Hostel and travel advice in india

Hi everyone,

I will be travelling to India on the 4th of June and will be there for 1 ½ months. I am going to be flying into Mumbai (plan to stay there for a few days) then want to make my way up to Darjeeling then back to Mumbai to carry on my trip in S.E. Asia.

I would be very interested in any suggestions as to what hostels to stay in while in Mumbai. I am looking to spend and absolute maximum of 600Rs per night but the cheaper the better. Ideally I would like to stay in the Colaba area. I have done some research and I have come up with a few places but would like to know if anyone has spent time in these hostels and what your thoughts are on them.

1. The Sea Shore 500/600 Rs per night
2. Rex-Stiffles, by the Taj Hotel, 350 Rs per night
3. Hotel Lawrence at fort.
4. Salvation Army Red Shield Hotel 150Rs per night for dorm.
5. Apollo Guest House 500Rs per night
6. Hotel Volga II 600Rs per night
7. Hotel Prosser’s 500/700Rs per night

One issue I have is that I am going to be arriving around 1am in the morning and want to know whether its worth booking in advance (where I can) or just turning up and hoping.

I have read that a lot of people have problems when booking in advance (i.e. when they turn up there is no record of their book) I have also read that it can be worth finding a tout and getting them to find a hostel! Would anyone suggest this?

One last thing. Has anyone got any ideas on the best way to book trains in india. How long does it take? I have heard that you can be in a queue all day is this true. Can anyone suggest any tips as to best go about this?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and hope to get some idea of where best to stay for my first big travelling experience

Take care

regarding the train booking, you can book train tickets if travelling long distances from

https://www.irctc.co.in/

Hostel bookings, i would suggest call them and confirm. I would try to visit places you told in weekend (i got some work in weekend but i hope i can manage some time to find it out)and see if i can get some details. Tout can help you, but usually like all places they have commission so they might want to take you to expensive place but it might be worth a try, but i wont suggest it.

Try to visit sites like, Makemytrip.com for hotel bookings or check out hostel bookings on http://www.hostels.com/mumbai/india or http://www.hostelworld.com/findabed.php/ChosenCity.Mumbai/ChosenCountry.India

If you are going to travel in train locally in mumbai, i would suggest take a 3 day travel pass or 1 day travel pass for second class or first class as per your preference and travel. If you intend to travel randomly, get a smart card for local trains of mumbai and get tickets as and when you want. I would suggest to buy either 1 day travel card (costs about 50rs for second class) or 3 days travel card which is valid in suburban trains and is very easy to get.

Any others things needed just drop a line again.

Cheers and hope you have a nice trip to India.

Just to add, you cant use https://www.irctc.co.in/ to book train tickets unless you have done so before or have a Indian mobile number.

Im flying to Mumbai the start of June and have also booked a train. I had to do it with this company who will sort it on your behalf.

http://www.indiarail.co.uk/

@ sunil

thanks for the advice, very much appreciated. if you do get a chance to look at these places i would be very greatful.

alos thanks for the links i will check them out.

@ Four-4-2
yeah i went through the nightmare of trying to get a temp number given by the government. they required me to send passport info and a few other bits and bobs and it has taken them ages to sort it out. i think that im jus going to queue for one as i'm not sure how long i am going to be in Mumbai.

have you managed to find any accomidation yet?

Hi Semafor,

Namaste!!!

I don't have any idea about the accommodation details you have mentioned in your first post; but being a member of Youth Hostel Association of India, I may recommend you that it is the best hostel stay for the people visiting from abroad. They have their hostel in Maharashtra (but not in Mumbai) and you may visit their site: http://www.yhaindia.org/. You can book online also, but my advice is to talk with them directly. Also, I am giving you the detail contact address of Mumbai YHAI:

Secretary
Maharashtra State Branch, YHAI,
109, Swapna Purti,
Dr. Baba Saheb Ambedkar Road,
Parel Naka,
Mumbai-400012
Maharashtra
Phone: +91-22-24126004

Welcome to India and have a pleasant stay.

Kind regards,
Kaushik

Quoting Semafor

have you managed to find any accomidation yet?

Yeah im staying at somewhere called Travellers Inn. Its got really good reviews on hostel bookers etc

@ four-4-2

yeah me too. i booked it last night. when are you going to me there from?

[ Edit: Edited on 20-Apr-2012, at 03:04 by Semafor ]