Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Top-End & Heritage Hotels
»
South India has plenty of top-end properties, from modern five-star chain hotels to glorious palaces and unique herit-
age abodes.
»
Most top-end hotels have rupee rates for Indian guests and US dollar rates for foreigners, including Non-Resident In-
dians (NRIs).
»
Officially, you're supposed to pay the dollar rates in foreign currency or by credit card, but many places will accept
rupees adding up to the dollar rate (verify this when checking in).
»
The Government of India tourism website,
Incredible India
(
www.incredibleindia.org
)
, has a useful list of palaces,
forts and other erstwhile royal retreats that accept paying guests - go to the 'Travel' page and click on the 'Royal
Retreats' link.
»
In recent times, India has also seen a mushrooming of luxury eco- and forest resorts in and around several national
parks.
Customs Regulations
»
Technically you're supposed to declare any amount of cash/travellers cheques over US$5000/10,000 on arrival.
»
Indian rupees shouldn't be taken out of India; however, this is rarely policed.
»
Officials very occasionally ask tourists to enter expensive items such as video cameras and laptop computers on a
'Tourist Baggage Re-export' form to ensure they're taken out of India at the time of departure.
Electricity
