alchemy

Need help! My husband and I are looking to celebrate our 20th wedding anniversary in India. While we have travelled extensively we have never been to India. We are thinking of taking the Palace on Wheels train tour followed by 4-5 nights in a beach side resort in GOA. We expect to return to India so this is just a luxurous introduction. Does anyone have some advice, tips or other ideas?

agtoau

It is always helpful to know the time (month) of your intended trip.

The Palace on Wheels sounds romantic but it may not be as nice as it is made out to be.

I would recommend that you take a package from the Oberois and do 2 nights at Agra (Amarvilas) and 4 nights in Udaipur (Udaivilas). You could also add a couple of nights at the magnificent Umaid Bhawan Palace in Jodhpur. Last year the Oberois had the "Unforgettables" package, and I am sure for the coming season they will offer something similar. For pure luxury & world-class service, the Oberois would be hard to beat in India.

In Goa you could select from the Leela, Taj Exotica or the Park Hyatt resorts.

Ericka

Besides the Oberois, the Amans are quite spectacular as well. You can't go wrong with either one or a combination of the two. Check out their websites as they each have multiple properties.

rhkkmk

i agree and would prefer the hotel option

barnetda

My wife and I did the oberoi package deal last Amrch for 2 weeks. Fantastic value and incredible luxury. I would strongly recommend you consider it.
Their web site offers details of pricing and locations.

vp_singh

I don't think the Palace on wheels will be the right choice for your tour... a moving train, when one is accustomed to sleep on a stationary bed & all that noise as the train changes rails! Oberoi hotels at Agra & Udaipur are great properties and so is the Rajvilas, just a few miles outside Jaipur, with those romantic villas with private swimming pools. If you prefer to throw in a bit of wildlife, than Oberois Vanya Vilas fits the bill; beautiful luxury tents with private sit outs.
The exotic leela palace at Mobor (Goa) has everything - an enviable location, great restaurants, a 12 hole par 3 golfcourse & service that is faultless.
Happy Travels!

dxbell

I have just returned from a week on the Palace on Wheels and was very disappointed. It may be considered luxury by Indian standards but not up to Western travelers expectations. There will be a new train coming out in 2009 but this current train is very tired. The bathrooms are not well maintained. There is not enough hot water to take a full shower. Have to turn it off in between to wash hair or shave to make it last. The food is very bland and all the same each night. Make sure you don't get a car that is close to the end or beginning of the train because depending on the direction your car could be near the engine that blows its whistle all night long and most of us couldn't sleep as a result. It is also very bumpy in some parts.You are also sectioned off into 4 buses each day and herded around for many hours. There is always a stop at some retail place that is selling rugs or textiles or jewelry. It is not a local market but one that is obviously paying the POW a rebate for bringing in all the tourists each visit. But the biggest surprise I received was after we left the bar car in the evening and walked back to our train car at the very end of the train you walk thru each car's individual sitting area. There were employees sleeping behind the couches. On the last night a friend and I were having a late cocktail in our private lounge area around 11:00pm and a fellow came up to us with his blanket and pillow in hand and asked us if we would go to our rooms because he wanted to sleep in our salon. I was appalled. Put on another car for the porters to sleep in! We then took the 3 night tiger safari in Colbert National Park. The hotel was a dump, very little heat and an hours ride to the park. Saw 1 tiger far away and everyone there said how lucky we were. Total waste of money and time.

dogster

dxbell seems to echoing the comments of many, many Palace on Wheels customers.

http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attractio...Rajasthan.html

http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic...r_Pradesh.html

Which is a shame. I'd always wanted to go on that train - but there's enough in these websites to put you off forever.