First time in Bombay
 

Hi all, I am traveling to Bombay for the first time with my family 2a/2c, I would appreicate any advice on where to stay and what to do, we are looking at mid range hotels, we will be in Bombay from 27/10/08 - 31/10/08.
Thank in advance

I've only been to Bombay twice, once as a small kid and recently for business, so I'm not the best qualified.

Though I can state with some assurance that a quick search on this forum would help, as would a glance at wikitravel (just as a base, fyi there's a two day itinerary on the page). Personally, 4 days in Mumbai might be a big much since its more of a commercial city rather than historical/cultural. That being said, I have yet to really tour it, so I could be wrong.

Start here for ideas on things to do.

Unfortunately I cannot advise on mid-range hotels as I am always on business and staying in five-stars. If you are a tourist in Bombay, I would direct you to stay as far downtown as possible--that's where the majority of the tourist sights are located, and Bombay's nightmarish traffic make long trips through the city quite unworkable these days.

The New York Times travel section had a "36 Hours" section on Bombay today, linked here.

Arriving in Mumbai
 

Get ready for an adventure and thats even before you leave the airport. I just returned from BOM a few weeks ago from my first visit and I had a great time. However, be ready for your arrival...especially with children! Personally, I chose to stay at the Le Meridian near the airport. For me, it was worth the extra $ (though still very reasonable) for my first time in BOM. Great hotel and ammenities such as pool and spa, etc. If you have a SPG (starwood) membership they will probably automatically put you on the club level. In addition, they will pick you up from the airport (if you arrange it in advance)...for which I HIGHLY recommend...no matter which hotel you choose...especially if you are landing at night. When you leave the airport be ready for a very, very, very large crowd (thousands) waiting at the exit door. It is almost overwhelming. I had to look hard to find the correct hotel sign that had my name on it, however once I found it, I was whisked through the crowd and into an awaiting Mercedes to be driven the short transfer to the hotel. This was a complementary service, though I tipped the driver. The next morning, I arranged for a driver from the hotel to take me into downtown Mumbai. It was very reasonable less than $80 for the whole day (8 hours) to be taken to many sites. It is about a 25 minute drive into downtown. From that point forward, I was able to get my bearings for the city and the following days I was able to find my way around myself. Be prepared for large/crushing crowds, visible poverty, and heavy traffic juxtaposed with a extremely rich culture and incredibly nice people. The Taj Hotel next to the Gateway to India is beautiful and very nice, as well...but very crowded area. Good luck and have a great trip.

Thanks for the tips MILLMILE, I shall be doing the very same thing this coming Friday. Looks like I made a good choice with the Meridien ^ but i'm not expecting good weather :(

Welcome to FT.

I just returned from a weekend in Bombay. Saying that, 48 hours was enough to see everything I wanted to see. Having 4-5 days I think you will have enough time to explore things outside Bombay as well.

I also tried Bombay nightlife, which was very very hot and fun. Highly recommended. Bombay is a very mixed city, ugly and beautiful at the same time. It's very colonial. Went for lunch at the Taj Palace Hotel, which was nice. Stayed at a hotel called Chateau Windsor, close to Marine Drive. Not recommended. It was too basic for me, and not up to the positive reviews I had read on Tripadvisor.

I did not find the traffic in Bombay to be a big problem, I think Delhi is much worse!! I would recommend InterContinental Marine Drive, visited the restaurant and the bar on Saturday night, and it was very nice, good food and great service. A great location on the Queen's Necklace, a mere 10 minute walk to Victoria Terminus and 15 minute walk to Gateway of India. I think this hotel goes for 320 USD per night. I found Bombay to be a pleasant city to stroll around in...I did not encounter any problem of any kind.

Have a nice trip and enjoy Bombay:)

I've just returned from a long weekend in BOM and all I can say to anyone contemplating a visit is "do it !". You may think you know the city from numerous TV programmes or newspaper articles, but there is no substitute for standing on the concourse of VT station as the only white face amongst thousands and experiencing the throngs of people, the noise and the heat.

Did we miss each other skrosvik ? I posted in the Community forum for a meet-up but had no takers :(

I too hired a driver for the day and got to see everything I wanted in around 8 hours.

Ahhh, too bad. I didn't check the forum before going there....:(

if you are looking to try some quality, local restaurants, check out http://eatingoutinbombay.blogspot.com

if you want to check out some quality local restaurants, check out this blog

http://eatingoutinbombay.blogspot.com

Hi yogpat

When booking hotels tripadvisor.com is your friend! If you are new to a city the best place to start is with the city overview (of hotels), and tripadvisor will give you the list starting with #1 downwards. I usually start at the top and keep working my way down till I find the right mix between price and ranking.

Be aware that tripadvisor is pretty accurate. If several people all say 'don't stay here' then you are best not to stay. It's not really a case of 'oh they might be wrong'. If people say its bad its usually not the place to try and find out 'how bad can it be' :) (because it is usually bad).

Once you have found the right balance between cost and ranking, make sure the hotel is in your desired area. (I prefer to work this way rather than getting tripadvisor to rank by area because sometimes a real gem can be just outside where you want to be and within easy access.)

I stayed at the Ascot Hotel in Bombay which is located in Colaba - a good place to stay in the touristy area. It is about 80USD for a large room with air/con and is a good find, punching well above its price range. A five star will be USD350 upwards.

Some people have had trouble with bookings made at Indian hotels (reservations not being there when they arrived). I usually make my booking direct with the hotel (via their website or email, make sure it is a secure connection). This way there is no middle man taking a cut of the reservation fee. This way I have always had a room when I turned up (I've always assumed its because I get priority because they make the most money out of me).

Please let us know how you get on, feednack is always appreciated.

Regads

lme ff

Beginner questions for Mumbai
 

Guys, as someone who has never been to Mumbai, but curious, can you answer some beginner questions for me ( and my g/f)?

Is there no train service that one can take around the city? I see you guys talk of hiring private cars and such, but is there no public transport?

Can you be safe walking around the city at sunset/night? Is it like many big cities in the world, where, if you watch your surroundings, and be cautious, youll be okay, or should you just be best sticking to a driver at night? For that matter, is it safe walking around the city in the daytime?

I guess Mumbai isnt the most how shall I say, "sanitary" place ( from what Ive been reading anyway), so what precautions do you guys take to make sure you dont get sick?

What are your rules for dining in restaurants? Do you only go into places that come recommended or do/can/should you wing it?

Do you guys know of any good travel narratives that I can read about someones experience in Mumbai?

Oh, and one last ( albeit somewhat embarrasing) question on behalf of my g/f: What is the situation when it comes to creepy crawly, multiple legged creatures and rats? I suspect that since its a tropical climate in the 3rd world, there will be rats and cockroaches in abundance, but then again New York City is crawling with those same things.:p

I hope to share my own Mumbai experiences with you guys one day.

Thanks, and I hope my questions werent too uncouth.

Let's just say, there is public transport, but it's not something you want to take. There is no metro. There are buses and commuter trains, but in both cases, they are so crowded and decrepit that anyone who can afford to avoid them does so. You don't have to get a car and driver, but prepare to take a lot of taxis. That is what everyone (including Indians) does.

Quite safe walking around in the daytime. And "big city" rules apply at night. In most cases you will want/need a taxi anyway, because the city is quite spread out.

First of all, just accept that you are going to spend a little time sick--stomach-wise--no matter what, if it is your first visit to India. Come prepared with things like Immodium and *possibly* Cipro if you are feeling very nervous about it (the latter will usually be superfluous, but will really come in handy if you get a severe bacterial bug). Do insist on bottled water, which is available absolutely everywhere. If you are staying in a reputable hotel, you can drink their water and ice--not to worry. The usual warning is to stay away from raw foods, but I never do that, nor do I try to be cautious about what I eat, because the food is fantastic and I want to eat everything. I have spent so many years traveling in developing countries that I no longer get sick. You WILL get sick. Just expect it, deal with it for the 24 hours it lasts, and then go back to eating everything.

I mostly eat at places that friends/colleagues take me to, or places that I hear about via reviews etc. But on my first trip to India my friends and I did a lot of winging it, and I still do that sometimes too, when I'm there on vacation. Anything with a lot of people in it is going to be fine, just like anywhere else in the world. There are a LOT of restaurants in Bombay and all over India--Indians like to eat out!

You are correct! :p

This has a good honest guide to hotels. If you enjoy safe and cheap, I'd go for somewhere around the Leopold Cafe, which you can find in the Lonely Planet.

http://www.vegetarian-restaurants.ne...htmwww.westend

But I always stay at West End Hotel, as the owner's an old school-friend of my best friend's father.

http://www.westendhotelmumbai.com/

I think it's fair for the price and location. It's a bustling area, and quite safe and interesting. Not far to walk to most of the highlights of Bombay. And one great thing is that EVERY taxi driver knows "Bombay Hospital", so you can always get back there really easily, and also from the airport.