transport around Delhi

9hanover

What is the best way to get around Delhi for a day's sightseeing? We've spent time in Delhi before but as part of an individual travel package so were cosseted from the word go with guides picking us up at our hotel and everything arranged. This time we're going it alone and I'm little nervous. When we did venture out alone on our last trip we were harrassed by shopping touts (pleasant guys but a damned nuisance...), hired a motor rickshaw (the driver was a lunatic who frightened us to death) and had trouble picking up a taxi in the middle of New Delhi to take us back to our hotel - and were charged well over the odds.

We're thinking along the lines of hiring a car and driver for the day who will take us to where we want to go. Is it best to arrange this beforehand or to do it through the hotel once we arrive (we're staying at the Oberoi Maidens in Old Dehli) How much would one expect to pay?
Any advice greatly appreciated!

Judi

Hi there!

Get your hotel to arrange a car and guide for you. We had less than 24 hours in Delhi and wanted to see as much as possible, so we took a 3 to 4 hour tour. We told the guide what we definitely wanted to see, and he took us there and to some other places as well.

We had to pay the full day's rate, but even so, this came to only about £15 .... well worth it for what we wanted. Sorry, but I can't find the details of the people we used, but the Oberoi should be able to arrange this for you without any problem.

have a good trip!

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TimMakins

Do it through the hotel when you get there. It won't be a problem. Any taxi-driver will be more than pleased to be with you for the whole day. The important thing is to specify the exact route you want to take, and agree a price beforehand. The hotel will be able to give you an idea as to what the price will be. The driver will expect a tip at the end of the day as well. The hotel will advise how much should be, too. Of course you will pay more than the locals will, but that's just too be expected. You didn't come to India to save money, but to experience it. As long as the driver knows that he will get the proper amount, and that a tip is coming at the end of the day, he will try his best to see you have a good time.

Note that these guys make a hefty markup every time they take you to a shop, so they will often try to suggest that you pop in to stores from time to time. I would suggest that its FAR better to have a site-seeing day, and a shopping day, and keep them completely separate. Make sure the driver knows this, and life becomes much more pleasant for everyone. Give in once, and you are sunk.

If the driver starts to take you places you don't want to go, or becomes a problem in any way, tell him that you will report him to the hotel manager. These guys make a lot of income from tourists at the big hotels, the last thing they will want is to be blacklisted.

Tim in Ireland.

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