Budget Hotel Site for India

If you are seeking reasonably-priced lodging in India, check www.stayzilla.com, which lists nearly 9,000 budget and value hotels and guesthouses in more than 1,000 cities and towns across the country.

I was, however, somewhat surprised to see what qualifies as value pricing in a large city such as Mumbai. Checking dates early in April, I found a hotel near the central railway station that charges about $95 per night, or another that charges around $77. There were also listings of hotels costing about three times that much, too. I guess I had assumed that since India is a developing country. prices would be quite low. Probably lodgings in smaller towns and cities are a lot cheaper, and on the stayzilla site you can save considerably by booking ahead.

According to an article on www.hospitalitybizindia.com, stayzilla has recently done a study of its recent bookings and found that women travellers constituted 13 per cent of their business, and that the number of women making reservations has doubled in the past year. Here in the West we mostly hear horror stories about violence against women in India, so it is good to know that there are other types of news about women in that country.

I have stayed in an Indian-managed hotel, the Mena House near the pyramids at Giza, and found the service and food exquisite. It was managed then by the Oberoi chain, an Indian luxury brand.  I am hesitant about visiting India because of concerns over health and culture shock, but someone I know was there recently on a tour and seemed to enjoy it, so perhaps I should re-think my qualms.