need car and guide recommendation

dperry · Oct 18th, 2009, 02:00

hello, i need a recommendation for a car and guide recommendation for 1 day in delhi
i am travelling alone
would prefer a female guide if possible
i contacted a tour company rec. by another site, the price for 1 person was 10,000 rupees per day
that is too expensive for me
anyone used a car/guide recently they could recommend?
thanks.

dillichaat · Oct 18th, 2009, 11:48

Did you say 10000 Rs/day??? Robbery! If you rent a car for the full day it should cost about 900 Rs for a small one up to 1400 for an Innova. Don't know about the guide but would be really amazed if their services for a full day would be more than 1000-1500 Rs (and hold the emporiums and 'brothers' shop, thank you).

Trouble is, I have never used the services of a guide and wouldn't immediately know where to find one, much less a female one (which is a good idea if you're female yourself, btw). At every monument 'guides' will approach you and generally make a nuisance out of themselves by launching unrequested for explanations, then demanding money. Also, although there are exceptions, the level generally doesn't surpass what you'll find in any guidebook.

Perhaps some of the other IM'ers have references...

Aishah · Oct 18th, 2009, 12:25

dperry - if you are staying at a reasonable hotel in Delhi they can usually arrange day tours for you with a driver. The driver himself should be knowledgeable about places to go and you could use a good guide book to select the areas and sights you want to see.

This small organisation is run by a woman and she herself might accompany you for the day - she can arrange a day sightseeing for you I should think: http://india-csartours.com/welcome.aspx You could see what her charges are.

And here is a link to Delhi sightseeing tours - very cheap as you can see.
I did a tour with them once and thought they were quite good.

http://dtc.nic.in/dt3.htm#1

Khans · Oct 18th, 2009, 12:53

what all are you planning to visit in delhi and what time of year are you looking for.

delhiwala · Oct 18th, 2009, 16:10

That DTC Delhi Darshan as suggested by Aishah is very good value for money !

Aishah · Oct 18th, 2009, 16:23

I agree delhiwala - whilst 45 mins at the Red Fort was a fairly rushed walk around, it was still quite adequate to even see a bit of the museum part etc. I did it more than 10 years back and the bus was comfortable, people I met were very helpful on the way, nice chatting with a few of them.

The only thing I wasn't so keen on were the sellers with packets of pens that got on outside one of the temples, but apart from that nothing to complain about. This sort of thing might be banned now - Delhi is very keen on presenting a good image with the Commonwealth Games coming next year.

It's very cheap and you get an excellent overall coverage of Delhi sights.

Leith · Oct 18th, 2009, 17:18

These guys seem to have some interesting Delhi tours. A tad expensive though.

http://tallisandco.com/index.php?opt...go.y=14&page=1

Leith

dperry · Oct 18th, 2009, 21:03

thanks everyone for your helpful responses. i will look into the companies suggested. here is what i would like to do for the day:

i would like to see the 3 World Heritage Sites (Red Fort Complex, Qutb Minar and Humayun's Tomb) as well as Jama Masjid
i would like to visit the Bird Hospital
a walk through Old Delhi
shopping at the following places: Dilli Haat (have lunch at the stalls), Cottage Industries, and Anoki

dillichaat- yes i am a female travelling alone. that's why i prefer a female guide but it's not a deal breaker for me.
i'm comfortable with a male if it's by referral.
i went to cairo alone last year and hired a car/driver and a female guide. it worked out beautifully. i like having a local guide because it can serve as a 'buffer' for the touts and other unwanted attention.

i will be going to india in late february, then on to Nepal
it is my first trip to these countries and i am so excited
if anyone has a suggestion to my itinerary listed above, i'd love to hear it. really want to make the most of this day before i move on.
thanks again.

Aishah · Oct 18th, 2009, 22:26

I think this is a very long day! And you will probably end up with the shopping thing in the evening. There is quite a distance between the Red Fort and Qutab Minar, so take driving times into account here. I don't know where the bird hospital is but guess maybe en route to one of the sights.

You could do Old Delhi say, in the morning i.e. Red Fort, Jama Masjid, the walk around Old Delhi, and on the way to Dilli Haat visit Humayun's Tomb. After lunch head out to Qutab Minar, and go to Anokhi in Khan Market, then the Cottage Industries (the government emporium place in Janpath is quite good for this) at the end of the day.

delhiwala · Oct 18th, 2009, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Leith

These guys seem to have some interesting Delhi tours. A tad expensive though.

http://tallisandco.com/index.php?opt...go.y=14&page=1

Very interesting tours....but very expensive too !

dperry · Oct 19th, 2009, 05:12

Aishah-
i have already received a response from Csar tours, and i think i will book with her. thanks again
she suggested the same order of visiting sites you did in your earlier post!
i know i have scheduled a very very busy day
not really how i wanted to do it, but.......

thanks everyone for your help.

Aishah · Oct 19th, 2009, 14:24

Sounds good, dperry - have a great day.

Oct 18th, 2009, 11:48	#2
dillichaat Professional cynic Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: जोर बाग़,New Delhi Posts: 431	Did you say 10000 Rs/day??? Robbery! If you rent a car for the full day it should cost about 900 Rs for a small one up to 1400 for an Innova. Don't know about the guide but would be really amazed if their services for a full day would be more than 1000-1500 Rs (and hold the emporiums and 'brothers' shop, thank you). Trouble is, I have never used the services of a guide and wouldn't immediately know where to find one, much less a female one (which is a good idea if you're female yourself, btw). At every monument 'guides' will approach you and generally make a nuisance out of themselves by launching unrequested for explanations, then demanding money. Also, although there are exceptions, the level generally doesn't surpass what you'll find in any guidebook. Perhaps some of the other IM'ers have references... __________________ When the wise man points out the black hole, the fool looks at the finger.

Oct 18th, 2009, 12:25	#3
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,614	dperry - if you are staying at a reasonable hotel in Delhi they can usually arrange day tours for you with a driver. The driver himself should be knowledgeable about places to go and you could use a good guide book to select the areas and sights you want to see. This small organisation is run by a woman and she herself might accompany you for the day - she can arrange a day sightseeing for you I should think: http://india-csartours.com/welcome.aspx You could see what her charges are. And here is a link to Delhi sightseeing tours - very cheap as you can see. I did a tour with them once and thought they were quite good. http://dtc.nic.in/dt3.htm#1 __________________ "Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forwards."

Oct 18th, 2009, 16:10	#5
delhiwala IM what IM Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Indeyah ! Posts: 4,813	That DTC Delhi Darshan as suggested by Aishah is very good value for money ! __________________ Travel only with thy equals or thy betters; if there are none, travel alone. - The Dhammapada

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Oct 18th, 2009, 02:00	#1
dperry Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ft lauderdale Posts: 9	need car and guide recommendation hello, i need a recommendation for a car and guide recommendation for 1 day in delhi i am travelling alone would prefer a female guide if possible i contacted a tour company rec. by another site, the price for 1 person was 10,000 rupees per day that is too expensive for me anyone used a car/guide recently they could recommend? thanks.

Oct 18th, 2009, 12:53	#4
Khans Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Delhi/Aligarh/Gaya Posts: 118	what all are you planning to visit in delhi and what time of year are you looking for.

Oct 18th, 2009, 16:23	#6
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,614	I agree delhiwala - whilst 45 mins at the Red Fort was a fairly rushed walk around, it was still quite adequate to even see a bit of the museum part etc. I did it more than 10 years back and the bus was comfortable, people I met were very helpful on the way, nice chatting with a few of them. The only thing I wasn't so keen on were the sellers with packets of pens that got on outside one of the temples, but apart from that nothing to complain about. This sort of thing might be banned now - Delhi is very keen on presenting a good image with the Commonwealth Games coming next year. It's very cheap and you get an excellent overall coverage of Delhi sights.

Oct 18th, 2009, 17:18	#7
Leith Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Margaret River :SW Western Australia Posts: 180	These guys seem to have some interesting Delhi tours. A tad expensive though. http://tallisandco.com/index.php?opt...go.y=14&page=1 Leith

Oct 18th, 2009, 21:03	#8
dperry Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ft lauderdale Posts: 9	thanks everyone for your helpful responses. i will look into the companies suggested. here is what i would like to do for the day: i would like to see the 3 World Heritage Sites (Red Fort Complex, Qutb Minar and Humayun's Tomb) as well as Jama Masjid i would like to visit the Bird Hospital a walk through Old Delhi shopping at the following places: Dilli Haat (have lunch at the stalls), Cottage Industries, and Anoki dillichaat- yes i am a female travelling alone. that's why i prefer a female guide but it's not a deal breaker for me. i'm comfortable with a male if it's by referral. i went to cairo alone last year and hired a car/driver and a female guide. it worked out beautifully. i like having a local guide because it can serve as a 'buffer' for the touts and other unwanted attention. i will be going to india in late february, then on to Nepal it is my first trip to these countries and i am so excited if anyone has a suggestion to my itinerary listed above, i'd love to hear it. really want to make the most of this day before i move on. thanks again.

Oct 18th, 2009, 22:26	#9
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,614	I think this is a very long day! And you will probably end up with the shopping thing in the evening. There is quite a distance between the Red Fort and Qutab Minar, so take driving times into account here. I don't know where the bird hospital is but guess maybe en route to one of the sights. You could do Old Delhi say, in the morning i.e. Red Fort, Jama Masjid, the walk around Old Delhi, and on the way to Dilli Haat visit Humayun's Tomb. After lunch head out to Qutab Minar, and go to Anokhi in Khan Market, then the Cottage Industries (the government emporium place in Janpath is quite good for this) at the end of the day.

Oct 19th, 2009, 05:12	#11
dperry Member Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: ft lauderdale Posts: 9	Aishah- i have already received a response from Csar tours, and i think i will book with her. thanks again she suggested the same order of visiting sites you did in your earlier post! i know i have scheduled a very very busy day not really how i wanted to do it, but....... thanks everyone for your help.

Oct 19th, 2009, 14:24	#12
Aishah She-who-must-be-obeyed! Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jaisalmer Posts: 7,614	Sounds good, dperry - have a great day.