In India, some locals (especially taxi drivers in Delhi) approach new tourists/backpackers with all kinds of offers, usually making up stories about the danger of staying on land at that specific moment (either because of a deadly virus going around or because of a local war between two religious groups).

They offer you the chance to stay in a “safe” place, at their houseboat (or their uncle’s), but what you don’t know is that their price is 4 times as higher than it should be.

How to avoid:if you are traveling to Kashmir and are interested in living in a houseboat, book ONLY through the accredited travel agencies run by the Indian government. Never take a “good deal” without knowing what the competition has to offer.