Budget — India

India offers probably the world's best heritage-to-budget ratio — a cultural and gastronomic journey of unique intensity for a daily cost under €100 in mid-range comfort. The reference budget of €50/day/person corresponds to travel in 3-4 star hotels, shared car with driver, mixed meals (tourist restaurants + dhabas), entries to major sites and main activities.

A backpacker can get by on €25-30/day: guesthouses or hostels (€10-20/night), meals at popular dhabas (€2-5), AC 2-tier or Sleeper class trains, local transport. The mid-range comfort traveller (€40-70/day) stays in 3-4 star hotels (€40-80/night), tourist restaurants (€10-20), shared car with driver or AC 2-tier trains, major site entries (Taj Mahal 1,100 INR for foreigners = €12, other UNESCO sites 500-1,100 INR). The luxury traveller (€150-400/day) finds in India one of the world's best luxury-to-price ratios — Rajasthan palaces turned into hotels (Taj Lake Palace Udaipur €600-1,200/night, Suján Jawai and Sher Bagh camps €500-900/night, Oberoi Amarvilas Agra with Taj Mahal view €600-1,500/night), Palace on Wheels train €5,000-8,000/week.

By expense category (comfort travel): accommodation (40-50% of budget) — 3* hotel €30-50/night, 4* €60-120, 5* €150-300, Rajasthan palaces or Taj Hotels €400-800; food (15-20%) — popular dhaba €2-5, tourist restaurant €8-15, gourmet Delhi/Mumbai €25-50, masala chai 5-15 INR (€0.05-0.15) everywhere; sites and activities (10-15%) — Taj Mahal 1,100 INR (€12) foreigners, UNESCO sites 500-1,100 INR (€5-12), Kathakali show Kerala 200-400 INR, cooking class 1,500-3,000 INR (€15-30), Ayurvedic spa-massage €30-80; transport (20-25%) — domestic flights €60-150, AC 2-tier train €15-30, car with driver €60-100/day including fuel.

A few practical tips. The Indian rupee (INR) is the only accepted currency — export and import prohibited beyond 25,000 INR (change on arrival). ATMs everywhere in cities and tourist areas (fees 200-400 INR per withdrawal + French bank commission — prefer large spaced withdrawals). Visa/Mastercard accepted in 3* hotels and above, tourist restaurants, shops — refused in dhabas, local transport, markets. Bring some dollars or euros in cash for manual exchange if needed (official offices, never black market). Tipping (bakshish) is culturally expected: 10% in tourist restaurant, 50-100 INR per baggage porter, 200-500 INR/day for driver, 100-200 INR for guide. Buy a local SIM (Jio, Airtel, Vi) on arrival — 200-400 INR for 28 days with unlimited 4G data, essential for Uber/Ola, Google Maps, IRCTC. Purchase procedure sometimes complex for foreigners (photo + passport + visa copy), prefer airport counters or official shops in shopping centres. 230V voltage: D and M plugs (massive 3-round-pin), adapter mandatory for European travellers. Voltage compatible with European equipment.