Budget or Heritage

I would appreciate peoples experiences and views.

My husband & I are making our first trip to India in Sptember. We only have 10 days to tour Delhi, Agra, Jodphur, Jaipur and Udaipur so time is tight. We are planning a private tour with a car and driver. We are unsure as to which hotel option will give us the better 'Indian Experience' - Highly recommended but budget hotels or the more expensive Heritage Hotels. It seems a difficult choice.

What advice do other travellers have?

If you can afford it, why not try them both. Would be an interesting world of difference no doubt. Splashing out on a swimming pool and bar and the whole shebang certainly can't hurt I imagine, some of those biggies are supposed to be really something (others not I hear. Budget traveler speaking mind.)

There are some amazing heritage hotels in India.

Neemrana comes to mind: http://www.neemranahotels.com/neemrana/index.html.htm#

If you decide to mix some top hotels with less expensive hotels, Jasvilas in Jaipur (read the 14 replies) is a great place to stay, and only about £25 a room for a night, you'll certainly experience Indian hospitality at it's best.

We are going in November and have chosen a mix. The big splurge being Deogarh Mahal http://deogarhmahal.com/castle.htm which is inbetween Jodhpur and Udaipur for two nights.

Might as well enjoy a few special places if you only have 10 days.

India offers so many different experiences.

One of them is luxury at prices you may not be able to afford elsewhere. If you have the money to enjoy, go for it!

The fact that you may be returning to such a place does not stop you getting out on the street.

My experience of my first few trips is that it is not the luxury hotel that insulates you from 'the real India' --- it is the AC car, and the fact that fully-booked tours tend not to show you the ordinary shops and the ordinary streets.

For your transfers and longer trips, it is nice to know that the driver is there, relaible, regular and trustworthy (one hopes!!!). That is something that can help, if you feel you need it (I did), ease you into India. But do get out on foot, do take walks, do tell your guys that you'd like to see the local veg market, not just the temples and monuments!

Oh, I nearly forgot: Welcome to IndiaMike.com!

I'd go for heritage. it's good to have a place to retreat to after a day 'out there'.

Yeah, jasvilas was quite ok. do try chokhi dhani though(when in jaipur). it's a heritage village, noisy market affair and quiet rooms in the backyard. thought that makes a better option.

For a real Indian adventure, you should sleep on a train for at least one night! You don't have to rough it too much, but you get to meet the most amazing people. The best heritage hotels are not necessarily the most expensive - shop around and you could get excellent value for money.

Yeah I'd tend to agree, if you've got a decent amount of money to spend you can stay at some interesting/luxurious places that would be out of your price range almost anywhere else.

As he says I don't think the hotel you stay at has a massive effect on whether you see the "real india" since its not a case of "long budget tour vs short luxury tour" for you. If you want to go off the beaten track then read about the areas your going to beforehand as travel agents will normally just send you to the famous sites.