After a bit of turbulence and a bumpy landing at Mumbai’s Chattrapathi Shivaji International Airport, I made it safely through customs.
Tip# 1: I recommend getting a pre-paid taxi from the airport and not dealing with the touts. It’s safer and will cost you around 400 INR (Indian Roupees) to get to the Gateway to India. You can take the train a bus to Anderi station and a train to Churchgate.
I’m loving being back! The moment I got out of the airport and went to find a cab I remembered how I felt here over 10 years ago..!
The sights and sounds of India are unique and it was every bit chaotic as I remember it! I ended up taking a non AC taxi.
Tip #2 Taxi types determine the cost – low end are rickshaws, medium – non AC taxis and high end – AC cabs.. even higher end are limos. Not stretch limos, but fancier cars). If you want to save money – go for the lower end and from the airport go to the pre-paid taxi booth.
I headed straight for the The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in the Colaba area of Mumbai.
Backpackers, Mid Range and High End accommodation in Mumbai
Tip #3. Colaba is the area to head for – there you’ll find a range of accommodation. From the Taj which is upwards of 11,000 INR a day, mid range (4000-5000 INR) such as The Garden Hotel, which will get you a room with an ensuite – hotels will be very clean, cable TV although often no pool, budget (2400 INR) such as the Apollo Guest House hotel and backpacker hotels (400-900INR). The 400 roupee a day hotel will give you a room with partitions, not proper walls – so you can hear everything, dirty pillows and stained mattresses. The Salvation Army hostel private rooms will run you around 900INR, the dorm beds are cheaper. Mumbai isn’t cheap.
Head outside Mumbai and you’ll immediately notice the drop in prices.
