Approach_Guides

Hello!
We are leaving for India tomorrow and would like to arrange for a car and driver to take us from Aurangabad to Ellora and Ajanta next week. If any Fodorite has any suggestions on recommended drivers, we would love to contact them.
Thanks so much!

Craig

We just arranged a guide and driver through our hotel. The drives to the caves are pretty easy and the roads are good. We thought it was more efficient to have a guide take us around rather than to try and figure out what to see ourselves. I believe we actually had 2 different guides. Adjanta is self-contained - you take a bus from the parking area to see the caves. Adjanta is about 2 hours from Aurangabad. Ellora is about 45 minutes and much more spread out - you will have to drive from one set of caves to another. While I do not have names for you, I hope this helps.

Are you staying at the Lemontree?

Approach_Guides

Hi Craig,
Thanks for your response! Booking through the hotel is something we will consider too. Do you remember roughly how much you paid?
We're looking at Lemontree and at the Taj Aurangabad. Do you have a preference?
Thanks again -- everyone on these forums is so helpful!

Craig

The Lemontree is relatively new and it was our preference when we visited. It is just 10 minutes from the airport and the rooms are nicely furnished with all of the amenities you would expect in a modern hotel. The pool is huge and the restaurant was very good. There was even an omelet station at breakfast. We actually had a 3 night package rate that included a deluxe room, transfers, dinner and breadfast buffets plus our driver. I don't know if they still offer that package but it would be on their website. It was about $150/nt including tax. We paid additional for the guide.

Approach_Guides

Oh, awesome. I will look for that package -- we're going to be there for the same length of time. Thanks Craig!