India holiday accommodation

Travel in India is dirt cheap but it's not always comfortable.

Accommodation costing a dollar or two per night is plentiful in remote Indian villages and towns, usually in reasonably clean condition, but don't aim too low or you'll find yourself sleeping in a flea-infested hovel.

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Don't be afraid to bargain for the best and/or cheapest room in Indian hotels, even in the cities and particularly during the travel sector's slow season in summer.

The country's range of hotels has broadened dramatically over the past decade and it's expected that as many as 150,000 new three to four star hotel rooms will become available in India between 2004 and 2009.

However, finding quality holiday accommodation can still be a challenge for the unwary in some parts of India. It's always best to either check facilities yourself or rely on a fellow traveller's advice before booking into a hotel or hostel.

Make sure your passport is handy whenever seeking a hotel room in India as you'll invariably have to fill out a foreign tourist information form.

Tariffs are added to almost all hotel bills in India and the rate varies from 10% up to 35% in different states.

Find out if the tariff is or isn't included in the hotel bill quoted so that you can budget accurately for your accommodation.

Throughout your tour of India, get used to surcharges on purchases such as hotel rooms, restaurant meals and alcohol, the rate varying in different states of India.

India is ideal for backpackers who are happy to travel on the cheap smell of an oily rag.

Budget holiday travel accommodation in India costs less than US$10 a night and you can even find some very basic bedding as cheap as US$2 or US$3.

If you prefer a comfortable hotel room with western mod-cons, the bills vary from US$10 to US$200 per night.

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It's still easy to find a cheap basic meal in India for less than US$1 and a feast can be enjoyed for not much more than US$5.

A streetwise, rice-eating traveller who doesn't mind cockroaches can have a fairly enjoyable holiday in India for just US$10 a day.

If you want holiday luxuries such as a private room, a bathroom and quality restaurant meals, budget around US$35 per day for your travel through India - still cheap for a holiday with quality food and accommodation.

Money exchange for most currencies is a fairly straightforward process in most Indian cities but it's wise not to travel into regional areas without US dollars, British pounds and/or common travellers checks such as Thomas Cook.

It's advisable to only occasionally convert large amounts to rupees in major banks in major cities, rather than tackle the slow and frustrating delays synonymous with most banks in small Indian towns.

At the same time, don't compromise your security by carrying too much cash in areas where you might be robbed or duped.

Most Indian banks open their doors on weekdays from 10am to 2pm and on Saturdays from 10am to midday.

Credits cards can be used in most major Indian cities and towns, many of which have Automatic Teller Machines that accept major brands such as Visa, Cirrus and Mastercard.

However, don't rely on your card in any way if you travel to a small town or a remote village in India.

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