FAQs
At the onset we would like to thank you for visiting our website
for your travel to India. We all hope that you will enjoy India as and when you
visit the country.
The different "FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS"
on travel to India have been answered in the following document. Kindly go through
the same and if there are other unanswered questions and clarifications, it would
be our pleasure to address the same too.
What
medical concerns should one keep in mind before & during travel in India?
Medical concerns No specific vaccinations are required to
enter India unless you are entering within six days of having visited a yellow
fever infected area. Most doctors recommend the following vaccinations:
Tetanus
Polio
Hepatitis
Meningitis
Malaria
The majority
of visitors to India return home with perfect health having had no problems at
all. The most common complaint is a stomach upset for a day or two-usually the
result of a change of diet, different Beer, or simply the change of lifestyle,
most case are rarely serious and recovery is swift.
Dust can be a problem
to travelers who wear contact lenses. If you are taking prescribed medicines,
split your supplies between your hand baggage and your main baggage. Make a list
of the generic properties of the drug and keep with you.
If you are
prone to coughs, colds and sore throats, we advice you to take preventive medicines
with you as larger cities suffer from smog pollution. This is particularly important
if you suffer from bronchial complaints.
If you are over 60 or you think
you have any physical disabilities, then you should talk to your doctor about
the trip to ensure it is suitable for you. Once on the trip please tell us any
concerns you may have regarding health concerns, we can then ensure your specific
needs are met.
We do reserve the right not to accept any traveler who
is found to have withheld any information relating to their state of health that
might affect the trip, even after a booking has been accepted.
If you
are undergoing specific medical treatment please inform us. It is your responsibility
to ensure you have an adequate supply of any medication they may be taking.
For more detailed information ask your local travelers health clinic or your
doctor.
Tap water is not safe to drink. Bottled water is available everywhere
and is cheap. However always check the seal.
What
cultural considerations should one take care of while touring in India?
India has a very traditional and religious society. Its cultures and customs
are very different to western cultural ideas. We ask you as guests in this amazing
country to respond to these sometimes-bizarre differences with sensitivity and
respect.
We do request you to dress conservatively - both men and women
should wear clothing that covers knees and shoulders (when visiting mosques and
temples). Nudity is totally taboo, when swimming please do wear a swimsuit.
Try to avoid any public display of affection. When entering mosques, temples
and places of religious worship or private homes - please remove your shoes. Many
Hindu temples are not open to non-Hindus. Always ask permission before entering.
Mosques may have limited visiting times for non-Muslims.
Some detailed
information about passport & visa: Passport You must
be in possession of a valid passport, which will not expire for at least six months
after your journey is due to end. It should have to clear pages for entry and
exit stamps as well as your visa.
A wise precaution is to carry a photocopy
of your passport kept separately, extremely useful in the event of loss or theft.
Visa All visitors to India require a visa that must be obtained
from an Indian High Commission or Consulate. You would need to use two addresses
in India and do let us know for the same as it is normal to give our company's
(COMPASS INDIA) and our director's address on the same.
For postal applications
passports should be sent by registered post and include a registered post paid
return addressed envelope. Applications should be on the official visa form available
from a local travel agent. Alternatively in some countries the form can be downloaded
from the Embassies' official WEBSITE. All applications should include 3 passport-sized
photographs. Your local travel agent or nearest Embassy will be able to inform
you of the latest application fee.
Where to
shop and how to be sure of the product & the price? Should we be confident
of going with the guide? India can be described as a shopper's paradise
with products such as hand-woven rugs, inlaid marble, semi-precious stone jewelry,
silk fabrics, brassware, etc. India's diversity is expressed though the creation
of master craftspeople. Each state has a unique handicraft to proudly reflect
the inherited and improved skills to near perfection. Souvenir shops and art &
craft emporiums are to be found everywhere.
Consult your guidebook or the
local guides and people. Usually the "pavement markets" do not guarantee
the products and they do not accept credit / debit cards. Genuine products can
only be guaranteed at a government showroom or branded showroom, i.e. Cottage
Industries, etc.
Shopping can be one of the ways to interact with a
local. For people who like to bargain, shopping is a true pleasure. For others,
fixed priced stores are a relief. Whatever transaction you prefer, we hope your
purchase that was made in India, will remind you of your trip.
Yes,
the guides do take you to shops and showrooms, while you are on tour. You can
say "no" when you don't want to visit the shops or not interested in
shopping with a guide. But when you do visit the store with the guide, you do
not necessarily pay a higher price for a substandard product. As this is a worldwide
phenomenon, we accept it too with its "blues". What we have done is,
selected a few stores both privately owned & government owned but in both
cases Government recognized) at important destinations, where we are sure of two
things;
1) Quality of the product
2) The product if too heavy should
be delivered at your doorstep without any extra cost even if the extra cost needs
to be added to the price of the product.
As for price, some are fixed
price & some are bargain shops. So go ahead and have FUN!!!
For
lists of authorized shops do let us know.
How
is one sure of the authenticity / qualification / credentials of the guides?
We have a panel of guides with ranks and only use them, and in most
cases they would be satisfactory. Government licensed guides are always preferred
by Compass India Inc. There are training courses and exams for the same and chances
are less that you will be unhappy if you go with one. Their daily rates and wages
are Government fixed. Note that the guide usually is there during lunch and it
is not an obligation to buy him/her lunch. If there are ever any problems 9The
Guide cannot speak the language well, too fast while you would like to spend more
time at the monuments, etc. do let us know so that we can change the guide.
Are the monument entrance fees included in the
tour cost? The monument entrance fees are usually not included in
the tour cost. It is not a problem when the same is included but when it is not,
you need to keep small change for the same. Usually you need to take the tickets
yourself but can request the guide who would be happy to oblige. We also have
detailed lists of monuments with the entrance fees and camera charges. Do request
us for the same if you want to have a good idea when the same is not included
in your tour cost.
General Information: Insurance
While traveling in India it is important that you obtain good personal travel
insurance from an insurance agent in your country. A suitable policy will include
an unlimited amount for medical, hospital and additional health associated costs.
Most policies cover loss of baggage, personal money (usually limited)
delay and curtailment. Do make sure your policy covers you for unexpected cancellation
of your trip in this unlikely event you will then be covered for financial cost.
You should carry your insurance policy with you at all time, preferably
in your relevant details in a separate place, with your passport photocopy.
Tipping Tipping is an inherent part of life in India. It is one
of the most effective ways to communicate how you felt about the service provided.
It is common practice to tip porters, drivers, wait staff, toilet attendants and
guides. It is not necessary to tip rickshaw drivers. Please note that you are
not obliged to tip and it is entirely to your discretion. Please refer to
http://www.tipping.org/tips/TipsPageIndia.html
for tipping standards. Please let us know if you want some guidelines on the same
but usually it is "what you feel is appropriate".
A general
idea would be as follows:
Bellboys: Rs. 10 - 20 (1/4th US$) per
bag
Drivers: Rs. 200 (5 US$) per day & Rs.100 (2 US$) per half
day
Day Guides: Rs. 250 to 400 (6 - 8 US$)
Restaurants:
5% of the bill amount could be left.
Room boys / Maid : It is not recommended
We Care In India roads could appear to be pot-holed
and traffic chaotic and hence our guests very frequently get very worried. We
suggest that you catch up on some sleep or read a book or even better put on your
in-flight eye shades and doze off. The drivers are well trained and they are used
to these roads. Very seldom (I must hasten to add that almost none) are any accidents
involving tourist vehicles. The cars that we use are safe, insured for and routinely
checked. Trains however are much more comfortable ride-wise but could appear dirty
and filthy. Do carry your dry hand wash and tissue always while taking train journeys.
The flights are pleasant and service good.
The transport is broadly
classified as:
Cars - In India, the mostly used car for tourists
is, the Ambassador. This is one of the oldest models in the world still being
manufactured and it is still hardy and spacious. We have always had guests specially
requesting for this car. We have a couple of them in our fleet and they are almost
a year old (2003 end model) and we use them discreetly as they wear and tear fast
and could be slow and rickety if used without rest. Other than these two cars
we also use TATA INDIGO which is a small sedan with good air-conditioning, TATA
INDICA which is a small hatchback and is used for backpackers on a long trip,
TOYOTA QUALIS & INNOVA & TATA SAFARI which are high SUV type vehicles
seating 4 - 5 people normally but used for couples also as are very comfortable
and MITSUBISHI LANCERS. On guest's request, the premium cars that we use are CHEVY
OPTRA & TOYOTA COROLLA. We also use TOYOTA CAMRY, HONDA ACCORD & MERCEDES
(C, E & S) when requested for. We have recently launched our luxury limousine
which we use only for top end tours as and when requested.
Flights
- There are presently four domestic airlines in India other than Air India
which also operates some domestic routes. The local airlines in the order of service
and punctuality are Jet Airways, Sahara Airlines, Indian Airlines and Deccan Air.
Out of all the four Deccan is to be avoided as they are still facing teething
problems.
Trains - As described above train journeys could be enjoyable
if you have an open mind and just want to enjoy and experience true India. The
middle class and upper middle class (cliché) use Indian Railways and it
is a way of life in India. The best trains that could be booked and we use them
where possible are SHATABDI & RAJDHANI EXPRESS. You could check the various
classes in the following site:
http://www.indiarail.co.uk/class.htm
Travelers Cheques Thomas Cook or American Express in American
Dollars, Euro or British Sterling are the only ones that are widely accepted.
Cash US dollars, Euro and British Sterling are the best currency
to take. The notes need to be clean, undamaged and if possible the latest issue.
Credit Card In major cities Visa, Master and American Express
cards can be used. Please do not rely on your credit card as a source of finance
in small cities though most of the touristic cities have a large number of ATMs.
Currency The unit of currency is Rupee. (1 rupee is equal
to 43US$ / 80GBP£ / 55€ approximately)
Climate
With such a large landmass, India has a wide range of climates with effects of
the altitude and the sea being very string in certain areas.
North
India April - June : Hot, dry and dusty with temperature 35-42 DEG C
July - August : Hot, Humid and rainy
Sep - Mar : Pleasant days and could get
cooler in the night
South India April/May & Aug/Sep :
Hot and Humid with average temperature 38 DEG C
June/July/Oct/Nov : Hot and
Heavy rains
Dec - Mar : Hot but less humid
Language India
is an area of great linguistic diversity with over 1500 languages and dialect.
People associated with tourism speak English throughout the country. The official
language is however Hindi.
Time India is 5.5 hours ahead
of GMT, 6.5 hours behind New Zealand Standard Time, 4.5 hours behind Australian
Eastern Standard Time and 11.5 hours ahead of Canadian Eastern Standard Time.
Clothing For the most of areas, cotton casual clothing that
is light and loose fitting is recommended for daywear. For trips during Nov-Jan
do carry warm clothes as it is cold during early mornings and evenings. (Only
in Northern India) Carry a hat during sightseeing to keep off the mid-day sun
and for the evenings a couple of elegant dresses would be nice to be worn for
dinner at the lovely hotels. You could also wear trousers and jeans during the
day. There is no problem. Carry a stole or a scarf to cover your head or feet
while at the religious places.
We the people India 's Population
; 995 Million (1998)
Capital : New Delhi
Ask us There
could be a lot of other questions that you might have, once you are already in
the process of booking the tour. For instance; payment methods, cancellation conditions,
meet and assist at the airport, company bank details, previous reference, etc.
and you are welcome to ask them. It would be our pleasure.
THE ABOVE
HAS BEEN COMPILED TO THE BEST OF OUR KNOWLEDGE. FOR ANY LATEST DEVELOPMENTS OR
DETAILED CLARIFICATIONS, DO FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH US. YOU CAN ALSO GIVE
YOUR SUGGESTIONS AS TO HOW WE CAN IMPROVE THIS.
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