Poll Results: How often do you visit India

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Poll Results: How often do you visit India

By: Santosh :+: Under: Polls
On: ⋅ June 13, 2008 ⋅

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How often do you visit India?

Once every 2-3 years (52%, 11 Votes)
At least once a year (24%, 5 Votes)
Once every 5-7 years (14%, 3 Votes)
Never been there (10%, 2 Votes)
2-3 times or less in my life total (0%, 0 Votes)
Live there currently (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 21

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Over 50% of Über Desis who responded to this poll visit India once in 2-3 years. 20% visit India every year, including myself.

Some have only been there once in the last 5-7 years. These people are in for a surprise if their last visit was pre-2005. As for those who’ve never been there I’d highly recommend it, now is as good as any time.

Some personal perspectives:
Even though I like visiting India every year, I really hate the trans-continental flights and drain on finances. A ticket usually bought well ahead of time cost anywhere between $1000-$1500 per person, if you’re not flying from New York. To put things in perspective, I priced a Carribean trip on Orbitz.com and the total cost was between $1200-$1500 for 2 people from the East Coast of US.

After a couple of bad experiences which involved flying all over the US and the world to get to India, I religiously avoid desi travel agents and buy my tickets on Orbitz.com. That way I’m able to micro-schedule my flights including seating arrangements (aisle seats preferred) without having to correspond back and forth with someone over phone or email.

It does take up most of my paid leave at work to visit every year and I don’t have as much time to visit places in the US and other parts of the world. So I’m considering doing week long trips yearly, with the occasional month long touristy trip every 3 years. Most of my childhood/college friends have either moved somewhere else in India or abroad or don’t have time for me anyway.

To those infrequent travelers or those who’ve never visited, if you don’t have kids and their school vacations to worry about, try non-peak travel months but, if possible, avoid visiting during the monsoon season.

I’m interested in hearing from others on how you plan your India travels. Please share your opinions, suggestions and experiences in the space below.

Discussion

7 comments for “Poll Results: How often do you visit India”

1: Ash | June 13, 2008, 11:50 am | Direct Link

Santosh, but is it worth the hassle of the long and cramped flights to only stay in India for a week? Half the week would go in unpacking gifts and then packing masalas

Personally, I prefer making longer trips (2-4 weeks) but on an infrequent basis (2-3 years).

2: Santosh | June 13, 2008, 12:06 pm | Direct Link

is it worth the hassle of the long and cramped flights to only stay in India for a week?

I’m questioning that approach myself. The things is, I can visit all my relatives in 2-3 days and I don’t have as many friends still living close to where I grew up. I’m bored if I’m not doing touristy things on longer trips.

Half the week would go in unpacking gifts and then packing masalas

I’ve drastically cut down on luggage and gifts. Money works as well as gifts for the younger ones
So it’s only the older ones remaining. Unless someone requested a specific gift, I get someone to buy most of the generic stuff in India itself, so I have them ready to gift when I arrive.

Personally, I prefer making longer trips (2-4 weeks) but on an infrequent basis (2-3 years).

I’m seriously considering switching over that schedule myself.

3: Runa | June 13, 2008, 2:55 pm | Direct Link

Yo!
Can either of you hook me up with a job that provides 3 to 4 weeks vacation?:-) I get 2 lousy weeks in which I have to keep parents ,inlaws and everyone equally happy

4: Ash | June 13, 2008, 3:03 pm | Direct Link

LOL, I get the usual two weeks off for vacation and since i work for a university, I also get a week off for Christmas!

5: spee | June 13, 2008, 7:28 pm | Direct Link

Well, I visit India ever year…gotto get the dose of desh every year, otherwise I get restless. While looking for a job, the vacation period is a major determinant for me.

But shopping and packing gifts is a major pain! I really wish there was desi agency which did all the shopping and packing for some fee :). Santosh, is it your relatives who do the shopping for you in India or did you ever use any professional help ? This reminds me, has anyone ever used “www.yourmaninindia.com” ? Wonder how good/bad they are.

6: Celine | June 17, 2008, 8:01 am | Direct Link

Last year I made 3 trips (excluding one that I made for my sister’s funeral.) Before that, the past two years at least twice a year. Was in India in February this year and shall be heading to the Himalayas next month again.:)

7: New York to Mumbai in 14 hours | Über Desi | September 19, 2008, 6:31 am | Direct Link

[...] I decided to skip Europe and fly non-stop from New York to Mumbai. As I’ve mentioned before, no crummy desi travel agents for me. I book my flight or Orbitz or the airlines website directly, [...]