Spending in India

[parris]

My friend has suggested that rather than taking the travellers cheques to India, I should just take cash (UK money) and my ATM machine card. I feel that it may be quite risky carrying a large amount of money around with me at all times. Please can you suggest what is the best way to go about money in India. I am due to go in a couple of days.

[warpig3]

Sorry, don't have an answer for you, just to say when I was there both my friend and I got some of our travellers cheques stolen our hotel safe. They took the cheques from the back thinking we wouldn't notice. My cheques were Thomas Cook and I was able to get mine replaced in the local town, but my friends were American Express and we had to travel to Bombay for replacements.

So ultimately nothing is really safe, only thing is, if you lose your atm card then you have no money and it may take longer to get access to it. I would suggest the TC travellers cheques and then split them so that they are not all in the one place.

Have a great time though, it is a beautiful country and I found the people lovely.

[warpig3]

Sorry, 'stolen from our hotel safe'.

[Dee Sa]

Travellers cheques are not a good idea for India, you will only be able to change at certain banks.
plenty of ATM machines everywhere, beware of changing money at Thomas Cook agents they charge the most commission and refuse to take bank notes if they have any "writing, numbers, or squiggles" on themand offer you the lowest rate in town.
most ATMs are available 24 hrs.Change some money at airport on arrival for taxis, tips etc.
have a good holiday.

[thugulike]

ATM is your best bet. Make sure you have back up credit cards and BE CAREFUL. Mr thugulike and I are very experienced travellers but he had is wallet stolen at a railway station. If anyone approaches you asking if you can change dollars or euros for rupees do not fall for it. They only want to see where you keep your cash. I saw what had happened and was able to make a challenge and his wallet miraculously appeared on the floor just as the train pulled in. It was a narrow squeak. We now carry a joint Amex and Visa and have separate credit cards too. Keep your cash on your person, a special cash carrier which fits onto a belt loop and sits inside your clothing is the safest way as anything with a visible strap can be cut.

[sarahreiki]

I know this answer is pretty late now, but I have travelled to india a couple of times.
First time I took British cash and travellers cheques. Indian bureacracy has to be seen to be beleived, I spent hours in a queue to have some jobsworthy person fill out upteem forms and stamp umpteen forms and papers before I got my cash and I wish I hadn't bothered.
More recently I took about �50 cash and 1 credit card for a 10 day holiday and this was fine. On the whole everything is very cheap, and even cheaper when you haggle.I only used my crdit card for paying for hotel and some gifts in a deluxe leather shop selling designer things. Everything else was so cheap including meals, massages, manicures, market shopping, etc I found small denomination ruppees are best.

Enjoy!