Is it too early to find out how many other travellers are on the India trip next month and the name of our tour guide? Also I've just received my amended invoice and see that I have a £15 credit as the executive lounge is not available - will this be paid directly into my bank account or do I have to claim it back? Many thanks Sue

Your tour manager is Chris Anderson and so far 23 people have booked this holiday.

The £15 refund is usually sent out as a cheque so you should receive this in the next few weeks. If you don't have it by mid-April, give our holiday advisors a call on 0844 567 8844.

Have a great holiday.

Kind regards

Olly, your editor

Thanks for the update. Noticed that somebody else has been asking about spending money for their tour to Kenya so any advice about spends for the India trip. Everybody says how cheap food and clothing are so don't want to take a load of rupies which I'd feel compelled to spend! Many thanks, Sue

Bear in mind that most of the excursions and meals are included in the price of this holiday, so you won't need to buy much more than a few lunches and your drinks. Personally I would take one or two hundred pounds and change into rupees at the airport in India. If you don't spend it all, I would change the rest back to sterling before you come home, as it can be hard to change rupees in the UK.

Kind

Bob

This was my first JY holiday but certainly won't be my last. It was absolutely amazing. Hope you have a similar experience.

Thanks for the advice. I'll avoid the wine list if that is the most expensive item on the holiday. Glad to know that you've made it home without any major health concerns. Talking of spending money did you take travellers cheques, currency or just rely on ATMs. Good to know that my trusted credit card is accepted everywhere although I expect that local shops and markets would prefer hard cash. Is tipping waiters, porters etc. a big thing or is that just a Western habit?

Many thanks,

Sue

Hope the locals don't think that all British women are called Sue!Anyway thanks for the advice. Glad to know that you've made it home without any major health concerns. This is also my first JY holiday - I don't have any big worries, in fact really looking forward to it, but my husband is worried that I'll come home with some horrible illness. So talking of spending money did you take travellers cheques, currency or just rely on ATMs. Good to know that my trusted credit card is accepted everywhere although I expect that local shops and markets would prefer hard cash. Is tipping waiters, porters etc. a big thing or is that just a Western habit?

Many thanks,

Sue

I brought Sterling and it was possible to change money at all hotels, except Tiger Moon (Ranthambore). Around half the group got the notorious Delhi Belly, but we were all able to carry on regardless and no one came a cropper thankfully! Tipping is expected everywhere, so when you first change money as for some small denomination notes. Ring your credit card company and tell them when you will be away (I do this for all foreign holidays), otherwise you may have problems using it, as they may put a block on transactions if they think it is being used fraudulantly.

Have an amazing holiday!

Best wishes,

Bob

Hi Sue,

Hope the locals don't think that all British women are called Sue!Anyway thanks for the advice. Glad to know that you've made it home without any major health concerns. This is also my first JY holiday - I don't have any big worries, in fact really looking forward to it, but my husband is worried that I'll come home with some horrible illness. So talking of spending money did you take travellers cheques, currency or just rely on ATMs. Good to know that my trusted credit card is accepted everywhere although I expect that local shops and markets would prefer hard cash. Is tipping waiters, porters etc. a big thing or is that just a Western habit?

Many thanks,

Sue

Hi again Sue

As Bob says, the easiest thing is sterling, I'm not sure they would want Travellers Cheques. Don't rely on ATMs, there was very little opportunity to use them. The places we went to didn't have nice little shopping malls with ATMs etc! Our Tour Manager advised us throughout re. tips and I'm sure yours will do the same. 10 rupee notes are very useful to keep for loos etc.

Sue

Thank you - very useful. Any advice about what to wear / not to wear and how much "clothes" luggage to take? I always overpack! Sue

I always overpack too! Take lightweight casual things like cotton shirts and crop trousers. We did change for dinner in evenings but nothing too elaborate, just something fresh. You end up virtually living out of your suitcase most of the time so don't cram it with unwanted stuff. All hotels have good supplies of toiletries, shampoo, moisturisers etc so I found I didn't need my own (one bit of weight allowance you can save) plus I took too much jewellery. You won't want that in the daytime anyway. Remember swimming cozzie as there are some nice pools at hotels. Comfy shoes/sandals are a must! Also a light weight jacket or cardigan as there are a couple of early morning starts before the sun comes up.

Sue