Getting Around

Getting Around
Here is what you need to know if you wish to spend a day in town on your own.

Local Transport
    Taxis
    Hotel front desks will normally be able to arrange reliable transport by taxi but they will require 15-30 mins' notice in order to do so. Taxis are willing to wait for you during your intermediate stops at reduced charges. It is simplest to inform the front desk the places you wish to visit, the total time you wish to spend and the number of persons travelling. They would then be able to book the taxi for you at a fixed rate.

    Auto Rickshaws
      Three-wheeled auto rickshaws (also known as "Autos") are a convenient way to travel within the city. They cost half the fare of a taxi, but are more expensive than buses. Usually autos are metered, but it is good to fix the fare before they take you for a ride. They can be found clustered together in auto stands around the city. If there is no auto-stand near you, you can hail autos by standing on the side of the road and hailing an empty one.

 

 
Language

Telegu is the mother tongue of the people of Andhra Pradesh. Most urbanites can understand English and Hindi.
Yes and No

If your listener does a side-to-side shake or waggle of the head while you are talking, it means "I understand you so far" or "OK". It does not mean "No" as in most western cultures.
Currency

The Rupee is the official currency of India. The Indian Rupee may be abbreviated in any of the following formats INR, Rs, or symbol

INR are available as paper notes in denominations of 5, 10, 50, 100, 500 and 1000.
INR are also available as coins in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10.

Changing money in India is very simple. Upon arrival in India, foreign currencies can be converted into Rupees at foreign exchange counters at airports. These outlets are open 24 hrs. a day / x7 days a week. You can also find Foreign Exchange desks at star-rated hotels. Traveller's cheques may not be accepted at all banks or hotels.

There are Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) which dispense cash throughout the city. Although these machines are linked to a specific local bank, all major credit and debit cards, both domestic and international, should be accepted. Kindly note that certain credit cards may not be accepted.
 
Tipping

Tipping in India is a common practice. In hotels, porters and room service attendants are generally tipped once at the end of the stay. The amount of the tip is usually 5-10% but could be more if any special service was delivered. In restaurants, tips to waiters represent about 10% of the bill. If hiring a car for a full day, then the tip for the driver would be about Rs. 100-200, depending on the distance travelled.