Two of us are in need of a driver/guide to take us from Delhi, staying in Agra, then from Agra on to Jaipur. Does anyone have the name of a good driver/guide? This would be for an overnight in Agra.

In India, there are guides and there are drivers. Driving requires too much concentration for the driver to be a guide. You can easily hire guides and drivers through most hotels. Alternatively you can use one of several Indian travel agencies mentioned on this board. We used Compass Tours for our guides and drivers and were very satisfied. They would give you local guides at Agra and Jaipur. The Agra guide would accompany you to Fatephur Sikri, the abandoned city 45 minutes outside of Agra. Send an e-mail to Durjay at [email protected]
for information.

i too have hired a driver through another delhi agency called castle and king....i think it is the only way to go

I would use a very reputable travel agency such as cox and castle, to find a driver/guide. I have been going to India for over 10 years, and in the distant past would always have a driver who spoke some english. Now, because of the economic boom in India, the drivers we have had do not speak any english. Even the quality of the tour guide have gone down.

There is a considerable price difference between hiring a car/driver/guide through the hotel and a travel agency. The price through a TA is lower.

We used [email protected].. They use all the high end hotels. Our guides were fantastic. The cars were new Toyata's, all entry fees were included, Along with soft drinks, bottled water, many lunches. It was beyond a generic tour. They really planned the trip around our interests and set up some special things for us like visiting an astronomer. visitig local schools, staying in rural villages that were untouched by tourism.
Their price was also lower than the other high end agencies I got quotes from. Also they put us in the most delux room catorgories.

i would suggust getting a few quotes and see what is included.