Indian currency at port

We are travelling to India on Constellation in December and would like to know if we can get Indian rupees from an ATM at any ports.

We will be visiting Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai and plan to hire a taxi for a short tour as my husband is in a wheelchair and cannot travel on a tour.

We are travelling to India on Constellation in December and would like to know if we can get Indian rupees from an ATM at any ports.

 

We will be visiting Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai and plan to hire a taxi for a short tour as my husband is in a wheelchair and cannot travel on a tour.

Our private tours were paid for in US dollars, but I seem to remember buying some Rupees in Cochin, our first port. I think that I couldn't find an ATM and had buy them at a shop. Our tour guide recommended the shop and the rate was fair. Did't buy a lot, since we didn't need much. Credit cards work in India.

Taxi tip:

When you leave the ship in some Indian ports, there will be "official" taxis waiting on the dockside. These taxis will often have paid commissions and / or bribes to be allowed in the port gates, and will thus be much more expensive.

If you can make it outside the port gates, there will be hundreds of taxis waiting in line for your business, at bargain rates.

You will be accosted by many drivers, and I always ask them "Do you speak English?", and have a conversation with them en-route to inspect their car, to make sure they know more than just "Yes".

Check out the state of the vehicle and whether the A/C works properly. Agree a tour schedule and a definite price, before committing to a trip.

I am fit and well and bartering with taxi drivers enhances my travel experience, but if you are encumbered by mobility issues you would be well advised to pre-book taxi tours in advance with reputable people you will find recommended in each port by past passengers here on Cruise Critic.

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Are you arriving soon? India has just withdrawn 500 and 1000 notes from circulation causing chaos and long lines at banks and ATMs. Might be better to bring dollars or Euros. Should be sorted out by the end of the month but keep an eye on the situation.

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Taxi tip:

 

When you leave the ship in some Indian ports, there will be "official" taxis waiting on the dockside. These taxis will often have paid commissions and / or bribes to be allowed in the port gates, and will thus be much more expensive.

 

If you can make it outside the port gates, there will be hundreds of taxis waiting in line for your business, at bargain rates.

 

You will be accosted by many drivers, and I always ask them "Do you speak English?", and have a conversation with them en-route to inspect their car, to make sure they know more than just "Yes".

 

Check out the state of the vehicle and whether the A/C works properly. Agree a tour schedule and a definite price, before committing to a trip.

 

I am fit and well and bartering with taxi drivers enhances my travel experience, but if you are encumbered by mobility issues you would be well advised to pre-book taxi tours in advance with reputable people you will find recommended in each port by past passengers here on Cruise Critic.

 

 

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We visited four Indian ports in 2015 and very much enjoyed our private tours there. You may be able to save a few dollars hiring a taxi instead of taking a tour, but if you travel much on the Indian highways, like when our tour bus (minibus) took us to the houseboat outside Cochin the drive was an exercise in vehicles trying to pass on a narrow road, avoid hitting many motor cycles and scooters and cut back to avoid a head on collision. We did survive, but, frankly, I would not want to be in a small taxi on such a highway.

Perhaps if you stay in the city, you won't experience the constant feel of a near death experience, but you will miss a lot, especially not doing the Houseboat from Cochin. Further, have an informed guide is a significant value to some.

Many thanks for the valued answers. We are aware of the changes to rupees this week in India and have previously travelled extensively in the country. Our trip this time is very quiet.

This is the first time with a mobility issue and while I am happy to stay on board if we have to, it would be great if I can walk or catch a shuttle to the port entrance ànd hire a taxi for a couple of hours. I would then get the taxi to go back to the ship to collect my husbànd as we can not take his electric wheelchair in taxis and maybe not on shuttle buses.

Basically I just want to have a drive around the immediate area and have lunch on shore. Happy for a taxi for the whole time but question is about how to pay. I live in Europe so only have a few US$, could bring Euros but ideally I would like to withdraw cash from an Indian ATM machine close to the port. If reccommended on his board, I will buy US $ in advance and pay in a forgein currency which might be preferred at this time due to the changes to Indian banknotes this week.

Any points of interest near the ports would be appreciated, or restaurants. Many thanks in advance

In Cochin, it was a relatively short walk (in stifling heat) to the port gates, where we picked up a Tuk-Tuk motorised rickshaw for a wild white-knuckle ride to the nearest 5* hotel where we engaged a nice taxi and driver for the day.

In Goa (Vasco da Gama - there a number of ports for "Goa"), we walked through a coal port with its conveyors and layers of coal dust to the aforementioned queue of hundreds of white taxis outside. One bloke seemed quite good, but unfortunately he hadn't showered for some time so we had to ditch him.

No driver asks for cash up-front, and they will take any currency, but your best bet is to ask to be taken to an ATM during your tour and draw out rupees in cash.

Your business will be a bonanza for your driver because although you will pay more than the going rate for your taxi than if you were Indian, it will still be cheap as chips for Westerners.

As I said before, you should pre-book all this with recommended drivers.

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Does anyone have recommendations of a driver we could pre-book with in Goa or can we just pick up a taxi at the port and negotiate that way.

I would love to know if you have any tips on visiting these places. We are going in April and are very nervous and unsure. Many thanks 🤗.

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Can we get to the beach easily in Goa? Thank you.

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We are travelling to India on Constellation in December and would like to know if we can get Indian rupees from an ATM at any ports.

 

We will be visiting Mangalore, Goa and Mumbai and plan to hire a taxi for a short tour as my husband is in a wheelchair and cannot travel on a tour.

How was your trip, do you have any tips as we go in April. Many thanks 🤗.

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I would love to know if you have any tips on visiting these places. We are going in April and are very nervous and unsure. Many thanks [emoji847].

 

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Fairy,

Don't be nervous.

Understand that there is a level of poverty in India, and some folk there view you as a millionaire - whether you are or not! Their job is to extract money from you, and your job is to make sure that it is a fair and equitable exchange, to the benefit of all parties.

You could look for a recommended taxi driver on the India/Goa boards, or just pick up one ad hoc, as I suggested in an earlier post.

Colva Beach is quite nice, very commercialised in town, but you can walk for miles along it to find quieter parts and the famous beach shack bar/restaurants, some with the infamous "pig toilets".....

Be very afraid!

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