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India Tourist Traps

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Paharganj
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Most Viewed Tourist Traps in India

151.

HAWKERS/TOUTS/SCAM Goa

18 Reviews Despite what people think and say I believe the beach sellers are part of the holiday experience. Some of the stuff they sell is what you find at the market and its up to you whether you get it...

See All 43 Tourist Traps in Goa

152.

BEWARE Mumbai

19 Reviews There is a guy at the Gateway of India claiming to be a holy man who will try to bless you, i got caught to this trap.... basically he will approach you and try to "bless"you, i kept saying no and a...

See All 31 Tourist Traps in Mumbai

153.

Paharganj Delhi

6 Reviews Paharganj is a fun place to visit and shows you the real india. It has hundreds of hotels and small shops. There are people who will try to sell hard, give you bargain offers or even try to trick you....

See All 46 Tourist Traps in Delhi

154.

TAXIS Goa

5 Reviews You can't really blame taxi drivers for trying to take the "stupid tourists the long way around"... this happens all over the world, so Goa is no different. One our first 2-3 days in Goa we only...

See All 43 Tourist Traps in Goa

155.

TAXI / CABBIES Mumbai

10 Reviews Rickshaws are everywhere - do take them for the experience and because they are very cheap. But ensure they 'flag down' the meter - It should read '1' before you start your journey. if it says...

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156.

Travel agencies Delhi

7 Reviews If some tout approaches you in Connaught avoid. We were approached by a tout who promised a car & driver for 600 Inr's a day & switched to a closer from EXOTIC ADVENTURE TRAVELS who promised more than...

See All 46 Tourist Traps in Delhi

157.

MISCELLANEOUS Goa

12 Reviews I had rented a Taxi Cab to take us to see some of the sights in South Goa like the St. Francis church, beaches, temples etc. As I stayed at the Park Hyaat in south Goa is was a long way off and quite...

See All 43 Tourist Traps in Goa

158.

Beggars Delhi

4 Reviews Kids, beggars, old people, rickshaw-wallahs, shoe-cleaners - they're all there to make you feel uncomfortable, pitiful & above all embarrassed. I had a pretty rough first week in India, 'coz you just...

See All 46 Tourist Traps in Delhi

159.

Traffic Delhi

4 Reviews The transport in Delhi is horrifying. There are constructions every where because they have to finished all works for Commonwealth Game in 2010. The airport is under construction and Long queue on...

See All 46 Tourist Traps in Delhi

160.

Rickshaws Delhi

5 Reviews i wasted time and money when rickshaw drivers instead of taking me where i wanted to go, insisted on taking me to expensive shops where they probably get commission. they turned a deaf ear to my...

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161.

Tour guides Delhi

3 Reviews While in Delhi, i went to a travel agents and booked a car and driver for my few days there so i could get a quick look around most of the major sites. I have to say, he was a nice chap who drove me...

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Reviews from VirtualTourist Members

Hotel tipping

by Crift

If you make the mistake and start tipping from day one for every little service hotel house keepers and porters provide, you are looking for trouble... Chances are that you will be returning to your room after a long day on the busy streets to find that your bed wasn't made, there is STILL no toilet paper, the towels haven't been changed... And as soon as they all know you are home they will come to serve you in your presence so you will feel obliged to tip them afterwards.Some of them come banging at the door asking if you need anything and they just won't go away... they will even try to come in after you have litteraly shut the door in their face! Just make them do their job and avoid over-tipping

When Visiting the Taj...

by kevin111

Obviously when in New Delhi, one must see the Taj. Do not let yourself get into a cab or a hired driver situation if you can help it for this trip. TAKE THE TRAIN out of Delhi to Agra. The car ride is 4+ hours each way and the train is about an hour. The drivers will tell you other-wise. Just trust me and do it this way. You'll be glad you did...

Don´t ask anyone to guide you to a shop or hotel

by gulshesh

If you ask a cab/riksha/cicle driver to take you to a specific hotel, he might find some excuse (like the part of town is flooded, happened to me), and take you to some other hotel. Beleave me, you´ll pay twice the price, and the driver get´s a provision.It´s similar when you ask a kid, to take you to a shop, to buy water or so, he´ll guide you to the most exclusive souvenier shops. They have the most beautiful things you´ve ever seen, but not what you wanted. The kid hopes to get a provision of course... If you were brought to some expensive hotel, well, either pay, and enjoy the hot shower offered there, and maybe even tv and a clean toilet. Or tell the driver to take you to the nearest public place (like the train station new delhi) and walk the rest (if aplicable).In case of the kid taking you to an exclusive souvenier shop, you don´t have to buy a thing. But you have to had a look...

The Sri Meenakshi Temple - Ariel Views.

by Vintom

Across the road from the Sri Meenakshi Temple are a few emporiums that rely on trade from tourists. They have a great way of getting you into their shops. Read the excerpt from my travelogue below. He asked us if we would like to view the Temple complex from above, "yeah sure" we said, knowing exactly what was coming next.We had read about this scam to get people into an emporium in the Guidebook, but we wanted to see the aerial view and did not mind this man getting his commission for taking us there.The Emporium was just across the road from the Temple entrance, and we were shown into the lift to take us to the roof. Once on the roof there was another short flight of steps that took us to the viewing platform, where we took a few pictures, but it really needed to be a lot higher to get a good overall view of the Temple complex.Now this is where the scam kicks in, because you can't use...

What would you do?

by Vintom

A STORY FROM VARANASIAs we passed by the burning Ghat and headed through the wood store, we were approached by a young boy who was dressed very smartly all in white. The boy who looked like an alter boy serving in a church was standing next to a very old lady who was resting on a pile of logs. The boy explained to us that the old lady had travelled from the countryside to Varanasi in the hope she might be cremated at the holy waters.He also explained that he worked in the local hospice where the old and sick were fed and sheltered until their passing away. Then he told us that this particular old woman was very close to her death and had come to the Ghat in the hope of begging some money so as that she could afford to pay for the wood that would be used on her pyre. And would we care to give anything towards helping her achieve this. Furthermore he then went on to say if we did help out...

Agra

by Claus_Qvist

Maybe apart from the camel herdes at Giza, probably the place on earth with most hawkers and stupid rickshaw drivers.No reason to believe that every single merchant in town is their brother or uncle, and don't add to the general impression that tourists are easy by following their suggestions. Be aware that none of the rickshaw drivers will take you anywhere if the shop-keeper doesn't pay commission! Of course, you have to go. Taj Mahal is a true beauty, but getting a rickshaw going straight to the mausoleum without wanting to visit a dozen carpet factories or jewelry shops is nothing but hard work. Yuck. Hard to find, but try Fatehpur Sikri, one hour away.

SHOESHINE BOYS - DELHI

by Vintom

Shoeshine Boys in Delhi are to be found whereever tourists go. Be wary that even if your shoes are not dirty, they will insist on cleaning them. They may even make them dirty while you are not looking by throwing stuf on them.To be fair to the Shoeshine boys they made a good job of getting his shoes to look a little more respectable, and when it came to payment they said that Bobby Davro had given them ten pounds for cleaning his shoes, Nick told them he was not as rich as Bobby Davro and gave them 25 rupees! Talking to the boys they told us that they had come to Delhi from Khajuraho to work, and that it had been a good move for them as they were earning more that they ever could there. Let’s hope they ran into a few more Bobby Davro’s.I would have thought they could have earned money in Khajuraho, as this is a popular tourist destination in it’s own right, but then again, not being a...

Snake Charmers and dancing monkeys

by Vintom

You will find a lot of snake charmers in the more touristy spots along with dancing monkeys and bears e.t.c.Snake charming has been a part of India's folklore for as long as time itself, but the capturing of monkeys and bears is something I do not approve off. I don't know about you but I don't agree with capturing animals and making them perform for money.. The animals are treated badly and kept half starved to encourage them to perform. Don't encourage this kind of behaviour by giving money. If you like animals and want to give some money, then wht not make a donation to the World Wildlife Federation.

BEACH VENDORS

by Vintom

Beach Vendors can be found on all the beaches in South India where Tourists are likely to congrgate. They will try to sell you drinks and fruit and at times can become a little persistent. If you don't want any, be polite but firm when you tell them no. Also be aware that you will more than likely be overcharged, so try to be awre of roughly how much you should pay. You can get a feel for what is a reasonable price by simply asking those who have been there for a while. Other than that you can guage the cost by watching what others pay before you. The alternative is to bring your own refreshment to the beach, but mostly this is not required so long as you are happy with the price you are asked to pay. Even slightly expensive is quite cheap to most tourists, but I don't really advocate paying over the top as this then encourages price rises for everyone.

In October of 2000 the Indian...

by vaticanus

Let me preface my remarks by saying I am neither unmindful nor ungrateful for the wonderful courtesy and generosity of Indians or of the numerous museums, sites and monuments in India that are completely free. In October of 2000 the Indian Government increased entrance fees for foreigners to see India's most popular monuments. Foreigners will pay 50 times the rate paid by a citizen of India. This means you will pay a minimum of $5 (five dollars US) for less prestigious sites and $10 (US) for better known sites such as Khajuraho or the Ellora Caves. The Taj Mahal is $20. The Buddhist stupa at Sanchi is $10 to see the site and $10 for the museum. This adds up quickly if you are visiting historical and World Heritage Sites. Adjust your budget accordingly. There have been many objections to this rate increase. I object because the funds do not go for salaries for the guards at the sites;...

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5 Reviews and 486 Opinions hallo was meeting adam pyotr mancic in the surfclub arambol. best friend at this time. every night...

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Questions and Answers

Q: Hello, I'm a UK passport-holder planning to spend the month of August in India, for the first time! However, I'm going to visit...

A: I hope that you are aware that August is Monsoon season in Delhi. It is also VERY hot and humid. If you can cope with this, also be aware that if (impossible to...

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