Is this quote for a driver/guide in India too high?
 

Is this quote for a driver/guide in India too high? $399 for Qualis with AC for 4 days

- May 21 early 3am pick-up from Delhi airport----drive to Agra
- May 21- late afternoon tour of Agra with guide
- May 22- drive from Agra to Jaipur, stopping at Fatepur Sikri with guide
- May 23- car and guide to tour Jaipur
- May 24- car returns to Delhi witout me


Perhaps the oft metioned Compass Tours is becoming too popular, thanks to Fodors....

I think we paid $80/day through Compass last February for the A/C Qualis but no guide. The guide was a separate charge - I think it was $10 for a half day and $20 for a full day. I guarantee someone will say that $100/day is too high. I think it may be that INDIA is becoming too popular but also gas prices have risen significantly. Keep in mind that you will have access to the car and driver throughout the day and for dinner. That being said, if you want something to compare to, e-mail each of your hotels for quotes for what you want to do - be specific. Are you sending luggage with the car to Delhi on the 24th?

Craig-
Thanks for reminding me of what you paid on your trip...I guess that is about right then.
- No, we would be continuing on to Udaipur on the 24th, but Compass said the car/driver's time returning to Delhi would need to be factored in.

- The quotes from Oberoi to do the transfer between Agra and Jaipur were much much higher.

- Would you agree that, if we are arriving into Delhi at 3am, we should continue directly on to Agra?

Because of the hot weather, I think we would be saving Delhi for another trip and just doing Agra, Jaipur and then Udaipur (which is supposed to be relatively cooler than Rajastan and the rooms have direct swim-out access to a huge pool)...sorry for rambling

We arrived at 5:30 AM and continued on to Agra which worked fine for us as we had two nights in Agra. Where are you coming from and how jet lagged will you be? We arrived in Agra late morning and slept for much of the afternoon - that was after flying from the US to Bangkok to Delhi (not the quickest route).

Hi Craig-
We are coming from your neck of the woods, well a bit further south in Fairfield County. We would be flying Emirates non-stop NY-Dubai...then direct connect to Delhi. I would expect the first day in Agra to be just sleeping & vegging. Maybe the baby taj in the early evening, then Taj in the early am before continuing to Fatepur Sikri and then Jaipur. Sounds doable? we would then have 3 nights in Jaipur and 3 nights in Udaipur

I would do Agra Fort if you are up to it rather than Baby Taj as the Fort is more closely tied in with the history of the Taj and is easier to get to. The Taj, Fatephur Sikri and the drive to Jaipur will be a long day but doable. 3 nights is perfect for Jaipur. We did not go to Udaipur - others on this board have said there is not much to do there - perhaps you would want to look at another destination - Varanasi or Jodhpur come to mind - don't know about the heat factor though.

Weren't you originally planning on Bali in May?

There has been some talk of a Connecticut GTG to be held in the Hartford area - hope you can come - not sure of the timing yet but look for an announcement in early March.

Craig-
Thanks for the feedback. My husband wants to do India and I want to go back to Bali so....we are currently planning on doing both! 8 nights India, using the Oberoi summer special (hence the time in Udaipur) and then connecting to Bali for 5 nights. Flight time/connections aren't that bad Bom-Sin-Dps.
Count me in for a CT GTG!

$399 is outrageous for India.

$100 per day, even with a guide does sound steep...I am getting some other quotes.

Your time in Agra will be fine...especially if you can sleep in the car. We did the train Delhi to Agra and arrived about 9:30 am. Toured the baby Taj and fort that afternoon. Nest day toured Taj, had breakfast & a swim before heading off to Fatepur sikhri and driving to Jaipur.
Are you flying to Udaipur?
Did you try contacting Vinny at Vinstring? His rates for driver were a lot less.

I'm surprised you're being charged for return to Delhi, as most likely the driver will pick up someone else for that leg.

Don't count on sleeping in the car from Delhi to Agra. Two reasons:
1. This will be your first exposure to Indian driving.
2. The sights and scenes along the way are far too stimuating.

We rented an ambassador which is much cheaper but I have to say that we found rates were calculated on a per mile basis and that a one way trip was much more expensive because the car had to return to its starting point.

We did enjoy Udaipur but I would highly recommend stopping off on the way at a smaller heritage property. This gives an excellent opportunity to see something of rural India.

I completely understand the draw of Bali - I keep trying to tag it onto other trips!

lcuy-
Thanks for your comments....yes, I have been in touch with Vinny about getting a quote. I have also asked him if he can get me the same or a better rate than the Oberoi summer deal.
Did I read your trip report correctly that you just spent 2 nights in Jaipur? Sounds like you were able to hit all the major sights in 1 day?

Welltraveledbrit -
(Is it ok if we refer to you as wtb for short?)- I have really enjoyed your trip report and pictures.
I would definitely like to add a day or 2 off the beaten track, maybe at Devi Garh

Glad you liked the photos and trip report.

Devigarh is certainly lavish...it really is a spectacle and the food was lovely however overall we didn't think the service matched the scale/price.

Also Devigarh is very close to udaipur and in this respect it doesn't divide the journey. Rohetgarh and Deogarh are on the Jodhpur-Udaipur route and are nice places to stay.
We particularly enjoyed Ravla khempur which is a small place close to Udaipur and particularly interesting if you are interested in horses. We stayed just one night but made a fascinating walk throught the village, including a visit to a government run ayervedic clinic.

Hope this helps.
wtb

Actually it was more like one day of sightseeing. We arrived quite late in the afternoon, and spent the rest of that day just relaxing at the hotel. The next day we had plenty of time at the Amber fort, Observatory, city hall, museums palace of the winds, and a few hours shopping.

I wouldn't have minded another day there to wander the old city and go to the Gem Palace, but we didn't feel like we missed anything. If you have time to see the observatory in Delhi instead (they're basically the same), you could even squeeze a little more free time into Japipur.

Hope you can find some good deals!

Lucy

it does seeem high to me as well....compass has quoted me about $600 for 11 days car and driver for a golden triangle trip...also with a qualis....that is for a november trip

his quotes for a guide are $20 per day, some of which may be 1/2 days...