jd51

My girl friend and I just back from a short trip to N. India. We decided to hire a travel agent, first time for us, because of the complexity of interior details. Decided on Indian Panorama browsing this site and were very satisfied.Emailed Faith where we wanted to go; Delhi, Varanasi, Agra and Jaipur, hotel details; $100-125, WIFI and breakfast, on the Ganges in Varanasi and overnight train between Delhi and Varanasi, for some local flavor but four tickets so we had our own compartment and no guide. With some tweaking she figured it out. We were met at every airport , train station and hotel with an agent and a driver and taken where ever we wanted to go. She strongly advised a guide in Varanasi and we agreed and she was right,we would have had problems making it to Arati ceremony or the early morning boat ride on our own.On a personal note the reason we don't hire guides is they are a wealth of information with no editting. I read up on where ever we are going and know what I want to see. At Taj Mahal we could sit there gazing and absorb the emensity of the building where all around were guides talking nonstop about every tiny detail . Anyway the cost for the trip, 6 night hotels, 2 overnight train( delhi- Varanasi, Varanasi -Gwalior( we wanted to check out the Fort there)) and drivers between Gwailor and Agra and Agra to Jaipur was $1500 for two .Another $100 in tips, $10 for the drivers ea. day $5 for the agents. Their service was very good, the hotels all good, best in Jaipur ,OK in Delhi. We took our own wine and snacks on the trains, ate at the hotels every night,brought our own wine for dinner (it is hard to find but they make decent wine in India) Tipping is constant, keep a supply of 20 Rupi bills, even in the British Air buisnes class lounge bathroom if you want to paper towels. Eight day trip cost us $ 2100, not counting the $ 1600 rug we bought in Jaipur ( the most expensive free cup of tea I've had since Turkey)A memorable trip, those Mogul's were amazing builders and the religious intensity in Varanasi unforgetable.

Elainee

A very satisfying trip. Varanasi should be included in every North India trip. From the river it was possible to see the interesting architecture....on the ground, too many people in the way. We, too, could not have gotten from the hotel to the river by ourselves, just too crowded to see the way. Loved it!
Thanks for your report.

thursdaysd

Thanks for reporting back, glad you had a good time in India. Not sure why you figured you couldn't arrange your own boat tour in Varanasi, or find the evening prayers, if you were staying on the river. For the boat you just walk down on the ghats and the boatmen find you. Maybe more confusing if you're staying in town, but a rickshaw will get you there.

CaliNurse

JD, tanks for the report, including prices. That is such useful information, and is rarely given.
Glad you had good help from Indianpanorama. I've used them for two complete trips and part of a third, and been very satisfied.
LOL re the "free" cup of tea!!!!

CaliNurse

p.s. Can you say the names of the hotels? Only if you have time of course. Thank you!!!

jd51

Sure

In Delhi Blue Berry not so great, service OK , water in the shower not hot, asked for ice and got billed,food only OK

In Varanasi Ganges View great hotel,good view, good servive, let us bring our wine to dinner, which was good

In Agra The Retreat super modern, can't open your windows
food and service OK

In Jaipur Umaid Bhawan the best of the trip, beatiful quirky hotel,room spacious, food good, service good, did our laundry for $5