Popular Topics
Trip Report
2 weeks in India
Our 2 weeks India itinerary started in New Delhi and finished in Kolkata. In Udaipur we were lucky to get invited by the locals and learn how to celebrate Diwali. An unforgettable experience!
+ 3
AsiaIndia10 days / October 2018
Highs & Lows
Stumbling upon a Bollywood movie shoot, and becoming an extra by accident.
Getting scammed by a police officer in Jaipur at the Amer Fort.
Itinerary Overview
Q & A
What would you have changed?
Honestly, this was probably the most perfect itinerary I ever planned, and that NEVER happens. If I had to go back, I would have spent one more day in Udaipur and one less in Mumbai.
What tips would you give a friend?
Go!!! India is now one of my favorite places! It takes a lot of preparation, and is very different than most places, but its 100% worth it. I wish everyone had the opportunity to go.
Transportation Tips?
I highly recommend Uber. Outside of hiring a driver for the day, and arranging airport pickups and drop-offs, you will need to use taxi’s or Ubers. Sometimes Uber drivers didn’t speak English, but I suggest utilizing Uber to negotiate your taxi rates. Before I got into any taxi, I negotiated the rate so there weren’t any surprises. A Mumbai taxi was charging me 4 times the amount an Uber would cost. I told him this, and he said he didn’t care. I started to walk away and he changed his mind.
Anything go wrong during the trip?
Getting scammed at the Amer Fort in Jaipur (in my Jaipur notes) was really disheartening, especially so early in the trip. We decided to not let it impact the rest of our experiences and I am glad we didn’t. Even though there are bad people in this world, there are more good people.
Packing tips?
Fashion – I covered it here: https://www.bellisimoe.com/bellisimoe/10-tips-on-what-to-wear-in-india-no-matter-your-budget. I would also pack a water filter, and use it even to brush your teeth. I bought one at REI that I really liked.
How was the food?
RJ-14 in Jaipur and Peter Cat in Kolkata were my two favorites. The restaurant at the St. Regis in Mumbai was also amazing. I had not had much Indian food before going to India, so I wholeheartedly ate anything and everything. I would also recommend downloading Zomato and finding restaurants through there. It was actually amazing, and was a gem that we stumbled upon.
Any surprises?
I honestly was surprised by how much I loved it. I’ve been to 33 countries, and usually won’t visit a country twice. I would definitely visit India again. The people were so warm, and the culture was unlike any other.
Booking details?
I booked all hotels on Booking.com or the actual hotel website. Everything else was booked for me by the concierge at the places I stayed.
Lodging
Family home
We didn’t have lodging
Hotel Lakend
St. Regis I HIGHLY recommend this hotel if you are in Mumbai
The Sonnet Kolkata