Tours in India - Help!
Apr 29th, 2003, 06:49 AM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Tours in India - Help!
I am planning on doing a month touring North India and wish to know the name of any good drivers or agencies that can put together a good, reasonable tour. I have already made contact with an operator in Jaipur who can do me a 17 night tour (3 "star" hotels) in Rajasthan for $1200 (2 people) but want to know if this is reasonable.
Apr 30th, 2003, 02:36 AM
#2
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I assume that does not include airfare to India. Does it include transportation within Rajasthan and if so, is it by bus, train or air? Does it start in Delhi or are you expected to get to one of the cities in Rajasthan on your own? Does it include a tour guide for sights or it is just hotels and local transportation?
The price seems very cheap, even for India, so I wonder how they can do it at US$70 a night. The more things it includes (like tour guides and local transport, any meals), the more it seem unrealistic. I also might be a little wary of 3 star hotels in India. Did they give you specific names of the hotels? There are some state-run hotels under the "Ashok" brand that I personally would not stay in, and some of those are listed as 4 and 5 star hotels. What month are you going, and if it is in summer, make sure the hotel has air conditioning.
There is really no need IMO to use a tour operator in India, as with a little work and patience you can do most everything yourself. People on this board can recommend hotels and transport options, and local guides and drivers are very easy to find and relatively inexpensive.
If you can provide a little more information, people here might be able to provide more advice. Esp tell us the month you are considering for the trip.
The price seems very cheap, even for India, so I wonder how they can do it at US$70 a night. The more things it includes (like tour guides and local transport, any meals), the more it seem unrealistic. I also might be a little wary of 3 star hotels in India. Did they give you specific names of the hotels? There are some state-run hotels under the "Ashok" brand that I personally would not stay in, and some of those are listed as 4 and 5 star hotels. What month are you going, and if it is in summer, make sure the hotel has air conditioning.
There is really no need IMO to use a tour operator in India, as with a little work and patience you can do most everything yourself. People on this board can recommend hotels and transport options, and local guides and drivers are very easy to find and relatively inexpensive.
If you can provide a little more information, people here might be able to provide more advice. Esp tell us the month you are considering for the trip.
Apr 30th, 2003, 03:13 AM
#3
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Bonjour
We had a 14 days tour of Rajasthan, Agra, Varanassi with private driver, (train between Agra-Varanassi-Delhi)organised by Travel Corporation India an agency based in Delhi. We stayed in 4 to 5 stars hotel most of them member of the Heritage group (check them out on the web)including breakfast for about the same price in february 2002. We had excellent service and our driver, Mr. Sohan,was very helpfull.
Daniel
We had a 14 days tour of Rajasthan, Agra, Varanassi with private driver, (train between Agra-Varanassi-Delhi)organised by Travel Corporation India an agency based in Delhi. We stayed in 4 to 5 stars hotel most of them member of the Heritage group (check them out on the web)including breakfast for about the same price in february 2002. We had excellent service and our driver, Mr. Sohan,was very helpfull.
Daniel
Apr 30th, 2003, 07:34 AM
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2003
Posts: 3
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Cicerone
I am going in July and want to stay in India for around a month. It is part of a round the world tour so I do not want to go above $70 per day.
I am not the most intrepid traveller around so want to avoid too much public transport and hassle.
The price quoted includes pick up from Delhi then a "standard" Rajasthan tour with drop off in Delhi. The driver will be at our service 24 hours a day.
I am going in July and want to stay in India for around a month. It is part of a round the world tour so I do not want to go above $70 per day.
I am not the most intrepid traveller around so want to avoid too much public transport and hassle.
The price quoted includes pick up from Delhi then a "standard" Rajasthan tour with drop off in Delhi. The driver will be at our service 24 hours a day.
Apr 30th, 2003, 08:08 AM
#5
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 7,689
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
If you really aren't an intrepid traveller then India in general, and espeically India with 3 star hotels may not be for you; this depends on where else you have been in Asia and what your level of expectation is. Hassle is a common component of travel in India, even by car, and is part of the charm; wait until you see the highways.
July is hot hot hot in Rahasthan. Make sure the car has airconditioning. I would be curious to know what cities you are going to, as places like Jodphur and Udaipur are a very long drive. Agra is a few hours from Delhi, and Jaipur is about 4 hours from Agra. If you are only doing those two cities, that is probably OK. In spite of the poster above saying they did the same trip for about the same cost, I really question the price.
July is hot hot hot in Rahasthan. Make sure the car has airconditioning. I would be curious to know what cities you are going to, as places like Jodphur and Udaipur are a very long drive. Agra is a few hours from Delhi, and Jaipur is about 4 hours from Agra. If you are only doing those two cities, that is probably OK. In spite of the poster above saying they did the same trip for about the same cost, I really question the price.
