11 Crucial Jaipur Travel Tips Every First Timer Should Know

Thinking of heading to Jaipur for the first time?

Well, there are plenty of things that Pink City has to offer, the good ones and the crucial ones. So, I have prepared this ultimate guide on Jaipur travel tips you need to know before visiting the capital city.

No matter how well you prepare for your trip, there are few things that you encounter only after reaching the destination. These things may get confusing for first-time travelers as well as veterans too.

This travel guide will help you quickly manage your transportation time, save money, deal with strangers, and many other practical tips. So, sit tight as we’re diving in!

Related: 12 Things To See In Your Jaipur Trip

11 Jaipur Travel Tips For First Time Visitors

Jaipur is a city that is the perfect destination for first-time travelers, solo trippers, and foreigners. Sure, it’s a city of colors and great vibes, but one should not ignore the insane crowds and challenges you may face.

So, below are some great travel tips for Jaipur to make your trip organized:

1. Always Pre Book Your Hotels And City Tour Packages

Sometimes, many of us consider booking the city packages and accommodations after reaching the destination. There’s no harm in doing this; however, it costs way more than the pre-booking options. 

If you’ve planned your Jaipur trip and didn’t pre-book anything, you might end up overpaying the tour agents for the instant sightseeing requests. This will lead to a lot of hassle and an unorganized trip, which might not satisfy you to the fullest.

That’s why it’s always recommended to pre-book at least things like your hotels, tour packages, and transportation to enjoy a systematized trip.

Handy Tip: You can easily compare the prices of hotels at online aggregators to get an idea of how much a stay will cost. It will not only protect you from getting scammed but will also help you save some money.

2. Keep A Budget In Mind Before Starting Your Jaipur Trip

Travel budgeting is a skill that develops with experience and awareness. Most people who visit Jaipur for the first time end up spending 40-50% over their planned budget. 

This usually happens because of the wrong selection of hotels, transport, excessive shopping, falling for scams, etc. Moreover, I have also seen people withdrawing bucks from their credit cards just because they ran out of cash. 

It’s crucial to decide on a budget for your Jaipur trip before actually visiting it. Though Jaipur is not an expensive tourist place, one should try not to overspend their savings. 

Five tips to keep an eye on your expenses:

• Always note down your day-wise expenses at the end of the day
• If you overspend on one day, try to balance that out on the other day
• If you run out of money, try getting online funds from your friends or parents
• Never keep your whole cash in one place while traveling; divide it in your hotel luggage, backpacks, pockets, etc.
• Never try to withdraw cash from your credit card (you know the hefty interest charges, right?)

Handy Tip: If you’re an Indian, avoid paying expenses in cash as much as possible. Try to use your online digital wallets, UPI, cards, etc., to pay for the services. It will help you easily track your money and keep you away from cash shortages.

3. Choose The Right Clothes For The Right Weather Season

Unlike other cities, Jaipur won’t surprise you with its weather. It’s pretty straightforward every year; from March to September, it will be scorching humidity and heat. From October to February, the temperature lowers to a calmer level. 

And hence, choosing the right sets of clothes as per Jaipur’s weather becomes more critical. Just style yourself with some comfy clothes in the summer season and a warm jacket or two for the winters.

Another tip is to avoid carrying too many clothes as it will only make your luggage heavier. 

Handy Tip: If you’re visiting Jaipur in the summers, carry cotton clothes that will help you stay cool even in the immense heat. If you’re visiting Jaipur in winter, carry warm essentials and avoid wearing bulky snowy garments.

4. Stay Away From The Reach Of Strangers At The Airport

If you’re coming to Jaipur via flight, you will be approached by dozens of taxi drivers and strangers to give you a city tour/package. It’s the same story at most airports worldwide, and Pink City is no different.

Be it a taxi, hotel, or city tour, there are high chances that you’ll get scammed at the airport. These strangers charge too much for everything, as they have a commission for each service. So, it’s better to pre-book your hotels and private cabs before arriving at the airport.

If you haven’t booked anything and have no options left at the airport, negotiate as much as possible to get a decent deal. 

Handy Tip: For cabs/taxis to the city from the airport, always prefer using Ola/Uber to check the prices to your destination. For hotels, prefer booking from verified accommodation websites only. 

5. Know Which Transportation Mode Is Best For You

Jaipur is a city of 4.2 million people and has thousands of public transport that roam daily in the city. Seeing a lot of traffic with loud horns and crowds can be overwhelming for first-time visitors.

Choosing suitable public transport in Jaipur can be confusing as many options seem worthy. Sometimes you’ll feel like hopping on a bus to save money, but that comes at the cost of slower movement. Or, you might feel reaching a destination faster by a private cab, but that will be much more costly.

To help you get around in Jaipur, I have curated this Jaipur transportation guide to help you decide which mode of commuting will be the best for you.

Handy Tip: If you’re visiting Jaipur for the first time and traveling in crowded transportation like a bus or a metro, avoid carrying too much cash with yourself. You might get robbed by someone without even realizing it.

6. Acquaint Yourself With City Rules And Regulations

Jaipur is one of India’s most popular tourist cities and is visited by lacs of people every year. That’s why to avoid any chaos; the city has some rules and regulations set up by the government.

For instance, there are few restricted places in Jaipur where you might not get entry without your identity cards. These places are especially museums or private event places. 

Another example is the city’s speed limits if you drive your own vehicle. You might get stopped by the traffic police for overspeeding, or worse; you can also be fined.

Handy Tip: If you’re visiting Jaipur for the first time, it’s an excellent idea to get through some city rules before starting your day trip. You can know all the essential regulations from your hotel managers or travel agents. 

7. Don’t Show Off Your Expensive Valuables In Public

Undoubtedly, Jaipur is one of India’s most beautiful cities and an Instagrammable place. And, tourists who roam the city in their Insta-best clothes with many valuables can quickly become the targets for pickpockets. 

Popular crowded places like Hawa Mahal and Amber fort are easy targets for pickpockets to steal your jewelry, wallet, watch, bag, phones, or cameras in a flash. Hence, staying conscious about your valuables while visiting busy places is always recommended.

No one wants to lose any of their items while returning home!

Handy Tip: Try wearing casual clothing while exploring the city to avoid being looked at as a tourist. Try carrying a small bag lock to lock your bag in heavily crowded areas.

Related: How To Get Around The Pink City?

8. Do Not Leave A Huge Tip In Restaurants

Unlike in the western world, tipping is usually not expected in India as the service charge is included in the bill. However, if you really like the food or meals in Jaipur, you can give 50- 100 INR (1-2 USD) to the waiters. Even this small amount is very much appreciated in India.

Try to save money for other expenses and not leave random bucks on the table. 

Handy Tip: Always carry smaller denomination currency notes of 20, 50, and 100 INR. It will help you calculate your funds efficiently and save you from losing large sums of money if things go haywire.

9. Hire Guides Where It Will Matter The Most

You’ll be surrounded by guides at every tourist spot to give you a quick tour. While some people love hiring a guide for themselves for each place, many do not show that interest in getting a spot guide. 

On my solo trip to Jaipur, I hired a guide for specific tourist spots like Jantar Mantar and a few forts. Because I felt like gaining knowledge about those incredible places would enrich my touring experience.

However, I didn’t choose a guide for myself for places like the Albert Hall museum or Hawa Mahal, as I was confident enough to learn about the places by reading on to the descriptive walls.

Handy Tip: When hiring a guide for yourself, do not pay anything before negotiating the price. They usually quote their fees around 400-500 INR, but you can easily bring it down to 100-200 INR by some discussions.

10. Book Round Cabs For The Far Places

While traveling Jaipur, you’ll readily find direct transportation to most places. However, the sites which are far from the central city are not regularly connected with public transport. 

These places are particularly Chokhi Dhani, Nahargarh fort, and Jaigarh Fort, which are relatively 20-30 km away from the Hawa Mahal. So, while going to these spots, ensure you book a round cab or private vehicle to drop you back at your hotel.

Handy Tip: If you’re a solo traveler, you will find a round cab or taxi quite expensive. So, a perfect hack to save money is to book an OLA bike that will cost minimal as compared to a 4-wheeler ride.

11. Avoid Spending Large Sums Of Money At Tourist Spots

You’re visiting Jaipur for the first time and found a Rajasthani emerald which looks incredible. After thinking a lot, you bought that thing for 2,000 INR (25-30 USD). You return to your hotel happily, only to discover that the same piece was available at 500 INR (5-10 USD) on a roadside vendor.

Doesn’t this happen with most of us?

Getting scammed in a new city is nothing new for first-time travelers. They usually spend their entire budget mostly on shopping and eatables.

While there’s no harm in buying things from a tourist spot, you should also need to be conscious of your overall trip budget. 

It’s good to keep an eye on your budget and the number of days left on your trip. It ensures you don’t exhaust all your savings, especially in the last phase of your journey.

Handy Tip: Try to shop items from the local parts of the city instead of buying from the tourist spots. You’ll easily find prices at least 60-70% lower at the local street vendors and have the option of negotiation too. 

Bonus Tip: Do What Makes You Happy

Last but not least, travel for yourself.

Do not travel to please someone or to follow someone else’s path. 

Everyone has their own style of exploring the place. While some people love to cover most of the places in a limited time, some like to chill around.

Explore places that genuinely interest you and things that bring happiness to your soul. After all, traveling is all about self-realization!

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From knowing how to avoid overspending to learning how to stay away from scammers, I hope the above Jaipur travel tips will help you on your way to Pink City.

All you need is to prepare yourself a bit, look down on your budgets, and you’re good to go.

How many of the above Jaipur travel tips did you already know? Is there anything you would want me to add to this list?

Let me know in the comment sections below.

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