jat

My husband and I are strongly considering using Castle & King to plan a tour of India in October or November. I got a suggested itinerary from them, and there are a few train trips. I would be very interested to learn about others' experiences with such train trips organized by Castle & King. I am quite comfortable traveling by train on my own in Europe, but am concerned about being able to find the right train, get off at the right place, and meet a guide or driver in India - for example, train from Sawai Madhopur, visit Fatehpur Sikir en route, then continue to Agra. Could any of you who have done this share your experiences with this? Also, more generally, for those of you who have used Castle & King, what "glitches" did you encounter? Finally, do you have specific guides or drivers you would recommend?

rhkkmk

no glitches at all in 2 trips.

personally trains do not interest me..

Dev is excellent in Jaipur area as a guide... we have not found one guide in 2 trips that we did not like and appreciate.

CaliNurse

I can't reply to your question, specifically about C and K ( I use a different India planner/agency). However, in many India trips, never had a problems with trains! They are always fun and an adventure,starting with the train stations, imho, but i totally understand when/why people want to avoid them!

When booking with the travel company (often easier than doing it on your own, as seats are released at a certain time, which your company will be privy to etc) I have been accompanied by the local reps ON to the train, to the correct seat, and then upon arrival, had the agency rep/driver/guide either come right IN to the car on the arrival point, or stand right outside the car I'm in. It all seems quite miraculous and organized, because the company will know your specific car and seat, and should be on top of schedule changes, delays, etc.

thursdaysd

I have always handled Indian trains on my own, never used C and K. Have occasionally had difficulty finding the correct carriage, but there's usually a plan on the platform, if not just board and then find the right place. Have you read seat61.com on Indian trains?

CaliforniaLady

I never pay an agency to make arrangements that I can easily make on my own. My son and I took a train from Delhi to Agra, and it was actually quite fun. I booked the tickets online, and when we got to the station in Delhi, there was a large board with the platform numbers, and the departure times, just the same as an airport. The carriage numbers were clearly marked.

On the train (we took first class), we had a waiter that was constantly giving us food. My son slept most of the way, but I had more fun watching the waiter. Just make sure you take first class, unless you are a brave backpacker.

When we arrived in Agra, our guide was waiting with a huge sign. We quickly got in the car, and off we went. All very easy, and for much less money than I would have paid an agency.

CaliNurse

I took/take trains and think it is great fun. However, I don't agree about "paying the agency" costing more for train tix in India (other countries may be different). There has been much written on Fodors about that (booking yourself vs using a local travel planner) so I won't rehash it now.
Indeed, Seat61 is a great resource. for those wanting to book tix themselves.
There used to be a sign in each carriage window with the passengers' names and reserved seats, but last time in India (February) it was gone from our Cochin to Kannur train. Someone then said names are not longer posted on the windows--not sure if that's correct.
IME, the crazy chaotic huge main station in New Delhi is nothing like a modern airport. While CalifLady is talking about the arrival/departure board specifically, no one should expect a similarity in any other way. I recall numerous platform changes on one of the trains I took from there. While the chaos and liveliness is part of the entire incredible experience, for first time visitor (which i think the OP is) it could be overwhelming.
First class seats on the New Delhi Agra route are usually via one of the Shatabdi routes.

thursdaysd

" I don't agree about "paying the agency" costing more for train tix in India"

My first trip to India I bought an Indrail pass, which included all my reservations. I don't remember whether there was a mark up for that. I have also bought a couple of tickets "on the ground" from a local travel agency and naturally there was a charge for that. If you are buying a package from an agency the train tickets may be thrown in for free, or the cost may be included in a blanket fee or mark up.

CaliforniaLady

Yes, thursday, you are correct. One way or another, you are paying the agency a fee, either up front or hidden.

The IRTC website for direct booking is very easy to use, and you can choose your own seats. I had a bad experience with an agency in Vietnam sticking me on an upper berth, when I told them otherwise. I like to control my own destiny.

There are lots of porters at the train station, and for a tip, you can always hire one to navigate you to your train, and help with your luggage.

thursdaysd

Last time I was buying train tickets for India, there was a problem using foreign credit cards with the official website and I used cleartrip.ccom instead. Don't know whether that's still an issue.

jat

Thank you all for the helpful responses-the train connections seem much less daunting to me now!

Kathie

CaliforniaLady, the point CaliNurse was making (above) is that in many places in Asia, using a local agency will cost less than booking it yourself. It isn't true everywhere, indeed, using a local Chinese agency will cost you more. But in India and in Burma and in Indonesia, for instance, booking via a local agency costs less than booking it on your own.

thursdaysd

@Kathie - if you are booking a package that may (or may not) be true - depends on the package. If you are booking just train tickets it is not.

Kathie

thursdays, so right, just train tickets, no. But if you are booking hotels, car and driver, train, etc, in my experience the local agent is often cheaper. You do have to price it out yourself to make sure. I can only think of one time when there wasn't much difference between a good local want and what I could book online. The rest of the time, the local agent saved me hundreds of dollars. That said, I've also occasionally gotten very high quotes from a local agent. So you do have to do your homework.

thursdaysd

Kathie - I think it may depend on the kind of place you are staying, too. I am sure it is easier for the agencies to get discounts on higher priced hotels than on the more budget, independent, properties I usually use, or the Indian business chains I tried out last time (liked the Keys chain but not the Ginger). If you don't do a lot of business with a place, why would they give you a discount?

ladyrep

Jat: I am going with four women in February and we did a lot of research on our own before with decided to let Arvind from Castle and King finalize the arrangements. We chose the hotels and found that they were cheaper through him, plus several were booked already when we tried. I love doing the research but am happy to let someone else do the finishing steps, which covers us in case of a problem.

jat

I am working with Arvind now and trying to finalize an itinerary. Ladyrep, have you finalized your itinerary yet? Our draft includes Delhi, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Fatehpur Sikri, Agra, Orchha, Khajuraho, Varanasi. It is a little more traveling by car and train than I would like in a 13-day tour. I am wondering whether I should substitute Udaipur for any of those places? I have never been to India and am trying to read up on these different places, but would appreciate any advice from folks who have been there!

thursdaysd

Maybe you could drop Rathambore. It has never sounded that great in TRs.

jat

Yes, I have been considering that. For those of you who have been to Ranthambore, what is your advice?

thursdaysd

Hadn't really registered the 13 days. Is that 13 days or 13 nights? Either way, even if you drop Rathambore and count Fatehpur Sikri in with Agra, you have six places in 13 days. That is way too much. I wouldn't do that in Europe, and travel in India is emotionally and physically far more draining. Plus, if you rush around like that India will just be a succession of sights.

I would drop either Orccha or Khajuraho as well as Rathambore. Have you laid this out on a calendar with the travel times?

jat

Here is my current draft. I think it has too much driving and too many transfers for this time period, but I am not sure what to drop or what a better itinerary would be. Should I substitute Udaipur for Ranthambore/Orchha/Khajuraho? I would much prefer fewer hotel changes. I would really appreciate suggestions! I would like to keep the total number of days around 11-12.

Day 1 (night in Jaipur)-drive Delhi to Jaipur, 5 hrs. See Birla Temple
Day 2 (night in Jaipur)-Jaipur see Amber Fort and City Palace
Day 3 (night in Ranthambore)-3 hr drive to Ranthambore, safari in afternoon
Day 4 (night in Ranthambore)-Ranthambore safaris
Day 5 (night in Agra)-train (2 hrs) to Fatehpur Sikri, see Fatehpur Sikri, then drive about one hour to Agra, see Agra Fort
Day 6 (night in Orchha)-Taj Mahal in morning, train (4 hrs) to Jhansi, drive to Orcha, see Orcha temples
Day 7 (night in Khajuraho)- drive 3 hrs to Khajuraho, see temples
Day 8 (night in Varanasi)-see Khajuraho temples in morning, then fly to Varanasi
Day 9 (night in Varanasi)-see Varanasi sites
Day 10 (night in Delhi)-fly Varanasi to Delhi
Day 11 (international flight home early morning of day 12)-see Delhi sites then go to airport in the late evening