New Delhi Travel Forum

We will be arriving in New Delhi on a Monday evening and by the time we have picked up luggage and cleared customs it will be 10:30 or 11PM local time. Will there be a currency exchange open then, and are traveller's checks or U.S. cash preferred? Thanks.

There are several currency exchanges in the airport that will be open, immediately before you go out into the melee. The rate is not as good as in town, so just exchange the minumum you will need to get to the city. They take both USD and traveller's cheques, but I have always gotten better rates with cash. Be sure to ask for change, as 500 rupee notes are not going to do you much good at the prepaid taxi stand or tipping a bellboy.

I found that taking a small amount of Indian currency with me made the first jet lagged hours/day easier. Just one less thing to worry about upon arrival.
Good Luck. Have Fun.

Or you could just get Rupees out of an ATM which is always open and has a fixed rate (although some banks have accounts that give you free international withdrawals, wish I'd known that before I left home!). ATMs here take Cirus, Maestro, all the big ones. I find traveler's cheques too much hassle, but if you want to use them you'll have the most luck in India with Amex in USD. The above post is right, there will be stuff open at Delhi at night.

Just before you leave the customs area and before where people wait for arrivals there two currency exchanges on the right hand side.