Basic question about India
Jan 13th, 2006, 04:17 PM
#22
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Hi Bob, "this is totally private touring with the car and driver at our disposal at all times..."
I think you'll find this translates to 8am to 6pm as most drivers (and passengers) don't want to drive in the dark! And it's sometimes hard to get the drivers & passengers up & at 'em before 9am, in our experience.
Have fun!
I think you'll find this translates to 8am to 6pm as most drivers (and passengers) don't want to drive in the dark! And it's sometimes hard to get the drivers & passengers up & at 'em before 9am, in our experience.
Have fun!
Jan 13th, 2006, 06:55 PM
#23
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We had a car and driver "at our disposal at all times" through Compass, one of the companies Bob is looking at. That meant just what it says - the driver was available for dinner, before and after, sometimes as late as 10 PM. If we got off to an early start, i.e. 8 AM, he was available for that too. We were flexible though in that we gave him time off at one point when we didn't really need him to go visit with his family.
Jan 13th, 2006, 07:04 PM
#25
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lyndie---i had thought of getting an australian driver, so dark is the same as light....they are usually 'under the weather' so i thought they would "fly" through the traffic and that we would travel mostly at nite when the animals are asleep and the trucks could see us coming...
good idea??
good idea??
Jan 13th, 2006, 07:30 PM
#27
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Bob, did you have razor blades for dinner! You're as sharp as sharp tonight.
I'd come over & drive you myself but I'm already booked up! Bahrain Grand Prix! Go to bed. Old people need their sleep!
I'd come over & drive you myself but I'm already booked up! Bahrain Grand Prix! Go to bed. Old people need their sleep!
Jan 13th, 2006, 09:03 PM
#28
One thing the drivers hate to do is take you to the south Delhi or the airport after 7:30pm. Twice we had midnight flights, they wanted us to leave Delhi at 7:30pm.
WE found out it is because trucks are allowed into the city starting at 9pm and no one wants to have to share the road with them.
We actually left later, and could see exactly when the trucks started arriving. There was a huge bottleneck (luckily on the opposite side of the road from us) as they had all lined up along the side of the road till they could start in!
WE found out it is because trucks are allowed into the city starting at 9pm and no one wants to have to share the road with them.
We actually left later, and could see exactly when the trucks started arriving. There was a huge bottleneck (luckily on the opposite side of the road from us) as they had all lined up along the side of the road till they could start in!
Jan 13th, 2006, 09:40 PM
#29
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lcuy-I guess most people could understand a driver wanting to have "down time" especially in the evening.
We had a most charmingly hopeless driver who was very inexperienced in driving passengers around. He was a nice guy and he avoided all but one truck which ran us off the side of the road and into the dirt, so naturally I wanted him to get as much sleep as he needed so we did not die on our first trip to India. And he got lost so often I thought sleep might assist him in finding our destinations! Poor tired Bhanwar!
I think it's all about common sense. I'm just so full of it!
If the guy has driven you around all day, then how can he be expected to be alert and on call at night? I know how I feel after two or three hours on the excellent Aussie freeways, let alone six hours on the Delhi/jaipur highway!
OMG!
Arent' we lucky to be alive to tell the tales???
We had a most charmingly hopeless driver who was very inexperienced in driving passengers around. He was a nice guy and he avoided all but one truck which ran us off the side of the road and into the dirt, so naturally I wanted him to get as much sleep as he needed so we did not die on our first trip to India. And he got lost so often I thought sleep might assist him in finding our destinations! Poor tired Bhanwar!
I think it's all about common sense. I'm just so full of it!
If the guy has driven you around all day, then how can he be expected to be alert and on call at night? I know how I feel after two or three hours on the excellent Aussie freeways, let alone six hours on the Delhi/jaipur highway!
OMG!
Arent' we lucky to be alive to tell the tales???
Jan 14th, 2006, 02:44 AM
#30
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I think I had better explain the realities of having a driver on call so that Fodors readers don't jump to the wrong conclusions. Of 11 nights on the ground in India, we ate outside of our hotel just 3 times - twice in Delhi and once in Jaipur. We were fortunate in that we stayed in hotels with excellent restaurants and made use of them. You can debate all day long on whether that was experiencing the "real India" or not but we were happy doing what we did. Also, 2 of the nights were at Sher Bagh (Ranthambore Park) where all meals are included and on another night we had had a snack we had brought with us for the train ride from Sawai Modhpur to Delhi so we didn't eat dinner. None of the 3 nights that we ate out followed one of those long harrowing drives (Agra - Jaipur, etc.). Quite honestly, those long drives took their toll on us as much as on our very competent driver. Anyway you have to appreciate the total concentration it takes to drive in India and the importance of letting the driver take a break every 2 or 3 hours.
All that being said, the driver's job is what it is. Going out to a restaurant at night usually does not entail a long drive and there is obviously a long break for him between dropping off and picking up. It was kind of a revelation for us that while we stayed at Sher Bagh our driver slept in his car rather than paying to stay over night somewhere else. I don't know where he stayed on our other stops.
All that being said, the driver's job is what it is. Going out to a restaurant at night usually does not entail a long drive and there is obviously a long break for him between dropping off and picking up. It was kind of a revelation for us that while we stayed at Sher Bagh our driver slept in his car rather than paying to stay over night somewhere else. I don't know where he stayed on our other stops.
Jan 14th, 2006, 11:21 AM
#32
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We just got back from India. On the recommendation of Craig and others, we arranged a car/driver through Compass as well. In theory, the driver would have been happy to take us out in the evenings, but we never asked him to -- given the intense concentration required on the long drives during the day, we thought he deserved down-time and relaxation in the evenings. This served us well too -- he was a superb driver and always completely well-rested and alert for the drives.
We typically let the driver go off no later than 4:30 or 5:00 pm. If you want to go out in the evening, the hotel can arrange a taxi or tuk-tuk at a nominal expense (but, as Craig said, after long days of exploring we ate in the hotel far more often than we would have imagined we would).
In terms of pricing, it seems that India has gotten much more expensive (at least at the upper end) in the last year. A friend in the travel business confirms this. For the 12 days that we used car/driver and 8 days of guides, we were charged about $1100. Since guides are only $20/day (total of $160), the bulk of the charge was for the car/driver. As we learned, however, price depends on the distances -- it is not a flat per/day charge. Tipping, of course, is additional but an important expense.
We typically let the driver go off no later than 4:30 or 5:00 pm. If you want to go out in the evening, the hotel can arrange a taxi or tuk-tuk at a nominal expense (but, as Craig said, after long days of exploring we ate in the hotel far more often than we would have imagined we would).
In terms of pricing, it seems that India has gotten much more expensive (at least at the upper end) in the last year. A friend in the travel business confirms this. For the 12 days that we used car/driver and 8 days of guides, we were charged about $1100. Since guides are only $20/day (total of $160), the bulk of the charge was for the car/driver. As we learned, however, price depends on the distances -- it is not a flat per/day charge. Tipping, of course, is additional but an important expense.
Jan 14th, 2006, 11:48 AM
#33
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In our 5 visits to India, from 1978 thru last yr. we have, despite the exchange always paid around $12.00 per day for a cab. Bear in mind its my in-laws doing the deal and for us but I think you could something closer to that figure than $60.00.
As for hotels as we have relatives there we seldom use them. However to give you an idea we stayed one night at the Taj View, a 3* or 4* hotel, and paid about $80.00. The nightly rate at the Mansingh Palace(again 3-4*) in Ajmer, or course a less traveled spot, was around $100.00.
Dinner at the Sheraton in Agra came to about $12.00 pp as I recall. Lunch at the Trident Hilton in Delhi was a bit less, depending on what you get. Breakfast at the Taj View was quite reasonable as I recall. Normally sticker shock and India don't go together though I think generally speaking it is becoming more expensive. The exchange rate now it a bit better than last yr. when we were there.
As for hotels as we have relatives there we seldom use them. However to give you an idea we stayed one night at the Taj View, a 3* or 4* hotel, and paid about $80.00. The nightly rate at the Mansingh Palace(again 3-4*) in Ajmer, or course a less traveled spot, was around $100.00.
Dinner at the Sheraton in Agra came to about $12.00 pp as I recall. Lunch at the Trident Hilton in Delhi was a bit less, depending on what you get. Breakfast at the Taj View was quite reasonable as I recall. Normally sticker shock and India don't go together though I think generally speaking it is becoming more expensive. The exchange rate now it a bit better than last yr. when we were there.
Jan 14th, 2006, 03:23 PM
#34
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Craig, reputable companies don't condone the practice of drivers sleeping in cars. Did you tell Compass about the driver sleeping in the car?
I'd be very worried about companies who allow or tolerate the practice.
We always ensured our driver had a bed for the night, going so far as to ask him to show us where he was sleeping.
I'd been forwarned about the practice of car-sleeping and I've been told of the hazards.
Bhanwar (our driver) was given money along the way so he had food, a mobile sim card & a bed! We bought him biscuits and tea and he often left the car in the car park of our hotel.
We were assured by the hirer of the car that all our chosen accommodation either provided our driver with a bed or the driver knew somewhere closeby & comfortable to stay. That's part of the US40-US60 per day charge.
I think it's a real safety issue for consumers to ensure their drivers are alert & sober when they are driving us. Not nodding off because they slept in the car! Frightens the hell out of me!
I'm a Super Fast train fan. Give me a Rajdhani or Shatabdi any day. The roads are dangerous!
Oh, and someone posted re the issue of tipping. One does not need to go overboard on this. I read on www.indiamike.com that the recommended amount is US5 per day. This rec is by an Indian businesswoman in Jaipur. I choose to believe that's only for people who tip as part of their culture. Because it's not part of the Indian culture.
I'd be very worried about companies who allow or tolerate the practice.
We always ensured our driver had a bed for the night, going so far as to ask him to show us where he was sleeping.
I'd been forwarned about the practice of car-sleeping and I've been told of the hazards.
Bhanwar (our driver) was given money along the way so he had food, a mobile sim card & a bed! We bought him biscuits and tea and he often left the car in the car park of our hotel.
We were assured by the hirer of the car that all our chosen accommodation either provided our driver with a bed or the driver knew somewhere closeby & comfortable to stay. That's part of the US40-US60 per day charge.
I think it's a real safety issue for consumers to ensure their drivers are alert & sober when they are driving us. Not nodding off because they slept in the car! Frightens the hell out of me!
I'm a Super Fast train fan. Give me a Rajdhani or Shatabdi any day. The roads are dangerous!
Oh, and someone posted re the issue of tipping. One does not need to go overboard on this. I read on www.indiamike.com that the recommended amount is US5 per day. This rec is by an Indian businesswoman in Jaipur. I choose to believe that's only for people who tip as part of their culture. Because it's not part of the Indian culture.
Jan 14th, 2006, 03:48 PM
#35
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Actually, Lyndie I don't care where the driver sleeps. It is not my concern. Perhaps feeding his family is more important than a comfortable nights sleep to him. Our driver was alert, competent, never got lost, did have any near misses and did not get us into any situations where we were run off the road as yours did. The drivers are subcontractors that work for a firm that provides these services to travel agencies. It is not my responsibility to feed him or see to it that he has proper lodging. As long as he shows up when we ask him to and gets us from place to place safely, I am satisfied. Because he accomplished all of this and more, we tipped him generously at the end of the trip. Train rides can save time but come at the expense of not being able to observe and enjoy the scenic small towns and rural life between destinations.
Jan 14th, 2006, 04:17 PM
#39
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I think the only way to assure safety on Indian roads is to stay off. 
. Also Lyndie, as you well know of course, what passes for normal in other places goes out the window in India. You can't have the same expectations there or you'll be frustrated beyond help. 
JM2C.
. Also Lyndie, as you well know of course, what passes for normal in other places goes out the window in India. You can't have the same expectations there or you'll be frustrated beyond help. JM2C.
Jan 14th, 2006, 04:22 PM
#40
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This is all very interesting to me...
I'm left wondering what real difference it makes where your driver sleeps. I've had horrible sleep both at home in my own comfy bed as well as while travelling, and on occasion I've had very restful sleep on airplanes. Go figure.
I wonder if the driver is given an allowance to spend on accommodation? If so, who cares if he chooses to keep the money to use for his family and sleeps in the car? It's his choice, not mine. If he gets complimentary accommodation, then he'd likely use it.
I wonder if security might be another issue...perhaps sleeping in the car is a kind of security to prevent break ins and vandalism? This is just a thought...not having been to India yet, and just beginning to research, I have no idea if this sort of thing is even a concern.
In the end, if you hire someone as a driver, and he drives, that seems like that is all you should be concerned with. If you choose to provide a paid room for your driver and he is willing to accept it, then fine, but if he chooses to sleep in the car, for whatever reason, then I wouldn't fret over it.
I'm left wondering what real difference it makes where your driver sleeps. I've had horrible sleep both at home in my own comfy bed as well as while travelling, and on occasion I've had very restful sleep on airplanes. Go figure.
I wonder if the driver is given an allowance to spend on accommodation? If so, who cares if he chooses to keep the money to use for his family and sleeps in the car? It's his choice, not mine. If he gets complimentary accommodation, then he'd likely use it.
I wonder if security might be another issue...perhaps sleeping in the car is a kind of security to prevent break ins and vandalism? This is just a thought...not having been to India yet, and just beginning to research, I have no idea if this sort of thing is even a concern.
In the end, if you hire someone as a driver, and he drives, that seems like that is all you should be concerned with. If you choose to provide a paid room for your driver and he is willing to accept it, then fine, but if he chooses to sleep in the car, for whatever reason, then I wouldn't fret over it.
