I will be entering India from Canada through New Delhi. I will have $620 USD on me. We are paying car hires, planes and hotels with credit card. The $620 American is to purchase rupees to be used for meals, sight seeing, shopping and inter city travel.
What is the best approach. To buy 1 month worth of rupees at the Delhi airport or buy rupees several times during our 1 month trip?
Any insight would be values.
Ben
Delhi airport is usually not the best place to get good exchange rates.
That consideration aside, changing everything a once or bits per bits doesn't really mater.
I am flying into Delhi. How do get rupees if not in Delhi airport? We fly out the next day to Jaisalmer. We will need rupees for taxis.
That consideration aside, changing everything a once or bits per bits doesn't really mater.
Don't agree, changing larger amounts will get you a better deal
And yes, airports offer notoriously lousy exchange rates
Yes, change small amounts of USD at the airport so you can get a taxi. Never change large $$ at the airport. The fees they charge at the airport are terrible. Change at a place in the center of the city. You can quickly reach New Delhi train station by metrorail from the airport, and from there you can find money exchange places in the Connaught Place neighborhood.
we arrive in Delhi at midnight. Fly to Jaisalmer the next day at 3:30 pm.... Is it feasible to do this? Exchange money in that time frame?
I personally leave all my money in the bank and withdraw rupees from ATM's. The last few trips I have flown straight to Ladakh and have preferred to withdraw enough for the whole trip (~1000 USD) at the airport. I have had good success using the Citibank ATM to the left of the arrivals area, and to withdraw the maximum allowable in each transaction.