India: Ancient Traditions, New Technology
India is one of the world’s most ancient and diverse countries. With its colonial background and location between Asia and the Middle East, India has long served as a cultural crossroad: a place where East meets West and ancient tradition meets modern innovation. All aspects of the country are complex: religion, race, and even the landscape. It can be both alluring and daunting, even for seasoned travelers. We point you to Web sites that help you explore the India that suits you.
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From the bare bones to the extravagant, India caters to the needs of every kind of traveler. There are hostels for the backpacker, mid-range hotels and lodges for the penny pincher, five-star city hotels for those who crave creature comforts, and a variety of options in between. This section shows you how to use the Internet to research and book the room that fits your travel style.
- Although India offers a wide array of choices when it comes to overnight dwellings, these choices can vary widely depending on your location. Big cities like Delhi and Mumbai have everything from cheap traveler hotels, where you can get a room for less than $10 a night, to luxury rooms that cost more than $300 a night. In more rural areas, small rooms with few comforts are the norm.
- Before you check in, be sure to ask about any luxury taxes on the rack rate of your room. Some jurisdictions, including Delhi and Bangalore, will heavily tax you, and the charge won’t show up until checkout time.
For hotels …
SideStep
uses the results from more than 200 other travel sites to help you find the best hotel deals throughout India. Enter a location, and the site provides accommodation ratings and overviews of the comforts offered there.
The Accommodation Search Engine
is an easy way to search for places to stay throughout India. Organized by town, ASE presents lodging options without quoting prices or pushing special deals.
The Indian Ministry of Tourism
has listed all of the government-approved bed and breakfasts in New Delhi. Listings on this PDF file include the number of rooms available, government rating, and contact information for each establishment.
For hostels …
Allhostel.com
provides an extensive listing of hostels available in most of the major Indian cities. The site’s reviews, recommendations, pictures, and directions make it a smart place to begin looking for hostel possibilities.
The Youth Hostels Association of India
is part of the Hostelling International organization and requires free registration before you use the site. Once you register, you can search for hostels by state, then book them for up to seven nights online. The site also has information on a number of discounts available to Hostelling International members.
The Backpackers’ Ultimate Guide
, BUG, also has extensive hostel listings with reviews for locations all over India. Not all hostels listed are reviewed, however.
For information on camping …
Indian Adventure
tells you what you need to know about camping in India. From tour packages to popular sites to the equipment you’ll need, this site contains helpful general insight. For more specific information, you’ll need to make a request through the Web site.
There are a number of ways to get around India. Low-cost domestic airlines are booming on the ... read more »
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