europe2011

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gloriazuckerman

India is really awesome country. I have visited India in the February 2014. I experienced the best time of my life there. I visited some surreal places like Gulmarg in Kashmir, Panchgani in Maharashtra, Beautiful beaches of Kerala.

I liked the royal lifestyle of Rajasthan state.

I have been stayed in the India for two months.

scdreamer

I am interested in north India - have wanted to visit for a long time. I have traveled by myself in Mexico, Guatemala, and Spain. As a woman, I'm not sure about India, though.

I think I would be interested in a tour of some sort, but it would have to be a very small group. I'm past the age of wanting to "rough it," but I don't want an artificial experience, either. Not sure how to put something like that together.

I realize that's a fairly vague description of what I'm interested in, but I'm going to ask anyway.

Anyone know of something that might fit my needs?

thursdaysd

It's possible that a comfort level Intrepid tour might work. Their max group size is 12, and they don't put you in a cocoon, but they are a budget outfit. Otherwise, if you don't want to go the car and driver route, and you want a higher degree of comfort, it's likely to be expensive.

CaliforniaLady

Thursday has mentioned before that she enjoyed her Intrepid tour, and that may work for you.

As an alternative, you might consider keeping your first trip simple (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi), and hiring a driver, but not a guide in all cities but Delhi. In Delhi, we rode around in tuk tuks and felt comfortable. This way, you can keep your costs down, and you may feel more at ease. A good driver, especially one you find in advance, can help you plan your day, and can deposit you safely back at your hotel.

Indian men are pretty gentle, so I rarely felt uncomfortable around them. However, there are definitely people everywhere in India trying to part you from your money, but you just ignore them and keep walking. In Mumbai, there was a guy on a boat that tried to tell us that we had to pay extra to sit on the top--the usual scam you might see other places as well. Just hold your ground and ignore them.

India is a magical country--I hope you find a way to go that makes you feel comfortable.

artstop

I have long wanted to go to India, but have been scared off by reports of travelers getting sick. Would you recommend the tour you took as suitable for a 70-year-old couple?

jacketwatch

We just got back from a travel clinic before our upcoming trip to India. Recommended for us are typhoid and Hep. A shots. We have already had Hep B and tetanus but you should look into what is specific for your case.
We also got malarial prophylaxis and other meds in case of " Delhi Belly"
You have to exercise caution when going to India. GI illnesses are definitely a possibility. We have learned this the hard way.