Faremax: Travel Forums

Yes, I know some people who got amoebic dysentry. I might even have had it myself, but not diagnosed.

Well i am from India and i will suggest you that you should beware of unknowen people and dont eat food from hotels and dhabas.You never saw your money during travel otherwise you can lost your money.

star123, are there any cultural customs we should be aware of? E.g., touching people, covering one's head, etc.?

Interesting thread!  I think the same can be said about a lot of countries (well, maybe not the sidewalk-as-a-toilet thing... ICK!).  Take Egypt, for instance... I've heard things about there, too, but I'm *going* to see the pyramids someday and I'll just have to take the precautions I can and hope for the best, I think.  Some places are worth the tradeoff in my eyes.  Not necessarily being sick, but at least reseraching and taking as many precautions as possible.

Telegraph ...

We went to Bombay, Delhi, down to the south a bit.  We tried to get all around.  There were so many things that were good to see and experience, but unfortunately, the lasting ones were medical.  Sorry for such a terrible attitude about India!

Oh dear, did you get ill? Sorry to hear that.

A friend of mine lived in Goa, but that is probably untypical of the rest of India.

A few friends who have travelled to India have told me bizarre and shocking stories, and also said it took its toll on their health ...

Bettina,

India doesn't have rigid customs like the middle east countries. You need not cover your head nor need you refrain from touching people. You may kiss your friends in public (the social peck).

The metros of India are like any city from US or Europe - cosmopolitan. But when travelling alone make sure that you are not wearing revealing clothes. Even in the metros though it's acceptable the uneducated types may consider it as an invitation sign.

Hill,

there is no denying the fact that you should watch where you stay, what you eat and drink when you are in Inida.

Millions visit India every year, some to get treatment for various diseases for which the treatment costs are prhibitive in the West. The long waiting lists in the hospitals of USA and UK also result in many patients coming to India for treatment.

Would this be possible if the hospitals in India were not clean and didn't maintain international standards?

Likewise the hotel you stay, the food you eat and the water you drink should be clean. You can stay in good hotels avoid wayside food and drink bottled water sold by Pepsi and Coke.

Enjoy your trip to India.

I agree completely with thumper and faremax. There are thousands of medical tourists who come to India for treatment. They wouldn't be doing this if India were so bad hygienically.

Yes, there are things you should be careful about that you normally do not do when you are in the USA and UK. But it should not prevent you from travelling to India.

Wow thats alot to keep up with but I like the whole idea of boiling water to brush your teeth is a cool idea. But you know when going out of the country you are not suppose to drink their tap water. Because it isn't sterile.

I think that there are other obstacles to travelling to India now, basically the same things that stop many Americans wanting to travel to anywhere in that region right now. Too much turmoil and anti American feeling. My mother in law has a normal travelling companion, and the companion this year wanted to do India, but my mother in law said no. There was too much risk as a black American, to consider it.

Those tips apply to all the places and I strongly belive that there is nothing to be scared too much like the topic creator did in India. India is a very beautiful place with equal facilities with other countires.