experience from recent trip to India

sng

Hi,

I just returned from my first trip to India. One advice I like to give to other 1st time traveler to India is you should do all your hotel arrangement on your own because the travel agent really doesn't add much value there. During offseason, you are likely to be able to get rooms at a lower rate simply by showing up and negotiating the rate in person. I was apprehensive about doing that and went the travel agent route. In hind sight, I would have saved a good amount of money by doing the hotel part myself. You should just reserve a car and driver and have him take you to the hotels that you like to stay at.

This same advice has been given before on this website and I like to second that advice based on my own recent experience.

Thanks!

Siew

wonderwomanusa

Sorry to hear that you had such a bad experience with your travel agent; I hope you had, somehow, a good visit ... and that you'll tell us what you liked!

kristinm

Cut out the middle man I say - and that goes for most things in life!

sng

Hi everybody,

I did enjoy my travels in India. The places I enjoyed staying at were:

Delhi - Hotel Palace Heights - nice place to stay at and nice adjacent restaurant
Jaisalmer - Fifu's guest house - wonderful family who owns and runs the place along with great staff. makes an effort to make you feel at home.
Udaipur - Mewar Havili - very helpful staff
Jodhpur - Ratan Villa
Jaipur - Madhuban

Thanks!

Siew

nedhopkins

I've also stayed at Madhuban in Jaipur, a fascinating city, and I recommend both the city and the hotel.

rebeccam

Siew, Pleae post reviews of hotels in that section of IM,
when you have time.

Thanks for feedback. However, i'm not sure--from what i've read here and elsewhere--that it would be such a good idea to arrive without reservations at Peak / High Season times, such as end of Dec to beginning of January--when the more popular places tend to fill up.

wonderwomanusa

I guess it depends on if you want to stay at the "more popular places." The worst place for that, in my memory, is Bangalore; the backpacker hotels there (the Ajanta, in particular) seem to always be full. I always end up at a cheapie near the rail station that always has had space for me.