Here’s The Secret To Avoiding 5 Tourist Traps and Scams In India

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First-time travelers to India should be aware that Westerners are often targets for the enterprising trickster. And while we may not need to tell you not to take any “gifts” offered to you by street hawkers, here are a few more popular tourist traps and scams to avoid on your trip to India.

Airport Taxis.

Like in the States, non-registered cars at the airport will rip you off. Plus, there’s no official oversight to make sure you get delivered to where you’re going. If you want to take advantage of a pre-paid, fixed-fee taxi service from the airport, make sure to get in line at the government-approved stand.

Visiting The Taj Mahal At Noon.

It’s, like, really hot during the day at the Taj Mahal. And crowds of tourists overtake the views of the truly spectacular architecture. We’d recommend going earlier in the morning. Sunrise at the stunning landmark is less crowded and lets you avoid the worst heat of the day.

Riding Elephants.

Just don’t do it. Anywhere. You’ve heard the stories about elephant mistreatment in places where tourists are offered rides and even in the best case scenario, you’re not going to find a truly ethical way to ride an elephant. Instead, make a trip to a nature reserve where you can interact with the graceful giants from ground-level.

Spontaneously Hiring Tour Guides.

Unless you’ve arranged the fee ahead of time, you’re likely to run into trouble booking a tour guide while out and about. Even if your guide for the day has a heart of gold, you’ll probably end up paying more than the average rate. Worst case scenario, you’ll be faced with a huge bill and an unqualified guide looking to make a quick buck. Do your research before heading out to explore.

Fake Cancellations.

Trust your reservations. Unless you hear from your hotel, the train company or directly from a tour agency, there’s no need to worry about your booking. But popular scams lead tourists on wild goose chases from train stations to fake hotels to fraudulent tourism offices. Know the addresses of all your destinations and even better, take a peek at what they look like on Google Street View. This way you’ll know whether you’re being delivered to the proper destination.