Book hotels in Advance? |
 |
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:23
| #1 |
| Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 39
| Book hotels in Advance? Hi Guys, I will be travelling all over india for 6 weeks over November and December. Do I need to book hotels in advance for this trip to ensure I get a room, or will there be spare rooms for me when I arrive spontaneously to hotels? I'm looking at budget hotels. Thanks. |
|  |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:32
| #2 |
| Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India
Posts: 5,562
| November December are travel & festive time in India. At popular tourist destinations good budget accomodations tend to fill up. If you mention the places you plan to visit during your trip members here can suggest which places need advance hotel booking. |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:36
| #3 |
| Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 39
| Fly into Mumbai Nov21st, then to: Ahmedabad - Udaipur - Jaipur - Jaislamer - Amritsar - Delhi - Agra - Kaharajoa - Varanasi - Kolkata - then fly somewhere down south depending on time; probably Kerala - Goa - Fly out of Mumbai Jan 4th. I really want the trip to be flexible. e.g. if I love/hate a place, I can stay/leave longer/sooner. but I am afraid that if I am forced to book hotels and trains in advance, then I won't have this luxury. I really need advice about this. Thanks!!! |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:43
| #4 |
| Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India
Posts: 5,562
| You may be better off prebooking accomodation in Delhi & Goa. Long distance trains must be booked in advance. Premier trains like Rajdhanis might have been completely booked by now except the foreign tourist quotas. |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:50
| #5 | |
| Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: India
Posts: 40
| Quote:
Moreover if you are on a budget trip, finish off with goa first as after Dec 15 the rates of hotels would be SKY HIGH due to new year celebrations. | |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:50
| #6 |
| Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 39
| The foreign tourist quotas are available 5 days in advance, right? Would I be stupid to rely on that quota, or is it ok? e.g. I had a look at a night train from Mumbai to Ahmedabad on Nov23, but I cant seem to find any availability - It's making me really nervous. |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:54
| #7 | |
| Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: India
Posts: 40
| Quote:
Checkout www.rajnationalexpress.com or may be .in | |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 12:59
| #8 |
| Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: India
Posts: 5,562
| The biggest celebration in India Diwali is on 9th. November. So around this time the trains are all full. You have two options. One is the foreign tourist quotas and the other is the Tatkal scheme. You must read Steven's posts on railway bookings. For travel during these days many many people would be ready with their computers switched on and connected to internet to pounce on tatkal tickets. Explore budget airlines like airdeccan, spicejet, goair etc. too. |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 13:00
| #9 |
| Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Australia
Posts: 39
| ok, so now I have more questions: 1. Do i need to book the buses in bfk's message? 2. Back to the original qn - hotel booking besides Mumbai and Goa? 3. Can I rely on the tourist quota for trains? Thanks everyone. I'm so excited about my trip! |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 13:03
| #10 |
| Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: India
Posts: 40
| I disagree about Cheap Airlines... They no longer are cheap now. All the airlines charge USD 35 Upfront as charge which actually is not. So cheapest ticket you can get is of USD 35 + actual fare. So for any sector one can't get ticket for less than USD 50. |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 13:05
| #11 | |
| The Fortunate One  Join Date: May 2007 Location: Road
Posts: 6,912
| Quote:
So whats the problem with that..where can you get tickets cheaper than that ?? | |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 13:08
| #12 | |
| Account Closed Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: India
Posts: 40
| Quote:
Moreover checkout on www.irctc.co.in for train reservations. If you can find it take it or then travel by bus. 2. Back to the original qn - hotel booking besides Mumbai and Goa?[/QUOTE] Book for the places I suggested rest is okay. 3. Can I rely on the tourist quota for trains?[/QUOTE] I don't think so... I forgot to tell you one thing, as you are coming after festive seasons, I think you can get reserved ticket of train for many destinations for sure... Try booking on net. | |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 14:02
| #13 | |
| Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cymru
Posts: 1,175
| Quote:
On my own trips to India I always try to book every hotel and train in advance. It does cost me flexibility, but the fact that I don't have to worry (or even think) about accommodation and travel allows me to relax and enjoy the trip. I prefer to err on the side of allowing too little time in a place than too much, for it's nicer to have to leave a place wishing you could stay longer than to find yourself bored and wanting to move on. | |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 14:08
| #14 | |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: italy
Posts: 191
| Quote:
through most of the low cost european company | |
|
| |
|
Oct 18th, 2007, 14:11
| #15 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: italy
Posts: 191
| Been in India during your same period last year. You need to book train, absolutely, but, except for goa, no problems with hotel in all the other destination |
|
| |
Linear Mode
