rickshaw help?

she_who_is_lost

this may seem odd and it may also be in the wrong place, i'm not sure so i'll go ahead anyway... sorry if it is

I'm going to have one day in Agra (from delhi using the Shatabdi express) so i'd say its about 8 hours max i think - and people have recommended getting a autorickshaw/taxi driver and pay them for a couple of hours to get around and see everything that way.

But being a young solo female traveller, i'm just slightly concerned about haggling with a rickshaw driver and them staying in one place whilst i have a mooch, also would you tip them?

thanks for your help

PeakXV

If you are considering Fatehpur Sikri along with Sikandra, Agra Fort etc. then it might be worth while negotiating a taxi for the day .... rather than hiring 5 or 6 seperate rides for the sights plus return to the train station. Bargain hard for your taxi rate and make it clear that manditory emporium visits of their choice is not part of the negotiations.

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Tapestry

Peak's advice is good. Get a taxi for a certain number of hours, negotiate the price and specify in advance that they are not to take you to ANY emporiums that you have not authorised (if that's what you want). It will save you from the exhaustion of constantly being bombarded by the taxi/rickshaw touts every time you come out of somewhere.

shashank.aggarwal

generally there is no need to tip them..but if they have been really nice you might do it..

but again everything would be included in the price..

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Nick-H

Here in Chennai, an auto for the day will charge you as much (or even much more, as a tourist --- at least the travels companies will have a price list) as a car would.

car --- comfortable but isolated.

auto --- less comfortable, but more raw experience of the indian streets.

separate autos for short journeys will cost much less (as long as you know how much you should be paying) than an auto for the day.

You can tip taxi drivers --- you should be paying their employer, according to the price list. But not auto drivers.

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wonderwomanusa

Please note that this could be confusing to people who haven't been to India; in many places "car" and 'auto" mean the same thing.

machadinha

I think what WWU is trying to point out is that in India an "auto" often signifies an autorickshaw Hence the above comparison.

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Nick-H

In India, at least this part, 'auto' is always an autorickshaw. That's what we call them.

auto = car? where? USA? as in automobile, I suppose. Well, if they must speak funny English....

Indian English Rules, OK?






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PeakXV

Auto is more of a french word for car than english these days isn't it? Still hear the term "3- wheeler" used in North India .... which leaves little doubt to the desired means of transportation.

machadinha

I think WWU lived in the Netherlands for a while, where the word for car is... auto, indeed Confused?, you won't be after this episode of...

Anyway I agree not all readers may immediately get this three-wheeled automotive thing. Ahh all the fun of an international board eh

jyotirmoy

One shouldn't give Fathepur Sikri a miss. But this place is out of town. Most tourist operators do not include this place & Sikandra as they are a bit far away. I would recommend taking a cab to visit all the places within 8 hours.

wonderwomanusa

We also use them interchangably in the US, at least in my profession.

And I believe Nick was writing to someone who hasn't been to India and may not know what those terms mean.

Nick-H

True... its very easy to forget that one's every-day lingo might mean nothing to someone yes.

And we do talk about two-wheelers, three-wheeler, four-wheelers too. depends on the context. But auto-rickshaw is always invariably shortened to auto.

Baba

I have not used this service, but I have read that Agra Cantonement station (where you'll arrive) has a prepaid taxi counter where you can get sightseeing taxi packages, also including a trip to Fatehpur Sikri. This would save you the haggling and also give you some feeling of security as there is a record of the trip. Just hold on to the receipt until the end of the day.

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Nick-H

You can get cars from your hotel, or from a travel agent or car company nearby.

They should have a price list. Expect that they will give you a quote (you can ask them to write it down) for the trip that you want all-inclusive --- taxes, tolls, parking, driver's expenses. You can still give the driver an extra 50 for a meal and a tip at the end if you want to.

If you want an English-speaking driver you must specify that. Most won't be. Maybe you want a chatty driver that will show you places and tell you stuff, sometimes you don't, but, if you do then its a non-starter if you don't share a language.

The driver will usually follow your lead as to whether you want chat or not. Don't sit there silently and then grumble that he never said a word! His Indian clients will be looking for driving; not social interaction!