Paying for car journeys

snonymous · Aug 4th, 2009, 22:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by santos_g15

My Calendar shows it as October 17.

Yes, that is the date of Naraka Chaturdashi and Lakshmi puja but in many states the celebrations start from a few days earlier and go on till a few days beyond this date. I believe that in Gujarat state, it goes on until very much later - something called La Pancham. School holidays also vary from state to state but for sure all educational institutions will be closed during that week - ergo "peak" holiday season!

chitra0828 · Aug 4th, 2009, 23:24

We have received a few car quotes for our trip around Kerala. The cheapest is from a company called Kerala Travels, which (according to their website) has been in business for 8 years. They are charging us Rs1100 per day with 150km min per day.

Is this a good rate (it seems to be compared to the posts earlier from Vandy and Synonymous)?

But more importantly does anyone know Kerala Travels and/or had travel experiences with them?

vandy · Aug 5th, 2009, 13:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitra0828

We have received a few car quotes for our trip around Kerala. The cheapest is from a company called Kerala Travels, which (according to their website) has been in business for 8 years. They are charging us Rs1100 per day with 150km min per day.

Is this a good rate (it seems to be compared to the posts earlier from Vandy and Synonymous)?

But more importantly does anyone know Kerala Travels and/or had travel experiences with them?

Thats a good rate Chitra.

What sort of vehicle have they offered ?

I think in the 150KM rate they mean Maximum not Minimum

vandy

santos_g15 · Aug 5th, 2009, 13:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitra0828

We have received a few car quotes for our trip around Kerala. The cheapest is from a company called Kerala Travels, which (according to their website) has been in business for 8 years. They are charging us Rs1100 per day with 150km min per day.

Is this a good rate (it seems to be compared to the posts earlier from Vandy and Synonymous)?

But more importantly does anyone know Kerala Travels and/or had travel experiences with them?

I wonder if you have to pay for fuel or fuel is included.I dont think its included inn the price because its so cheap.As rightly pointed out 150 is max kms you can travel in a day .above that they usually chargr rs .8 per extra km .

standard is 1500 with 200 kms.It almost equals this.

tywocky · Aug 5th, 2009, 19:16

Thank you very much for this information.

Everyone has been so helpful. I am sure I shall have wonderful holiday with my daughters.

Tywocky.

chitra0828 · Aug 5th, 2009, 20:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by santos_g15

I wonder if you have to pay for fuel or fuel is included.I dont think its included inn the price because its so cheap.As rightly pointed out 150 is max kms you can travel in a day .above that they usually chargr rs .8 per extra km .

standard is 1500 with 200 kms.It almost equals this.

No fuel charge, but there is tax, which brings the total rate to Rs1128/day. Above 150km, we pay Rs7/day.

I am very clear of the terms, but my concern is I don't have any referral on KeralaTravels.com. They have a well organized website and have been responsive by e-mail. Can I ask again if anyone knows of them or has booked through them (anything, not just cars).

snonymous · Aug 6th, 2009, 13:46

It is a very good rate even with tax added. If they are giving you a "tax bill" it probably means that they are a fairly straightforward outfit - at least they declare their income for tax purposes unlike a lot of others who take cash.

Is it for an AC or non AC car?

chitra0828 · Aug 6th, 2009, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by snonymous

It is a very good rate even with tax added. If they are giving you a "tax bill" it probably means that they are a fairly straightforward outfit - at least they declare their income for tax purposes unlike a lot of others who take cash.

Is it for an AC or non AC car?

It is for an AC Indica. As per their website they seem to have a lot of offices. The lady (Sonia) I have been communicating with by e-mail has been very responsive and straightforward in laying out the fees (e.g. 80km charge for picking up Thrissur and returning in Palakkad).

The other quote we have is Rs12,500 (so ~Rs1200 more) from Murugesan at InspireKerala which I know Synonymous and others have used and been happy with.

tywocky · Aug 11th, 2009, 20:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by snonymous

This year, Deepavali / Diwali / Divali runs from Oct 15 to approx. October 19th. Im not sure about when the school vacations commence, many states give 15 days to a month during this period so it is considered a sort of peak season.

Thank you again. I shall just miss the school holidays then.
Thanks to all of you who replied we shall come well prepared to Kerala and hopefully have busy but enjoyable time.

Tywocky

malayalam · Aug 14th, 2009, 01:42

Is it n't it better to do Cochin - Munnar - Madurai - Periyar - Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom - Houseboat - Cochin. Better to organise a taxi from Cochin. You could find responsible drivers and good cars from reputed local agents in Kerala @ resonabale prices.

tywocky · Aug 14th, 2009, 05:23

Thank you for your help Malayalam

Tywocky

kugan551 · Aug 21st, 2009, 09:16

This is what I found.

The hotel travel desk charges you about twice as much as it would cost for a local person for the same trip.

I had rates varying hugely. In Bangalore with tourist board office at the railstation : 5.25 rupees per km for long journeys, with 200 rs. drivers 'bhata' for overnight stop.

Short journeys: 8 t0 10 rupees /km.

Do not fall for the 'arrangers' ! (Bumsters as they are called in Gambia)

Go out of hotel into town and bargain. Start with a third of original quote. End up with about half reluctantly.

chitra0828 · Oct 3rd, 2009, 08:13

Hi all: thanks for all your comments and help that really made our trip to india a great experience. We're in the process of putting our travelogue up for you all the read, and we've put it in a Journal on this website. I;m not exactly sure how to link up this post to the journal so I'm putting in the link to what is I hope our Journal titled: The Sundaram Travelogue: Kerala August 2009. Hope you enjoy. We're up to putting up Day 1 and Day 2, and we'll get through the full 9 1/2 days and comments on service providers/hotels as soon as we possibly can.Again thanks so much for all your help. http://www.indiamike.com/india/journ...urnal&j=9 567

Best Chitra

PaoloNL · Nov 4th, 2009, 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by chitra0828

It is for an AC Indica. As per their website they seem to have a lot of offices. The lady (Sonia) I have been communicating with by e-mail has been very responsive and straightforward in laying out the fees (e.g. 80km charge for picking up Thrissur and returning in Palakkad).

The other quote we have is Rs12,500 (so ~Rs1200 more) from Murugesan at InspireKerala which I know Synonymous and others have used and been happy with.

Hey Chitra,

please forgive me for resurrecting this old thread, but I was wondering if you could tell me what company/driver you ended up working with, and what kind of experience you had with them?

I am looking to hire a car and driver for a mid-November trip from Kumily to Kochi, and I would be interested to know how things worked out for you.

So far I have received only one quote, from Fourens Travel. They quoted me a price of Rs 5.800 for an AC Toyota (Qualis?) with driver. If Google Maps is right and the distance between Kochi and Kumily is about 144 km, that would work out to a tariff of over 20 Rs/km.

Is that fair?

vandy · Nov 4th, 2009, 07:21

Keep in mind they are more than likely charging you for both
Ways ie, Kochi - Kumily - Kochi.This is the Norm.

You may get a Cheaper rate in Kumily itself with a smaller car if that suits your needs.The same as above will probably apply.

vandy

Aug 5th, 2009, 19:16	#20
tywocky Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 32	paying for car journey/Diwali Thank you very much for this information. Everyone has been so helpful. I am sure I shall have wonderful holiday with my daughters. Tywocky.

Aug 14th, 2009, 05:23	#26
tywocky Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: UK Posts: 32	paying for car journey Thank you for your help Malayalam Tywocky

Aug 21st, 2009, 09:16	#27
kugan551 Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: London, England Posts: 31	Travelling by hired car in India This is what I found. The hotel travel desk charges you about twice as much as it would cost for a local person for the same trip. I had rates varying hugely. In Bangalore with tourist board office at the railstation : 5.25 rupees per km for long journeys, with 200 rs. drivers 'bhata' for overnight stop. Short journeys: 8 t0 10 rupees /km. Do not fall for the 'arrangers' ! (Bumsters as they are called in Gambia) Go out of hotel into town and bargain. Start with a third of original quote. End up with about half reluctantly.

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Aug 4th, 2009, 23:24	#17
chitra0828 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CT USA Posts: 62	We have received a few car quotes for our trip around Kerala. The cheapest is from a company called Kerala Travels, which (according to their website) has been in business for 8 years. They are charging us Rs1100 per day with 150km min per day. Is this a good rate (it seems to be compared to the posts earlier from Vandy and Synonymous)? But more importantly does anyone know Kerala Travels and/or had travel experiences with them?

Aug 6th, 2009, 13:46	#22
snonymous xxx Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1,749	It is a very good rate even with tax added. If they are giving you a "tax bill" it probably means that they are a fairly straightforward outfit - at least they declare their income for tax purposes unlike a lot of others who take cash. Is it for an AC or non AC car?

Aug 14th, 2009, 01:42	#25
malayalam Account Closed Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cochin Posts: 38	Is it n't it better to do Cochin - Munnar - Madurai - Periyar - Coconut Lagoon, Kumarakom - Houseboat - Cochin. Better to organise a taxi from Cochin. You could find responsible drivers and good cars from reputed local agents in Kerala @ resonabale prices.

Oct 3rd, 2009, 08:13	#28
chitra0828 Member Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: CT USA Posts: 62	Hi all: thanks for all your comments and help that really made our trip to india a great experience. We're in the process of putting our travelogue up for you all the read, and we've put it in a Journal on this website. I;m not exactly sure how to link up this post to the journal so I'm putting in the link to what is I hope our Journal titled: The Sundaram Travelogue: Kerala August 2009. Hope you enjoy. We're up to putting up Day 1 and Day 2, and we'll get through the full 9 1/2 days and comments on service providers/hotels as soon as we possibly can.Again thanks so much for all your help. http://www.indiamike.com/india/journ...urnal&j=9 567 Best Chitra

Nov 4th, 2009, 07:21	#30
vandy Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: perth-australia Posts: 1,148	Keep in mind they are more than likely charging you for both Ways ie, Kochi - Kumily - Kochi.This is the Norm. You may get a Cheaper rate in Kumily itself with a smaller car if that suits your needs.The same as above will probably apply. vandy