FlyerTalk Forums - View Single Post - India Observations-From a 1st time visitor
Old Dec 20, 2006 | 12:19 am
  #18  
crhptic
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: Washington DC USA
Posts: 2,571
Originally Posted by cj001f
I don't mind the 'maharaja' treatment, or more broadly, the ability to pay for personal services that I can't regularly afford. I never shaved in India, why bother when you can get a straight razor shave for INR 10?
I agree; although I didn't get shaved in India, I did get several massages, had my laundry done at hotels, and got a manicure (OK, the manicure was cheaper and easier than buying a nail clipper, which I had forgotten, but still I wouldn't have done it in the US). All were enjoyable.

As far as food pricing: most places I went didn't have two different menus; however, if you stick to eating in your hotels and at "tourist" restaurants, you will find that the food is just pricier there - even for Indian food with local ingredients. I greatly enjoyed the opportunity to get out into the cities and visit restaurants where we appeared to be the only non-Indian patrons. And the cost was much lower (e.g. dinner for two in hotel restaurant, $15. dinner for two at restaurant down the road, $2.20)
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