Mumbai...adding an extra day...maybe!
As with all trips, I hate to see them end, even a long trip like this one! I am researching 'what to do' in Mumbai. I know I can relax and indulge in spa treatments, but I welcome other ideas.. Did anyone take a Bollywood tour? Any special markets to visit? Other sites? Does the Oberoi Mumbai have any special experiences that were worthwhile? Was there beach access from the hotel? I cannot seem to find photos of the hotel's pool--any comments?? I would prefer to 'do something' if I am going to spend an extra day rather than relax by the pool.
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Thanks,
Nancy
On our India tour, we caught colds from people who arrived on the tour with a fever and cold, second time that has happened to us, people arriving ill to the tour, lots of people caught that. Actually no, three times, but the third one was not contagious. I had a slight half day case of the runs. No big deal. If you start with any intestinal problems, call your tour director and they will assist you, they know the best remedies. Although it is a good idea to take antibiotics and so on with you, the local doctors are experts. On our tour, it was the tour director who got the runs! She missed a morning getting re- hydrated with an IV and her local guides and drivers took care of our tour that morning and it was fine. We ate everything offered at the hotel but were extra cautious washing our hands more often than at home. I do use hand sanitizer but it is such a poor substitute to soap and running hot water. Remember what Florence Nightingale said---- Never under estimate the power of soap and water.
Hand washing is absolutely key, and I know we all touch our face, eyes and mouth subconsciously - try to avoid that.
As for wanting to visit the Mumbai slums, some on our tour did that, but I just feel it is bizarre to want to go out of one's way to see poverty - there is enough on the rest of the tour for any appetite. What we have found on all our Tauck Tours is that if Tauck has not taken you there and showed you something , it is not worth seeing. We have also found that a day of complete relaxation before long haul home is wonderful because you take in so much on these wonderful tours that it is just good to rest your brain for a day.
Richard
Especially when we are travelling to the other side of the planet, we try our best to arrive several days early, to help us get over jet lag, that from vast experience, we personally find takes us at least three nights. We do research at home or see what there is that we might like to see that is not included on the tour. When we get to the end airport, I make a stop at the displays of flyers that have tourist info. On several occasions we have found things to do from those which have been as fascinating as anything Tauck has taken us to and has not come up in our research of guide books and Internet.. We would rarely consider pre-booking site seeing on the day of arrival like a lot of people appear to do on this forum because we want to be sure we are fit or not find we are delayed for any reason. If we feel we need to relax, we will, or do some gentle site seeing within walking distance of the hotel so we can easily bail out. I also find it bizarre to want to hook up with others from the tour prior to its start, based on conversation on the forum. I would not want to find I was tired and feel obliged to meet them 'at the bar' and, I would prefer to meet them face to face and then decide if they were someone I wanted to hang out with.
Mumbai slums---- I just wonder how one approaches a concierge who probably lives there and ask about visiting the slums? I also cannot imagine having any energy left at the end of the Portrait of India tour to do anything extra. We found we were mentally exhausted at the end of the Shorter Spotlight of India tour, indeed, it took us about a month after returning home to mentally process everything we had seen. The photo album/diary I produced after the tour has some of my best ever writing.
We have only stayed on at the end of a tour a few times, have enjoyed getting up at our leisure and again doing gentle site seeing at our preferred pace. It's a great way to ease back into reality.
So now I have 2 days to plan!! I saw some comments about Mumbai Magic...can anyone tell me what tours they took and their thoughts?? Has anyone taken their Jewish Heritage tour? Does the Tauck tour take you to the synagogues, etc??? And finally, has anyone done the early morning biking tour??
Nancy
I think I mentioned in a private email that we, too, had two extra days in Mumbai (tour ended at cocktail hour on Saturday night, and our flight didn't leave until 3 AM Tuesday morning). Frankly, this was the first time I have ever regretted leaving extra time in a city. We did not feel that there was a lot to see in Mumbai that would interest us. You see so many wonderful things during the rest of the tour, that your tolerance for what a very modern city has to offer is low. Tauck takes you to see the Dhobi Ghats (fascinating), Elephanta Island and a bus tour of the city landmarks. The slum tour did not interest us at all (if you've read "Behind the Beautiful Forevers" you will understand why). While the hotel is located on the "Queen's Necklace", there really was no beach by the hotel. There is a promenade across from the hotel, and it was fun to walk some of it, but not two days' worth! The pool at the Oberai is lovely, and we did spend a few hours there. It is shared with the Trident, the sister hotel.
Some people used extra time to walk to Victoria Terminus and felt it was interesting. We walked to the Taj Hotel and checked that out. (one of the recommended books was "The Seige" about the terrorist attacks in 2008...I read it when I returned home, but reading it before would have made our explorations of the hotel more interesting). The walk itself was fun but frenetic! We then roamed about the Colaba area (shopping area) and then met fellow Taucktorians and ate at Indigo. We were told that the Bollywood tours were terrible. Perhaps, someone on the Forum will disagree.
Another couple on the tour had planned to extend their time in Goa, but a last minute respiatory thing that ran through our entire group thwarted their plans. That might be something to check into.
Another problem was our room (we all had beautiful suites with views of the bay). We did pay for an extra night, but checkout was noon on Monday. We asked for a late check-out, but there was a huge convention coming in and, at first it wasn't possible. We were even willing to pay for a half day. Finally, on Sunday they gave us a 6 pm checkout, and because of a snafu with the luggage guy (not his fault) we didn't leave our room until 7:30. We had 8 pm dinner reservations, so that worked out. The thought of 12 hours in the lobby loomed over us! It is policy that you may not arrive at the airport earlier than 3 hours before your departure. However, once again, Tauck's guy knew someone and got us there earlier. The Mumbai airport is something to behold! Very modern and lots of things to browse through. The final straw was that it was Republic Day, and at midnight, the country becomes dry! Naturally, we walked into the lounge at 12:01!!
Joyce
You are a wealth of information...hence, we made our plans to avoid Republic Day entirely! The flights and logistics have made us stay 2 extra days/1 night (the one night at the hotel is the Gift of Time). After hearing about the hotel checkout time and rules about arriving at the airport, we are now contemplating reserving one of the rooms for an extra nigh to have a place to hang out. We may not be as lucky as you
were you on a 2016 tour? Elephanta Island was not mentioned in the detailed itinerary. Also did you visit the Paradesi Synagogue when in Kochi?
Nancy
I really don't know what to advise you about the room. We really lucked out, although, there were some tense moments contemplating 12 hours of "homelessness". A couple that left the previous evening, with the same situation was able to "rent" the room at half price for the extra time. I think it all depends on the vacancies at that time, and that can change, either way, at the last minute. We even checked out the locker rooms in the pool area (lovely), thinking, if necessary we could shower and change there in preparation for the long flight home.
We were the first tour of 2016 and the first tour of the "new" itinerary. I don't recall if Elephanta was listed (my papers are in boxes as we are remodeling). It was quite fascinating and well worth the trip.
Yes, we did see a synagogue in Kochi, but I don't recall the name (from photos it looks like the one you mention). It was a warm day, and with no air-conditioning we were not eager to spend too long in some of the sites.
You will be so glad you have opted for the longer trip as the South is so radically different from the North. It truly gives balance to this wonderful country. And,frankly, the first part of the trip is pretty hectic, so it is nice to wind down in a more relaxing atmosphere. And, be sure to save your spa/massage for Kumarakom...it is NOT to be missed!!
Joyce
Sorry it took a while to respond. Quite a few people got sick. It turned out I had caught the flu, the first case at New York Presbyterian Hospital in New York (a really big hospital). The tour director was not available. You don't need to be accompanied at all times in Mumbai, we walked around the hotel and others walked to the Taj. Don't do that anywhere else in India. In short, I would leave when the tour ends.
Thanks for the reply. At this point, my return airlines tickets are finalized and I will be spending extra time in Mumbai at the end of the tour. I will no doubt find some wonderful adventures and perhaps some relaxation. Mumbai Magic seems to have some wonderful tours. And yes, some do get sick, but many others do not. Will do my best and be careful!
Nancy
Thanks for your suggestions. Did you book your tours with Mumbai Magic in advance?
Nancy
Get a private tour packages to explore Mumbai tour and travel place. various tour package include car rental service with all accommodation and services.
So no need to worry about travel place and visiting in Mumbai.