Value for money Itinerary

grove7 · Dec 30th, 2008, 04:51

Can anyone help?

I am trying to plan a 6 week trip to India next year and have received endless brochures from many tour operators,TransIndus,Greaves,P etites etc
I have found that the cost of these trips are very expensive.
Can anyone recommend tour operators who are a less expensive but who also offer tailormade options?
I have travelled widely before and am not afraid of "roughing it" and am more than happy with train travel. I am still keen to visit heritage properties but want someone to organise this for me.
I have look on Alistair Sawdays India who has some fantastic properties but charging £30 a night rather than £300.
I would like to visit Rajashstan,Varanasi and try to see some tigers somewhere.
I live in the UK

Any suggestions would be apriciated.

Haylo · Dec 30th, 2008, 04:57

Really, if you want value for money and as you're happy to travel by train, forget all about tour operators and do it yourself.

As you're not afraid of "roughing it", you'll be amazed how cheaply you can travel, and as many of the heritage hotels are bookable online, it is really not at all challenging. Actually, it's just as easy to telephone your booking through, everyone in the hotel trade seems to speak English.

If you're making phone calls to India from a UK landline, dial 0844 300 3333 before dialling the full international number, and the call will only cost you 1.5p per minute. Don't worry it's perfectly legit, I've been using them for years.

Hal · Dec 30th, 2008, 06:47

As Haylo says, make your own itinerary. It will change as you travel through India so no need to be tied to a tour operator's schedule.

£30 a night will get you some very comfortable accommodation. So will £10 or even 5. For example - 3 days in Hampi in a cottage with private bath, including food, a few beers and scooter hire cost me Rs 1500.

OceanTragic · Dec 30th, 2008, 06:58

I'm not brave enough to do it all myself from the moment that I arrive in India so I've booked the first 10 days with Namaste with them arranging the hotels. They have a heritage option too but you could always book the hotels and let them do the travel stuff. (Please note though that I've never used them before, although many others have and recommend them. )

It all depends on how much time you have before you go and while you're there, how much confidence and how much money.

Haylo and Hal are definately right though, do it yourself and it will cost you far less. I hope to do just this after I'm 'up to speed' after the first 10 days.

Mike Cork · Dec 30th, 2008, 07:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by OceanTragic

I'm not brave enough to do it all myself from the moment that I arrive in India so I've booked the first 10 days with Namaste with them arranging the hotels. They have a heritage option too but you could always book the hotels and let them do the travel stuff. (Please note though that I've never used them before, although many others have and recommend them. )

It all depends on how much time you have before you go and while you're there, how much confidence and how much money.

Haylo and Hal are definately right though, do it yourself and it will cost you far less. I hope to do just this after I'm 'up to speed' after the first 10 days.

Wing it.... you'll have much more fun..

It took me a little while to convince my older brother to just get a flight and wing it. He leaves for Goa in two weeks with just his flight ticket. He's realy looking forward to taking this small step into the unknown....

holikarang · Dec 30th, 2008, 07:44

well, I also did that the first time..took the flight and...made it!! Anyway, I recommend booking hotels and flights/trains on your own, as Haylo and Hal suggested here, nowadays you may be surprised how easy it is. I was so happy I could get rid of travel agents this time and book everything on my own!! Go for it, you'll save money and choosing is also fun!

Dec 30th, 2008, 04:51	#1
grove7 Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: England Posts: 1	Value for money Itinerary Can anyone help? I am trying to plan a 6 week trip to India next year and have received endless brochures from many tour operators,TransIndus,Greaves,P etites etc I have found that the cost of these trips are very expensive. Can anyone recommend tour operators who are a less expensive but who also offer tailormade options? I have travelled widely before and am not afraid of "roughing it" and am more than happy with train travel. I am still keen to visit heritage properties but want someone to organise this for me. I have look on Alistair Sawdays India who has some fantastic properties but charging £30 a night rather than £300. I would like to visit Rajashstan,Varanasi and try to see some tigers somewhere. I live in the UK Any suggestions would be apriciated. Last edited by grove7 : Dec 30th, 2008 at 04:54. Reason: additional country info

Dec 30th, 2008, 04:57	#2
Haylo Structural Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Middle East and heading Easter Posts: 5,804	Really, if you want value for money and as you're happy to travel by train, forget all about tour operators and do it yourself. As you're not afraid of "roughing it", you'll be amazed how cheaply you can travel, and as many of the heritage hotels are bookable online, it is really not at all challenging. Actually, it's just as easy to telephone your booking through, everyone in the hotel trade seems to speak English. If you're making phone calls to India from a UK landline, dial 0844 300 3333 before dialling the full international number, and the call will only cost you 1.5p per minute. Don't worry it's perfectly legit, I've been using them for years. __________________ The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Dec 30th, 2008, 07:44	#6
holikarang also known as Maya Sharma Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: where the heart is Posts: 694	well, I also did that the first time..took the flight and...made it!! Anyway, I recommend booking hotels and flights/trains on your own, as Haylo and Hal suggested here, nowadays you may be surprised how easy it is. I was so happy I could get rid of travel agents this time and book everything on my own!! Go for it, you'll save money and choosing is also fun! __________________ holikarang

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Dec 30th, 2008, 06:47	#3
Hal . . . _ _ _ . . . Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Toronto Posts: 2,302	As Haylo says, make your own itinerary. It will change as you travel through India so no need to be tied to a tour operator's schedule. £30 a night will get you some very comfortable accommodation. So will £10 or even 5. For example - 3 days in Hampi in a cottage with private bath, including food, a few beers and scooter hire cost me Rs 1500.

Dec 30th, 2008, 06:58	#4
OceanTragic More Of A Leecher Than A Seeder Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Southampton,UK Posts: 946	I'm not brave enough to do it all myself from the moment that I arrive in India so I've booked the first 10 days with Namaste with them arranging the hotels. They have a heritage option too but you could always book the hotels and let them do the travel stuff. (Please note though that I've never used them before, although many others have and recommend them. ) It all depends on how much time you have before you go and while you're there, how much confidence and how much money. Haylo and Hal are definately right though, do it yourself and it will cost you far less. I hope to do just this after I'm 'up to speed' after the first 10 days.