All money is supposed to be changed at official banks or money- changers, and you are supposed to be given an encashment- certificate for each transaction. Generally all good hotels have this facility at their front office.

Hotel bills can be paid with Credit Cards, Traveler Cheque and Indian Rupees. International credit cards are widely accepted.

• Do not launch straight into a hot curry but pace yourself with milder dishes first.
• Never eat food off the streets, which may have been sitting there for some time.
• To begin with, avoid eating salads or food that has been washed in water.
• Avoid eating raw vegetables and fish on any kind (unless by a coastal area).
• Always peel your fruit.
• Where possible, ensure the food is hot and has been recently prepared.
• Drink only bottled water and ensure that the seal is intact before opening it.
• Avoid ice in your drinks (unless the hotel has its own water purification system).

April to Sept. – Cotton in plains of north and south India, and light woolens in the hills.

By Road
Travel by motor car in the subcontinent is an experience that no amount of European motoring can prepare you for and which may at first seem dangerous. The quality of the roads varies enormously and they are of no comparison to roads in Europe. For most journeys we engage the Indian Ambassador for our clients, owing to their reliability, high ground clearance and widespread availability of spare parts across the country.

When travelling as part of a group, wherever possible we shall use air-conditioned coaches. This will almost be the case when travelling in Northern India but in the south, they are not in great supply and you may be obliged to travel by non-air conditioned coach in some areas. All coaches that we use will be of the highest standard available and although maintained to local standards, they bear no comparison to the touring coaches found in Europe.

By Train
Travelling by train in India is a fascinating and rewarding way to see the country and there are now many good trains in operation. However, they can not be compared with trains in the West. They will be simple, with modest standards of comforts and, wherever possible, we shall try to reserve first-class or air-conditioned seats but these can not be guaranteed and do not exist on all routes.

By Air
India has reasonably good network of domestic air routes, serviced by several airlines mainly using Airbus and Boeing aircraft.

Tipping
Is acceptable and expected by waiters, bellboys, drivers, guides, escorts etc.

General Travel Tips

• Export of antiques and animal products is banned.
• Photography is prohibited at airports.
• Permission is needed to use Movie cameras except for 8 mm. Video film is widely available in India, bring batteries and cleaning equipment.
• Bring sunglasses, sun cream and a hat.
• Remove footwear when entering places of worship.
• Useful things to bring: Medicines, flashlights, money belts, baggage locks, insect repellents, universal electric adapter, alarm clock, sewing kit, earplugs, penknife, diary, contact lens cleaner, small radio.