Our Goway group tour of India was cancelled because of lack of bookings, and we have been offered the same trip with a private guide and driver through Goway. Are there any questions I should be asking before we commit ourselves to this change? Has anyone dealt with Goway travel in India on a private basis?

make sure you are satisfied with the hotels offered....see if some upgrades are available...

check on what kind of car they are offering and if the driver speaks english WELL.... you need an suv really...pay extra for it and you will be glad...

ask about flexibility with movements around....can you arrange with the driver to cancel one thing and do another thing provided more cost is not involved...

will you have on-site guides in addition to the driver at certain places....they only cost about $10 so not that expensive....

I'd get a quote from an in-country travel agency for the same itinerary. It's likely to be cheaper for the same service. There are a number of posts here with recommendations. India is really not that difficult to do on your own, either - what was the itinerary you were booking?

You will now get to choose an itinerary that is more in consonance with your interests!
The costs of the independant tour are likely to be much less if gone through a local Indian agency.
Enjoy your vacation!

Above questions should be asked:

TONY (owner) at
http://www.indiantravelpromotion.com/

We did our June Safari with them and everything was excellent. Driver was Santosh.

Happy planning!

SV

We were also only 2 of us! Excellent. Would not change a couple-experience for a group experience.
I did a trip report: 14 days to be meant a tiger safari...........

Karendl,
One is free to give one's opinion on the forum & I do respect your point of view. However, you have made certain sweeping statements that may or may not hold true!
You may read some of the trip reports on Fodor's / other, by independant US travellers & you may notice that at least a few Indian agencies have provided tours that have been their best ever!!
The ease by which one can book hotels on various sites is proof enough that no agency can overcharge a customer.

"I strongly not recommend the travel agencies in India, most of them are terrible." - gross generalization.

I only have experience with two TAs in India. In Jaipur I wanted a car and driver to visit the Shekhawati area. The woman in Thomas Cook claimed not to have heard of the region, but the Rajasthani Travel Service just down the road provided a car and driver for that and for several other stages, and booked a few hotels for me. The price was very good, and I got excellent service.

As ever, buyer beware, but you shouldn't write off a whole industry on the basis of one bad experience.