Tips to be a Smart Traveler in Mumbai

[Shruti Sharma]

The big bad city of Mumbai is an enigma to many! The metropolis bustles with Bollywood glamour on one hand while it showcases complete chaos due to its protruding slums on the other. It may sound peculiar but the beauty of Mumbai lies in its unbalanced nature and when you are in the city, be ready to face a bit of heat because patience is the first thing you need while traveling Mumbai.

Whether you are an avid traveller or are looking for little bit of fun, there are certain things you need to keep in mind while traveling Mumbai so that you don’t run into problems.

Avoid travelling the overcrowded local trains

Local trains are the lifeline of Mumbai. You must have heard a famous quote about Mumbai that ‘the city never sleeps’. Mumbai local trains are the running example of this phrase. While they are a perfect resort for localities, tourists will definitely find Mumbai local trains cumbersome to travel. If you are someone who is currently staying at one of the top 5 star hotels in Mumbai then you should not even think about traveling in a local train. This should only be the option when you are facing a money crunch.       

The cabs

South Mumbai’s black and yellow taxi cabs are city’s yet another trademark. The good thing is that unlike Autos, they are metered and charge you the right amount of money. As a customer, what you need to do is keep the GPRS on so that the taxi driver cannot con you. If you are choosing to take an unmetered taxi, make sure you negotiate the price. Prefer to travel alone and be wary if you have an additional passenger with you.   

Traveling at late hours

Mumbai is perhaps the safest city for women in the entire country. It is way better than Delhi, Kolkata, and Bangalore as far as the safety standards are concerned. Hence, you need not fret much if you are planning to enjoy the night life of the city but it is always good to take certain precautions to be on a safer side. Certain parts of Mumbai can grow a little dark after dusk such as Colaba, Navi Mumbai, and Andheri, and it is better if you stay in a little crowded areas. If you are a single woman traveling alone then stick to the more crowded and touristy areas. Also avoid visiting the beach side after sunset.