Tere

Hi all!

I am planning my trip to India for next November with my 24 year old daughter. I built an itinerary and I am giving it to some Indian agencies so that they can price a tour for me based on it.

Here it is,, please let me know what you think:

Day 1 _ Arrive in Delhi and transport to the Oberoi Maidens hotel for overnight.
Day 2 - (Tour begins in a car with guide /driver)Delhi to Agra and stay at the Sheraton Mughal.
Day 3 - Agra to Jaipur and stay at Shahpura House or Samode Haveli.
Day 4 - Jaipur
Day 5- Fly from Jaipur to Udaipur and stay at Udai Kothi Hotel or similar.
Day 6 - Udaipur
Day 7 - Fly Udaipur to Cochin and stay at Malabar House.
Day 8 - Cochin
Day 9 - Allepey and spend the night in a Houseboat.
Day 10- To Kumarakom and stay at Coconut Lagoon Resort or Kumarakom Lake Resort.
Day 11 - Kumarakom
Day 12 - Drive to Kovalam and stay at Leela Kovalam Resort
Day 13 - Kovalam
Day 14 - Kovalam
Day 15 - Kovalam
Day 16 _ Kovalam
Day 17 - Fly from Trivandum to Mumbai to catch the flight back home.

How does this itinerary look to you?
I don't include Delhi in my sightseeing because it's a city that doesn't appeal .
Do you think Udaipur is worth going to?
The reason I want to spend so many days on the beach is because I like to relax there and my daughter also waants it.

Would love your feedback and sugestions. I am going to start sending this itinerary to a few agencies so they can price it to me.

Thanks in advance

lcuy

I'd cut out either Jaipur or Udaipur so you don't have so much moving around at the start.

sallyho

You are spending a lot of time in the beginning traveling. I would either cut one or add a night to Jaipur or Udaipur. With travel time you will only end up with a day in both cities.

sallyho

I think Udaipur is well worth seeing, but I would add one more night to really appreciate it.

rhkkmk

the drive from delhi to agra is a long one....you will not arrive until mid afternoon at best....when will you see the taj?? i would stay one additional nite there so you can devote a full day to the taj and one or two other interesting places in town (fort and baby taj) and maybe just a rest at the pool..

i stayed there last november (sheraton agra) and it is ok....not fabulous but nice enough...make sure to go up in their tower and look out to the taj..

two days in jaipur is not long enough either as it again takes most of the day to get there....the fort and the palace take almost a whole day to see...

vp_singh

a. I would suggest a day in Delhi for sight seeing is a good option. As part of s/s in Agra, Jaipur & Udaipur you shall be revealed an-ever-so fleeting glimpse of Indian history & Delhi is central to it. It is part of enjoying the larger canvas. Oberois Maidens is a long distance away, from airport, and you have wonderful properties in the heart of New Delhi. And who says Delhi is a bore?
b. At Jaipur, you may also add the Trident & Jai Mahal Palace to your choice of hotels. Shahpura House is a small property but does have a lot of ambience. Their Royal Suite, with mirror work, is most beautiful.
c.At Udaipur, you could opt for the Trident, Fateh Prakash , Shiv Niwas Palaces in place of Udai Kothi. The ambience is far superior than the hotel you mention. Udaipur is certainly worth going to. We have city palace one of the best in north India, boating on lake Pichola, visit to Jagmandir & ofcourse, if your budget allows, a stay in Lake Palace Hotel - a high point of your visit to Rajasthan. Udaipur is 'the' place to relax in Rajasthan
d. There is no direct flight from Udaipur to Cochin, you may take a connecting flight via Mumbai.
Very best for your plans!

vp_singh

Again, at the fag end of your tour give yourself a day in Mumbai, as your return flight could be a long affair.

Tere

Thanks for your answers. No I am not looking forward to see Delhi, that's why I don't want to loose any time there. Also, thanks for the advise on hotels but I have chosen those ones after much research and many reviews from people and according to my budget.

sharon1306

Hi, I just did the Delhi to Agra drive last thursday and it took us 8 hours... Thats supposed to be unusual, but it sure was a long drive. The farmers were upset and closed the highway, leading to a monster traffic jam. It was quite an experience.

Anyways, you definitely are moving around a lot in the beginning of your trip. I would suggest adding a day in Delhi, even if the city doesnt appeal to you. It will give you time to adjust a little bit. In that time, you could check out the Qutub Minar, Humayun's Tomb, Raj Ghat, Red Fort, Jama Masjid, etc.

Udaipur is worth seeing, I like it better than Jaipur. I think the time you're spending in Agra is alright - its my least favorite place because for some reason, the hawkers/touts were the most aggresive there. On Day 3, before driving on to Jaipur, ask the driver to take you to the Agra Fort/Baby Taj ( I assume you'll be at the Taj Mahal on day 2). Worth seeing. Also, on day 3, you could go early in the morning to check out the Taj Mahal at dawn (unless its a friday when its closed).

Will comment on the kerala part of the trip later...

saurabh

Hi Tere

I am actually based in boston and my family owns a travel company in India known as discoveries india> if you could let me know your email address I can ask them to send you a detailed itinerary and costing based on your above choice of itinerary.
My email is [email protected]

agtoau

Saurabh,

Stop this blatant advertising. You are in violation of forum policies.

preetiambassador1

I have done rajashthan and south india and it was great tour organized by a company in delhi. We were a couple and we really enjoyed cocobut lagoon which is too good to be true. We had been provided a great guide/driver and car by kerala adventures in kerala.
Mrs.Jennifer our tour operator in Delhi was very hospitable.
I feel couple of days more in Lagoon would be a great idea as there is lots to do and massages are great.As stated above you will fly to mumbai and then to south india as there is no direct flight as this time.
The house boats are air conditioned and offer very comforatble stay with clean bed sheets and toilets !! which I think is the most important thing.
you can mail mrs.jennifer at [email protected]

sh_th1234

I think that the itinerary mentioned by you is just perfect...Delhi to agra drive is only 4 - 5 hrs.

I dont know why everyone is asking you to take out Jaipur / Udaipur. I think both have there own importance and charm. You can really not compare the two destination. Jaipur is a pure Rajasthan Heritage City and Udaipur is full of lakes and beauty.

Two nights at each destination is just sufficient as last part of the trip is just for relaxation.

Hotels:

I too think that Oberoi maidens is not a better choice to stay in Delhi. It is approx 1.5 hrs away from the airport and is on one corner of the city. Next day when you will start from Agra then it will take you approx 1 -2 hrs to actually come out of Delhi only. I feel that it would be better if you take a hotel which is in central Delhi or in South Delhi area.

Agra - Mughal Sheraton is a old hotel however I must say that they need a renovation. I think Trident is a better option.

Jaipur - You have chosen Shahpura / Samode. There is a Huge difference in prcing of you compare Both the hotels. Samode is much better than Shahpura and expensive also. It is better to stay in a suite in Shahpura then a stadrd room.

Udaipur - Udai Kothi is a good choice. Go for the lake facing rooms

Cochin - Malabar House - a Nice place to stay. You can also go for Brunton Boatyard - a heritage hotel. they have a sitout area just next to the sea mouth from where you can see schools of Dolphin playing. It is a amazing experience. They also have a Harbour cruise on sunset for the inhouse guests.

Coconut lagoon is better than Kumarakom lake Resort

Leela in Kovalam is too good however as you have mentioned that you and your Daughter are interested in beach experience than I afraid so say that you will be little disappointed with Kovalam as in Kovalam there is nothing like a beach. Kovalam (Leela) is located on a cliff.

preetiambassador1

Hi again, i was just looking at the trip that i made recently and I think you have done a pretty good job of making an itin.
Firstly I also think Oberoi maidens is good, they have recently done some renovations and the place has an old world charm. As someone mentioned it is at one corner of delhi but it is in the same part as the Red fort.

Alright then my suggestion would be to take the amazing train to Agra which takes what I think 3 hrs or less. (no one ever suggests that i wonder why???)
It made our trip more comfortable.

Yes Samode is much better, or a little less expensive is the Narain Niwas - heritage property, a hidden jewel.

At Udaipur - Trident wins hands down

Rest your s.india trip looks just perfect, except how do you plan on going from Udaipur to Cochin???
Also you and your daughter must not forget to take the heavenly massages in kerala both Coconut lagoon and Leela Kovalam has it.

we had actually driving between Coconut lagoon to Kovalam stayed for a night in a place called marari beach resort, and it was FANTABULOUS, the beach is breathtaking far far better than kovalam. Oh i almost feel like I am there now, nostalgic memories....

I hope you have a fanatstic time which i know you will.

ill tell you last time when I did a similar itin we paid per person approx USD 2675 inclusing the accomodation on bed & breakfast except at the housebpoat where it included all meals, all transport, entrances, internal airfare and guide services and of course the Indian taxes.

take care.