I am planning a trip to India in Nov. Do I need to book the driver and guide now? Or, I can just book when I arrive, and which way is cheaper? Will that be a problem if I just want to book one way, such as from Agra to Juipur? How much is the average cost? Please advice.

ttt

I would boook in advance. Esp the guide - you are unlikely to be able to pick up a good guide just on site. You do not need to book now but I would book whenever my plans are firm as that is peak tourist season in india (Nov-Feb.) If you book with a reputed agency you can ask for flexibility on picking up drivers at location eg if you travel by train Delhi-Agra, want the driver and guide in Agra, then the driver to take you Agra-Jaipur, then want the driver and another guide in Jaipur and then will continue on from Jaipur by air the agent will fix all that up. Will you want a/c or non a/c car? In general India is very cheap so I would go with a/c. While it may be marginally cheaper to try to wing it I would not do it - assume it is not every day that you go to see the Taj!!

Hi hobbes. I want a a/c car, just to block out the dust from the streets.
I just wonder how can I post my questions under the India forum. Even I choose India under the search topic and put India for message title, my questions only appear under the Asia forum, not India forum. Pls help.

There is no India forum per se. All that putting your post under India does is allow those who are doing a search to bring you up. I don't even bother to do this when I am posting. I think you can book your driver from your hotel. You can also get a guide the same way. I used a travel agent but if you are looking just book one way, it may be best for you to do it at each location. I don't think it will make much difference as far as cost goes. Figure maybe US$40 per day for car and driver.

I would second choice of a/c. IMO hotel cars are more expensive than agency cars plus hotels do not have access to the same guides. An only surface package for you would work like this. Airport transfer Delhi intl airport to hotel. Next day Delhi sightseeing with guide and driver. Maybe one day only driver as you will be shopping and relaxing. Then transfer hotel to train station. Train Delhi-Agra (pre booked by agent). In Agra transfer to hotel by agency or hotel car. Guide joins you and visit to Taj and Agra Fort by a/c car. Next day a/c car transfer Agra-Jaipur with Fatehpur Sikir en route. Guide will leave you at Fatehpur Sikri. In Jaipur after hotel check in another guide joins you and you continue with same driver. Driver with you in Jaipur until airport transfer in Jaipur. It makes sense for you to have a good car and driver coz he is with you from Agra-Jaipur for potentially 3-4 days. Bear in mind city taxis in these cities are non a/c so you want to keep your car with you for your sightseeing. Given the cost it just makes sense to book with someone who knows the ropes. If you were planning to do the whole trip by bus and train with no guides my advice would have been different.

Sorry - forgot to add - with a decent agent this whole thing should cost you US$200ish.

Please take a look at my trip details at:
http://www.fodors.com/forums/threadselect.jsp?fid=27
With this plan, does it make sense to hire the drive/guide by using a agency?