Firang travellers' Rajasthan darshan on a tight bugdet

When Natasha, a 22 year-old traveller from London, planned her trip to India, she had many things in her mind. She wanted her maiden international trip to be a memorable one, but did not want her super tight budget to play a spoilsport. So Natasha first made a to-do list and jotted down the dos and don’ts that she will need to stick to so that her budget doesn’t overshoot.Foreign travellers who are on a budget trip to India have their itinerary set. Travelling during off season, eating at not-so-fancy food joints, commuting in local transport and haggling with local vendors are some of the things they follow. Here what’s more they had to say.
Steph Liao, blogger from Jaipur at City Palace
‘We prefer public transport – a bus ride is for just `20, while the cabbie asks for `2000’
Anj Siladan, a social worker from Philippines, and her friend Tin Drilon, a software engineer, are in Jaipur, braving the hot sun and soaking in the sights and sounds of the city – all while keeping their budget in check. Shares Anj, “Our prime agenda is saving as much as possible and having fun with whatever little money we have. It does not mean that we are miserable, but we want to spend our money wisely.”
The girls used public transport, opted to eat street food and stayed at a not-so-fancy hotel on their Jaipur trip. Tin adds, “Wherever we go, we speak to the locals and take their advice in order to avoid getting fleeced. We prefer public transport – we took a local bus to visit Amber Fort which cost us just `20 each, while a cabbie was charging us `2000 for the same. And we really had great fun interacting with the local people in the bus. For our food, we prefer small eateries with live counters. This way, we save money as well as keep a watch whether the food is hygienic or not.” Anj suggests that tourists should buy a composite ticket that enables foreign tourists to visit seven monuments in `1000, instead of paying the entry fee at each monument. The ticket is available at the tourist office in the city. She says, “Each monument has an entry fee, from `200 to `500, so it's better to buy a composite ticket, which is for `1000 and allows us access to seven places, which include all the major forts and palaces. It helps us save money."

‘Homestay with a kitchen to cook my own meals’
Natalia Victoria, a solo traveller from Berlin, plans everything well in advance to ensure her budget doesn’t overshoot. She says, “I am travelling to India on a super-tight budget. I have visited Jodhpur and Pushkar and I preferred homestays with a common kitchen. I generally cook my own meals, so that I don’t end up paying in an overpriced café or a restaurant. And this gives me an opportunity to make new friends and learn to cook Indian dishes too! The owner at one of the homestays taught me some quick Indian recipes. I’m exploring a new culture and new life, so luxury is not what I am aiming for. This way I'm adding more to my experiences.” She adds, “I try to not spend more than `2000 in a day. This helps me save money for shopping.”

‘Eat at local food joints'
Travellers have their food budget fixed, too. Stephan Durrant, who is from Germany, has a pro tip for fellow travellers. He says, “I love having beer in the evenings. So I generally take advice from the local people and eat at local food joints, which offer authentic food at reasonable rates. A pint of beer will cost `100 or more at restaurants, while it’s for only `40 at local shops. And for a cup of tea, one can head to a roadside stall which offers a cup in just `10."
Anj Siladan and Tin Drilon from Philippines too shared tips for budget travellers (Shalini Maheshwari/BCCL)
‘buy from roadside shops’
If you are a shopaholic, you ought to be good at haggling with shopkeepers. Steph Liao from Germany, who writes for a travel blog, also has some money-saving tips for travellers. Steph prefers to buy from roadside shops and to crack the best deal, she makes sure to bargain. And her advice, “Start walking away when they don’t lower the price and that usually does the trick.”
‘Go for a tuk-tuk ride for the feel and to save money’
Leslie Bayer, a traveller from Puerto Rico, has travelled to Rajasthan several times. He says, “I try not to spend more than `1500 a day. And that includes my stay, food and local travel. Sometimes, I spend `200 on one meal and just eat salad. This way, I am able to save my hard-earned money."
He adds. “There are numerous ways to explore Rajasthan. During my first trip, I stayed at a three-star hotel, dined in a lavish restaurant and travelled in AC cabs and spent my savings of three years in a week. Now, when I am in Rajasthan, I stay in guesthouses, eat at local eateries and roam around in tuk-tuk. They are not just fun, but also provide a wholesome experience. It’s cheaper and the fixed price saves you from the headache of having to bargain for a ride."