Ok...so hubby and I are traveling to India next week for two weeks. We are going to dehli (imperial and taj), agra (oberoi), varanasi (taj), rathambore (oberoi), and jaipur (oberoi). We have a private driver/guide the entire trip. Everyone is freaking me out this week about the trip....insisting that it is almost impossible not to get sick unless you only eat bread and meat. I get the no water concept. That is easy. But I am hearing that parasites are rampant and I sort of feel that it is inevitable. I have heard so many cautions about various things, that I am really nervous.

So what is the truth? What should I avoid? Since I am staying at these nice hotels, do I still have to worry about the food in the hotel as well? What things should I bring?

Please help me with what to expect! Thanks.

Good lord!! Thats no way to say Bon Voyage.They are simply paranoid folk.
I see no reason for you to panic.From what I see you are staying in,among the best of hotels,very hygenic food,a vast spread of Conti,Oriental & lovely Indian.
Let me start by giving you some basic tips:
Carry bottled water everywhere( you could ask for mineral water),avoid uncooked food like
salads ( except in your hotel),carry mosquito repellants ( either a spray or cream)& I'm sorry to disappoint your friends that there are no parasites lurking in every corner to get you. Sun lotion when out in the open( a cap or a hat too ).Warm clothing for it could get chilly at night& at this time of the year.Avoid spicy food ( you could request the hotel)to avoid tummy upset.
Go on and enjoy your holiday.Now, can I say Bon Voyage!

Tell these "friends" they don't know what they're talking about. They haven't been to India, have they? I spent 10 weeks there, NOT staying and eating in top end hotels, and I only got sick once, from drinking pineapple juice bought on a station plaform. I knew it was a bad idea, but I didn't want to be rude to the charming Indian couple who bought it for me. (A couple of days of bland food and some Cipro and I was fine.) Take the usual precautions - no water, no ice, only food that is cooked, boiled or peeled - and enjoy your trip. If you haven't read them yet, look for Lonely Planet or Rough Guide's "First Time in Asia" books.

We went to India in February 2005, following a similar itinerary to yours except we didn't have time for Varanasi. We did not get sick. We ate in hotel restaurants for breakfast and dinner and brought snacks instead of eating lunch (we do the snacks on all of our trips). We were actually very cautious about eating meat, preferring vegetarian meals until the end of the trip. I think we were overly cautious. The hotel food was excellent for the most part and it seemed that hygiene standards were very high. I think washing your hands before eating is a good idea - and bring hand sanitizer and/or antibacterial wipes. Your travel doc should have given you a prescription for Cipro (or equivalent) which you should obtain before you go. Drink only bottled water and brush your teeth with bottled water. If you do all of these things, you should be fine. Have a great trip - the hotels you are staying in are some of the best in the world, by the way.

Dr. Dr. Andrea,

First of all, you are staying at hotels that will rival any you have stayed at anywhere in the world. I stayed at the same ones you are staying at and ate everything--including salads at all the Oberoi hotels. I also kept forgetting the warnings and brushed my teeth all the time with tap water at the Oberois and Taj hotels and never had a minute's illness in 22 days. The Oberoi staff will tell you that you can even drink the tap water at the Oberoi's as they have their own water filtration and purification systems--I still stuck to bottled water, but I certainly didn't worry about brushing my teeth.

We went to restaurants in every city, we ate everything--veg and non veg. We didn't eat street food, but I did sip the welcome drinks at the hotels that many on the board tell you not to. I actually gained a couple pounds because the food is so amazing in India.

I didn't avoid anything other than water not in sealed bottles and street food. If you have a driver, he will have lots of water in a cooler in the car. Good water, no street food (unless scalding hot) and a good dose of common sense (and some pepto bismol and an antibiotic just in case) should get you through India just fine.

Don't worry, enjoy, be sensible. India is wonderful, the cacaphony astounding, the roads indescribable, the people are warm, and the food is fantastic. You will have a memorable time.

We started off being very careful about what we ate. After 1 day we felt safe eating in all the hotels...meat and veg. We did eat in some resturants that are geared for tourist. We even ate in the roadside rest stops(1/2 way between Delhi and Agra etc). It was always cooked foods. Never once in our 2 weeks did either of us get sick. Enjoy your trip,just use common sence.

Ok...I feel a lot better. Believe it or not...these people have actually been to india.