Touts & commission agents With so many businesses dependent on tourism, competition is cut-throat. Many hotels and shops drum up extra business by paying commission to local fixers who bring tourists through the doors. These places tend to be unpopular for a reason – prices will invariably be raised (by as much as 50%!) to pay the fixer’s commission. To get around this, ask taxis or rickshaws to drop you at a landmark rather than your real destination, so you can walk in alone and pay the normal price. Train and bus stations are often swarming with touts – if anyone asks if this your first trip to India, say you’ve been here several times, as this is usually a ruse to gauge your vulnerability. You’ll often hear stories about the hotels that refuse to pay commissions being ‘full’, ‘under renovation’ or ‘closed’. Check things out yourself. Be very sceptical of phrases like ‘my brother’s shop’ and ‘special deal at my friend’s place’. On the flip side, touts can be beneficial if you arrive in a town without a hotel reservation when some big festival is on, or during the peak season – they’ll know which places have beds. Read more: lonelyplanet/india/practical-information/health#pageTitle#ixzz2e5mfZCVL
Posted on: Fri, 06 Sep 2013 06:44:09 +0000
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