Please comment on proposed Itinerary

Rxrich · Sep 7th, 2007, 21:16

I will be leaving for India from the USA on 22 October and will be there for a month. I'm 77 years old and have been to many great places on this planet,,,starting when I was 18. I'm married but my wife prefers less adventurous travel...so I'll be travelling alone...(although when we were younger we went skiing a lot in the USA and Europe and have taken many road trips through Europe).
About 10 years ago I went away for about 4 months..chartered a sailboat in the South Pacific...and sailed for about 3 weeks...then went backpacking in NZ...Thailand...Japan../..so now ...a month in India. I usually like to spend a long time in one place but have decided that for this trip I would like to be on the move:
I do have some Indian friends who live in Jaipur and will be spending a few days with them:
Please comment on my itinerary and make any suggestions. I'm also interested in any good home stays you might have experienced at these places...thank you:

India: General trip plan:

23-26 October: Delhi (already booked at a homestay)

26 October: leave by train for Agra

28 October: Bus from Agra to Jaipur…meet friends…side trip to Ranthambhore

2 November arrive Jodhpur

4 November arrive Jaisalmer

7 November arrive Udaipur

9 November go to Aurangabad: visit caves at Ellora and Ajanta

12 November arrive Goa

15 November arrive State of Kerala

Tentative plan for Kerala: Kochi>Munnar or Madurai>Periyar NP>Alleppey>back to Kochi….Have considered a car and driver for this portion of my trip...I never did anything like that before but...might be interesting....it's really not very expensive. I like to travel Budget to moderate and maybe a sometimes splurge...

21 November Fly Kochi to Delhi*

SpiceJet Airlines 21-Nov-2007 SG 502 Departs Kochi 1230 nonstop Arrives DELHI 1530. Haven't booked yet

Continental leaves for USA on 21 November at 2355 arrives USA 22 November.

Thanks for any commebts and suggestions
Richard

Rxrich · Sep 7th, 2007, 21:23

Can't believe I spelled "comments" wrong twice...maybe I am getting old...lol
Richard

capt_mahajan · Sep 7th, 2007, 21:33

Have corrected one of them

, in the title.

Just two comments:
-Just 2/3 days in Goa?
-I hope there is a later flight to Delhi from Kochi which gives you time to connect to Continental (just in case the Spicejet one gets cancelled.)

Rxrich · Sep 7th, 2007, 22:06

Very good point Capt Mahajan...Chose SpiceJet becasue it was shortest non stop flight...the next SpiceJet flight that leaves would get me to Delhi with only 1 hr 45 min to spare before my flight to USA...a little too close.
A better choice is JetLite ...leaves Cochin at 1115 with the next flight leaving at 1515...both with one stop.
Thanks for that suggestion!!!
Richard

capt_mahajan · Sep 7th, 2007, 22:08

Jetlite, connected with a better airline like Jet, may be more reliable, too.

incitatus · Sep 8th, 2007, 00:25

Too late but....If anyone is planning a journey beginning in N.India and ending in the South it's a good idea to book a ticket with an airline which operates to both regions thereby obviating the necessity ,expense and time of travelling back to the point of entry.Lufthansa, Emirates , BA, NorthWest for example.

In this case even flying back from Mumbai would have been useful.(on your dates ,BA would have charged $1363 Miami-Delhi, returning Mumbai -Miami)

Failing that a good plan would be to reverse your itinerary and visit Kerala first then work your way back to Delhi.
Personally I wouldn't be confident about flying into Delhi and making an international connection on the same day.

If your preferred mode of transport stranded you in Agra when you wanted to go to Delhi there are plenty of alternatives instantly available.If something happens to delay your return flight from Kerala there will be no alternatives.

For this reason I always advise that travellers go to the farthest point on their itinerary and work their way back.

Otherwise the plan is good and doable.

Murray Jones · Sep 8th, 2007, 00:55

I agree that it is chancing a lot, relying upon domestic flights over a long distance, on the same day as an international flight.

dhans · Sep 8th, 2007, 22:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rxrich

15 November arrive State of Kerala

Tentative plan for Kerala: Kochi>Munnar or Madurai>Periyar NP>Alleppey>back to Kochi….Have considered a car and driver for this portion of my trip...I never did anything like that before but...might be interesting....it's really not very expensive. I like to travel Budget to moderate and maybe a sometimes splurge...

Richard

Seems a very doable scheme. A car can be fun; contact Jenny via ww.cochinkerala.com for advice. Read our journal at http://www.indiamike.com/india/journ...&j=9 402#e415
for some suggestions.

Hans

Rxrich · Sep 8th, 2007, 23:02

Hi dhans...
thank you for your input... I did contact Jenny a few weeks ago and she proposed a car and driver trip at reasonable cost. I was trying to keep costs down and part of her proposed ttrip was a canoe boat...but I just wrote back to her saying I think I would want to do a round trip punting houseboat from Alleppy... I hope it could be arranged by joining a small group to share the experience. I'm sure it's worth the additional cost to sleep under the stars just ghosting along on a houseboat...
I will definitely read your jornal...and thanks again...If you have any suggestions about places to stay in Kochi/Munnar/Madurai/Periyar NP let me know...I prefer Home Stays but anyplace where I can meet people.
Thanks again for your help
Richard

Sep 7th, 2007, 21:16	#1
Rxrich Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jupiter, FL USA Posts: 53	Please comment on proposed Itinerary I will be leaving for India from the USA on 22 October and will be there for a month. I'm 77 years old and have been to many great places on this planet,,,starting when I was 18. I'm married but my wife prefers less adventurous travel...so I'll be travelling alone...(although when we were younger we went skiing a lot in the USA and Europe and have taken many road trips through Europe). About 10 years ago I went away for about 4 months..chartered a sailboat in the South Pacific...and sailed for about 3 weeks...then went backpacking in NZ...Thailand...Japan../..so now ...a month in India. I usually like to spend a long time in one place but have decided that for this trip I would like to be on the move: I do have some Indian friends who live in Jaipur and will be spending a few days with them: Please comment on my itinerary and make any suggestions. I'm also interested in any good home stays you might have experienced at these places...thank you: India: General trip plan: 23-26 October: Delhi (already booked at a homestay) 26 October: leave by train for Agra 28 October: Bus from Agra to Jaipur…meet friends…side trip to Ranthambhore 2 November arrive Jodhpur 4 November arrive Jaisalmer 7 November arrive Udaipur 9 November go to Aurangabad: visit caves at Ellora and Ajanta 12 November arrive Goa 15 November arrive State of Kerala Tentative plan for Kerala: Kochi>Munnar or Madurai>Periyar NP>Alleppey>back to Kochi….Have considered a car and driver for this portion of my trip...I never did anything like that before but...might be interesting....it's really not very expensive. I like to travel Budget to moderate and maybe a sometimes splurge... 21 November Fly Kochi to Delhi* SpiceJet Airlines 21-Nov-2007 SG 502 Departs Kochi 1230 nonstop Arrives DELHI 1530. Haven't booked yet Continental leaves for USA on 21 November at 2355 arrives USA 22 November. Thanks for any commebts and suggestions Richard

Sep 8th, 2007, 00:25	#6
incitatus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UK Posts: 207	Itinerary. Too late but....If anyone is planning a journey beginning in N.India and ending in the South it's a good idea to book a ticket with an airline which operates to both regions thereby obviating the necessity ,expense and time of travelling back to the point of entry.Lufthansa, Emirates , BA, NorthWest for example. In this case even flying back from Mumbai would have been useful.(on your dates ,BA would have charged $1363 Miami-Delhi, returning Mumbai -Miami) Failing that a good plan would be to reverse your itinerary and visit Kerala first then work your way back to Delhi. Personally I wouldn't be confident about flying into Delhi and making an international connection on the same day. If your preferred mode of transport stranded you in Agra when you wanted to go to Delhi there are plenty of alternatives instantly available.If something happens to delay your return flight from Kerala there will be no alternatives. For this reason I always advise that travellers go to the farthest point on their itinerary and work their way back. Otherwise the plan is good and doable.

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Sep 7th, 2007, 21:23	#2
Rxrich Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jupiter, FL USA Posts: 53	Can't believe I spelled "comments" wrong twice...maybe I am getting old...lol Richard

Sep 7th, 2007, 21:33	#3
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,091	Have corrected one of them , in the title. Just two comments: -Just 2/3 days in Goa? -I hope there is a later flight to Delhi from Kochi which gives you time to connect to Continental (just in case the Spicejet one gets cancelled.)

Sep 7th, 2007, 22:06	#4
Rxrich Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jupiter, FL USA Posts: 53	Very good point Capt Mahajan...Chose SpiceJet becasue it was shortest non stop flight...the next SpiceJet flight that leaves would get me to Delhi with only 1 hr 45 min to spare before my flight to USA...a little too close. A better choice is JetLite ...leaves Cochin at 1115 with the next flight leaving at 1515...both with one stop. Thanks for that suggestion!!! Richard

Sep 7th, 2007, 22:08	#5
capt_mahajan (in charge of navel affairs) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India Posts: 10,091	Jetlite, connected with a better airline like Jet, may be more reliable, too.

Sep 8th, 2007, 00:55	#7
Murray Jones Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Surrey, United Kingdom Posts: 10	I agree that it is chancing a lot, relying upon domestic flights over a long distance, on the same day as an international flight.

Sep 8th, 2007, 23:02	#9
Rxrich Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Jupiter, FL USA Posts: 53	Hi dhans... thank you for your input... I did contact Jenny a few weeks ago and she proposed a car and driver trip at reasonable cost. I was trying to keep costs down and part of her proposed ttrip was a canoe boat...but I just wrote back to her saying I think I would want to do a round trip punting houseboat from Alleppy... I hope it could be arranged by joining a small group to share the experience. I'm sure it's worth the additional cost to sleep under the stars just ghosting along on a houseboat... I will definitely read your jornal...and thanks again...If you have any suggestions about places to stay in Kochi/Munnar/Madurai/Periyar NP let me know...I prefer Home Stays but anyplace where I can meet people. Thanks again for your help Richard

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