[Indian2003]

This year end, I will be travelling to Malaysia. I am thinking of a 6 week holiday and spend 2 of those weeks in India. It should be Delhi or Mumbai. It has been 54 years since I was there last and it will be a whole new world for me.

- What are hotel prices like? What about Airbnb?
- I am not used to the standards in India but a clean place should be good enough. There will be no cooking. Are there possibilities to rent an apartment for 2 weeks? - Can someone help me with that?
- What would be best - flying to Delhi or Mumbai? I will fly out from Singapore with either Air India or Singapore Airlines

[libranof1987]

Regarding trip suggestions - what would help is if you could share what you'd like to do / what you want out of this trip.

Originally Posted by Indian2003

What are hotel prices like? What about Airbnb?

Depends on your budget. In Mumbai and Delhi, you'll find something quite cheap (1-2k INR/day) stretching to luxury (40-50k/night), but a healthy no. of options of 3* and 4* (which could be anywhere from 5k - 15k/night).

Look at makemytrip.com / tripadvisor.in: these two websites should have almost every property available listed.

There are a good no. of Airbnbs as well - you could find a lot of options that allow you long-term rentals.

Try to look at what you want to do, and then finalize the type of stay and area.

- What would be best - flying to Delhi or Mumbai? I will fly out from Singapore with either Air India or Singapore Airlines

Either works since they're both big hubs with lots of flights.

[montsa007]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

This year end

Altough I stay in Mumbai I've heard Delhi weather is quite cold during winters + pollution factor/fog, you'll have to pack to combat the winter accordingly (meaning extra luggage). Maybe someone from Delhi can shed more light on it.

Mumbai climate will be pleasant, a simple jacket should suffice.

Hope this helps.

[GTO]

Welcome back! Yes, the landscape has significantly changed since your last visit and I'm sure you will have a heck of a trip.

- Considering your seniority, I would suggest well-rated hotels only. Airbnbs can be a hit or miss. The security, services & 24x7 food of hotels cannot be beaten. In Mumbai, you can get decent hotels even at 3 - 4k per night (of course the sky is the limit upward).

- Do all the touristy things. Whenever I am visiting a city, TripAdvisor's city-specific lists work well for me. E.g. in Mumbai, you just have to visit the Gateway, Marine Drive, local Mumbai food etc. Depending on your tastes, there is so much more you can do (e.g. if you are into the arts, there is the Ambani's impressive new cultural center). Since you are a car guy, you can rent a self-drive and make it a day trip to Lonavla.

- Since you have approximately 14 days, I'd suggest making it 15. 5 days in Delhi (1 day mandatory for the Taj Mahal), 5 days in Mumbai and 5 days in either Goa (my favourite) or any other holiday destination you prefer. 5 days is enough to see Bombay & Delhi as a tourist.

[Axe77]

Both Delhi or Mumbai work equally well for flight connectivity from anywhere, including SE Asia.

Pound for pound, I’d say for a tourist, Delhi will offer far more any day than Mumbai. It has equally good if not superior culinary options. It has absolutely fantastic monuments and what not to see - its a great blend of the old and the new. What’s more, the few touristy sights are also less crowded than your typical day out in Mumbai. Just sightseeing at some of the tourist hot spots in Mumbai can be off putting enough, including places like Gateway, Haji Ali etc given the large throng of crowds.

I would suggest making Delhi your destination and from there there are a range of things you can add. One being an overnight trip to see the Taj Mahal. You can also combine this holiday with say an off shoot of a week or so to Rajasthan. All these places will offer uniquely “Indian” experiences.

I’d say Mumbai can be skipped entirely as can other places which are ex - Mumbai as you’ll have enough access to great beaches in other parts of the world.

I’d also suggest decent hotels - 3, 4 or 5 star maybe depending on budget just for predictability and safety (I'd recommend 4* at least for a better experience), rather than Airbnbs. Delhi also has a number of fairly decent “guest house” style accos that are not bad. Research a bit and you should find options. But diligence their quality carefully. (An example is Sherwani Sundar Nagar) - there are lots of other similar options as well of clean, decent rooms and places to stay.

[NomadSK]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

- What would be best - flying to Delhi or Mumbai? I will fly out from Singapore with either Air India or Singapore Airlines

Wow, after 54 years. I bet you would be pleasantly surprised by the changes you would see.

December in general is notorious for disrupting flight schedules/delays at Delhi. Your plans can be thrown haywire. The best would be to fly in Mumbai and plan your journey from there onwards, only due to the weather/foggy conditions, during that part of the year.

And in Delhi, beware of the pollution, that might hit you hard.

Weather-wise, Mumbai would be quite warm.

NomadSK

[noopster]

Originally Posted by GTO

- Do all the touristy things. Whenever I am visiting a city, TripAdvisor's city-specific lists work well for me. E.g. in Mumbai, you just have to visit the Gateway, Marine Drive, local Mumbai food etc. Depending on your tastes, there is so much more you can do (e.g. if you are into the arts, there is the Ambani's impressive new cultural center). Since you are a car guy, you can rent a self-drive and make it a day trip to Lonavla.

Spot on advice. I would only beg to differ in one respect: DO NOT DRIVE! After 54 years away, it is an experience can do without . Instead, hire an chauffered Innova with captain seats, it should not cost you more than 5K a day (that's 60 dollars, a steal!)

Originally Posted by Axe77

I would suggest making Delhi your destination and from there there are a range of things you can add. One being an overnight trip to see the Taj Mahal. You can also combine this holiday with say an off shoot of a week or so to Rajasthan. All these places will offer uniquely “Indian” experiences.

This is great advice. Rajasthan will be wonderful during winter. Do one of the Palace on Wheels train trips if you can.

I’d say Mumbai can be skipped entirely as can other places which are ex - Mumbai as you’ll have enough access to great beaches in other parts of the world.

I wouldn't say skip Mumbai completely but do try and limit to about 2 full days. And stay in South-Central Mumbai so you don't waste too much time stuck in traffic.

Stay in a 5* hotel, nothing less. My visiting friends prefer Marriott and Taj/Vivanta- you may be surprised at the quality of rooms and service for the price! My only advice is don't eat all meals there- there are wonderful speciality restaurants in Mumbai & Delhi, elsewhere as well. Do your homework (Zomato has fairly reliable reviews, as does Tripadvisor).

If you can cut some days from Mumbai, try and hit Kerala as well. Houseboat in Allepey plus a couple of nights at The Taj Kumarakom may be just what the doctor ordered!

[V.Narayan]

If you need help / emergency support / inputs on Delhi send me your questions. If you want a home cooked meal while you are in Delhi let me know. My wife and I would be delighted to host you and your family at our home for lunch/dinner or if you prefer at a club.

I second what Noopster wrote - Don't Drive. If you haven't driven in India since 1969 you aint not seen nothing yet in Delhi driving is a proof that prayers work and miracles occur!

[Hayek]

Welcome back. Amazes me that you never visited in 50 + years (all my life). India will be nothing like what you remember.

Agree that Delhi has a lot more to offer from a tourist’s perspective than Bombay. Winter smog is bad - but by Nordic standards, even the coldest days in Delhi are not that cold. However, please note that homes and even hotels (apart from 5 star ones) are not properly heated - a friend who lives in Minneapolis once said that even though Minneapolis goes down to -40, he had never felt as cold as he did in Delhi.

I would take some time to visit Rajasthan as well, and yes, coming down South to Goa or Kerala to experience a very different aspect of India makes sense too. My suggested plan:

• 3 days in Delhi
• Day trip to Agra on the Yamuna Expressway
• 2 days in Jaipur
• 2-3 days elsewhere in Rajasthan (Jaisalmer would be my pick for the sand dunes)
• 3-4 days in either Kerala or Goa
• May be fly out of Bombay

For stay, the sad thing is that anything less than 5 star in India can be rather unhygienic depending on your luck - so if I could afford it or if you are happy to splurge on a once in a life time trip, I would pick the best hotels. Am sure we can give recommendations depending on your budget. Book early and if you avoid the Christmas to New Year week, you may get reasonable deals.

Book your domestic flights soon too - pick Indigo or Vistara even if other airlines give you seemingly better deals. You don’t want a bankrupt airline ruining your vacation.

[montsa007]

Just came across a website called skiplagged (dot) com wherein you can find cheapest flights, way better compared to hunting at various places.

Just checked Mumbai to London on 1st December
Prices range from 294$ all the way upto 1000$+, shows the hours & stops.
Found an Egypt Air flight with a travel time of 15 hours priced at 364$ compared to 10 hour flight of British Airways at 727$ (The difference is a whopping 363$)

Hope you make use of this

[noopster]

Originally Posted by Hayek

Book your domestic flights soon too - pick Indigo or Vistara even if other airlines give you seemingly better deals. You don’t want a bankrupt airline ruining your vacation.

Good point! Avoid Go First (they are already bankrupt) and SpiceJet (always on the precipice ). Air India is also a good bet in addition to the ones mentioned here.

Originally Posted by montsa007

Just checked Mumbai to London on 1st December
Prices range from 294$ all the way upto 1000$+, shows the hours & stops.
Found an Egypt Air flight with a travel time of 15 hours priced at 364$ compared to 10 hour flight of British Airways at 727$ (The difference is a whopping 363$)

Hope you make use of this

No offence, but the joke is that even Egyptians don't use Egypt Air . I used to travel there on work and the company always insisted on booking Emirates via DXB rather than a direct Egypt Air flight. When one is doing such a sentimental long journey, cutting corners is not recommended!

[montsa007]

Originally Posted by noopster

No offence, but the joke is that even Egyptians don't use Egypt Air . I used to travel there on work and the company always insisted on booking Emirates via DXB rather than a direct Egypt Air flight. When one is doing such a sentimental long journey, cutting corners is not recommended!

It was just a reference mate, besides i chose the route Mumbai to UK as an example, the site has plenty of routes & airlines to choose from.

[Hkworkrock]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

This year end, I will be travelling to Malaysia. I am thinking of a 6 week holiday and spend 2 of those weeks in India. It should be Delhi or Mumbai. It has been 54 years since I was there last and it will be a whole new world for me.

- What are hotel prices like? What about Airbnb?
- I am not used to the standards in India but a clean place should be good enough. There will be no cooking. Are there possibilities to rent an apartment for 2 weeks? - Can someone help me with that?
- What would be best - flying to Delhi or Mumbai? I will fly out from Singapore with either Air India or Singapore Airlines

Welcome Back !!

For your two-week trip to India, I highly recommend to fly to delhi first and visit the iconic Taj Mahal in Agra, then you can plan your trip to Rishikesh from delhi and Witness the mystical Ganga Aarti , where the sacred Ganges River comes alive with enchanting rituals and prayers. Then you can Explore the vibrant city of Jaipur, with its majestic forts, bustling markets, and rich cultural heritage. Finally, soak up the sun and unwind in the tropical paradise of Goa, known for its stunning beaches, laid-back vibe, and vibrant nightlife. After that you can visit mumbai and fly back from there .


For flight booking, I highly recommend using Google Flights. It's an excellent platform that provides comprehensive flight information for almost all airlines , including prices, timings, with tracking options ( Google always update when there is a change of prices in your tracked routes Max 10 tracking allowed ) .I mostly get great deals when my dates are flexible.

When it comes to finding accommodation, you have a couple of great options. Google Hotels is a fantastic tool that allows you to search for hotels based on your preferences, budget, and location. It provides you with a wide range of options, along with detailed information, reviews, and photos. With Google Hotels, you can confidently make an informed decision and book your perfect hotel for this special trip.

Another reliable platform for hotel bookings is MakeMyTrip. It is a trusted online travel agency that offers a wide selection of hotels, from budget-friendly options to luxurious accommodations.

Best wishes

[neerajku]

Sir; If I may, people like you should have your own blogs to capture the history of places through your eyes. Will be such a nice one to read. My mamaji who passed away couple of years back, had moved to US in 1968, Kansas. Had some wonderful stories to tell. But dont think I could get to speak as much as I wanted to. This is for the future generation, from the eyes of pioneers.

[Arbind Ray]

Originally Posted by Indian2003

- I am not used to the standards in India but a clean place should be good enough. There will be no cooking. Are there possibilities to rent an apartment for 2 weeks? - Can someone help me with that?

- What would be best - flying to Delhi or Mumbai? I will fly out from Singapore with either Air India or Singapore Airlines

Hi there, your post caught my eye but I couldn't gauge background specifics, companion/family, cultural interests etc. I originally hail from Odisha - living in London past half century. I immediately recognised the opportunity to promote Bhubaneswar as a landing point since recent introduction of direct flights to Dubai, Singapore and Thailand. I've flown 4 hours to Malaysia direct from Bhubaneswar few years ago and mention it in case Odisha was not on your radar.

Despite family owned property left unattended months on end, my wife and I prefer the soft landing of a 5 star hotel which has ranged from a fortnight to couple months with all the ancillary services available as needed. We usually book a suite at the Trident 5* deluxe (formerly Hilton) part of the Oberoi Group in Odisha's capital (twinned with the city of Cuttack...a throwback in time). The past couple of years has see the launch of Taj Vivanta, Lemon Tree, ITC Welcome etc at relatively lower cost compared to Tier I hubs like Mumbai or Delhi.

At the lower scale you have Tata Ginger amongst others. I've never experienced Air BnB although these too are available if you're bold enough to rely on reviews. Culturally Odisha has retained it's richness in terms of temple architecture, handicrafts and heritage sites such as Konark (UNESCO). It's not as cheap as Goa however does have its own white sand beaches including Blue Flag status in Puri.

The above is merely a sneak peak in case slipped the net during your research. An online search of the Far East Indian state of Odisha along with information of flights from Biju Patnaik International Airport will reveal a feast for the eyes if not previously traversed. The last two Hockey World Cup matches were hosted here with vast improvements in infrastructure.

Full Disclosure: I'm neither an expert nor affiliated with the tourism or sports sector...just an avid foodie and traveller trying to exercise when I get the chance. Oh, and I'm still fond of cars