Railway Station Pick-Up?

Barbara43

I see many Hotels etc., advertise 'Free Railway Station Pick-Up'.

If I'm landing in a city at the airport, why are they picking me up at the Railway Station? Why would I be there?

Am I supposed to get myself from the airport to the Railway Station by taxi, then look for my driver there?

Does the railway run between the city and the airport...

The Guesthouse I've checked out says "free pick-up at the Railway Station" ... the other option is to arrive by taxi from the airport at my expense for $10CAD ...are they just being cheap?

__________________
Keep Your Eye On The Prize...India 2010

Hal

The railway station is probably very close to the hotel so it's not a great expense and it helps them lure the people who travel by train. I imagine the airport is much further out and it's not feasible to offer free transport.

Most hotels in the big cities offer a paid airport pickup. It's convenient and usually double the price of a prepaid cab.

What city? Usually there is bus service from the airports, but not train.

Haylo

Apologies, but I cannot resist saying this; they probably did not design their websites and write their business plans specifically with you in mind!

Seriously, as Hal says, maybe the hotels you are looking at are near to the railway stations. It could be that you are looking at hotels which cater mainly for people on lower budgets who are arriving by train. Another reason airport collections might not be offered free could be relatively high parking charges at the airport, and the unpredictable waiting times for people to emerge from the terminal. If someone arrives on a certain train, they will be at the front of the station shortly after that, the same cannot be said about flight arrivals.

Or, they could just figure that if you privileged enough to be able to afford to fly somewhere, you can afford to pay for a pickup!

__________________
The world is mud-luscious and puddle-wonderful - E.E. Cummings, poet (1894-1962)

Barbara43

Amritsar...the guesthouse mentioned is Mrs. Bhandari's...her guesthouse is just outside of Amritsar...so it sounds like she's more willing to cater to the people arriving by train than by plane...with her prices, she can well afford a free airport pick-up.

Haylo

Paying to be picked up at an airport is normal. You seem rather unhappy about her offering free train station pickups, have you telephoned her and asked whether she will offer you a free airport pickup?

I am not familiar with Amritsar, so have no idea how far out of town the airport is compared to the railway station, but it would not surprise me if it is quite a drive.

It sounds as if you are not at all satisfied with the prices being charged, if that is the case I am sure there are many other hotels you could try.

Barbara43

I don't expect anyone to design anything with me in mind...I expect them to cater to potential guests with small offerings of goodwill and good public relations like airport pick-ups.

Apparently, according to India's standards, the Guesthouse in question is anything but "low budget" ...the charges for a single room with no a/c, no heater, no tv, no internet, no phone, or any other modern convenience you can think of, is rps1400 per night...breakfast rps250...dinner rps550.

In all fairness to them, there is a fireplace in the room...but there may be a shortage of wood, as they charge for that too.

If it was that expensive to park at the airport, no hotels would offer the service...excuses can be found anywhere if you look hard enough. I would think that with the competition, they would do what they could to entice the guest to stay with them.

You couldn't resist blah blah blah...next time, please do.

palerider

Wow, I'd be looking for another Hotel. Amritsar has many, and better, hotels for that price. With free airport pick up.

__________________
I always wanted to be someone when I grew up, I realise now that I should have been more specific.

camelgirl

Barbara43, does your avatar really say Bitch? or am I just misreading it because the photo is small.

Is this your first India trip?

If it is, then you're in for alot more suprises if the airport pick-up has you so annoyed.

If it isn't, well, why are you so annoyed? The train pick-up option is a long standing courtesy offered by smaller Indian hotels. The advent of people flying city to city in India is very recent, trains were THE only way to get around until recently (like maybe 10 years with the founding of small airlines like Jet & Spice).

__________________
My selected India photos http://www.indiamike.com/photopost/s...r/7030/cat/500

Haylo

That is outrageously expensive. Did you find this on the internet? Reason I ask this is that rooms available to book online are often charged at far higher rates than those quoted in person or over the phone.

But as I said, hotels don't normally offer free airport pickups, and those that do build it into their room rate.

I was not "looking hard for excuses", why should I excuse either this hotel or the hotel trade in general? I was however suggesting possible reasons which may explain their policies. If you would rather just assume it is because they are being cheap, that is your perogative, and you may even be right!

If you do not feel they are doing enough to entice you, and at those prices I would need a lot of enticing, simply book elsewhere.

You seem to be very attached to the idea of staying somewhere you already seem unhappy with. Is there any reason, such as a particular location, that you feel you should use this place?

It was a joke, based on your saying "why are they picking me up at the railway station" hence the smiley. Perhaps your avatar was wisely chosen!

The rest of my post was, I thought, helpful. For instance I asked whether you have telephoned her to ask whether she offers an airport pickup. It is probably worth finding out whether she would do this, before getting wound up about the fact that she may not.

Barbara43

The avatar is actually a poster that says "Bitch & Whine Tasting"

Yes, this wil be my first and only trip to India and I'm very much looking forward to it. I'm well aware of the culture shock, I'm in for...another thread I started, titled "Senior...Alone in Amritsar" will tell you much more about me.

I'm not at all annoyed that I'm not being picked up at the airport...my original question was.."why would she pick me up at the Railway Station...am I supposed to make my way to the Railway Station from the airport and look for my driver there?"

It was simply a question asked by a person that's never been to India and not familiar with the way things are done there...
however, someone thought I deserved a rude response to that question, which I thought was totally uncalled for, and I took offense to that...that same person is now attacking my personality, just because of my choice of avatar.

All I needed to be told was what you said above...that Railway Pick-ups are a courtesy offered by some establishments for guests travelling inside India...that would have explained it quite adequately for me.

For some, it would be a courtesy to others if they would refrain from answering questions that they can't respond to in a polite manner.

Haylo

I also felt that you were rather rude, however I do regret that you feel that your personality is being attacked.

Unfortunately, with no profile to give any idea of your personality, and posts on this thread that come across as being rather cross, having an avatar that says "Bitch and Whine" might give the wrong impression. Online, these things are the only clues that members have to go on when interacting with each other.

I am not here to offend anyone, for this reason I apologise.

camelgirl

I apologize for offending you, if it is I who you are referring to.

I just read your other thread which gives more information about you and your plans.

I think everyone responded to you with good information and that with a bit of clicking around here on IM you will find detailed information about places to stay, weather, shots that you should get before going (lots of them!)

I am the same age as you but I have 35 years of India travel experience, probably about the same as WonderwomanUSA who is a goldmine of good information in your other thread.

You have plenty of time to learn about traveling in India and will probably come up with a good plan.

I wouldn't plan on staying in Amristar the entire time. It's interesting but not for your entire stay. You have nothing to fear in Delhi and alot to miss by not going there. The winter weather, as has already been mentioned, is very hard on the lungs in northern India. They have infamous pollution "fogs" (some kind of weather inversion, the cold air not letting the bad air escape) that keep people indoors.

You may actually find you like heading further south better. You can avoid coconut or anything else you don't care for. There are hill stations in the south where you can stay cold but it's nicer than the north (Munnar?). Anyway, do some research here on IM.

I would also suggest looking into heritage hotels and small hotels. Some are better than a guesthouse. Don't commit a year in advance or pay a year in advance.

Maybe get a good Inda guidebook to supplement IM information.

Also, I strongly agree with whomever recommended starting with a tour to both orient you and give you some companionship until you feel more comfortable to be on your own.

Haylo

I agree, and it especially makes sense if you are flying into Delhi anyway.

Visiting places like Humayan's Tomb and Lodhi Gardens in Delhi would be a relatively stress free way to ease yourself into what can be a challenging country to deal with.

RPG

It does seem like you have your elbows out. How many hotels in your home town, or in Paris, or wherever, include pickup at the airport in their standard room prices?

As others have said, if you don't like the product or the price, you don't have to buy the product.

Barbara43

First, let me say that it was absolutely not you that offended me

Thank you for taking the time to read my other thread and getting to know me and my plans for a 'once in my lifetime vacation' a little better. I envy those of you that have been to India many times...sadly, at this time of my life, with my health, I'll be grateful for one trip.

The people that responded to me on that thread have already given me a wealth of information...including wonderwomanusa, that I'm truly grateful for...and it continues.

There is so much to read and learn on here...I spend hours every day reading threads here and copying pertinent information into a folder so that I can read it again at my leisure.

Please forgive my ignorance for many of the questions I may ask...I'm just trying to learn and understand as much as I can about their way of doing things before I go.

Thank you for taking the time to write and offer your suggestions...I truly appreciate it.