Guenmai

I agree with Bill T...Who died and made the rock-bottom budget/budget traveler's king of how one should travel? What elitism. Folks should be able to stay in any level of accomodation they so choose and without being downed. I, for one, am flexible in about any level of accomodation and over the last three decades have stayed at ALL levels of accomodations depending on what mood I'm in and where I'm traveling too. And no matter where I stay, it has absolutely NOTHING to do with what kind of travel experience I'm going to have once I've left the hotel. I'm a people person who goes out and meets the folks. When I read many of the comments on loneyplanet.com there is a real hang up with many over there as to constantly downing anyone who doesn't choose so-called rock-bottom to budget accomodations.I thought it was different over here. And there is also this traveler vs. tourist attitude which is totally silly to me. The bottom line is all travelers are "GUESTS" in someone else's country...city...town...period... And as far as I'm concerned...being one who lives in an area visited by 20 million...tourists/travelers/guests or whatever you want to call them....I'd rather deal with the tourist who are on mapped out routes...than many of the so-called "travelers" who love wandering around and walking through our neighborhood...year after year... oohing and awing over how gorgeous it is to see fruit in the dead of the winter and snapping pictures everywhere and pulling the fruit off of our trees and stuffing it into their backbacks! I say put them all on a tour bus! Well, I've got that off my chest...just a topic that sends me into orbit.Now, I'll go meditate...Breathe in...breathe out... Happy Travels!

kuranosuke

guenmai;

WOW! you ok? are you sure meditation and deep breathing is enough for you? i got a bottle of premium daiginjo sake i was saving for the holidays, but will be happy to send it to you to mellow out to your usual self.

i also agree with billt, and i think you hit it right on her, er,,, the head. nothing wrong in travelling in style, or on a budget, or a combo of both.

too bad susanwr had a bad experience. i have india on my future travels, and hopefully i can get there before too long.

btw, i lied, i drank the daiginjo when penn state beat indiana last week, but i still have a good bottle of ginjo i can send to you. ;-)

susanwr

Readers, I DID research this trip for a full year. I was aware that there was poverty and cleaniness issues. I was warned that the first trip to India was a "culture shock" for visitors. I think it's the SCALE of the problems/issues of India's poor infrastructure that got to me. I clearly underestimated all the warnings. I would also like to say that the doctor who treated me in Frankfurt says he sees 5,000 cases a year of Delhi belly cases just like mine. And I was VERY careful - bottled water only, no raw veggies or fruits, etc. For the record, we are retired, middle class Americans. This was the FIRST trip where we EVER stayed in a couple of five-star hotels. We are well educated and well travelled people who have many friends all over the world, and we do not consider ourselves "out of touch with the rest of the world." Sorry, but India is just not our cup of tea! I'm also never posted in Fodor's forums until before and after this trip. So if it's a "no-no" to post negative impressions or experiences about a country, my apologies. Frankly, I'd rather hear both sides when planning a trip...so why did my comments seem to rub some of you the wrong way? And to those of you who wished me well, I'm feeling MUCH better thank you...and I'm not feeling so cranky! Wonders of sleep, modern science and anti-biotics!

BillT

Susanwr- other people have had the same reaction as you when they visited and they thought they were prepared as well.
People react differently- you are not alone. India represents some risks- one has to understand and weigh the risks vs. rewards of travel there and make a decision if it is worth it. We have taken it off our list as the negatives out weigh the rewards. We don't begrudge those that hold a different view.

jacketwatch

Actually 5 * hotels are plentiful in India as well as much more affordable so why not? To each their own.

Guenmai

Kuranosuke....Send the sake. I'm still fired up! I just had a flashback of when I was mainly over in the lonelyplanet.com forum.Not only do I need some sake, but some Thanying cuttlefish and red sauce to return me back to my California laidback state of mind! Does Thanying deliver... Fed Exp? Happy Travels!

Guenmai

To Susan....Sorry you had such a bad experience. It happens to us all at one point or another.Stay out in the world long enough and it's bound to eventually happen. And no matter how much research one does...it can't totally prepare one for some things.Reading about a place on paper and actually being there in the middle of the happenings are two totally different things. Better luck on your next trip! Happy Travels!

Guenmai

To Susan...I just read your entire post and post whatever you want about a country....I'm one who doesn't like things sugar coated. Those were your feelings/experiences and I'm glad you posted them. Happy Travels!

indie

susanwm...glad your are feeling better and I 'm glad you posted so that others will not underestimate the issues and problems - there are others like tracy who will see beyond that and still enjoy the experience.

But I guess the title of your post your post bothered me...substitute say the US or Florida in place of India, how would that feel? not very nice right? I can understand you completely disliking the country - but do not demean it.

But I do hope you also came back with an understanding of some of the problems and issues faced by 3rd world countries.

Happy travels and I am sorry if I seem overly defensive

Dori

Gee, I literally just booked my trip to India about 10 minutes ago. However, I'm also a firm believer that people should travel with an open mind and make their own opinions. Yes, I've heard from several people I talked to that went and hated it. Yet, I still booked it anyway. Because I have heard from an equal amount of people that loved it. I'll go and decide for my own.

Desireesun

Susan,

Like all the others, I agree that you need to keep an open mind while travelling...and espeically when you are going to a country like India. You went to Rajasthan, one of the most historic places in India, with forts and palaces and ethnic beauty and all you saw or noted was the filth??? Did you see the Victoria Memorial in Kolkata? Were your friends Indians? Hope they did not know the way you were feeling. Of course, being sick can definitely spoil one's vacation (I know, I was touring India when I had hives all over my back and temperature) but I still recall that country being one of the most fascinating places of all...

D.

Lyndie

susanwr
I too am sorry you had a pretty awful time in India. My partner and I are going mid Dec and do not really know what to expect, however I thought your post was a good one and I'm glad you said what you did! This is a open forum and your opinions and observances are valid ones. Hope you get better real quick!

kilofoxtrot

Just a reminder that if you travel to a 3rd world country, bring anitbiotics. Cirpofloxacin 250 mg twice a day is used to treat travellers diarrhoea (E coli). At the first sign of the runs, I would not hesitate to start on antibiotics. Also bring rehydration salts, anti diarrhoeals and medications for vomiting.
Pre-trip vaccines include Typhoid, hepatitis A/B , and Flu vaccines. Tetanus shots if not previously taken.

indie

A warning on the antibiotics - they soemtimes <i>cause</i> the runs in some people I am one of those unfortunates
so be sure the prescribed antibiotic agrees with you or else sheer misery and I found out the hard way.

rhkkmk

i can't wait to travel to india!!!

i enjoy reading both sides...one reason we stay in 4 and 5 star places is to create an oasis while travelling in 3rd world countries...during the day we are out and about in the bowls of the city and at nite we want comfort....

people on this forum have laughed at me when i describe wearing socks with sandles and how i limit my eating and especially drinking in asia, but this is the type of thing that can happen----no ice....no water poured in glasses--only bottled (can be drunk out of a glas of course, even in 5 star hotels, etc. etc....otherwise...IV and the toilet....its hard to do...

TracyB

Just another word or 2 on this topic..We took every precaution imaginable in India..We only drank bottled water, no raw veggies..etc, etc..WE took immodium and Cirpofloxacin with us, but never had to use them..We stayed in 2 - 3* hotels..We ate some wonderful Indian Food..Some at nicer restaurants, and some very cheap restaurants..We did not get sick, except for the odd headache and a few very mild boughts of diariah..
Then we went to Hong Kong and ate at all good upper scale restaurants..We both got so sick in Hong Kong that we almost died..
Usually I would agree with Bob about wondering around all day and experiencing the country and then going back to a 4 or 5* hotel..But I am glad that we stayed in tourist class hotels in India because we really got a good taste..Trust me..Some of the hotels were very nice (Maharaja Palaces), but some were a little iffy..Rock hard beds and not very nice bathrooms (all were completely clean, however). Overnight trains.(yuk) I think it toughened me up a little that perhaps i could do it again..I feel like I really did an Adventure Trip and experienced India.

alice13

ooohhh - what a long string. To Jacketwatch - I do not post for &quot;effect&quot;. I post on this branch because I have spent a long time travelling in India. I guess I shd apologise for the political aspect but it's difficult when you've just read an account on what going on in Iraq. Such a disaster and yet the great American public have voted him in again.

So I see the OP's post, and I go ballistic.

I agree with TracyB.

And to all of you Americans - please, please, please (please, please .....), I know it is not you - it is your govt.
But you have re-elected the idiot - so where does that leave us?

Whingeing posts like that of the OP just reinforce the perception that many of us in the outside world hold, that you cannot be trusted. Not only not trusted but positively dangerous.

Any neocons out there will shoot me down. But all I'm trying to do is to ask you to think about it.

BillT

Alice- please take your politcal rantings to another forum where that is appropriate.
3rd world countries have risks associated with them- some people go and get sick, some people go and don't get sick- sometimes its a dice roll.
If you would rather not run these risks- and for us we won't do India for that reason-there are safe countries where you won't have problems- like Austria and Switzerland.

Mealea

I love India. I've been there 3 times on extended trips to different regions. I think India is one of the most unique and endlessly fascinating places on earth. For me, it is a very special place.

Craig

Alice, you are not going to change the world or the US election results for that matter, by posting your inane rants and raves on this forum - so CHILL already!