violetm

Now that we are well into planning our trip to India in 8 weeks the nitty gritty questions are coming thick and fast, and am hoping some Fodorites can help out with this one.

We're going to be looking at a number of airport transfers/taxis throughout our trip and I'm trying to decide the best way to do this:

Kolkata Airport - Oberoi - return transfer
Varanasi Airport - Radisson - return transfer
Delhi Airport - Leela Palace, Delhi - one-way transfer
Agra Train Station - ITC Mughal Agra - one-way transfer
Udaipur Airport - from Leela Palace, Udaipur - one-way transfer
Mumbai Airport - Taj Mahal Palace - return transfer

Does anyone have any advice on whether arranging transfers with each hotel, using taxis, or arranging transfers through a tour company (we are getting quotes for car and driver from Agra through Rajasthan at the moment so this could be something else we request from them) would be the best option?

We want the least amount of hassle but I know that hotels usually charge considerably more than taxis, only in some countries/cities I have found it is worth it for the convenience.

Any help appreciated.

Kathie

I have recent experience at Kolkata. The Oberoi transfers are quite expensive unless you get the room category that includes transfers (and, of course, those rooms are expensive). We just took a taxi both directions. There are two taxi desks at the airport, one for the regular ambassadors (no AC) and the other desk for air conditioned cars. It was hot, so we opted for air conditioning. It was easy and cheap. When we went back to the airport, I just asked the doorman to get us an AC car.

violetm

Hi Kathie,

Thanks for that, that's exactly what I needed to know

CaliNurse

First, you'll love ITC Mughal--lovely!!
Now...i'd suggest just adding all this to your total trip price for a driver. YOu want the least hassle, right? A good company can make this part--the transfers, gettingto hotle and destinations, etc--seamless!

CaliNurse

p.s. i know you asked about the Leela in New Delhi, but have you considered ITC Maurya? it is a wonderful, perfect hotel in a beautiful location. It's the New Delhi hotel of choice for our American Presidents. If it's good enough for them, it's good enough for me. (-;

violetm

Thanks CaliNurse, I'm delighted the ITC Mughal is good - we only booked it because we couldn't afford the Oberoi and it seemed like the next best option but I was bit worried that it wouldn't feel as nice as the other hotels we've booked. I'll wait until I get my quotes for drivers back and then see how much to add on the transfers etc, and I'll definitely look at the ITC Maurya

Thanks again.

CICII

The Leela Palace is a much nice hotel than the ITC Maurya. The Leela is brand new and is a 5 star OTT luxury hotel. The ITC Maurya is a perfectly nice hotel, but is far older and can't compare. (ITC One, their boutique hotel within the hotel may have some comparison.) I would still pick the Imperial over either for location, ambience and history.