vested interest. If you are not interested, and if the guide/ driver are particularly insistent, do not hesitate to refuse and bring it to the attention of our associate offices/ agents in India. However, please note that we, or any of the associate offices and agents in India, are not responsible for any shopping and related problems, although we assure you of any help that we can provide.

Voltage:

The electric voltage in India is 220 volts. Most English Appliances work well in India but a universal adapter is needed. Many deluxe hotels provide hair dryers but it is advisable to carry your own, if you use one regularly.

Hiring Taxis or Autos:

While hiring taxis or autos, tourists should check whether they have fare meters and insist on paying the fare only according to meter reading. Near most airports and railway stations, pre-paid taxi counters are operated by the police. Tourists should avail their services as fares are fixed by the government. Public buses operating within city limits could be avoided as they are very slow and over-crowded.

Hotel Booking:

The first requirement of every tourist is a comfortable nest to stay. India has very good accommodation facilities in the top end, mid-range and budget categories. Early booking is a must if tourists are planning to stay in some wildlife sanctuaries or the boat houses of Kashmir and Kerala as they have very limited accommodation. Also in peak tourism season early booking of hotels is recommended.

Tipping & Gifts:

Tipping is common, particularly if you are happy with the service. Please note that tips are in addition to (and not the same) porter age, which unless otherwise specified, is included in your holiday price. Some suggested amounts for tipping are:

• Drivers/ Reps who help you with the transfers - Rs.100- 150
• Bell boy who carry your baggage to your room - Rs.50- 100
• Drivers/ Guides for half day/ Full day sightseeing trips - Rs.300- 400
• Drivers/ Guides for long trips spread over many days - Rs.200- 300 Per traveler/ day

(The above amounts are mainly indicative. It is often customary to pay higher sums depending upon the quality of service.)

Waiters in restaurants (If service charge not included ) 5 - 10% of billed amount.
IF visiting a village, you may distribute pens or sweet among the curious children who may follow you but you need to be careful in case the children or villagers are more than the number of pens/ sweets.

IF you wish to do something to charity in India, we support a couple of charitable organization/ orphanages who accepts both financial and material support (like clothes both new and old) if you are interested to do something & you have some extra luggage spaces you may bring some clothes for this needy people; we would like be happy to take any of these organization to distribute the same yourselves. We believe this humble step towards charity.

Safety:

Generally speaking, India is a safe country to visit. Crime levels are well below those of Western countries and violent crime is unusual. However, tourists are always obvious targets for thieves.

It's advisable to make a copy of your passport, visas, airplane ticket and other important documents to make it easier to get replacements if they are lost or stolen. Also keep a record of the serial numbers of your travelers cheques, and a copy of your travel insurance policy.

Be alert to credit card fraud: insist that restaurants and shops process your credit card payment in front of you. Sometimes credit cards are used to make duplicate forms, and the client is then billed for fictitious transactions. Normally it is safe, bur prevention is better than cure.

Tourists should also be careful of Indian customs. Metros and big cities are liberal but the countryside may have rigid traditions. Public show of affection should be avoided in the smaller places. Similarly, clothes that bare the arms and legs should not be worn while visiting such areas.

Law and order is good in India but some precautions could be taken. Tourists should not venture late into night. Moreover, in case of any difficulty, number 100 should be dialed which connects immediately to the nearest police station.

Customs:

While visiting places of worship, shoes and sandals should be removed before entering. Dresses should be conservative and holy objects should not be touched with legs or left hand. At some of the monuments / temples, mosques, It is advisable to avoid sleeveless tops and shorts skirts.

Communications:

The postal service in India is excellent. Mail to destinations in Europe, North America, Australia or New Zealand takes about 10 to 14 days. A Speed Post service is also available, which usually takes just a few days. Post offices are open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 17:00, and on Saturday morning. Larger post offices may have longer hours. Large hotels sometimes also sell stamps. When mailing something in India, ask the clerk to rank your mail in front of you, as unranked stamps are sometimes removed.

The telephone system is usually good. Local and international calls can be made from 'STD/ISD' (standard trunk dialing/international subscriber dialing) phone booths. These can be found in shops or other businesses. They are numerous in number. They are quick and easy to use, and are sometimes open all day. Your bill must be paid on completion of your call/s. Many of these booths also have fax machines for public use. Avoid calling from Hotels as they used to charge a very high amount, which can be sometimes 10 times higher than the normal bill.

Duty Free Customs Allowance

Government of India offers various benefits to bonafide travellers and tourists, and their personal items can be imported duty free as part of baggage. The list of these items includes:

Personal Jewellary

• One Camera, Binoculars
• One Laptop/notebook computer.
• One electronic diary
• One portable typewriter.
• One portable CTV (Color Television)
• One music system including compact disc player.
• One perambulator.
• One tent and other camping equipment.
• One portable receiving set (Transistor Radio).

Sports equipment, such as fishing outfit, tennis racket, one gulf set (14 pieces).

To avoid misuse of the above allowance, passengers are advised not to bring these items in its original package. The above information has been taken from baggage rules as notified by the Government of India- dated 28 th October 1999.

Others:

If you feel there is a problem, do have faith in our local associates bring it to their attention. If there is any problem you can also call us round the clock at this number (91) 99274-65808. If you are in India at the time of calling this number you should affix only 0 (zero) just before the mobile number. Above all, retain your sense of humour. If you have any QUESTION OR QUERY, please feel free to write us at info@travelntravellers.com

"We at TRAVEL 'N' TRAVELLERS wishing you all a very pleasant stay in INDIA"