Mumbai (Bombay) tips please

gmrsupplies

Hello All,
I have the chance to go on a 3-4 night break to Mumbai (formerly called Bombay), it is up to me when we go, what is the best time of year to go ? I don't want to be changing my shirt every 5 minutes so when would be coolest? What sights should I fit in in such a small break, any other suggestions/advice would be welcome, hotels, eateries, bars, what to avoid and more importantly, what will be cheap that i can bring back and sell on Ebay !!!
Thanks

mystic_trev

My tip would be to hop on a "Jetairways" cheap flight (you can book on the Internet) down to Goa!

gmrsupplies

the bombay flight (1st class) is a freemans so can only go to Bombay, any tips anybody please

mystic_trev

Sorry my comments related to an Internal flight once you'd got to Bombay - Jetairways fly to Goa several times a day (1 hour flight) and the return will cost you around £100 - Don't really think you'll appreciate Mumbai for a few days but....who knows!

mystic_trev

http://members.virtualtourist.com/m/25f9c/10ce6e/

odowdchr

gmrsupplies wrote:

the bombay flight (1st class) is a freemans so can only go to Bombay, any tips anybody please

As your dates seem to be flexible, I'd definitely see if you can pay a bit extra and push back your return date, then as mystic_trev says, get on an internal flight to Goa for a week or two. You won't regret it one little bit.
India is magical, Mumbai is....very interesting, but a 3/4 night break is just too short if you're going to have fun.
By the time you get over jetlag and the culture shock, it'll be time to come home. Seems a shame to go all that way and not take advantage.

Mumbai's fine, a very big bustling business city, bit polluted, lots of British colonial influence as we really built it up into a port city (hence the Gateway to India tag)
Hotels are good, restaurants will be recommended, probably the best time to go is October to March. Definitely not May-June, too hot.

Indian Gold is very yellow, worked out last year at under half price compared to UK. A good tourist tip (if you know your gold) is to get a ring made, wear it home, then sell to a UK jeweller. A couple we met spend about £1500 total on a nice thick ring each, then sell them for £3000 back in England. Gets them a free hol. every year.....
Silk carpets are a good buy, but they're bulky. 1st class baggage allowance might help you there.
Wooden furniture is great (you see these things in the UK High Street now, chunky carved tables, elephants etc..) but you might get stung import tax.
If you need prescription drugs (like arthritis or ..er..viagra :rotfl: ), take your prescription and buy them in India, far cheaper.
The other great buy is glasses or Rayban sunglasses etc... Opticians are very cheap, again take a prescription if you want some specials made up.
Cosmetic dentistry is also a great deal....whitening treatments etc.. maybe pay £250 compared to £1500 at home.
The old tourist favourite is to take your favourite clothes and get exact copies made from one of the thousands of tailors, or get some suits made up.
HTH.