north india tour
 

Question-- Any opinions on if is it better to go thru a local travel agent to book all the hotels/trains/drivers/etc or is one better off just booking the hotels independently then asking hotels to make arrangments for onward travel?

If your budget is generous then I would highly recommend that you book hotels independently and make your own travel arrangements. For premium accomodations, you can't go wrong with the Oberoi chain (www.oberoihotels.com).

May I ask why you would suggest booking independently... is it cheaper? easier? etc. I really appreciate your advice. Thanks.

I would strongly recommend you book thru an agent. There is a plethora of hotels and you may not even know what your choices are. Agents often get you prices as good as direct as they have bulk deals and contacts. PLus hotel booked cars are always the most expensive. I can recommend agents.

To Sameera_Anand: If and when you recommend agents, please also let us know if you have any special interest in any one of them (eg. if the agency is run by your family, husband, uncle, cousin...you get the idea). Full disclosure always helps. Regards.