this is what my travel agent has come up with...your comments would help me greatly. We will be arriving at 10.30pm, so there isn't much time in Delhi and I think 3 nights in Ranthambore seems too long. thanks

Delhi Imperial 2 nights
Agra Amarvilas 1 night
Ranthambhore Vanyavilas 3 nights
Jaipur Samode Palace 3 nights
Jodhpur Taj Umaid Bhawan Palace 2 nights
Udaipur Devigarh 3 nights
Delhi Radisson 1 night

What time of day do you leave Delhi at the end of your tour? You may prefer to return to the Imperial even though the Radisson is close to the airport.

I think you need at least 2 and preferably 3 full days to do Delhi properly, especially if you like to shop.

Your stay in Agra will be more pleasant if you have a full day (2 nights). At minimum you need to see the Taj, Agra Fort, Baby Taj and Fatephur Sikri. I think you can stop at Fatephur Sikri on the way to Ranthambore.

3 nights at Ranthambore will increase your chances of seeing a tiger but it seems too long to me. How many game drives does this itinerary include? You could do as many as 6 if you do 2 a day plus 1 on the afternoon when you arrive and 1 on the morning when you leave. That being said, each game drive is 4-5 hours and if you just do game drives you will have no time to visit the Ranthambore Fort or just enjoy Vanyavilas.

3 nights allows 2 full days in Jaipur which is just about right.

Have not been to Jodhpur or Udaipur. Are you flying to Udaipur and/or Jodhpur?

There are about 4 game drives included, and we are driving everywhere but flying back to Delhi..maybe I should cut out Jodhpur so we are not so rushed? we are leaving Delhi at 12.30pm back to NY via London. I loved your report..when you are buying jewellery how do you know you are buying 'real' gems?

How about the following itinerary which cuts out Jodhpur:

Delhi 3 nights, 2-1/2 days
Depart early afternoon for 3 hour drive to Agra

Agra 2 nights, 1 full day
Depart early morning to Ranthambore via Fatephur Sikri - arrive late afternoon

Ranthambore 3 nights, 2 full days - do 2 morning game drives and 1 afternoon game drive
Depart for Jaipur after 1 more morning game drive (total 4) - 4 hour drive to Jaipur

Jaipur 3 nights, 2 full days
Depart for Udaipur - about 7? hour drive

Udaipur 3 nights, 2 full days
Fly to Delhi - morning flight?

Delhi 1 night, do last minute shopping afternoon of arrival.

Because you are leaving Delhi at 12:30 PM, you would be ok staying at the Imperial. It doesn't take that long (1 hour at most) to get to the airport.

We used a book "Treasures and Pleasures of India" which had recommendations on reputable jewelers. We also dealt with places located in hotel arcades that "looked" reputable. We were not buying gems but ready-made jewelry. I think there may be some buys on gems in Jaipur if you know what you are doing but the best buys for necklaces, bracelets etc. were in Delhi - at least that's what we found - as you saw in our report, we spent a LOT of time on this.

Just wanted to note that Jet Airways has a 7:40 AM that arrives in Delhi (via Jaipur) at 9:45 AM. That would give you a full afternoon in Delhi on your last day.