Calling all Varanasi experts!

Bonitag

What happens on January 8th?

We are trying to book a room for one night in January 8th, 2009 and I am getting few "automatic replies" saying:

THIS HOTEL DOES NOT ALLOW CHECK-IN ON THE REQUESTED DATE.

If I change the date to January 7th or January 9th, there is no problem with the booking, at the same hotel; even if I check-in on January 7 and check out on January 9th (through the 8th), no problem....

Since this will be our first trip to India, is there something we would need to know about January 8th, 2009 in Varanasi, India?

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Bonitag

bruce3404

I think it's reasonable to assume that the hotel you've chosen is full on the 8th. Have you tried others? You could telephone them and ask what's up. You could simply keep trying online and hope for a cancellation.

Bonitag

Hi Bruce,

Possible, but I can book from the 7th - 9th (including the night of the 8th) but not from the 8th through the 9th...

And the message says "this hotel does not allow check-in on the requested date", instead of "sorry, no vacancies", unless, I have just learned a new way of saying things in India:

"not allow to check in = no vacancies"

I am confused....

Bonitag

And, in top of that, many of the hotels that I have contacted by the Ganges are booked solid, hence my question "what's going on in Varanasi that week/date?"

The other one is the Radisson hotel by the train station, great hotel, but too far from the Old City and the river (the action)

bruce3404

Sorry, I guess I mis-read your original post. That is a most odd response. I would give them a call. If you sign up with Pingo, you can call India for only 6.5 cents per minute from the USA. Sounds like we'll be in India at the same time; I leave tomorrow morning. Have a wonderful trip!!

bruce3404

It's really not that far at all. I stayed on the other side of the train station from the river, about 400 meters from the backside of the train station and always walked into the old town/river area. I enjoyed where I stayed because it was in a quiet part of town. Even if I hadn't chosen to walk, the rickshaw ride would have been only 20 Rps or so. Sorry, but I can't remember the name of where I stayed

Bonitag

English is not my first language and I don't do too well with accents, but I will ask my husband to give them a call...

Either way, who cares, you are leaving tomorrow! I am so jealous!

Have a fantastic trip!

bruce3404

Thanks! As far as the accents go, they can be tough over the phone and I usually have to ask the people I've spoken to if they could repeat themselves. Once I hit the ground, I can usually get into the speech rhythms rather quickly.

camelgirl

Have you tried emailing them with your check-in question? They probably have a contact email address. It is very odd.

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Bonitag

Camelgirl!! Hello again!!

It is indeed a very strange reply, I tried to call them yesterday but couldn't get through...

Most mid-range hotels by the Gaths are booked and I am starting to freak-out!

We will be in Varanasi for just 2 days, sort of, we arrive early morning on Dec. 8 via over night train from Jaipur and leave on Dec. 9th via over night train to Delhi. Very little time, so I would love to be right in the middle of the action!

But I can't get a nice hotel

By the way, do you know anything about a place called: Sahi River Guesthouse, near Assi Gath?

bruce3404

Don't worry too much. You will get a place to stay. It may not be exactly what you want, but you'll have a bed to sleep in. They surely have a hotel reservation counter at the train station and there will be dozens of touts who know which hotels have availability. Keep trying online and don't worry if you're not right in the center; it's a compact enough town within the tourist sector and even the "far away" places like the Taj Mahal are only 15 rickshaw minutes from the heart of the action.

Bonitag

Thank you Bruce!

...shouldn't you be some where else? Like at the AIRPORT!

bruce3404

I'm gettin' there, I'm gettin' there. Maybe I can be the first IMer who missed a trip to India because I was too busy hanging around on this site

Bonitag

Have a great trip, don't forget to pack a sweater and a blanket, it will be cold in the train in India!

Darmabum

but I'd try the Hotel Temple on Ganges first. Very close to Asi Ghat. Also, a little more (if not much more) upscale is the Ganges View. I stayed there for a month in June of '06, amazing place. Might also try the Haifa Hotel, also in Asi area. Or the Hotel Divvya. The Haifa may have a website, the Temple on Ganges does, and you can book online . . . good luck.

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