1

plan to make our way down to Goa, any tips on travel??

I like the 10pm-ish train from CST. Won't be on the listed platform (2 over from it, couple years at least now). By Feb you should get a seat, 2AC is quite civilzed. Arrives something like 10am in Madgaon.

Or flying. Spicejet is fun.

Nothing to see along the way except Indian resorts. Make due with the Goa coast after sunrise on the train.

2

i don't know the hotels in mumbai, but you should definitely do something in south mumbai around colaba. should find something in the guide books that work...

mumbai is a great place to start and def worth 3 days. but depends on how much time you have and what kind of stuff you like to see and experience when you travel. it has a huge mix of past + current india. having said that it introduces you to the chaos that is india forcefully but gently in some ways! lots to see in mumbai - whether architecture, cultural local activities / events, or nearby places like elephanta caves...

some additional info: if you are in mumbai in feb keep an eye open for the elephanta music festival. it takes place over a weekend, at elephanta and the ferries take you across. only during the concert time the ferries continue till post 5/6. it is indian classical music and dance, so might not be your cup of tea. but worth a shot? also in jan there is the banganga festival. similar content as above, but set around an old water tank. beautiful setting... the musician sits on a stage, then the tank of water and you sit across on steps!

there is a whole bunch of stuff you can do on the way down from mumbai to goa, stopping enroute and sampling the konkan coast... my blog post about that... written an entire iti i did along this route... see if it helps... konkan coast...

if you have the money and the inclination goa has some lovely homestays. great way to live with the locals and sample local culture. do google that and you should find some info, if not i can search for it and send you the links... was in an lp magazine some months ago... only issue most of these places are not along the beach.. so!!

have a great time... and welcome to my city, whenever you visit... :)

bhavani
http://merrytogoaround.wordpress.com/

3

Hi there, I've often stopped at the Salvation Army hostel in Colaba. It's incredibly basic, but it's also safe and cheap.

4

While there are lots of budget options around Colaba, since it is your first visit, you could consider the YWCA International Guest House on Madame Cama Road. walking distance to the Gateway Of India, for taking the ferry to Elephanta Islands, The Museum and to enjoy the architecture of the University,High Court,Library.On the fringe of Colaba. You could stroill to the Jehangir art Gallery and try the Samovar restaurant during lunch.

5

Hi there, I've often stopped at the Salvation Army hostel in Colaba. It's incredibly basic, but it's also safe and cheap

There's a great video, linked on here from this guy -
http://www.youtube.com/user/monkeetime#p/u - sorry, way too lazy to look for it. But it shows the neat bedbugs on their little paths in the Starvation Army Colaba. Maybe rethink that one.

6

The best place to overnite on your arrival day is the 10pm train to Goa.
There is very little to do in Mumbai except enjoy the life of any huge English-speaking city, if you are going to quit India from Mumbai, then leave any sightseeing to the end.
If you look at the volumes of words from #2 - he has actually said nothing - there is no way you can sensibly spend 3 days there - just try to plan an activity scheduke - pretty railway station - lots of rats surrying around Left Luggage and an arch that takes 60 sexonds to walk round.

7

OK! really good response to my first post! lots of info here - thanks to all that have given different ideas and opinions; really good starting point. I will look into 10pm train to Goa, and into homestays. Any more advice on Mumbai is greatly appreciated.

8

sorry, way too lazy to look for it. But it shows the neat bedbugs on their little paths in the Starvation Army Colaba. Maybe rethink that one.

Oh it looks like I've been lucky! I've stayed there a few times and never had a problem with bed bugs, but I don't doubt they have them. Last time I stayed there was in 2008.

There's a lovely modern art gallery in Colaba, just opposite the museum - both are worth a visit.

9

Oh it looks like I've been lucky!

I'd say. I'm not kidding about the video, and we've had many others complain about it on here.

On the other hand, no bed bugs at the Taj. Nice rooms, too ;)

10

Unlike Delhi, Bombay does not have too many historic sights to entice the traveller. It is, however, a great place for people-watching provided you aren't overwhelmed by crowds.
I'd suggest a nice ramble starting from Gateway of India, down Colaba Causeway, past Regal cinema; a quick pop into the Museum (if museums are your thing); a stroll around Kala Ghoda district (Jehangir Art Gallery, David Sassoon Library, Rhythm House - if you're interested in world music); down to Fora Fountain, past Fashion Street and up to Crawford Market. Catch a cab on the way back if you're too tired to walk, or ride on the top floor of a double-decker bus, a very Bombay thing to do!

My special reco: a meal or snack at ''Samovar'', the little restaurant inside Jehangir Art Gallery, a break to gather your nerves when Bombay hits you hard :)
I love Bombay to pieces, but wouldn't recommend spending more than a couple of days.

11

I hate it when people say there is nothing to see/do in bombay. I will leave it to a local to back me up on this one with some details. I have been visiting since the 70s, if it wasn't for the expense of hotels i would stay longer than my usual week. The people are great, its easy to get away from the tourist hoardes, good restuarants, clubs, bars, I love it!
a

12

Dear#11, I wont get into bragging righs but my fist extended stay in Bombay was 1978 on business, and have visited several times since.
I cannot recommend a 3 nite stay in Mumbai to a first time visitor to India whi has limited time - hence my suggestion to stick it on the end. Yes I have seen remarkable things eg blind teenagers playing cricket but nothng alters the fact thet it is a city that only developed as a result of the opening of the Suez canal as the commercial centre of India, hence there is little of historical calue to see unless one likes neo-Gohic Victorian architecture, museums on the South Ken. model and a modern throbbing city.
It has few, if any, pre-Raj links.
You may hate it when people disagree with you but my view is certainly equqlly vliad, but I neither despise you nor hate yur opinion. I would much ather listen to other travellers than biased local as objective views on an Indian's natural place are nevr objective..

13

So what if there are not many historical sites in Mumbai.How anyone can say that there is nothing in Mumbai?In the city of 18+ million people ?Or any other big city for that matter.What is this?Everybody who comes to India is some architect,cultural buff or something?I do not think so. Mumbai is great city just to be there and stroll trough the streets-in Colaba,Andheri,Juhu...it does not matter.And there are zillion things to SEE if that is what one expect of visiting such a big city.

14

You all have valid opinions, that is the point of an opinion; it's a personal perspective. So I appreciate everyone's different ideas and views on the city. Similarly I may feel entirely differently about London to somebody else but that doesn't mean either of us is wrong.

Would people say generally that Colaba is a good place to be based and find a place to stay?
I think 3 days will be just right, a day to adjust and settle in and 2 days to have a look around. Don't feel like I need to find everything I would like to see in Mumbai, I will be visiting other places. Still, I want to see the city and have a feel for what Mumbai is all about.

Elle x