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Craig & Jeane's Full Trip Report - Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore and Delhi

Craig & Jeane's Full Trip Report - Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore and Delhi

Old Mar 9th, 2005, 09:08 PM
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Hi Craig - Actually Durjay and I were together in college and he is a very close friend, but i did not mention it here as it would not have been the right thing to do. Actually would have met up with you, but I was on a holiday to Singapore at that time - I left Delhi the day you arrived. Hope to stay in touch in the future.
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Old Mar 10th, 2005, 11:55 AM
  #22  
 
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Craig, great to read your trip report and I'm glad you enjoyed your much anticipated trip to India. We also loved the shoppping at Anokhi and Cottage Industries.

Thanks again!
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Old Jun 1st, 2005, 04:48 PM
  #23  
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Well here it is, June 1st and we have received both the custom bracelet from Ravissant in Delhi and the custom tablecloth from "the Anokhi" near Ranthambore. In both cases the stores requested the balance prior to final shipment and in both cases we refused saying that we had only agreed to pay based on satisfactory receipt of the goods. Since we received the items under the agreed upon conditions, we paid in one instance with a credit card and in the other with wired money.
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Old Jun 1st, 2005, 08:50 PM
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puts your faith back in mankind. glad you got all your treasures back in one piece. Thanks for all the info, I've made notes .
Aloha!
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Old Jun 1st, 2005, 09:21 PM
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Happy to hear all's well that ended well...when is your next India holiday?!
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Old Jun 2nd, 2005, 01:41 AM
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Hobbes - we are doing Bangkok (2nd time), Angkor Wat and Luang Prabang next February and planning India again in early 2007.
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Old Jun 2nd, 2005, 03:16 AM
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Was half in jest, Craig but happy to hear you are planning India again...I know re your other trip coz have seen your posts...
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Old Aug 4th, 2005, 02:05 PM
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Craig,

Did you book your trip with Compass Tours through the internet? Do you mean they only require a 10% deposit and they made all the reservations?
How did you pay the balance of your tour, by credit card or cash?
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Old Aug 4th, 2005, 02:53 PM
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CMA05 - We booked our trip after many e-mails back and forth with Compass Tours. They actually made all of the reservations with NO deposit. We followed up with a 10% deposit a few months before our trip. We paid for the balance in India (after our tour was almost done) with a credit card.
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Old Aug 4th, 2005, 07:14 PM
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craig---are you reading my mind?? i was about to e mail you and ask for your report and this appeared...great..

rhk
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Old Aug 12th, 2005, 04:36 AM
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Craig,

I have been in contact with Compass Tours several times. Based on what you've said about them, especially Durjay, I think I'm going to book with them for my trip at the end of Jan. Is there anything that I should be aware of before I make my initial payment? ( 10% of the tour price, just as you did).

Are you satisfied with their choice of accommodations? Durjay have selected several heritage hotels for me and am staying in Connaught in Delhi. How are their 4* hotels as compared to those in N. America?

There will be 3 of us travelling together, doing the Golden Triangle and Varanasi, any suggestions?
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Old Aug 12th, 2005, 05:56 AM
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CMA - I was in touch with Durjay a couple of days ago - he told me he is changing his deposit policy to 20%. Also the hotels are now requiring advance payment in full in order to assure that reservations are honored. I am not sure whether this means that Compass is requiring 100% deposit for hotels. I advise you to try and reserve with the 10% if that is what you have already agreed upon. Which ever way it goes, Durjay and his staff are honest people whom you can trust to do what they say they will do.

I have not seen the Connaught but it seems to be centrally located. I don't think it is a 4-star hotel. In Delhi and the rest of India, you get what you pay for. Some of the Heritage hotels have gotten good reviews and some have not.

If there are 3 of you traveling and have the use of a driver, you will be much more comfortable in an SUV type vehicle such as a Toyota Qualis rather than the standard Ambassador sedan.
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Old Aug 12th, 2005, 07:21 PM
  #33  
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Craig, thanks for the effort to contribute such a detailed trip report. Can you give me any insight - I'm wondering just how common a sighting of tiger is at Ranthambore. I have recently been told by a guide that there are only 15 tigers left in the park according to the latest census and that sightings are becoming rare. Did the other guests or the staff have anything to say about this? Thanks
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Old Aug 13th, 2005, 02:24 AM
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Lin, Tiger sitings at Ranthambore are rare. Our siting was the only one that occurred while we were there. The park is huge with several different trail routes set by the government. You have no choice on which route you take on any given game drive. On some routes you will NEVER see a tiger. I heard stories about people who spent a week at Ranthambore without seeing one. Last I heard the count was about 30 - 15 seems low - if that is so, its a shame.
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Old Jan 1st, 2006, 03:10 PM
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Just returned from a similar trip. Did you receive your cloth from Anokhi? How much was the shipping? Was there any duty? How did they send it? Love several items I bought there and am considering calling and having them send more. Wish I couod go back tomorrow. We stayed at the Oberoi Vanyvillas. The Oberoi hotels are unexcelled. Vanyvillas was worth twice the price!esb
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Old Jan 1st, 2006, 03:20 PM
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yes, we did receive our tablecloth from anokhi. I think shipping was included in the negotiated price. I do not think based on the price we had to pay duty.
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Old Feb 9th, 2006, 10:40 AM
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Hi Craig-

I am re-reading your trip report for about the 5th time as I make plans for our own India trip. Can you clarify one small point for me? From your report it sounds as if the Compass guide was allowed to use the Amarvilas golf cart to take you to the Taj? Or was that a guide from the hotel? Also, were you able to get in to see the Taj at 6am or 7am?
Thanks Craig!
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Old Feb 9th, 2006, 11:28 AM
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The "golf cart" is actually an electric cart with front and back seat. An Amarvilas employee drove the cart and the guide sat up front with him. We sat in back. When we left the Taj, the cart was nowhere to be found so we walked back to the hotel on our own. It was not far. We got into the Taj shortly after 6 AM. It was still dark but there were maybe 2 dozen or so people inside that had arrived before us.
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Old Feb 10th, 2006, 05:33 AM
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marking--good report
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Old Sep 20th, 2006, 12:09 PM
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Hi craig -- thanks for the great detail in your travels to India...my husband and I are planning a trip in Feb 2007 - arriving in Dehli around the 20th. Can I ask what was your exact time frame in India. I noticed that you referred to the cooler weather. We are taking a similar route to yours. Including Dehli, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur and Udaipur then going on to the Maldives for 5 nights of R&R..so back to my original question - was curious as to exact time of travel and looks as if I should make sure we pack some warm clothes. Were the daytime hours cool as well?
Thanks,
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