Thank you so much Lesley, Hils and Bob, for your valuable advice. If it wasn't for the weight restrictions I wouldn't be thinking about it. But as you suggested, we can always share the load with our hand luggage. Just a pity the internal flight is at the end of the holiday - cuts down on my shopping....lol

Alex and I will raise a glass or two to you over the holiday, especially if we see a tiger. I think that would make Alex's birthday.

Alex - thanks for the offer of a drink - look forward to meeting you soon.

Happy travelling!

Jean

Jean, I had a thought- if we buy anything whilst we are in Delhi we could ask the Hotel to keep it in the luggage room, after all we are returning to the same hotel........What do you think????

Otherwise I spoke with my good friend Shailendra and he thinks the internal flight wont be too strict on us as we are International travellers, plus they often pool all the baggage weight together if we check in as a group. (Excess charge wont be that much either), we'll find a way. :angel:

*Please note: This post was moderated to fix the quotes

Your friend is right luggage is weighed collectively on internal flights so you should only encounter problems if everyone has over weight luggage. Do not buy the Taj as this would be over weight!!!. Seriously, I bought quite a lot on this trip and managed ok.

Lesley

When I went to India with JY we had an internal flight from Khajuraho to Varanasi, and they were incredibly strict - they might just have been having an off day, but they took a bottle of vodka out of the main luggage of one of our tour, were very strict on camera batteries, and decided to throw my expensive camera lenses around even after they had been through the x-ray. None of us liked this airport at all, but you might be lucky, but better to be warned beforehand!

Have a fantastic time!

Cheers,

Hils

Jaya

When I said I carry booze in my hand luggage I meant duty free before the flight - not a bottle brought before check in. So Alex, any booze opened before this internal flight will have to be drunk the night before - what a hardship - good job we are a large group.

Jean

*Please note: This post was moderated to add comments made from Genie-p in a second post

Jaya

Hi Hils, thanks for the warning- especially about the vodka. If I carry any booze I normally have it in my hand luggage. Was there some kind of restrictions on booze or did they just want it for their own party? I must admit after reading somewhere on the forum about wine being £35 a bottle in the hotel I did wonder about getting some duty free. Did you get chance to go to any local supermarkets or is mainly tourists stops for shopping?

When I said I carry booze in my hand luggage I meant duty free before the flight - not a bottle brought before check in. So Alex, any booze opened before this internal flight will have to be drunk the night before - what a hardship - good job we are a large group.

Jean

*Please note: This post was moderated to add comments made from Genie-p in a second post

Weeeeeelllll Hick, I think I could struggle through. :-D

I can understand the bottle being removed at Security.

In theory one would not be able to take a bottle of Vodka or wine in hand luggage as its more than 100ml??

May be if we find a good shop in Delhi or somewhere we can buy a few bottles of wine for the group and a hold-all and just put it in the hold of the coach between Accommodation? Arrange our sundowners

Having said that we should drink G&T purely for Medicinal reasons, "Quinine"

.

Following this with interest as I'm on the April trip. Hope you have a great time. Please keep us up to date when you get back 🙂

Hi Willpower, will do. Got my final documents package the other day and my evisa. So exciting

Just had a thought (people are going to start thinking we have a drink problem)

We could each by a bottle of wine in Duty Free at LHR, that way we will have a few bottles of the not so expensive stuff for our holiday. :thumbup:

What do you think?

See you there. x

But there again it is your birthday........I am sure we will find away. I will get a bottle of red.

Jean

PS anyone reading this who are not on Feb 8 trip - our itinerary is different- we are Delhi then Ranthambore.

Hi Alex, I had thought of that - corkscrew and bottle stopper ready to go. However, we are only one night in Delhi (well most of us will be - lucky you) and we will be very tired so after the welcoming JY drink don't think I will be up for opening a bottle. The next day we are on the train and after seeing Indian trains not sure the bottle would survive....lol.

But there again it is your birthday........I am sure we will find away. I will get a bottle of red.

Jean

PS anyone reading this who are not on Feb 8 trip - our itinerary is different- we are Delhi then Ranthambore.

Good call on the corkscrew...... eeeeerrr Question, why do we need a bottle stopper... Hick.... :s???

I also like red, so I will pick up a bottle at LHR and bring some bubble wrap and Alka-Seltzer (other brands of Effervescent Tablets are available)

P.S. Anyone else on this trip on 8th Feb, panic yea not.... We are not totally obsessed with drink.... ( £35 a bottle in hotels) Honest.

I'm booked for April, following your posts for useful information, especially the booze too, totally agree with the g&t (quinine)!! All info is so useful though. You must be getting so excited !

Linda

Hi Hils, thanks for the warning- especially about the vodka. If I carry any booze I normally have it in my hand luggage. Was there some kind of restrictions on booze or did they just want it for their own party? I must admit after reading somewhere on the forum about wine being £35 a bottle in the hotel I did wonder about getting some duty free. Did you get chance to go to any local supermarkets or is mainly tourists stops for shopping?

When I said I carry booze in my hand luggage I meant duty free before the flight - not a bottle brought before check in. So Alex, any booze opened before this internal flight will have to be drunk the night before - what a hardship - good job we are a large group.

Jean

*Please note: This post was moderated to add comments made from Genie-p in a second post

Weeeeeelllll Hick, I think I could struggle through. :-D

I can understand the bottle being removed at Security.

In theory one would not be able to take a bottle of Vodka or wine in hand luggage as its more than 100ml??

May be if we find a good shop in Delhi or somewhere we can buy a few bottles of wine for the group and a hold-all and just put it in the hold of the coach between Accommodation? Arrange our sundowners

Having said that we should drink G&T purely for Medicinal reasons, "Quinine"

.

Following this with interest as I'm on the April trip.  Hope you have a great time. Please keep us up to date when you get back :)

Hi Willpower, will do. Got my final documents  package the other day and  my evisa. So exciting

Hi Willpower, this was a fantastic first trip for me, word of warning, it's a very busy itinerary. Lots of very early starts and late finished. 

 we were often out before the Sun was up and the mornings were often Chilly, especially the Game drives, which were also very  very dusty,  but soon warmed up after the most was burnt off. Obviously it wi be scorchio come April. 

If you have an old pair of shoes  that might make one last outing take them for Varanasi, ones you don't mind throwing away after Varanasi. As Varanasi is very dirty & more aromatic than any other place. 

Do NOT under any circumstances have a glass bottle of booze in your case or hand luggage for the flight from Khajuraho to Varanasi, security WILL ask you to remove it from your case and throw it away. 

I'm sure you will have a marvellous trip. It's a magic continent.

Time to start planning your next adventure.    😉

I agree with Alex about the shoes and I suggest no flip flops. 

Varanasi will not appeal to everyone but, for me, it was an insight to day to day living in India. 

Have a wonderful time, go with an open mind and heart and don't think of the Marigold Hotel.

Jean

Following this with interest as I'm on the April trip.  Hope you have a great time. Please keep us up to date when you get back :)

Hi Willpower, will do. Got my final documents  package the other day and  my evisa. So exciting

Hi Willpower, this was a fantastic first trip for me, word of warning, it's a very busy itinerary. Lots of very early starts and late finished. 

 we were often out before the Sun was up and the mornings were often Chilly, especially the Game drives, which were also very  very dusty,  but soon warmed up after the most was burnt off. Obviously it wi be scorchio come April. 

If you have an old pair of shoes  that might make one last outing take them for Varanasi, ones you don't mind throwing away after Varanasi. As Varanasi is very dirty & more aromatic than any other place. 

Do NOT under any circumstances have a glass bottle of booze in your case or hand luggage for the flight from Khajuraho to Varanasi, security WILL ask you to remove it from your case and throw it away. 

I'm sure you will have a marvellous trip. It's a magic continent.

Hi

So interesting, going in April (counting the days), so grateful for the footwear tip and warm clothing tip.  Any further advise on clothes ( men and woman, two of us travelling) would be welcomed

Thanks in advance

Linda

Hi willpower, you are about to go on an amazing trip - but it will be hot in April. I suggest packing light and use packing cubes - see other links. There is very little time to do hand washing but the laundry service was very good and cheap . The cost to wash and press a pair of trousers was between £1-2 depending on hotel. Just leave them out in the morning and they were back by the time you get back from the day's trips. There is little opportunity to go swimming unless you are up very early. We only had one morning by the pool so you may not need your cosie. 

I agree with Alex about the shoes and I suggest no flip flops. 

Varanasi will not appeal to everyone but, for me, it was an insight to day to day living in India. 

Have a wonderful time, go with an open mind and heart and don't think of the Marigold Hotel.

Jean

Hi Jean

Thank you very much for the advice. I'm sure all who read it will be very grateful.

Hi willpower, you are about to go on an amazing trip - but it will be hot in April. I suggest packing light and use packing cubes - see other links. There is very little time to do hand washing but the laundry service was very good and cheap . The cost to wash and press a pair of trousers was between £1-2 depending on hotel. Just leave them out in the morning and they were back by the time you get back from the day's trips. There is little opportunity to go swimming unless you are up very early. We only had one morning by the pool so you may not need your cosie. 

I agree with Alex about the shoes and I suggest no flip flops. 

Varanasi will not appeal to everyone but, for me, it was an insight to day to day living in India. 

Have a wonderful time, go with an open mind and heart and don't think of the Marigold Hotel.

Jean

Hi Jean

Thank you very much for the advice. I'm sure all who read it will be very grateful.

Well said Jean- It was an amazing trip, wasn't it. Hope to meet up again- Thanks for your company. xx