I’ve been backpacking extensively since 2009—covered nearly 30 countries and almost every corner of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala, with a few short hops to Maharashtra and Delhi.
On the surface, travel seems like a whole lot of fun: new places, cozy hotels, sightseeing, sampling local food, meeting interesting people. And yes, of course, you can click some aesthetic pictures and make reels to entertain your unknown Instagram followers and silently annoy your jealous friends. But that’s barely 10% of the story.
The remaining 90%? It’s about dodging scammers.
Yes, tourists get scammed all over the world—from Bangkok to Barcelona. But I can say with confidence: the chances of getting scammed in India are possibly higher than in Nigeria.
Because here’s the contradiction we don’t talk about: Indians are deeply pious yet shockingly greedy. They talk about simple living while chasing instant success. They want to do business—but often can’t distinguish between business and blatant cheating.
The Pondicherry Experience
Let me narrate a recent incident from my trip to Pondicherry. This is just one of many I could rant about, but I’m trying not to flood my blog with complaints alone.
If you ask me, scammers are smart. Don’t underestimate them. They can read minds better than most psychologists, exploit loopholes in seconds, and no matter how alert you are—they’ll still find a way to outwit you. Their IQ, I believe, would beat that of any average educated person.
So here’s what happened:
My wife booked a room through Booking.com. After 15 years of travel experience, we’ve learned one critical rule—never pay for a hotel before physically inspecting the property.
Why? Because:
• The photos online are often old or misleading.
• The property could be located in a narrow, garbage-strewn alley.
• Online reviews are no longer trustworthy.
This time, we followed our own advice. We reached the hotel by 12 noon—right on time for check-in. The property looked good, and we were ready to make the payment. But the manager calmly informed us: “I’ve cancelled your booking.”
“What?” my wife asked.
“You didn’t pick up my call at 11:30 am,” he replied.
Seriously?
Here’s the truth: many properties list discounted rates (often 40% cheaper) on sites like Booking.com to attract bookings. But once you arrive expecting that rate, they start playing games.
• They’ll say your booking was ‘cancelled.’
• They’ll give you a windowless shoebox for a room.
• They’ll shorten your stay (e.g., check-in at 6 PM but checkout still at 12 noon).
• They’ll skip basics like water, soap, or towels.
So this manager wanted 40% more than the Booking.com rate—because we didn’t answer a call. No WhatsApp. No SMS. Just a sly trap.
Why It Matters
For people who arrive via train or bus, or who land with kids after a long, tiring journey—there’s neither the time nor energy to argue or find another hotel. They simply give in. That’s what the scammers bank on.
But we don’t.
We travel by car. We have the luxury of choice. We’ve wasted hours and burnt fuel worth ₹1000, hopping hotels with a tired child in the back seat—but we don’t stay at a property run by a greedy cheat.
Why They Get Away With It
The demand for hotels far exceeds supply—especially in touristy places. So bad reviews don’t hurt them. And don’t even think of filing a complaint—the local police have already been ‘handled.’
You’re left with two options:
1. Swallow your anger.
2. Keep driving.
We always choose the second.
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Final Thought
Travel, for me, has never just been about photos, food, or fun. It’s been a journey into human psychology, street smarts, and the real working of the world.
It has taught me patience, courage, and above all—discernment.
So yeah—travel is about learning.
And that lesson rarely comes for free.