Rupees - difficulty getting small denominations?? What is a shopper to do???
Hi all,
I am on the February 16th, 2017 trip and am concerned about securing smaller denomination of Rupees. With the recent withdrawal of the larger currency notes, there has been an acute shortage of 100 and 500 rupee notes. I read that hotels and ATMs have severe shortages of the smaller rupees - and that foreign tourists were essential limited to using credit cards. I also read that the new pink 2,000 Rupee note (equivalent to $30 US) is somewhat available but the new 500 Rupee note (approx. $7.50 US) is not so available. And the 100 Rupee note (approx. $1.40 US) is virtually impossible to secure. It seems that the banks and ATMs are stocked with 2,000 Rupee notes and there is no place to break these notes into smaller denominations. Since there is a severe shortage of the smaller denominations, vendors are not willing to make change.
What is a shopper to do???? I can bring a stack of $1 bills...but help!! If anyone has been to India recently, I would greatly appreciate advice!!
Nancy
I am on the February 16th, 2017 trip and am concerned about securing smaller denomination of Rupees. With the recent withdrawal of the larger currency notes, there has been an acute shortage of 100 and 500 rupee notes. I read that hotels and ATMs have severe shortages of the smaller rupees - and that foreign tourists were essential limited to using credit cards. I also read that the new pink 2,000 Rupee note (equivalent to $30 US) is somewhat available but the new 500 Rupee note (approx. $7.50 US) is not so available. And the 100 Rupee note (approx. $1.40 US) is virtually impossible to secure. It seems that the banks and ATMs are stocked with 2,000 Rupee notes and there is no place to break these notes into smaller denominations. Since there is a severe shortage of the smaller denominations, vendors are not willing to make change.
What is a shopper to do???? I can bring a stack of $1 bills...but help!! If anyone has been to India recently, I would greatly appreciate advice!!
Nancy
0
Comments
With 2017 and your Tauck exploration of India drawing ever nearer, we’re sure that anticipation
is already building for your journey. We are looking forward to hosting you on your travels!
We’re contacting you today to inform you that due to a recent government decision to
discontinue certaindenomination currency notes, lines are longer than usual at banks and ATMs
in India and hotels have a shortage of rupee notes. As you may not be able to withdraw cash
from an ATM or exchange higher value US dollars at your hotel, the recommendation is that you
bring small US dollar bills (preferably new bills) to pay for any incidental expenses you may
incur.
The new currency policy should have very little (if any) effect on your travel enjoyment! Credit
cards are widely accepted at hotels, restaurants, and shops throughout the country. We
recommend that you contact your bank in advance of departing on your journey to determine
whether you’ll be able to use your credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank,
notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your
hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious”
charges. We also recommend that you make a photocopy of the front and back of your credit
cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are
misplaced, lost or stolen.
Once again, we are looking forward to hosting you!
Sincerely,
The Tauck Worldwide Operations Team
Yes, We received Tauck's letter about bring US dollars (what denominations, what amount?) but I am still exploring options in NYC or elsewhere where I can secure small denomination rupees. If not, I am concerned that I will not be able to buy what I want -- will vendors in the markets accepts US currency? In addition, we have arranged a private guide in Mumbai who wants full payment in rupees. I will contact him and ask for his recommendations.
If anyone else has some thoughts, I welcome them!!
Nancy
I know you will love the amazing experience that is India, be prepared to have parts of your senses tapped for the first time and, to give yourself time to recover mentally when you return home.
Just to let others know - I contacted Concierge Services at AMEX who investigated the currency exchange problem - and they too could find no one in the NYC vicinity who are trading with Indian Rupees at this time. I also called the Bank of India (in NYC) and they had nothing to offer. I am stubborn - so i will persevere in my quest for rupees....story to be continued.
And yes, British, I am so excited to be traveling to India - I just finished reading The Siege; watched a fabulous movie about a richshaw driver in Delhi called Amal, and am in the middle of Flowers in the Blood - the story of the Sassoon family and the opium trade. All month I am watching stuff and reading to build up my excitement!! One more month!!
My next problem -- where to go next...I love land tours and while I am still capable, I prefer the 'harder' trips. I have read your notes about your African adventures but I am not sure...I am not a photography junkie; I would prefer not to have a close encounter with wildlife, the trips seem rather confining ... however, everyone who writes about their African Adventure has such passion for their trip...and they keep going back. Thinking of Japan..or maybe China...suggestions??? I have traveled in Western Europe extensively and would prefer not to go there at this time - I went to Russia and the Baltics as well as Indochina with Tauck.
nancy
Nancy,
That is a good "problem" to have : )
You need to write down topics that interest you - in general terms (there will be some crossover.) Write "art," "history," "culture," "scenery," "nature/wildlife", etc. across the top of the page. Then start listing Tauck tours under each category. There are so many wonderful tours. Since you are going to India, it appears you have an interest in exotic/cultural experiences. There are plenty of those- Japan, China, etc. We lean towards history, scenery, and wildlife, with a much lesser interest in cultures, etc.
Except for a few possible encounters, like British mentioned, where animals have access to the camps on the Botswana, South Africa, Zambia trip, and a few planned/managed encounters on other Tauck Africa tours, you are generally in a safari vehicle and safely separated from animals. You don't need to be a photo junkie to enjoy Africa either. Some people feel taking pictures actually detracts from the enjoyment of the experience. They would prefer viewing the animals and landscape unencumbered by the viewfinder of a camera. Me, I take a lot of photos so I can relive our trips. We've even had a lot of them blown up into large canvas prints that hang on out livingroom walls!
Within limits we too are trying to take the longer/more demanding tours first. We both have been to Europe in our younger years (HS German trip, US Navy) but did not get to appreciate what we saw as much as taking a Tauck tour. We haven't logged the number of trips that Jan, British, Joyce, and others. We started slowly just a few years ago with England, Scotland, Wales which was in out comfort zone. But once bitten by the travel bug have followed up with Alps & Dolomites, Kenya & Tanzania, a short US tour of N.E., Classic Italy, and Best of Ireland. We leave for Peru & the Galápagos in March and are looking at XMAS Markets along the Rhine for November and Botswana/SA/Zambia, or Ancient Mariners: Venice, Croatia, Greece for next year. As long as our money and health hold out and I can convince my wife to go, we will continue to travel.
I got rupees from my local bank in the US before we went to India, I did not know it was illegal and clearly the bank didn't! I doubt the airport will have any rupees.
Nancy
Hey, just out of interest, what are you looking to buy?
I really think you will be fine with small denomination (new)US currency, given the current state of confusion over rupees. While I am not a die-hard shopper, I do like a bargain and memorable souvenirs. Our tour, the first of 2016 with the new itinerary had a disproportionate number of females...15 out of 21... so there was some serious shopping going on. I went with some of the ladies to The Gem Palace in Jaipur, and while they were buying diamonds, I was happy with some lovely gemstone stud earrrings. Warning...the prices were very reasonable! My husband, a lover of boxes bought a wonderful marble with inlaid stone box at a recommended shop in Agra ( not cheap, but done by artisans who replicate the craft of the Taj Mahal)...this is above the theatrical production of the story of Shah Jahan and Mumtaz. It was a fun evening!
In Udaipur our group stayed in the Taj Lake Palace, and when we returned from some event one evening, many of the ladies descended upon the gift shop. I wandered in, and one of the salesmen immediately draped a beautiful scarf (pashmina style, but not the true fabric) around me. It was a perfect color and stunning, but I didn't need one. My husband liked it and asked the price. Too much for something I didn't want/need. Then the price dropped by half, and it was a no brainer! I absolutely love this scarf and have worn it many times.
My final shopping coup...Mumbai and Elephanta Island when hawkers jumped on our little train and were selling rope necklaces with silver elephants on them for $20...again I was totally disinterested and bargained in a half-hearted manner ( I am pretty good at bargaining and even gave the Maasai in Africa a pretty good run). When I got a price of $3.50, I bought it. I have gotten more compliments on that necklace and so regret not buying more.
So, don't fret not getting enough rupees, as no seller is going to refuse taking your money. And, credit cards are always good for larger purchases.
A note...in the South we found little wooden puzzle boxes ( in the shape of a butterfly, kitten, etc.) that were very reasonable and our grandchildren love. They were a part of the bus bazaar that I know you have read about.
I'm going on the Portrait of India trip 02/07/2017 and I'm trying to figure out how many US dollars to bring. Do you think I should bring $50, $100 or $200 one dollar bills?
Thanks