Currency
India's currency is the Indian Rupee (INR). One Rupee is equal to 100 Paisa. Coins are in denominations of 50 paisa, l, 2 & 5 Rupees. Notes are in denominations of RS 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000

Credit Cards / Travelers Cheque
Renowned Credit Cards like American Express, Master Cards, Diners Club, Visa, are generally accepted by large establishments, including hotels, shops, and airlines. We advice you to use travelers' cheque should be of well-known brands like Thomas Cook, American Express and Visa.

Climate
Indian climate comprises of a wide range of weather conditions across a varied and large geographic area. Cool weather lasts from November to March, with December to February being the winter season. April marks the start of Indian summer, with peak summer commencing from mid May and lasting to the start of July. July to September is the monsoon season in most parts of India.

Clothing
As general travel advice, it is recommended to travel as light as possible. This is more relevant in India, as clothing and laundry are both quite inexpensive.

Women should try and dress conservatively. Avoid tank tops or short skirts / shorts. The best outfit, especially during the summer months is a shirt or T-shirt worn with loose cotton trousers. These are comfortable, cool and easily washable. You can purchase them anywhere in India, at reasonable prices. If you are adventurous, try wearing the Indian 'salwar-kameez'. It is comfortable and free sized, and will guarantee a more friendly and receptive attitude from the Indian public.

Indian winters can get chilly at night and early morning, but during the day the temperature could be as high as mid 20's. Hence, it is recommended to wear layers that can be removed during the day.

The Indian summer sun can be harsh. Remember to use sunscreen on exposed parts of the body. Covered clothing and a pair of sunglasses would help in screening out harmful rays.

Food
We would recommend you to drink only purified bottled water. You can ask your tour escort for a few respectable brands for purified water. In restaurants, insist that a sealed bottle of water is brought to your table.

Non vegetarian food should be eaten only at reputed restaurants and hotels. The meat in cheaper and smaller places could be of dubious quality. Beef and Pork are not easily available in India.

Vegetarian food is easily available, cheap, and of excellent quality. Curd or yoghurt is served with most meals; it is a natural aid to digestion and helps temper the spicy food.

Foreign Exchange
You can exchange money at international airports where 24-hour exchange facilities are available through banks and approved money changers. You can also exchange currencies at nationalized banks and other banks in the country. Insist on a receipt when exchanging your money. Retain all exchange receipts with you, as without them you cannot reconvert your unspent money on your final departure from India.

Some of the larger nationalized banks include the State Bank of India, Punjab National Bank, Punjab and Sindh Bank, Canara Bank, Allahabad Bank and Union Bank of India. International banks such as ANZ Grindlays, Standard Chartered, Citibank, BNP, Bank of America, HSBC and others can be found in major metro cities. Most banks have 24-hour ATMs. American Express and Thomas Cook offices may be found in major metros and tourist cities.

Public Convenience
In India, public toilet facilities are few, and we would advise you against using public toilets. Take every opportunity you can to use a clean toilet in places such as hotels and restaurants. It is worth making this a habit throughout your stay.

Public Transport
Unfortunately, in India public transport like buses, local taxis and auto-rikshaws are not of a high standard. For all its guests, Grandeur Royale ensures the provision of luxury tourist vehicles. However, should you wish to experience a local transport feature then please be vigilant of the following:

- Taxis and auto-rikshaws fares change frequently. Before paying for your trip, insist on seeing the latest fare chart

- Taxis and auto-rikshaws may not have meters in all cities. However, where they do, please insist on the meter being flagged in your presence. Where there are no meters, bargain a good price with the driver before you start your trip. You should ideally start bargaining with 50% of the asking price.

Shopping
India is a country of bargains; if you are good at it you can make the most of it! We recommend our guests to be accompanied by their tour escorts when going shopping. Having a local person with you helps in negotiating better price and selecting good quality. It can sometimes be hard for tourists to negotiate with shopkeepers and distinguish poor quality products from good ones.

If having a tour escort is not an option, then we recommend you shop from reputed emporiums, government handicraft shops and fixed price malls.

Street beggars
Given the population and widespread poverty in India, it is more than likely that you will have an encounter with street beggars at some stage during your stay in India. Please be advised that India does not want to encourage street beggars and the Indian government is constantly evaluating measures to reduce street begging.

We would advise you to follow a 3 step process to deal with beggars:

- First, try and completely ignore them

- If they are persistent, then give them a stern look or say 'No'

- If you must give them something, then please restrict it to 1 or 2 rupees

Tipping in India
Tipping is a personal expense and depends entirely on the quality of services provided to you and your appreciation of those services. Whilst tipping is not mandatory, it is expected at restaurants and by drivers, guides and escorts. The following estimated guideline may help you in determining your tip, should you wish to tip any service provider in India: