Know a good travel agent in Colaba Mumbai

chilli

Sounds like its a better option to have a travel agent book most of your train travel - if you know your dates. Anyone know of a good travel agent in Colaba Mumbai ?

nomadelmundo

chilli,
as i found out, you can book all your train travels at any major terminals at local reservation office by the train station, usually open's after 8am ... there are spots allocated for foreigners only, which you can request for first; but those are few and may be full and a not so helpful ticket agent at that window then may tell you that there are no seats or other trains for that day of journey... this may be completely false! ... as we learned... when we were in Mumbai's Victoria Station making a reservation from Varanasi to Delhi for a night train on for Jan 14th, 2005. The "foreign" ticket window said there were no trains for that night, and only closest dates were Jan 12th and 16th... so I believed him initially ... but later, we returned to another "regular" window, because I was "like no way, can there be 4 days without any trains from varanasi to delhi!" ... and sure enough there were many different trains at different times with plenty of seats / beds and we made our reservation easily... lesson learned... always ask around and be persistent
i think you can do this yourself... just reserve 2-3 days ahead at local stations asking for foreign and local quota ... and try to confirm your tickets right there and then for your night sleepers.... if you are headed for mumbai, book ahead earlier... we weren't able to catch a night train out of mumbai
good luck, and don't waste it on the travel agent who has the same or less capability as the train station agent ...

__________________

Visit my forum for backpackers, trekkers & hikers where you can share stories, discuss trails, and upload unlimited amount of travel photos for FREE...
@ PlanetNomads.com

chilli

thnaks for that - also whats this i hear about having to produce an atm receipt when paying with foreign currency ????

goamit

Hi Dear

There are ofcourse many genuine Railway ticket agents who are authorised by Govt of India and have a licence number to operate by Central railway as well as western railways.
Un fortunately whome you considered as a Travel agent was a tout, before you dealt with him you should have made sure that he had licence to sell train tickets.Indian Railways permits either Authorised agent to sell tickets or from any CRS ie Central Railway reservations.Any other persons selling Indian railway tickets besides the above mentioned is a tout.

The best way would be to go to the Indian Railway office on Ground floor next to Church Gate station.The reservation office is in the same building as Govt of India tourist office.( 15 mins walk from Colaba) or 15 mins by Bus

amitkesari

Hi,
If you are looking Travel Agent only for booking of Railway Tickets, then you go directly to Book the Railway Tickets at Churchgate, Next to India Tourist Office, there is an office on teh mezanine floor, where there is a separate counter for foreigners, and they will guide you aboutt he railway tickets and you will get the same iimediately as the counters are next to it.

Amit

Plus I suggest you Buy the Railway Time Table which is available at Rs: 25 to 30, where you will get all the information about all the trains. and still you dont get the tickets, then email me at amittheace@yahoo.com and i will give you the name and number of the authorised agent who will book your tickets at about 15 to 20 rs. charge.

__________________
Chalo Farva - Indian Tourism Search Engine featuring Hill Stations, Pilgrimage, Holy Places, Adventure Sports, Fairs and Festivals, Wildlife and Accommodations.