Preparations

The net is a wonderful place. The uneducated man can become a temporary authority on nearly anything in just minutes. So when the time came that I needed to know how best to prepare for my upcoming trip to India, I simply opened my laptop and logged on.

Through a plethora of travel sites I have gleaned much about clothing, footwear, precautions, adjusted expectations, etc. I have read individuals who tell stories of their personal experiences meant to equip you with necessary knowledge and best practices. There is information on accommodations ranging from the unbelievably inexpensive all the way up to what you might expect to pay if you were in a high-end Hawaiian resort. There are 'must see' attractions and 'must do' activities. Restaurants, clubs, historic sites, tailors, dentists....

One of the best sites for this kind of thorough handling of anything a traveler might need to know concerning India is IndiaMike. People from all over the world post questions and answers; newbies and experienced travelers, native and non-native Indian residents, etc, with some threads still alive after over a year. My introductory thread sparked a four page discussion about where to get the best coffee and how you need to ask for it. The breadth of knowledge on this site is great. Of course everything needs to be filtered through good level-headed logic (like discussions against anti-malarial medication) but overall the instruction here has been invaluable. Keep in mind that although the moderators are also contributors, it is we-the-people who make IndiaMike run and there will be as many opinions as there are members.

I have also found Lonely Planet, Frommer's and Virtual Traveler to be informative web sites with decent information on attractions, lodging and transportation. But unlike IndiaMike these sites place travelers input on a level secondary to their own staff writers, which can feel convoluted at times - especially when their recommendations are contradicted by real travelers.

It is well said that in the multitude of counselors there is wisdom. So I am doing my homework, evaluating all the information at hand. But I am paying special attention to those whose reports back are less likely to be bound to a business plan.