Comments on: Your Backpacking India Budget: 20 USD per day

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 14:06:45 +0000

In reply to Hanri. Hey you just hire a driver to take you South and tell them you want to stop in Panjim and Old Goa / Spice Plantation (if those are the places you want to stop at) on the way down. Will include in price. Then they stay at car with your luggage - you pay once you reach South Goa.

By: Hanri

Hanri — Thu, 07 Dec 2017 08:21:00 +0000

Hi Rachel, this is great. Im basing my entire trip on your blog. Going to Goa in April 2018 and need your help with transport suggestions. We will be staying in the North of Goa for 5 days, then going to the South for 3. Since Panaji is the only place I want to visit in the middle, I want to include the typical excursions there on my way from the North to the South. Bearing in mind that we will have our luggage, whats the best way to go about this? Any ideas?

By: Munira

Munira — Fri, 26 May 2017 11:44:03 +0000

In reply to Pragya. Not a scam. 750 inr is the fee for foreigners and 20 inr for indian citizens. All these are official fees, i can attest as visited Taj Mahal and was asked to pay 750. This was as per 2014. Not sure if prices have been revised now.

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 12:41:32 +0000

In reply to Shubham Mansingka. Yep prices are going up! boooo

By: Shubham Mansingka

Shubham Mansingka — Thu, 08 Dec 2016 06:47:43 +0000

WOW. How comprehensive is this! Excellent information and very true, although the prices have just got higher than 2-3 years ago. Yet this remains a pretty good guide for backpacking in India.

Travelshoebum

By: apenoni

apenoni — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 09:27:51 +0000

Thanks for the detailed information! We are planning on visiting India at the end of the year…on a budget:) Great stuff, many thanks – also for the inspiration!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Wed, 11 May 2016 14:31:44 +0000

In reply to Andrew. Hi Andrew, I appreciate your comment and it's good to see another side of it. I don't negotiate that hard, and shop a lot, and I did keep to this budget. I think slow travel helps a lot.

By: Andrew

Andrew — Wed, 11 May 2016 14:03:05 +0000

Okay…I’ve been backpacking India for the last 3 months, with 2 more months to go, so I thought I’d give my opinion on this. The budget the author came up with MIGHT be possible. But here’s the thing: you will need to devote LITERALLY at least 1 to 2 FULL hours per day, possibly more, just to the activity of haggling. Most rickshaw drivers and hotels/homestays will not give you the Indian price. You’ll have to do a LOT of standing/walking around, waiting for a driver that will give you a fair price, or walking around to find a hotel owner that will do the same. You will have to be extremely aggressive, and the hassle of getting these prices is not worth it by the time you’ve done it 50 times already. Also in many cases you will not get these prices, the Indians will not budge because they know you’re a westerner and assume you’d rather fork over the money than sleep on the street or walk to your destination. I’m glad I budgeted twice what she recommended to be safe, as that is turning out to be more like it. If you’re white, and don’t speak Hindi, do NOT expect to get these types of deals. This is just my experience of course, but every other westerner I’ve met here has had the same issues. Unless you plan on staying at an ashram or volunteer opportunity for most of your trip, these numbers are unrealistic. I love the Indian people and their culture, but to 90% of them all you are to them is money.

By: amit kakria

amit kakria — Tue, 23 Feb 2016 07:28:54 +0000

Hello rachel, its amit from rajsthan.

Your posts on travelling in india are very impressive and helpful. You plz tell me a thing about most foreigners visinting india, how do they manage their long trip in india in terms of duration of time and budget. Means how they tend to manage their jobs or businesses there, while on vacations, and students how they manage their budget. Plz respond to this.

By: Travelsito

Travelsito — Fri, 29 Jan 2016 13:40:44 +0000

It seems you had great time even with this small daily budget. Well done, Rachel!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Thu, 21 Jan 2016 08:04:32 +0000

In reply to roy getsis. Yes I think so, they have not changed much in the 3 years I have been here.

By: roy getsis

roy getsis — Wed, 20 Jan 2016 18:33:40 +0000

do you think that generally speaking these prices will still be valid in 2017? travelling as a couple, we are budgeting 40$ a day for 2.

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 17:01:52 +0000

In reply to Chris.

Hi Chris, It’s just called the YMCA there are a few I think, this was the one in Colaba and I don’t know about reservations – If you can make one though I would.

By: Chris

Chris — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 16:11:38 +0000

Hi, what was the name for the 50 ruppee ymca in mumbai? and is this a place you turn up or can you book online?

Thanks
Chris, London

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 14:45:21 +0000

In reply to Suzy. awesome! enjoy :)

By: Suzy

Suzy — Sun, 17 Jan 2016 06:21:56 +0000

Thanks for the tips and info. My partner and I will be arriving in India in March (fingers crossed with visa) for 6 months. Hoping to find 2 – 3 places to set up for a month, so will definitely be checking out more of your awesome posts. Cheers!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Tue, 22 Dec 2015 06:40:32 +0000

In reply to Andy. Yes! I do :) I take 2 AC or 3AC not sleeper class (anymore, although I used to)

By: Andy

Andy — Mon, 21 Dec 2015 13:20:51 +0000

Hi Rachel! Thankyou very much! I might backpack India as a solo next year. I`m a girl. I often take my long train/bus rides overnight to save accomodation money while backpacking. Is it ok to do this in india as a female solo traveler? Gracias!

By: Rachel Jones

Rachel Jones — Wed, 11 Nov 2015 14:11:05 +0000

In reply to Kara. haha, same here ;)

By: Kara

Kara — Tue, 10 Nov 2015 07:03:51 +0000

In reply to Rachel Jones.

Havent heard of that site before, will check it out for sure (right away, becasue my ability to remember to do things isnt the best…)

Thanks :D