Yes, I know what you mean, at least in the case of India (and probably other parts of the third world, or second-and-a-half world!). In Europe, I actually like travelling second class (i.e., smaller hotels, no guides, public transportation, following our noses.) But in India, no.

When I was there on business, five years ago, my colleague (Canadian, but living in India), insisted that I experience the "real" India. I stayed in a company-owned condo apartment, which was okay, but definitely, ah, spartan, let's say. The neighbourhood was somewhat upscale (I figured out it was not a slum after a few days!!), but we drove to work every morning in an auto-rikshaw (his idea), through a horrible industrial slum around a huge cement factory. Bad idea. We were regularly accosted by beggars, including trannies, and teenaged girls with babies.

His Indian colleagues in the office were horrified that he would do this to me. People get killed in rikshaws! That weekend, we visited a hill station, and a resort hotel called the King's Retreat or something--considered very upper crust, but it was not really, I found it very average, not opulent in any way like what Ngaire is experiencing. If I ever go back, it's the best hotels I can find, and a private car to drive me to work, I swear.