Innova price for Rajasthan (8 nights) too high?
Jan 30th, 2007, 08:16 PM
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Innova price for Rajasthan (8 nights) too high?
Hello fellow members,
Can you please comment on the cost of 560 USD for a Toyota Innova (A/C) the following 8night itinerary for Agra/Ranthambhore/Jaipur/Udaipur(with Ranakpur)? Price is inclusive of taxes, tolls, insurance...apparently states no hidden fees.
Is it reasonable or too high?
What would be reasonable? I have another quote for 500 USD also.
DAY 1 (1 night in Agra)
Arrive at Delhi airport early morning
Drive to Agra – arrive in Agra by 9am
See Fatehpur Sikri
See Taj Mahal
DAY 2 (1 night at Ranthambhore)
Depart early morning drive to Ranthambhore
DAY 3,4,5 (3 nights in Jaipur)
Depart for Jaipur
Sightsee Jaipur
DAY 6 (3 nigths in Udaipur)
Depart for Udaipur
Relax in Udaipur
Day 7
Day trip to Ranakpur
Day 8
Udaipur sightseeing
DAY 9
Depart early morning (8am) by plane for Bombay
Can you please comment on the cost of 560 USD for a Toyota Innova (A/C) the following 8night itinerary for Agra/Ranthambhore/Jaipur/Udaipur(with Ranakpur)? Price is inclusive of taxes, tolls, insurance...apparently states no hidden fees.
Is it reasonable or too high?
What would be reasonable? I have another quote for 500 USD also.
DAY 1 (1 night in Agra)
Arrive at Delhi airport early morning
Drive to Agra – arrive in Agra by 9am
See Fatehpur Sikri
See Taj Mahal
DAY 2 (1 night at Ranthambhore)
Depart early morning drive to Ranthambhore
DAY 3,4,5 (3 nights in Jaipur)
Depart for Jaipur
Sightsee Jaipur
DAY 6 (3 nigths in Udaipur)
Depart for Udaipur
Relax in Udaipur
Day 7
Day trip to Ranakpur
Day 8
Udaipur sightseeing
DAY 9
Depart early morning (8am) by plane for Bombay
Jan 30th, 2007, 08:53 PM
#2
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Just to clarify whats included in the rate, the quote from the 560USD rate says:
"To answer your question, yes the interstate taxes are included in the quote. This is the exact quote from the email that I have with the rate for whats included:
"This quote includes all Toll Taxes, Interstate Taxes, Interstate Tax, Fuel Charge, Parking Fees and 4.2% Government Services Taxes). NO ANY HIDDEN CHARGES."
The quote for 500 USD says this about whats included:
"The above mentioned price includes(A nice car, arrival from the
air-port to your hotel in delhi, road tax,toll tax,car parking,state
tax,gasoline,driver,driver's food and accomodation,passenger tax and
the sight seeing in the cities."
"To answer your question, yes the interstate taxes are included in the quote. This is the exact quote from the email that I have with the rate for whats included:
"This quote includes all Toll Taxes, Interstate Taxes, Interstate Tax, Fuel Charge, Parking Fees and 4.2% Government Services Taxes). NO ANY HIDDEN CHARGES."
The quote for 500 USD says this about whats included:
"The above mentioned price includes(A nice car, arrival from the
air-port to your hotel in delhi, road tax,toll tax,car parking,state
tax,gasoline,driver,driver's food and accomodation,passenger tax and
the sight seeing in the cities."
Jan 30th, 2007, 09:18 PM
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In my opinion, this itinerary is WAY TOO RUSHED AND AMBITIOUS. With only 8 days on the ground, you don’t want to try to “do” more 2-3 places at most in any country, let alone India. You have 5 places. Way too much. Distances you are covering by ground are far longer than you think, roads are far worse than you can imagine. Four hours on an India road are unlike anything you have experienced before and about my limit per day. Some real issues I see so far:
1. Driving in the dark early morning hours from Delhi airport to Agra. I would not advise that you do this. Roads are dangerous enough during the day when the driver can see the trucks, cars, bullock carts, cows and numerous people driving, walking and crossing at all parts of the road. Much worse at night. Not to mention the potholes. Not to mention having the headlights constantly in your eyes for the 4 hours. Not to mention if your driver is awake. Not to mention the early morning fog if you are doing this drive between say early December to early Feb, which can make the roads very very dangerous. This drive in the dark is not at all a good idea. I am not generally fearful on Indian roads, but really this road at night I would just never do.
2. Trying to “do” the Taj and Fatephur Sikri in one day, and on top of that, the day you have arrived early in the morning on an international flight of something like 18+ hours. Do yourself a favor and don’t try to see everything on the first day. Fatephur Sikri is about an hour from Agra and you need 2-3 hours to see it. IMO you will be in no mood at all to do this on the day you arrive. The Taj is fine and perhaps a bit of Agra, the “baby taj” the Red Fort, walk the old town. There is a lot to do in Agra. I have been 4 times and still find it very interesting. There are bird parks and national parks as well. I would spend at least a night in Agra esp if you really are going to be there as your first night after your flight. I think you will be more tired than you expect. Also, sunrise and sunset at the Taj are really the very best times there IMO.
3. The drive from Agra to Ranthambore. I have posted on this drive before. It looks doable on the map but unless it has been paved recently (which no one here seems to have indicated has occurred) it is in fact a dirt road for a lot of the way, that is full of pot holes and is the most bone-crunching, spine -twisting road I have experienced in 15 years living and traveling in Asia. The one time I have done it, even our driver did not want to do this route be we (stupidly) insisted. Please re-do this schedule and take the nice smooth road to Jaipur first, then the nice smooth road down to Ranthambore. Yu can stop at Fatepur Sikri on the way to Jaipur from Agra.
4. Only 1 night in Ranthambore. You would need to time this very carefully. There are only 2 game drives a day permitted at Ranthambore, one leaves about 6:30 am and the other about 3 pm. The more drives you take, the better the chance of seeing tigers. You might want to spend more time there, it is a very interesting as well as beautiful and relaxing place. You could take a night off Udaipur or Jaipur.
I would cut out Udaipur, esp as you are thinking of driving there and stay more in the Jaipur/Ranthambore area. I would love to try the tented camp on the reservoir at Chattra Sagar, take a look at http://www.chhatrasagar.com. There are villages in the area you can visit, etc. Sounds like a good mix of nature and culture and a better location vis a vis Jaipur. You can fly out of Jaipur to Mumbai and your connecting flight back home.
On the car, I think the price is fine. You don’t need AC in February (you will want heaters), but on a new car it is probably standard. I Toyota Qualis, which is also an SUV is fine as well. Bring tapes as there probably isn’t a CD player and you don’t want to listen to the driver’s Hindi or Punjabi music tapes ALL day....
1. Driving in the dark early morning hours from Delhi airport to Agra. I would not advise that you do this. Roads are dangerous enough during the day when the driver can see the trucks, cars, bullock carts, cows and numerous people driving, walking and crossing at all parts of the road. Much worse at night. Not to mention the potholes. Not to mention having the headlights constantly in your eyes for the 4 hours. Not to mention if your driver is awake. Not to mention the early morning fog if you are doing this drive between say early December to early Feb, which can make the roads very very dangerous. This drive in the dark is not at all a good idea. I am not generally fearful on Indian roads, but really this road at night I would just never do.
2. Trying to “do” the Taj and Fatephur Sikri in one day, and on top of that, the day you have arrived early in the morning on an international flight of something like 18+ hours. Do yourself a favor and don’t try to see everything on the first day. Fatephur Sikri is about an hour from Agra and you need 2-3 hours to see it. IMO you will be in no mood at all to do this on the day you arrive. The Taj is fine and perhaps a bit of Agra, the “baby taj” the Red Fort, walk the old town. There is a lot to do in Agra. I have been 4 times and still find it very interesting. There are bird parks and national parks as well. I would spend at least a night in Agra esp if you really are going to be there as your first night after your flight. I think you will be more tired than you expect. Also, sunrise and sunset at the Taj are really the very best times there IMO.
3. The drive from Agra to Ranthambore. I have posted on this drive before. It looks doable on the map but unless it has been paved recently (which no one here seems to have indicated has occurred) it is in fact a dirt road for a lot of the way, that is full of pot holes and is the most bone-crunching, spine -twisting road I have experienced in 15 years living and traveling in Asia. The one time I have done it, even our driver did not want to do this route be we (stupidly) insisted. Please re-do this schedule and take the nice smooth road to Jaipur first, then the nice smooth road down to Ranthambore. Yu can stop at Fatepur Sikri on the way to Jaipur from Agra.
4. Only 1 night in Ranthambore. You would need to time this very carefully. There are only 2 game drives a day permitted at Ranthambore, one leaves about 6:30 am and the other about 3 pm. The more drives you take, the better the chance of seeing tigers. You might want to spend more time there, it is a very interesting as well as beautiful and relaxing place. You could take a night off Udaipur or Jaipur.
I would cut out Udaipur, esp as you are thinking of driving there and stay more in the Jaipur/Ranthambore area. I would love to try the tented camp on the reservoir at Chattra Sagar, take a look at http://www.chhatrasagar.com. There are villages in the area you can visit, etc. Sounds like a good mix of nature and culture and a better location vis a vis Jaipur. You can fly out of Jaipur to Mumbai and your connecting flight back home.
On the car, I think the price is fine. You don’t need AC in February (you will want heaters), but on a new car it is probably standard. I Toyota Qualis, which is also an SUV is fine as well. Bring tapes as there probably isn’t a CD player and you don’t want to listen to the driver’s Hindi or Punjabi music tapes ALL day....
Jan 31st, 2007, 01:28 AM
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I agree with Cicerone that you are trying to accomplish too much in 8 days. We did 2 nights Agra, 2 nights Ranthambore and 3 nights Jaipur + time in Delhi and it was just about perfect.
$70 a day for car and driver sounds about right. The Innova is considered an MPV and is fairly spacious. Your $500 quote doesn't specify what type of vehicle. A/C is helpful during the day in February as the temps can reach 80F. Nighttime and early morning temps especially at Ranthambore can be downright chilly.
$70 a day for car and driver sounds about right. The Innova is considered an MPV and is fairly spacious. Your $500 quote doesn't specify what type of vehicle. A/C is helpful during the day in February as the temps can reach 80F. Nighttime and early morning temps especially at Ranthambore can be downright chilly.
Jan 31st, 2007, 11:05 AM
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Cicerone,
I thank you for your message and your concern. Thanks for explaining the road situation.
Fortunately, we will not be arriving in Delhi after a 18+ hour flight, as we are stopping over for a day in Dubai, so it will be broken up.
I do think I'm trying to accomplish a bit much, and maybe we'll skip Fatehpur Sikri based on how we feel.
I didn't realise the road between Agra and Ranthambhore was that bad. I was only planning on doing 1 safari - the AM one on the day after we arrive. I figure seeing a tiger is hit or miss regardless of how many safaris you do. So we aren't really going to linger.
I will try to think about the options you suggested.
Thanks to all who responded on the price of the car. I wasn't sure if 70 USD was too much because I've read that you can get a car for 45-50 USD per day. But I suppose we are covering a lot more distance.
Cicerone, when was the last time you did the trip between Agra and Ranthambhore?
Thanks all!!
I thank you for your message and your concern. Thanks for explaining the road situation.
Fortunately, we will not be arriving in Delhi after a 18+ hour flight, as we are stopping over for a day in Dubai, so it will be broken up.
I do think I'm trying to accomplish a bit much, and maybe we'll skip Fatehpur Sikri based on how we feel.
I didn't realise the road between Agra and Ranthambhore was that bad. I was only planning on doing 1 safari - the AM one on the day after we arrive. I figure seeing a tiger is hit or miss regardless of how many safaris you do. So we aren't really going to linger.
I will try to think about the options you suggested.
Thanks to all who responded on the price of the car. I wasn't sure if 70 USD was too much because I've read that you can get a car for 45-50 USD per day. But I suppose we are covering a lot more distance.
Cicerone, when was the last time you did the trip between Agra and Ranthambhore?
Thanks all!!
Jan 31st, 2007, 04:33 PM
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I last did that drive 5 years ago and swore off it then; that is why I am not 100% sure whether any more of it has been paved since, but I have not read or heard anything to make me believe that the road has improved. In fact, when I was in Agra in October I asked at the Oberoi about the road, and the comment was that it was the same, but you never know if you are being completely understood when asking a question like that.
I think Fatephur Sikri is one of the most interesting places to see, it is very well preserved, not at all crowded and full of history. There is a very famous tomb of a Muslim saint there as well, in addition to its other history. I would think twice about skipping it. I personally would skip the “baby taj” which can be “done” in like 15 minutes over a huge and interesting place like Fatephur Sikri. It’s also right on the way to Jaipur.
Even taking out Fatephur Sirkri, I still think you are doing way too much in too short a time and spending far too much time driving between places. I think you are going to miss a lot of the beauty and pace of the place, esp at Ranthambore. Personally I think 3 days in Udaipur is too many. I hope neither of you gets ill because you would not want to do some of these longer drives with a bad stomach.
I am also not a fan of Dubai (ersatz Middle East, the land of shopping malls) and would not give up a day in Delhi to spend it overnighting in Dubai. Also, in my experience, “breaking up” a long flight by stopping overnight does not do anything for jet lag and just makes a long journey seem even longer. You could fly to Delhi (via a plane change in Dubai if that is your routing) and spend a night or more there, then train (2 hours) to Agra, skipping the bad (and longer) drive and then start the car part from Agra.
I think Fatephur Sikri is one of the most interesting places to see, it is very well preserved, not at all crowded and full of history. There is a very famous tomb of a Muslim saint there as well, in addition to its other history. I would think twice about skipping it. I personally would skip the “baby taj” which can be “done” in like 15 minutes over a huge and interesting place like Fatephur Sikri. It’s also right on the way to Jaipur.
Even taking out Fatephur Sirkri, I still think you are doing way too much in too short a time and spending far too much time driving between places. I think you are going to miss a lot of the beauty and pace of the place, esp at Ranthambore. Personally I think 3 days in Udaipur is too many. I hope neither of you gets ill because you would not want to do some of these longer drives with a bad stomach.
I am also not a fan of Dubai (ersatz Middle East, the land of shopping malls) and would not give up a day in Delhi to spend it overnighting in Dubai. Also, in my experience, “breaking up” a long flight by stopping overnight does not do anything for jet lag and just makes a long journey seem even longer. You could fly to Delhi (via a plane change in Dubai if that is your routing) and spend a night or more there, then train (2 hours) to Agra, skipping the bad (and longer) drive and then start the car part from Agra.
Mar 1st, 2007, 05:21 PM
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Hi dhee - I just returned from a 14 day stay in the Rajasthan area in India. Do not even consider driving yourself. We had a driver and a local guide in each city. The roads do not have any signs and there is construction everywhere. You cover a lot of miles between some of the cities. Besides not having road signs you will be dodging people, dogs, cows, camels and other drivers going 120kmph the entire trip. Enjoy yourself and get a driver.
Mar 1st, 2007, 07:41 PM
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even with the stop in dubai you will be exhausted and it will ruin your sights of the taj...i too would not eliminate the abandoned city...it is one of the best things we saw in india...plan an overnite in agra...see the taj both late and early and be on your way to rath....cut some place else...
Mar 2nd, 2007, 12:20 PM
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MELANIETRAVEL, Thinking you might help me with car and guide decisions. I'm going in the fall. What kind of car did you have and did you like it? Did you have guides in place before you went or when you got there? Any tips about that? Do you have a car and driver company to recommend? Thanks so much.
