Elizabeth

An agent has booked us into a hotel called the Bella Casa in Jaipur. When I try to research its location, I see it is .5 km from the airport.

If you know Jaipur - am I right in thinking this places us in a location we wouldn't want to be in as tourists, or is that an incorrect assumption?

Thanks!!

Cicerone

Jaipur is actually pretty spread out, but your agent has booked you into an Indian business hotel near the airport. I don't think this is a huge deal, but if you can move to a hotel closer in you may want to. Where did you get this agent, he is really getting you some obscure hotels.

That being said, I wouldn't say a hotel is going to be close to everything. Even the Rambaugh, which I really like, is not in the middle of anything, but is a quick drive to most things. (One of its advantages is that it is very quiet at night and has lovely views and gardens.) The Jaivilas is pretty far out it's like 5 miles from town. I do think that is one of the drawbacks of that hotel (of course once you are there, you forget all about that).

Cicerone

Just to make a further comment, Jaipur's airport is very small, it's not international, so you won't hear jumbo jets taking off or anything like that. Also, as I imagine you are spending at least half a day out at the Amber Fort, which is not in town, and possibly making other trips not actually within Jaipur, it's not such a huge deal to not be in Jaipur. But, the hotel seems a weird choice in that it is so close to the airport and is really a business-oriented hotel and not a tourist oriented hotel, of which there are many more in Jaipur itself. Another choice would be one of the more resort-like properties like the Rambaugh or the Jaivilas if you weren't going to be more in town and were choosing a "five star" hotel which the Casa claims to be (but this is what you have to worry about in India, where the star rating is essentially meaningless).

Elizabeth

This agent isn't on my wavelength or astroplane or something. Long story. This booking is in response to our saying we want the Alsisar Haveli or something similar, a request placed in early December.
Which might be late for Alsisar, but maybe not for similar. Anyhow I am not a travel-agent-user and not about to become one. Almost everything I want to know I can find out from someone on a forum, like you

This thing booked -- I won't stay there unless I can't find anything else off a long list I'm about to generate and make phone calls to India from every day. I'm leaving it alone for the time being. Any suggestions are welcome.

I think in town would be nice, OR a heritage place outside of town, OR a guesthouse with some fine proprietors whom I can enjoy and learn things from. As long as it is nice and I can tell I am in India (in a good way), I'll be happy.

And - yes, the five stars often seem self-awarded don't they!!

Cicerone

I would suggest that you get rid of the agent, pay him something for his trouble, and take over the rest of the trip on your own. He does not understand your requests, as he is booking you into a business hotel in response to your request for a haveli. I am more than guessing that he is getting a nice fat commission from the Casa Bella, and telling you everywhere else is booked. I really would stop using him and book directly with hotels yourself. Don't call, send faxes the old-fashioned way. (I find they work better than e-mails at least initially for a response, with an initial response you can usually then do e-mail; initial e-mails are often filtered out or ignored. Plus with the time difference and Indian English and phone etiquette you may really not find calling an enjoyable experience.)

For Jaipur, what is your budget? I really like the Rambagh, although you have to look at a number of rooms because they may show you something in the basement first, and they have a varied number of rooms, some much better than others. But for charm, history, gardens, ambience, it really cannot be beat. I like the Jaivilas too, but that is on another level for budget and IMO a little bit out of town. I know that on this board the Jai Mahal is popular, I have been in the public areas and think they are fine, location is good, it really is a bit more of a chain-type hotel. The Samode Haveli is quite far out of Jaipur, about an hour, and gets mixed reviews, I have been for lunch and thought it had a certain faded charm I will say. The Samode Place in Jaipur itself is better, although I have not been inside it in many years so can’t confirm this myself (a lot of the "heritage" hotels need a good bit of upkeep and they don't get it). The Sawday book did list Alsisar which does look interesting, but see their other reccos too.

lcuy

There are two Samode hotels. Same owners, but the Palace is on a hill outside of Jaipur, and the Samode Haveli is inside the walled city. A great location!

We stayed at the Haveli in Aug 05. It is a heritage hotel. Big rooms, lovely pool and grounds and restaurant and entertainment on site. Huge brass padlocks on the doors. We enjoyed it, and the price was quite reasonable.

I also noticed your agent booked some really obscure hotels. Do you want the name of another agent??

Elizabeth

Thanks for all the helpful responses, which include support for changing what I don't like -- harder to do when no one else on trip minds, but it's being done!!

I'm definitely getting out of staying in that hotel - not what I want. I think I have something organized at a moderate and authentic family-run place, Nana Ki Haveli, where everyone will be totally happy.

Trip is pretty soon. Other arrangements made by this person are okay, so I think I'll just leave them alone rather than imposing my will (the way I want to) on the trip which involves other people. I'm the only one who minds the arrangement so I'm content to get rid of this worst feature of it.

(In fact I often book business hotels in other places, because they can be a good deal on a weekend in a place like London -- but in Rajasthan I want to be in a Rajasthani environment!)

Elizabeth

PS advice about using faxes is very good, I had never thought of that, I've been calling and emailing. You're right, sometimes phone convos are hard. Such Hindi as I know is good only for getting me points of some kind in a warm face to face encounter!!