Thorn Tree travel forum
Replies: 19 - Last Post: 14-Aug-2007 10:34 Last Post By: Sudhir
Traveling as unmarried male/female couple
Howdy.
1
I traveled unmarried for years with my now wife, never had anyone even inquire if we were married or not. I don't foresee many problems for you and your mate.
2
nobody enquired in my experience, but I've heard of it happening, especially in more rural/conservative areas. I wouldn't worry about the ring etc. but just in case you are asked, tell 'em you are married, but didn't bring your rings to India for whatever reason.Everybody should be somebody's Poke Thing. Lao Ren Cha
3
I am married ......do not have a wedding ring and did not change my name when I married. so obviously our passports will not have the same last name. It never for a moment occured to me that any of this would be a problem. I think that you are thinking too much and maybe have a negative view of marriage. Go have a great trip.
4
Hi OP, depends on the nationality of both of you. In case you're both foreigners, when booking a hotel room no one will ever ask you if you're married or not. But when you or your 'pseudo-girlfriend' is Indian, you may sometimes face problems. I, Dutch woman, travelled a few times through India with an Indian male friend (Indian nationality, living in India); we're not married. In Mumbai we were not allowed to share a room, the hotel receptionist showing us a letter from the police, saying it's not allowed for a foreigner and Indian to share a room. Same in Delhi when we tried to book at one of the cheaper hotels (1000 INR for a double); they didn't allow, again reason being foreigner/Indian. But in the more upscale hotels in Delhi there was no problem at all (one time just funny looks), also not in all the other places we visited.
5
Quote
you are thinking too much and maybe have a negative view of marriage
6
lady..just dont worry. there is no bias against unmarried couples. Many boyfriends and girlfriends travel to india. So just be truthful and introduce yourself as boyfriend and girlfirend. No need for false rings, or acting like brother sister( it will be too much of a unnecesary load on yur mind).
7
I traveled with another traveler who was a female and only in one area we had grief.Now that we're here so far away...< http://www.sandiegocustombuilding.com
8
I think it's a perfectly reasonable question given that they're a little more conservative over there in certain respects, and it occurred to me when I was there, simply because I was travelling for a short while with a female friend. I was curious to find out if we would be asked whether we were married because we shared a hotel room, but nobody ever bothered to ask. I'm guessing the thought may have passed through someone's mind at some point but obviously it isn't that important that there's some rule they're supposed to follow. I'm guessing there are Middle Eastern countries where this might be more of an issue, but I think it's true that India is getting more and more socially progressive, especially in the areas where they're more used to seeing foreigners.
9
no problem ..........many, many travel like you to india. being an Indian I know this. Go ahead and enjoy the trip !
10
I've had no problems anywhere, including the Middle East, although in Iran I did say we were married when asked (by the police in Teheran).
11
hi,An eco friendly and heritage conservation project in Kerala
12
My sister gave this fake wedding ring advice to me, but she travelled India 10 years ago - it turned out this is not an issue anymore, as said. In some places young men could ask us "you boyfriend and girlfriend?" which seemed to be a very exciting thought to them... just don´t kiss in public.
13
Hi just to tell a story my husband and I were in Goa before we were married, and as you do we were sitting at a bar talking to people and this indian guy who had come to goa from the north for his holidays (i cant remember the place he was from) we were having a chat with him about what he did for a living and where he had been etc (the Indians we met always seem to love comparing what you do and how much you earn what your house and car are like ) anyway i digress
14
QuoteHe was a guy us Indians would have immediately made out is not the right sort to mix with (much before he started stroking your arms)...but then, I can understand that foreigners cannot make out the subtle differences in terms of judging locals (subtle for foreigners but blatantly obvious for us).
He had asked if we were married and we had said no, it was at that point that without my then boyfreind noticing, the guy was stroking my arm!
Posted By: VenessaP -- 28-Jan-2010 15:01
Posted By: VenessaP -- 09-Dec-2009 17:01
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