TRANSPORTATION
AIRPLANE MODE
First things first! How will you get to India? We're going to make a huge assumption here and guess that 99.99% of anyone reading this will be flying. Since my husband and I are both from the East Coast of the United States, the information for this subject is going to be slightly skewed to reflect our region, however, a lot of layover cities and airlines may apply to many different trip scenarios. Keep on reading below for some booking tips and our take about the airline we have used.
Booking Tips...
Both this year and last, we flew in early December and that really seems to be key in finding the lowest pricing from the East Coast to Delhi. If you are thinking of traveling during the late fall/early winter, you will definitely be able to find some of the best deals and the best weather here in India. Another tip is to book about 3 months out. We have been using Hopper, a mobile app, to check and keep track of changing airline fares. Kiwi.com, Cheapoair.com, and Justfly.com are our favorite booking sites.
China Eastern Airline....
For the last two years we have flown round trip on China Eastern airline. We have not been as worried about the length of the travel time as we have been about the expense. Our tourist visas do not permit any form of work in India, so if we can save a few hundred US dollars by selecting cheaper airfare, we can live abroad longer and more comfortably. You will definitely have to decide which is more important in your case. This year it took 15 hours from New York City to Shanghai, a 19 hour layover, and then another 7 hours to Delhi. If you are coming to India for a few weeks, a direct flight is obviously more desirable since you have less wasted time. If, like us, you plan on being here for a few months, you may opt for a longer, slower route. On the up side, we've been able to explore cities we never would have planned to visit so it's added to the excitement of the trip!
Here's a little more info about China Eastern airlines specifically. You get multiple suitcases checked for no extra charge, in-flight entertainment and meals. Last year we flew from JFK airport in New York, USA to DEL airport in Delhi, India for $430 per person ROUND TRIP. This year it was $520 per person round trip. Both routes took us through Shanghai. Last year, we were a little overwhelmed with the idea of leaving the airport during the layover period that time of only 9 hours, but the process couldn't be any easier. You can get a free tourist visa as you exit through customs for up to 144 hours. There is a super fast train called the Maglev, that leaves from the airport directly into the city. Once there, we did need a little help from another layover tourist to figure out the local train system into the city, but the locals seemed helpful too, as if they were just waiting to see if we had bought the right fare.
We found Shanghai to be clean and impressive mixing the ancient with the modern fantastically. This year our layover was 19 hours and mainly over-night, but we found a super clean and comfy hotel for only $35 USD a night which included breakfast and airport shuttle. We'll be posting the hotel link, photos and tips about Shanghai on the international blog, so keep an eye out for that!
Once you've gotten to Delhi or Mumbai, there are a plethora of ways to get any where else in the country. Until then, Jefe, I would just like to know if you know what it means to have a plethora...
TRAINS VS. BUSES
It seems entirely appropriate to write this section about alternative travel options while we are currently on a sleeper bus from Ahmedabad to Jodhpur. It's an 8 hour trip so there's plenty of time! For travelers coming through India on a shorter stay, a long bus or train ride might not be the most time efficient so flying is still a good option. Many that don't mind the length of the trip, opt for the more traditional train experience. Both have some advantages over the other so here are some details that might be helpful if you're trying to decide. (We are discussing here only inter-city first class AC sleeper trains and first class AC sleeper buses.)
TRAINS
BUSES
01/
Price
For the most part, a bus (even the first class, sleepers with AC) is even cheaper than the train. If you are living abroad on savings like we are, even a few hundred rupees factors into the decision. But honestly, when compared to flying, either the bus or train can save a substantial amount of money.
02/
Schedule
Buses usually have many more departures in a day than a train making it easier to catch one that works with your timeline. PRO TIP: There are SO many schedules and options for both buses and trains and so many class options, we always use a local travel agent to help us book our tickets. They know everything there is to know about the schedules and can access tickets that the stations can not. The fee is typically 200INR either total or sometimes per ticket.
03/
Destinations
Obviously trains are limited to the tracks, but buses are an easy option to take to more remote or less popular cities. REGIONAL TIP: We have found the North of India to be extremely well connected by both trains and buses running on a high frequency of departures, whereas in the South of India, both train and bus connections and timings may be much more limited.
04/
Comfort
As the name suggests, a sleeper bus is outfitted with multiple bunks running in upper and lower rows instead of seats. The bunks are the size of a double bed with enough room to sit up if preferred. This layout is an advantage over a sleeper train if you are traveling alone or as a couple. On a train, the typical cabin layout is 3 bunks on either side of a cabin and 2 perpendicular across the row. The bunks can be raised and lower for everyone either to sit on the permanent bottom bunk or for everyone all to be sleeping. Once the bunks are all arranged for sleeping though, you don't have enough room to sit up unless you are on the 2 bunks on the side. If you have the entire train cabin with friends this isn't really an issue and is actually more enjoyable since it provides more space and options to hang out together as a group. Otherwise, you will be at the mercy of strangers who may have different ideas about how they will enjoy their trip.
05/
Food
As far as ease of acquiring food, the train easily wins out. A lot of stops are long enough to hop off and grab a chai, chips or some street food if you dare. Running back to a moving train leaving the station is also always exilirating and feels like you're in a Bollywood movie, as long as you make it back on of course. If that sounds too stressful, don't worry, you don't even have to get off! Vendors regularly walk through the cars announcing their offerings from hot chai to cold milk and fresh pomegranates to spicy samosas. On the last train we took from Jaisalmer, a vendor came through on one of the early stops taking dinner orders. Around 8:00 pm, (traditional Indian dinner time) a full hot meal was brought to us for under 100 rupees. Now that's service!
06/
Privacy + Security
Every sleeper cabin on bus has a curtain facing the aisle. It may not shield the noise from other travelers, but with the curtains closed you won't be getting stared at or talked to. Also, large items are either securely stored in the bus underneath, small items are kept with you and there are no vendors or others getting on and off at different stops to disturb you by either bumping through with luggage or calling out what their selling.
07/
Motion
If you get motion sick - the bus is NOT for you. There's a 96% chance you will not be hitting any smooth open highways on your trip, and even if you do, the driving will still be somewhat choppy and sporadic. The mostly consistent subtle swaying train motion definitely wins out in this category.
08/
Bathrooms
There aren't any on the bus. If you're a nervous traveler or happen to have Delhi Belly, the bus might be a dangerous option. For direct trips around 4 hours or longer, however, there will be at least one stop at rest area where you can use the facilities and get some grub to go. These will not be any high class facilities, mind you, but they are modestly kept and provide the necessities. We are pretty sure on another trip that someone asked the driver to stop and he did, but it was in the middle of the night, on the side of the road so my bladder understood and decided we could wait. The train bathrooms are mostly all squat toilets that drain directly on to track. For that reason, you are not allowed to use them while the train is stopped a station. There is running water to wash your hands and honestly we personally haven't found them to be worse than a bathroom on a plane, save the squatting.
09/
Amenities
Both the bus and train provide an outlet for charging devices which is nice. Keep in mind that on the train, you'll be sharing that with all 8 people if the cabin is full. On the bus, each bunk has one. Another big win for the bus is that some companies offer free WiFi. Our first trip even spoiled us each with a bottle of water. The bus also usually has a TV in each bunk and will show a movie on all monitors if you have it turned on.
It seems that the bus may be the clear winner however, where atmosphere is concerned, the train is hands down more fun to walk around in while moving and just feels more like 'India' than a bus. So, you decide! If you have an opinion on how you think you would like to travel or can vote based on your personal experience, follow the directions below!
Click on the instagram icon here and look for the post with the same picture as the one on the left. Vote and/or share your personal experience in the comments!