Spendimg money in India

[TAFFWILLIAMS]

My wife are off to India in November - doing the Golden Triangle. Majority of meals are already paid for so will only need spending money.

1. How much money should we take?

2. Where do we change our money - in this country or do we wait until we get do India?

3. What is the best currency to take - Dollars, Sterling or Euros??


Any advice would be appreciated,

Regards

Taff Williams

[tamborine]

Sterling notes are easily changed in hotels etc but best for bulk money is Travellers cheques; they're more secure against theft. Change for rupees to pay out.

99, when I was there the rupee notes were so soiled they were a health hazard !

[jack daniels]

it's a currency available only in the country - you can't bring it out either. We took sterling & if you can get £50 notes - they love them & give you an even better rate (if you know where/who to go to) your hotel should be able to change currency for you but look around for a better rate.

Anna x

[EdmundD]

My wife and I have been going to india for 2-3 weeks every year for the last 6 or 7 years. I generally take £1,000 in GBP Travellers Cheques and maybe £200 in GBP. However, on our trips not all meals are covered by the hotels. We often have our own driver and the expectation is that he gets a few thousand rupees at the end of the trip. In the last few years ATMs have become more common but if you are going to use Indian ATMs tell your bank before you go.You cannot get rupees here and you are not supposed to take any out when you leave. your first opportunity to buy rupees will be when you are in Arrivals at your destination airport. Be aware India is accustmed to tipping and if you do tip it gets you a long way, so you need to keep a supply of 50 or 100 rupee notes. The airports usually only give large denomination notes so change some as soon as you can for bag carriers porters etc