hire a car in chennai

pau · Oct 4th, 2005, 03:23

do you know any "safe" place to hire a car with driver in chennai? it is to visit mamallapuram, pondicherry, trichy,tanjore and madurai
should i go to a travel agency (in what area of the city should i look for it?) or go to speak to a taxi in the street?
give me ideas please
thank you

ramodiciliegio · Oct 4th, 2005, 05:58

hi

when are you visiting chennai? i'm also going there in december.

pau · Oct 4th, 2005, 12:45

i'm arriving on october 12th at night. i still don't know if sleeping in chennai and to hire a car the following day or to take a taxi to mamallapuram and planify from there... and i'm leaving in 8 days!!

Nick-H · Oct 5th, 2005, 00:08

I'm sure any tourist car you might hire would be 'safe' ---as safe as any driving ever is in this part of the world.

What time are you arriving in Chenai? If I were you I (especially if you are arriving at night) would book at least your first night there and get collected from the airport by the hotel/guesthouse --- but, OK, my sense of adventure is sufferring a little from old age.

The start at your hotel's reception, or travel desk, or maybe they have a travel agent on the premises...

Are you in a big hurry to run away from Chennai?

pau · Oct 5th, 2005, 01:42

yes, we were doubting if booking first night in chennai (and booking pick up service) and the following day thire a car to go down to mamallapuram, pondicherry... or booking first night in mamallapuram (with pick up service from the airport). We are arriving at 00:45 at night...

Nick-H · Oct 5th, 2005, 02:52

Then in Chennai you will get the remains of a night sleep! You really want to run straight to Mamallapuram? You don't want to see any of Chennai?

pau · Oct 5th, 2005, 02:59

i thought it would be better visiting chennai last days before taking return flight, so as to make good use of the only 18 days we have to vist tamil nadu and kerala
do you think it would be a good idea to stay at least 2 nigths in chennai? we'd like to stop in mamallapuram, pondicherry, trichy, tanjore and madurai and after that to cross to kerala to spend the rest of the days... any good idea?

Nick-H · Oct 5th, 2005, 04:20

Well, it's a great place for shopping, which is one good reason for doing it on the way back, rather than the way in... I just didn't want you to neglect the place (I'm biased!).

But again, if it was me... I would spend a night there and travel to Mamalapuram in daylight. You'll get a bit of rest after a long flight, and you'll see where you're going and get the benefit of the trip.

mutu · Oct 5th, 2005, 04:32

After such a long flight I wouldn't want anything but a hotel!

pau · Oct 5th, 2005, 04:42

mmmm...what difficult! I really don't know what could be better (easier)... first idea was first night in chennai and the following day hire a car with driver for 5-6 days until madurai (one travel agency has offered one for 48 USD per day, isn't it a bit expensive?)... and the other idea was to be picked up from the airport to mamallapuram, sleep, bus to pondicherry, sleep (maybe 2 nights), bus/train to trichy (2 nights to dedicate one day to tanjore) and bus to maduray. Once there probably hire the car to cross until cochin stopping in periyar and munnar... Have you done something like that? What about travelling by bus? Is it very uncomfortable? This year i have a pain in my back and neck, that's why i'm considering the car... and becoming crazy of thinking so much!!

mutu · Oct 5th, 2005, 04:57

Your plans sound kind of stressful to me...
There won't be "the perfect intinerary".
Maybe you should keep it a bit more open...
Better for your back and neck. ;-)

Nick-H · Oct 5th, 2005, 05:24

Quote:

(one travel agency has offered one for 48 USD per day, isn't it a bit expensive?)

That's about £27. Which, by English standards is totally ridiculously laughably ...cheap!

It cost me just a little more than that to take an A/C car Chennai -> Pondicherry and back, just one day, not overnight. It cost me about £8 to go the airport, but it was a big cart and it was via here, waiting there --- two or three hours work rather than the usual 20 minute night-time hop.

sailor · Oct 5th, 2005, 11:56

Hi Sailor,

A good company is Welcome Tourrs (two rr) and Travels in Chennai.
to the attention of Mr. Karunannidi

The email: welcome@md2.vsnl.net.in
te web : http://www.allindiatours.com

They are working since 20 years and have around 50 car and drivers. I have traveled with them several times and have adviced many friends to travel with
them. They can pick up you in Chennai airport or Railway Station and bring you to Mamahabalip and then .... Price normally is around 1700 Rs per day. Normnally it depends of the journey.

Jorge

jerrye233 · Oct 16th, 2005, 23:02

I just got onto this thread. I figure that the airport is already an hour south of Chennai, so why not just have a driver take me one hour south to Mamallapuram. I e-mailed Welcome Tours and they sent me a proposed itinerary. I e-mailed them my latest plan 3 days ago and again yesterday, and am still waiting for a reply. I think that a car & driver is the only way to go for such a short trip. In 1972, I backpacked but had plenty of time. Does this plan sound like a good one? I would love to hear any advice on this:
Dec 5 Mamallapuram
Dec 6 Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary
Dec 7 Pondicherry
Dec 8 Auroville
Dec 9 Auroville
Dec 10 Chidambaram
Dec 11 Kumbakonam
Dec 12 Kumbakonam
Dec 13 driver (train) to take night train Chennai to Mettapalayam
Dec 14 Ooty
Dec 15 Mysore
Dec 16 night train to Chennai
Dec 17 fly back to Los Angeles

I visited Madurai and Trichy in 1972 (my only other India trip)

Oct 4th, 2005, 03:23	#1
pau Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spain Posts: 38	hire a car in chennai do you know any "safe" place to hire a car with driver in chennai? it is to visit mamallapuram, pondicherry, trichy,tanjore and madurai should i go to a travel agency (in what area of the city should i look for it?) or go to speak to a taxi in the street? give me ideas please thank you

Oct 5th, 2005, 11:56	#13
sailor Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: canada Posts: 22	this might be helpful Hi Sailor, A good company is Welcome Tourrs (two rr) and Travels in Chennai. to the attention of Mr. Karunannidi The email: welcome@md2.vsnl.net.in te web : http://www.allindiatours.com They are working since 20 years and have around 50 car and drivers. I have traveled with them several times and have adviced many friends to travel with them. They can pick up you in Chennai airport or Railway Station and bring you to Mamahabalip and then .... Price normally is around 1700 Rs per day. Normnally it depends of the journey. Jorge

Oct 16th, 2005, 23:02	#14
jerrye233 Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: temple city, calif, USA Posts: 54	Arriving 0:50 Dec 5 in Chennai I just got onto this thread. I figure that the airport is already an hour south of Chennai, so why not just have a driver take me one hour south to Mamallapuram. I e-mailed Welcome Tours and they sent me a proposed itinerary. I e-mailed them my latest plan 3 days ago and again yesterday, and am still waiting for a reply. I think that a car & driver is the only way to go for such a short trip. In 1972, I backpacked but had plenty of time. Does this plan sound like a good one? I would love to hear any advice on this: Dec 5 Mamallapuram Dec 6 Vedanthangal Bird Sanctuary Dec 7 Pondicherry Dec 8 Auroville Dec 9 Auroville Dec 10 Chidambaram Dec 11 Kumbakonam Dec 12 Kumbakonam Dec 13 driver (train) to take night train Chennai to Mettapalayam Dec 14 Ooty Dec 15 Mysore Dec 16 night train to Chennai Dec 17 fly back to Los Angeles I visited Madurai and Trichy in 1972 (my only other India trip)

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Oct 4th, 2005, 05:58	#2
ramodiciliegio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Romania, Bucharest Posts: 20	hi when are you visiting chennai? i'm also going there in december.

Oct 4th, 2005, 12:45	#3
pau Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spain Posts: 38	i'm arriving on october 12th at night. i still don't know if sleeping in chennai and to hire a car the following day or to take a taxi to mamallapuram and planify from there... and i'm leaving in 8 days!!

Oct 5th, 2005, 00:08	#4
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,207	I'm sure any tourist car you might hire would be 'safe' ---as safe as any driving ever is in this part of the world. What time are you arriving in Chenai? If I were you I (especially if you are arriving at night) would book at least your first night there and get collected from the airport by the hotel/guesthouse --- but, OK, my sense of adventure is sufferring a little from old age. The start at your hotel's reception, or travel desk, or maybe they have a travel agent on the premises... Are you in a big hurry to run away from Chennai?

Oct 5th, 2005, 01:42	#5
pau Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spain Posts: 38	yes, we were doubting if booking first night in chennai (and booking pick up service) and the following day thire a car to go down to mamallapuram, pondicherry... or booking first night in mamallapuram (with pick up service from the airport). We are arriving at 00:45 at night...

Oct 5th, 2005, 02:52	#6
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,207	Then in Chennai you will get the remains of a night sleep! You really want to run straight to Mamallapuram? You don't want to see any of Chennai?

Oct 5th, 2005, 02:59	#7
pau Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spain Posts: 38	i thought it would be better visiting chennai last days before taking return flight, so as to make good use of the only 18 days we have to vist tamil nadu and kerala do you think it would be a good idea to stay at least 2 nigths in chennai? we'd like to stop in mamallapuram, pondicherry, trichy, tanjore and madurai and after that to cross to kerala to spend the rest of the days... any good idea?

Oct 5th, 2005, 04:20	#8
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,207	Well, it's a great place for shopping, which is one good reason for doing it on the way back, rather than the way in... I just didn't want you to neglect the place (I'm biased!). But again, if it was me... I would spend a night there and travel to Mamalapuram in daylight. You'll get a bit of rest after a long flight, and you'll see where you're going and get the benefit of the trip.

Oct 5th, 2005, 04:32	#9
mutu Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 75	After such a long flight I wouldn't want anything but a hotel!

Oct 5th, 2005, 04:42	#10
pau Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: spain Posts: 38	mmmm...what difficult! I really don't know what could be better (easier)... first idea was first night in chennai and the following day hire a car with driver for 5-6 days until madurai (one travel agency has offered one for 48 USD per day, isn't it a bit expensive?)... and the other idea was to be picked up from the airport to mamallapuram, sleep, bus to pondicherry, sleep (maybe 2 nights), bus/train to trichy (2 nights to dedicate one day to tanjore) and bus to maduray. Once there probably hire the car to cross until cochin stopping in periyar and munnar... Have you done something like that? What about travelling by bus? Is it very uncomfortable? This year i have a pain in my back and neck, that's why i'm considering the car... and becoming crazy of thinking so much!!

Oct 5th, 2005, 04:57	#11
mutu Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: Germany Posts: 75	Your plans sound kind of stressful to me... There won't be "the perfect intinerary". Maybe you should keep it a bit more open... Better for your back and neck. ;-)