We are 2 couples traveling to India in late December 2008. We generally stay in 3-4* hotels on our international trips and are looking for hotels in the $75-$150 range in any or all of the following cities. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Delhi
Varanasi
Agra
Jaipur
Jodhpur
Udaipur
Mumbai

I've done some reading and searching on my own, but have succeeded in getting completely overwhelmed with choices and locations. Amenities that are important to us are 1) good location for walking and/or access to transportation 2) clean 3) good bathroom w/hot & cold water 4) AC where needed 5) internet access is a plus but not mandatory

TIA

Unfortunately, India has lots of great and expensive hotels and also lots of cheap, but not so great hotels. finding hotes that meet all your needs and in that price range during the highest travel season may be difficult.

While I have not used this guys reccomendations, I hear good things about them:

Allistar Sawday has a book called, "Great Places to Stay India" . The website is http://www.specialplacestostay.com.

You might also try contacting Vini at Vinstringtravel.com. He is quite good doing budget arrangements. My daughter used him a lot while she was in India, and I was very happy with some arrangements he made for me in December of 2006. He can do all of your hotels, trains, cars with driver, domestic flights, or just the pieces you need.

If you contact him, you might mention that you were referred by the mother of a Lewis & Clark College.student!

Have you searched through the Asia threads? I know there are many postings about Delhi, Varanasi, and Agra.

Don't worry about A/C in December. The weather is very mild by then and evenings cool.

If you don't get internet, there are internet cafes everywhere.

December is peak travel time. You may need to allow more money for accomodations.

i had very good luck with two sheratons: agra and jaipur

a very unique place to stay is neemrana fort palace hotel about 1/2 way between delhi and jaipur....we loved it there...it is truly unique..

ginnysher,

We will be traveling in India in December and have made reservations at the following hotels. We were also looking for fairly budget accommodations, ensuite with hot water, and fairly good walking locations (except Jodpur, I think these are all walkable -- and I don't really know about the Delhi hotel, however, we will have a car and driver), but had to increase our budget a bit in some of the more popular places. I have no idea how these hotels are going to work out, but I chose them after reading this board and others, trip advisor and looking through guidebook reccos. Keep in mind that the prices reflect mostly triple rooms (we will be traveling with our daughter). Best of luck -- you don't have a lot of time before you leave and a lot of the better budget places are bound to be full as its high season.

Delhi:
Shanti Home /$225 luxury room with extra bed
http://www.shantihome.com/index-1.html
[email protected]
A-1/300 Janakpuri
New Delhi – 110058
Tel: +91-11-41573366/77
Fax: +91-11-25619418

Varanasi:
A Palace on River http://www.palaceonriver.com/load.htm $68/night inc breakfast/taxes
(Rashmi Guest House)
D, 16/28-A, Manmandir Ghat,
Dasaswamedh, Varanasi, UP, India, 221001
Tel: +91 - 542 -2402778, 2402856, 6544126, 6940362
Fax: +91-542-2391768
Email: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]

Agra:
Taj View Hotel Agra/ $224 triple inc. breakfast
http://www.tajhotels.com/Leisure/Taj...AGRA/rooms.asp
Fatehabad Road, Uttar Pradesh, 282001 Agra
Phone 91-562-2232400
Fax 91-562-2232420
E-mail [email protected]

Jaipur:
Umaid Bhawan (heritage hotel)
http://www.umaidbhawan.com/ $93.35 triple balcony room inc. taxes and breakfast
D1-2A,Behind Collectorate, (Via) Bank Road, Bani Park,
Jaipur-302016, Rajasthan, INDIA
24-Hour Direct Line to Ranvijay: +91 9314503423
Tel: +91 (141) 2316184 / 2206426 / 2201276
Fax: +91 (141) 2207445
Email: [email protected]
[email protected] [email protected]

Jodhpur:
Ratan Vilas
www.ratanvilas.com one single/one twin $108/night
Loco Shed Road, Near Bhaskar Circle, Ratanada
Jodhpur – 342001 Rajasthan India
Telephone: +91-291-2614418, 2613011, 5132448
Fax: +91 -291-2614418
Email: [email protected] OR [email protected]

Udaipur:
Jagnat Niwas Palace $58/deluxe lake/$15 extra bed/$73 night
http://www.jagatniwaspalace.com/index.html
23-25, lal ghat
Udaipur - Rajasthan, 313001
Phone: +91-294-2420133, +91-294-2422860
Fax: +91-294-2418512
E-mail: [email protected]

Mumbai:
Hotel Suba Palace $121.21/night triple/breakfast
Near Gateway of India
Apolo Bunder, Bombay 400 039
Tel: +91-22-2202 0636
Fax: +91-22-2202 0812
E-mail: [email protected]
http://www.hotelsubapalace.com/about.htm

bookmarking

We stayed at the Howard Park Plaza Hotel in Agra several years ago and had no complaints. It was less than $150. The location is excellent. I would stay there again.