India: BYO water!!!
Jul 10, 2005, 11:26 am
#1
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India: BYO water!!!
Spent quite a few hours in DEL trying to get some mineral water. Admittedly I wasn't able to check a major supermarket, but the dozen shops, smallish airport hotel and the Sheraton-run airport lounge I used didn't have any mineral water, only bottled stuff that said "packaged drinking water" and, while I'm sure it was safe for consumption, had a very funny (to me) taste. Luckily I managed to find half a bottle of Highland Spring (Scottish) and one of Aquila (Czech) in my carryon that saw me through the day I stayed there. But from next time I'm going with lots of the precious stuff!!!
Jul 10, 2005, 12:24 pm
#2
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Strange. I agree that, while "packaged drinking water" may be OK for the locals, the tourist types have to be more careful!
Hopefully the rest of your stay will be in one of the major hotels- I stayed at The Grand (where I wanted to propose marriage to the dessert chef because his food was so good) and they put 2 big bottles of sealed water in my room every day. There was no surcharge for it- it never showed up on the bill as a separate item. That was always enough to keep me hydrated, and I never got sick.
Hopefully the rest of your stay will be in one of the major hotels- I stayed at The Grand (where I wanted to propose marriage to the dessert chef because his food was so good) and they put 2 big bottles of sealed water in my room every day. There was no surcharge for it- it never showed up on the bill as a separate item. That was always enough to keep me hydrated, and I never got sick.
Jul 10, 2005, 1:14 pm
#3
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Originally Posted by Athena53
Strange. I agree that, while "packaged drinking water" may be OK for the locals, the tourist types have to be more careful!
Hopefully the rest of your stay will be in one of the major hotels- I stayed at The Grand (where I wanted to propose marriage to the dessert chef because his food was so good) and they put 2 big bottles of sealed water in my room every day. There was no surcharge for it- it never showed up on the bill as a separate item. That was always enough to keep me hydrated, and I never got sick.
Hopefully the rest of your stay will be in one of the major hotels- I stayed at The Grand (where I wanted to propose marriage to the dessert chef because his food was so good) and they put 2 big bottles of sealed water in my room every day. There was no surcharge for it- it never showed up on the bill as a separate item. That was always enough to keep me hydrated, and I never got sick.
I didn't like what I saw in DEL, and I am most likely to only do airport turnarounds from now on.
Jul 10, 2005, 1:22 pm
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Originally Posted by graraps
I didn't like what I saw in DEL, and I am most likely to only do airport turnarounds from now on.
As for water, hit the grocery type store, and you're set. But it someplace less reputable, and it is likely to be refilled at the tap.
Jul 10, 2005, 1:33 pm
#6
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Any water you buy in a bottle will be safe as long as the bottle is sealed. The cheaper local bottled water will have been given ultra violet treatment that effectively kills anything that might try to kill you. As for potential other problems with water, it depends on what area of India you are in (and how badly polluted the water is).
I was surprised to find that there are reasonably clean sources of fresh water near Mumbai for example. Yes, it will have micro organisms such as Typhoid and Cholera but as long as your boil it for a few minutes, it will be fine (the locals who are immune to this sort of stuff only bother boil their water in the Monsoon when it can be a little more dodgy).
Regards
I
I was surprised to find that there are reasonably clean sources of fresh water near Mumbai for example. Yes, it will have micro organisms such as Typhoid and Cholera but as long as your boil it for a few minutes, it will be fine (the locals who are immune to this sort of stuff only bother boil their water in the Monsoon when it can be a little more dodgy).
Regards
I
Jul 10, 2005, 1:35 pm
#7
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Originally Posted by jtkauai
I love Delhi and have spent quite a bit of time there. It isn't for the squeamish, but neither is any of India. It is one of the most interesting cities in the world.
As long as you don't buy water from kids on the street and you only drink out of sealed bottles you should be okay. In the smaller villages the kids don't understand the water could be harmful to travelers and just refill the bottles to earn a few pennies.
I would be a shame to stay in the Delhi airport....
Jul 10, 2005, 2:36 pm
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Let me reiterate my point, seems like I have been misunderstood.
I haven't for one second doubted the healthiness of the Packaged Drinking Water that's widely available in India. But it is most definitely not mineral water and to me it tastes awfully.
I haven't for one second doubted the healthiness of the Packaged Drinking Water that's widely available in India. But it is most definitely not mineral water and to me it tastes awfully.
Jul 10, 2005, 3:56 pm
#9
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I never had any problems with ice cubes or a little tap water at the hotels I stayed at in DEL, BOM, BLR, MAA, etc. Also each hotel, I-C, Sheraton, Park, had nice bottled water in the rooms.
Jul 11, 2005, 12:41 am
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Originally Posted by Telfes
I consumed gallons of Kinley (bottled by Coca-Cola) in India (in Delhi to be specific) -- tasted fine to me, as did other brands (can't recall names).
Shame to miss a fascinating place because the bottled water isn't to one's taste.
Shame to miss a fascinating place because the bottled water isn't to one's taste.
The funny thing is bottled water (eg. Aquafina) in LAX tastes different than SFO, so obviously it will be different amongst countries.
I'd definitely plan to have 2-3 bottles on you when you arrive just for the first several hours or first day, but after that, very easy to find replenishment.
By the way, the food tastes a lot different there too!
Jul 11, 2005, 4:19 am
#13
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I travel all over India when I'm there including places like Orissa state and the local bottled water is fine everywhere. I brush my teeth only with bottled water and even take my own to some restaurants.
Jul 11, 2005, 5:44 am
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Originally Posted by uastarflyer
The funny thing is bottled water (eg. Aquafina) in LAX tastes different than SFO, so obviously it will be different amongst countries.
Bisleri, on the other hand, I really didn't like. Same goes for most waters sold in Europe as "table water".
I guess I'm too eccentric.
Jul 11, 2005, 7:53 am
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Originally Posted by parnel
I travel all over India when I'm there including places like Orissa state and the local bottled water is fine everywhere. I brush my teeth only with bottled water and even take my own to some restaurants.
