Should we Go to Varanasi??

TracyB · Aug 14th, 2007, 22:04

Well for the last few months i have been trying to pick a place in India to take my husband after we spend 2 weeks in Goa for his 50th birthday...

I think Varanasi would be a really good present...We could fly from Goa to Mumbai/Delhi, Varanasi...or Jet Lite has direct flights right from Mumbai to Varanasi.

I emailed The Palace on the River, and they have a room available from Oct. 5 til 9th, but require a bank transfer immediately before proceeding with the reservation...Has this happended to anyone else?? Is it a good idea?

Is October 5th a good time to go to Varanasi?? We have been there before, but my husband said he would like to go back someday, so it would be a really good surprise.

Also...if that doesn't work...we are either going to Palolem or Hampi..but Varanasi seems much more exciting for a 50th Birthday present..

Any comments, do u think this a good idea??

As i must book this quickly...or should i just stick to Hampi or Palolem??????

nedhopkins · Aug 15th, 2007, 12:21

If this is the hotel you're talking about . . .

http://www.palaceonganges.com

. . . I booked reservations there two years ago without any pre-payment.

The hotel is very nice, immaculately clean, with smallish rooms and a decent veg restaurant.

Milamber · Aug 15th, 2007, 16:40

I'll be there in 10 days! For my first time.

incitatus · Aug 16th, 2007, 02:25

Asking for a bank transfer for the first night's accommodation is increasingly frequent among even lower grade hotels.
If you don't want to pay in advance - I never do- you could try booking a hotel not requiring an advance eg Scindhia Guest House.
It's not as posh as the Palace and is much cheaper and has superb views.
It's also next to the main burning ghat so you REALLY know you're in Varanasi.
http://www.scindhiaguesthouse.com/index.html

On the other hand if he hasn't been to Hampi before it's really impressive and well worth the visit.
Lodges there are much more primitive but may bring back memories of more youthful times-and it's very easy to get there from Goa.
Both places are ideal for travel in Oct as the monsoon is just finishing.

TracyB · Aug 16th, 2007, 03:22

Thanks for your replies..

I am going to email Scindhia Guest House immediately and see if they have a room!!!

If i can make Varanasi work with the flights, etc...then that will be first choice.

If it doesn't work..then we will go to Hampi!!! Which would be much cheaper..

But i don't think there could be a better 50th Birthday present than spending 4 nights in Varanasi with a Ganges view!!

hfot2 · Aug 16th, 2007, 03:29

If it is Palace on the Ganges - it is a lovely place and a good location, though our room did not have a view it was in the back and quiet. It is right next to Assi Ghat. The people there seemed totally on the up-and-up - we spoke with the manager on several occasions.
We loved Hampi too, so your second choice is not a bad fallback position.

distaff half of hfot2

TracyB · Aug 16th, 2007, 03:49

It is Palace on the Ganges, but it is Rashimi's Guesthouse..so i think it is a different place...

machadinha · Aug 16th, 2007, 13:02

Some nice reading on both destinations:

Varanasi - Off the Beaten Track
Hampi: Everything you want to know.

evilnyberg · Aug 16th, 2007, 13:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by TracyB

Also...if that doesn't work...we are either going to Palolem or Hampi..but Varanasi seems much more exciting for a 50th Birthday present...

but palolem is in goa...

seeing as you said you're staying in goa for 2 weeks (though i'm not sure where), you could spend a few days in palolem anyways. all in all, goa is pretty small, so 2 weeks is enough time to see some of both the north and south parts of the state.

a

TracyB · Aug 20th, 2007, 12:21

Actually...we are staying in Candolim for 9 nights...but we were going to go to Palolem for the last 4 or 5 nights....But i have decided not to go to Palolem...or Hampi..and i have booked the last 4 nights in Varanasi!!

So i am really excited about that, and it is a surprize for my husband's birthday!!

Aug 14th, 2007, 22:04	#1
TracyB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 335	Should we Go to Varanasi?? Well for the last few months i have been trying to pick a place in India to take my husband after we spend 2 weeks in Goa for his 50th birthday... I think Varanasi would be a really good present...We could fly from Goa to Mumbai/Delhi, Varanasi...or Jet Lite has direct flights right from Mumbai to Varanasi. I emailed The Palace on the River, and they have a room available from Oct. 5 til 9th, but require a bank transfer immediately before proceeding with the reservation...Has this happended to anyone else?? Is it a good idea? Is October 5th a good time to go to Varanasi?? We have been there before, but my husband said he would like to go back someday, so it would be a really good surprise. Also...if that doesn't work...we are either going to Palolem or Hampi..but Varanasi seems much more exciting for a 50th Birthday present.. Any comments, do u think this a good idea??As i must book this quickly...or should i just stick to Hampi or Palolem??????

Aug 15th, 2007, 12:21	#2
nedhopkins Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: California Posts: 230	Hotel Palace on Ganges If this is the hotel you're talking about . . . http://www.palaceonganges.com . . . I booked reservations there two years ago without any pre-payment. The hotel is very nice, immaculately clean, with smallish rooms and a decent veg restaurant.

Aug 16th, 2007, 13:02	#8
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,149	Some nice reading on both destinations: Varanasi - Off the Beaten Track Hampi: Everything you want to know. __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Aug 15th, 2007, 16:40	#3
Milamber Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Australia, Qld Posts: 53	I'll be there in 10 days! For my first time.

Aug 16th, 2007, 02:25	#4
incitatus Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: UK Posts: 207	Asking for a bank transfer for the first night's accommodation is increasingly frequent among even lower grade hotels. If you don't want to pay in advance - I never do- you could try booking a hotel not requiring an advance eg Scindhia Guest House. It's not as posh as the Palace and is much cheaper and has superb views. It's also next to the main burning ghat so you REALLY know you're in Varanasi. http://www.scindhiaguesthouse.com/index.html On the other hand if he hasn't been to Hampi before it's really impressive and well worth the visit. Lodges there are much more primitive but may bring back memories of more youthful times-and it's very easy to get there from Goa. Both places are ideal for travel in Oct as the monsoon is just finishing.

Aug 16th, 2007, 03:22	#5
TracyB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 335	Thanks for your replies.. I am going to email Scindhia Guest House immediately and see if they have a room!!! If i can make Varanasi work with the flights, etc...then that will be first choice. If it doesn't work..then we will go to Hampi!!! Which would be much cheaper.. But i don't think there could be a better 50th Birthday present than spending 4 nights in Varanasi with a Ganges view!!

Aug 16th, 2007, 03:29	#6
hfot2 MemberS Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Vermont Posts: 515	If it is Palace on the Ganges - it is a lovely place and a good location, though our room did not have a view it was in the back and quiet. It is right next to Assi Ghat. The people there seemed totally on the up-and-up - we spoke with the manager on several occasions. We loved Hampi too, so your second choice is not a bad fallback position. distaff half of hfot2

Aug 16th, 2007, 03:49	#7
TracyB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 335	It is Palace on the Ganges, but it is Rashimi's Guesthouse..so i think it is a different place...

Aug 20th, 2007, 12:21	#10
TracyB Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Edmonton, Canada Posts: 335	Actually...we are staying in Candolim for 9 nights...but we were going to go to Palolem for the last 4 or 5 nights....But i have decided not to go to Palolem...or Hampi..and i have booked the last 4 nights in Varanasi!! So i am really excited about that, and it is a surprize for my husband's birthday!!

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