Guest accommodations in India can range from luxurious palace suites with private pools, to five-star hotels in an urban city, to modern hostels with charging stations and a comfortable bed, to little more than a roof over your head, a place to lie down, and a bucket shower.
As in most countries, lodging prices tend to be higher in India's large cities and lowest in its rural areas, although urban areas offer more in the way of options. Particularly in tourist areas, costs will rise or fall according to the season, and can drop as much as 50% outside of peak season.
The high season generally coincides with the best weather for the area. In areas popular with foreign tourists, there may be an additional peak period during the Christmas and New Year season. In the same light, towns with popular temples might have additional peak seasons during the time of major festivals or pilgrimages. In some parts of the country, such as the Goa area, hotels may close during the monsoon season.
State governments generally tax hotel accommodations, which will be added to the advertised cost. These will vary from state to state. Luxury taxes and service taxes may also be applied.
Rooms in budget and midrange hotels in India may have shared bathrooms, sometimes with squat toilets. You may also have to bring your own sheets, towel, and soap. In some budget hotels, it would be good to also have insect repellent, a flashlight, and maybe a padlock for the door. Keep your door locked at all times. When traveling outside of a regular tourist area, some of the cheaper hotels may refuse foreign guests as they don't have the required registration forms for foreigners.
Although it is permissible to camp in the wild along trekking routes in India, the country does not have very many official camping sites, and some of those may be open only during the summer months.
India has many backpacker hostels, particularly in Delhi, Goa, Kerala, and Varanasi. Many of these are high quality, with air-conditioned dormitories, an on-site cafe or bar, lockers, and free wireless Internet. Hostels are usually mixed, although there are a few female-only options.
The government of India maintains a network of guesthouses for traveling officials and public workers. Known as circuit houses, dak bungalows, forest rest houses, PWD bungalows, or rest houses, these places might accommodate travelers if they have rooms available, although permission may need to be arranged through local officials. Some Indian states operate tourist bungalows, which are generally mid-priced, with varying standards of cleanliness and service. Some state governments operate chains of more expensive hotels, which include some historical properties.
Homestays are family operated guesthouses that often offer a homey atmosphere and home-cooked meals. Standards may vary greatly. Some hotels market their properties as homestays but are operated like hotels, with little or no interaction with the family. Local tourist offices might be able to provide a list of participating homestay families.
Large train stations often have basic rooms for travelers holding ongoing train tickets. Some of these rooms are stark, but others are pleasant enough. These rooms are useful for early morning departures or layovers.
India also has several high-end and heritage hotels, many of which are luxurious, and even destinations in themselves. These include five-star hotels, as well as historic places. The Indian Heritage Hotels Association represents several of these.
The focus of websites listed in this category is on guest accommodations in India and may include any of those discussed above, as well as any other guest lodging facilities in the country, or associations of facilities providing guest accommodations. Online booking sites and those offering comparisons or guest reviews may also be on-topic.
Recommended Resources
Federation of Hotel & Restaurant Associations of India
Established in 1955. the FHRAI represents the hotel and hospitality industry of India and is made up of regional associations from North India, West India, East India, and South India. Its history and its founding documents are set forth, along with the benefits of membership, a list of member hotels, hotel and restaurant search, news and press releases, awards, publications, and convention schedules.
https://www.fhrai.com/
Located near Calangute Beach, in Goa, India, the guesthouse has been in operation for more than thirty years, offering air-conditioned and non-air-conditioned accommodations, wireless Internet, and a restaurant. Photos of the guest rooms are featured, along with a list of guest services and amenities, tariffs and special offers, guest testimonials, a gallery of photographs and video, and a blog.
http://www.gabrielguesthousegoa.com/
Headquartered in New Delhi, India, Godwin Hotels is a hotel chain that includes the Hotel Godwin Deluxe and the Hotel Grand Godwin, both designer boutique hotels in Delhi, both of which are highlighted here, with photographs, descriptions, amenities, and services, as well as on-site restaurants. Rooms or suites may be booked through the site, which may also be able to handle bookings at other hotels throughout India.
http://www.godwinhotels.com/
Made up of hundreds of major hotel groups, boutique hotels, heritage hotels, and large, medium, and smaller hotels, the HAI was established in 1996. Its mission, objectives, initiatives, and imperatives are set forth, along with a history of the organization, membership policies, member profiles and details, and a list of member and associated hotels. Its publications include guidelines for security measures at hotels and a chronicle of landmarks and achievements.
http://www.hotelassociationofindia.com/
Indian Heritage Hotels Association
Created in 1990, the Indian Heritage Hotels Association has, as its members, palaces, forts, and other historic places. In order to preserve these places from decay, the Heritage Hotels scheme allows tourists to stay at these places, thus earning income that can be used for the maintenance of the buildings and grounds. Members properties may be found by name, city, or state, and a description of the program is included.
http://www.indianheritagehotels.com/
Surrounded by a garden resort at Jodhpur, Rajasthan, India, the family operated guest house features bungalow or chalet-style cottages, air-conditioned rooms with en-suite bathrooms, and other amenities that are listed here, such as a swimming pool, restaurant, and high-speed WiFi. A gallery of photographs is presented, with guest testimonials, prices, and an online booking system.
http://www.mandore.com/
Situated near the Arabian Sea, in Candolim, Goa, India, Ruffles is a two-minute walk from the beach and features twenty air-conditioned rooms, a pool, and two multi-cuisine restaurants. The rooms and facilities are shown in photographs, described, and a list of services and amenities is included. Prices, special offers, and online bookings are included. Special rates for long-stays may be available.
http://www.rufflesgoa.com/
