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Travelling Tips While Visiting In Gujarat

The practice of hiring a tourist guide when you are exploring an unknown destination is a great idea. Same is applicable while travelling in Gujarat for the first time. These guides who are basically the locals of the regions have very good idea about the topography of the place. They can be very handy as they can easily mingle with the local people and provide you with valuable information pertaining to the customs, traditions, culture and historical importance of the place. This would help you to get the maximum fun out of your trip. However, you need to be vigilant while selecting the tourist guide. Here are some of the tips to select the best tourist guides:

  • Please check the identity card of the tourist guide to ensure that he is a genuine authorized person. Also, the services of the guide who is referred by the hotels can also be taken.
  • Do not discuss any personal matters with the guide; just stick your conversation to the various aspects of the places you are visiting. Do not let him cause any harm.
  • Do not expose the money you have in front of the guide. Keep the tip ready by the time you are about to finish your trip.
  • Prior to commencement of the trip fix the guide charges, so that you do not involve in arguments and spoil the enjoyment of your trip. There is always a scope for bargaining with tourist guides in Gujarat.
  • Have a basic idea about the place you are going to visit, so that you cannot be fooled by fake guides.

Gujarat Tipping

Tipping is a common aspect in any hospitality management centers. This is common in India and Gujarat is very famous for its hospitality and excellent welcome. The state is an important tourist destination in India and offers exquisite services to its visitors. Tips are given to reward a service provided, it is more or less a morale booster. Check for the tipping guidelines of the place. Tipping is optional at some places and it is unavoidable at some others like restaurants, hotels and taxi drivers.

  • If you are put up in a hotel, it is mandatory to give tips to the waiters attending you. There is no fixed amount; however it is usually 10 percent of the total bill. Similarly when dining in a restaurant, the tip is as per your discretion.
  • While staying in a hotel the tip is also required to be paid to the room service personnel’s and porters providing you services.
  • If you are booking a taxi for your local sightseeing, you need to pay tip to the driver.
  • Tour packages provide guides; they are required to be given some tip at the end of the tour.
  • If you are staying as a paying guest at some place, you are required to pay tip to the servants attending you. Check the amount with the host.
  • No tip is required to be paid to the railway porters as they have affixed charges for the number of baggage. Fix the charges in advance so that no situation of argument and conflict arise.

Health Precautions

  • It is mandatory for people coming from Yellow Fever region to get vaccination for the same and carry vaccination certificate.
  • It is always advisable to consult the doctors for the precautions to be taken before planning a tour keeping in mind the diseases in that area.
  • People with respiratory disorders and dust allergies should take adequate precautions.
  • The foreigners visiting the country should take precautions against Dengue, Malaria, Hepatitis, Cholera and Typhoid.
  • It is not mandatory for the tourists from USA, UK and Canada to carry their vaccination certificate. However, if insisted by the immigration officer one can carry.
  • Hepatitis B is a dreadful disease; it is advised to take vaccination for the same.
  • Include mosquito protection items in your tour kit.
  • Include a first aid kit with items to treat cut, abrasions, burns and common diseases.
  • If you are under some medication, do carry them in sufficient quantities.

Precautions regarding Eating Out

  • Eat non-vegetarian dishes only in authorized and reputed restaurants.
  • Do not eat or buy fruits which are cut and exposed from hawkers.
  • As far as possible drink packaged mineral water only.
  • Do not accept food or beverages offered by strangers.

Safety Precautions

  • Secure your luggage in the hotel room with proper locks and security devices.
  • When you are at airport and railway station do not leave your luggage unattended, use the facility of cloak rooms. Also do not leave your luggage with strangers.
  • It is not advisable for women to travel alone or in taxi already with an occupant.
  • Women should be careful with their clothing, exposing dresses can be dangerous.
  • Keep your cash and valuables safely; pickpocketers are on the lookout in the crowd.
  • Do not use your credit cards at outlets where you do not feel safe.

Travel Tips

  • It is advisable to the foreign travelers to have a brief idea of the places and its culture before visiting India, to make the trip a memorable experience.
  • Plan your trip in advance, get confirmed bookings of your accommodation, flight tickets and taxi bookings to avoid last minute rush. An advance well planned trip would also help you save lot of money.
  • Keep your valuables, documents and passports at different places to avoid losing them together.
  • In order to get a complete experience of incredible India ask your tour operator to include short journeys in train and luxury buses also. This would give you an experience of rural India and if some fairs and festivals are included, your trip would become special.
  • Keep sufficient copies of important documents and passports to be produced at different places for hassle free journey.
  • Carry sufficient medicines as some of the medicines may be available in India with different brand names. However, in case of emergency you can always ask your hotel to recommend a good doctor.
  • Carry sufficient cheque leaves as at many reputed places payment can be done in cheques. Also, carry the luggage as per the season prevailing in India.
  • Confirm your plane tickets and reach well in time at airports and railway stations.
  • Follow the rules of temples and other places of worship. Remove your footwear before entering a place of worship. Also some temples do not allow the devotees to carry leather items and non-Hindus are not permitted in certain places.
  • Check out the closed days and timings of important monuments and places you intend to visit well in advance.
  • If you plan to visit any disturbed areas, check with the tourist information centers for permission.
  • Do not ask the pedestrians for directions and locations preferably ask shopkeepers.

What to Wear in Gujarat

Gujarat is famous for its rich traditional and cultural values. The people of the state have high regards for their age old traditions. The clothes they wear bring about the roots of the traditions in them. The dress of Gujaratis varies with their regions.  The traditional dresses were karat and pajama for men and saris for women. However, the modern people have adopted the latest fashions and they believe in experimenting with the western wears also.

The kurtas for men are now restricted to festive seasons and when they are at home. Women have started showing interests to north-Indian attires like salwar kameez at home. Gujarati women wear saris in Gujarati style during festive season and important gatherings. The western outfits are not very popular. It is only the young generation which has some liking towards these dresses. The Gujarati are also not very brand savvy.

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