Dear Fodorites:
I need help with scheduling hotels for an upcoming trip to Rajasthan and Varanasi. The following is being offered by our tour company. I am especialy interested in location. I appreciate any help you can give.

Delhi
Avalon Court Yard or Hans Plaza.

Agra
Mughal Sheraton

Jaipur
Samode Haveli

Varanasi
Taj Ganges

The only hotel i am familiar with is the Taj Ganges...I did not stay there, but the first time i visited Varanasi, it was down the street from where we were staying so we visited it frequently.

Although it is nice, compared to many other hotels in Varanasi, it would not be my first choice. The location is far away from everything (the ghats), but it depends if u want quiet or to be right in the action.

I could recommend the Rashmi Guesthouse, Palace on River, with a Ganges view...(was just there a few months ago).

The location, view and ambiance of the small hotel/guesthouse is incredible, Staff is friendly...rooms are small but clean. There is also a roof top restaurant, so in the evening u can have your dinner with a fascinating view.

Just down the street is the main ghat, where all the ceremonies take place...and where u get on the boats for the early morning and evening boat trips on the Ganges.

Although the Taj Ganges might be a little more plush, you get a much better feel for Varanasi staying on the ghats!!

Anyways, that is my recommendation, if u would like to see some of my pic's of Varanasi u can check out

http://travel.webshots.com/album/562039091vSSKSU

We were very happy with our stay at Samode Haveli. We had a huge room in the back on the ground floor. Loved the park like setting there.

we stayed in the Mughal Sheraton in Agra. It was a smallish room, but very close to the Taj. The tower in the garden is a fabulous place to have a drink at sunset. I'd stay there again.

TracyB: Thank you for your advice and sharing your WONDERFUL photos! I truly enjoyed seeing what is in store for me.

Lcuy and Kmkmn: Thank you for your response. It's nice to know that our tour company is making good choices for us.

Taj Ganges is nice - I went there one day to have lunch, look at the shops, and send our 12-year-old travelling companion on a horse and buggy ride on its grounds with dad - but I think it's worth thinking about what you want from Varanasi, as the TG is at least half an hour, and maybe longer, from the Ganges.

To get to the riverside from there will take this longish drive plus some walking through the streets, which as you near the riverbank are much too narrow to allow any vehicle to pass.

So - do you want to take a boatride on the Ganges at dawn, and if you do, are you okay with leaving your hotel by 5:30? or driving back to it in the dark after you've taken an evening boatride?

I stayed at Palace on River, in its nicsest river-view room, for three nights, and would also recommend it.
I'd say go to Taj Ganges midday to enjoy the gardens and the restaurant.

Tracy, Loved seeing your photos of Varanasi. I echo everyone elses feelings about staying at the Taj. Too far from the ghats and the Ganges, which are the main reason for going to Varanasi, and the traffic is brutal. I also stayed at the Palace on the River, Rashmi guesthouse, which I would recommend. I also stayed in the super deluxe river view room. It was not super-deluxe by any means, and was in fact small and a little dark and depressing. The rest of the hotel was bright, welcoming and cheerful. The location is perfect,and the service is warm and friendly. I loved the rooftop restaurant with a panorama of the Ganges. You will have to climb lots of stairs, though, both at the hotel & up and down the ghats.

Stayed at the Mughal Sheraton. Love the simple rooms. Great service in the restuarants and the view of the Taj from the observation deck was stunning:

http://waynehazle.com/india/Day6/Pages/s2_206.htm
http://waynehazle.com/india/Day6/Pages/n24_21a.htm

CFW, i still email the hotel from time to time as i became friends with Pappu (the young tour guide)..and talk to Ramesh every now and then.

One problem we had with the hotel...as we were there just after monsoon and every night around 8:00 pm, the whole hotel filled up with these horrible bugs, and they were everywhere, i mean everywhere, they were in the restaurant and got into our food...It was like something we had never seen b4!!

One evening we were sitting at the computers and suddenly we were infested by those same bugs, and we literally had to run as they were in our hair and mouth and everywhere. I was actually screaming (and laughing cause it was also funny)lol

In the morning, the hotel staff had to sweep the entire hotel as the bugs fell to the ground.

I don't know why i never took pic's...but i just didn't.

But they explained to us it was because monsoon just ended and there was nothing they could do about it.

But we did love the hotel and would definately stay there again...but do advise that it is certainly not a 4 or 5*, but it is a lovely hotel/guesthouse on the Ganges!!

Tracy -- Oh My Gosh! I would have been screaming & running too.... probably all the way to the train station or airport. Sounds horrible! Not a bug in sight when I was there. And Ramesh was great. He even sent two of the guys from the hotel out to look for me when I was late getting back to the hotel for my trip to the airport to return to Delhi.

After 5 trips to India, i have learned to be brave!!! But it was like something out of a horror movie!!! It was worse though in the restaurant, as like i said suddenly the whole restaurant was full of these flying bugs...

Needless to say, i did not finish my dinner that night!!

But anyhow, i lived to tell the tale...

Just remember not to stay on the ghats right after monsoon!!

I echoed the opinions of Tracy B and CFW regarding the Rashmi Guest house . I've just arrived from India, and the Rashmi was my acommodation selection in Varanasi. Staying at the Ghats is incomparable. You may not have the comfort of the hotels, but waking up and hearing the sounds and watching the daily activities at the Ghats are worth it. Also, each time you want to go the most important Ghats, you have to suffer an enormous congestion of all type of vehicles and animals if you stay at a hotel out of the area.

Thanks to everyone for your responses. I have taken your advice and will stay at a hotel on the Ghats.
My tour company has recommended the Ganges View (balcony room). Anyone familiar with this hotel?
TracyB - I will be haunted by your story for the rest of the night!

Waynehazle: Thanks for sharing your photos. Now I am even more excited for my trip!

I have heard that the Ganges View is very nice also...i know someone who has stayed there!!

drgough,

That view of Taj sums of so much of my trip. I sat in a lounge chair for about two hours and looked. I watched local kids flying kites and playing while the sun set slowly. It makes me yearn for India again.

I can't wait to read your trip report and see some photos!

Gilaw01, Followed your postings as you were planning your trip, and I would love to read your trip report. Do hope you post.

My trip report ant the photos will be comming soon. I'm still on the "rehabilitation mode". The experience was much more of what I expected.

Gilberto

Dear Drgough
Delhi -
Avalon Court Yard is on the Nehrauli - Gurgaon road too far from most siights. Best avoided. Hans Plaza is in Coonnaught Place and very central.

Agra
Mughal Sheraton - Yes but Taj View is better or the Trident Hilton

Jaipur
Samode Haveli - if you can get it, grab it. Otherwise consider Alsisar Haveli (www.alsisar.com)

Varanasi
Taj Ganges - Not upto Taj standards..Ramada is better - www.ramadajhvvns.com

Thoughts about Ganges View - if it's the one I am thinkinng of it has a nice reputation, and musicians often stay there which appealed to me.

Check its location and your feelings about it - I think it's on Asi Ghat, which is kind of at "the end" of the ghats, rather than being central. In fact next time I go to Varanasi I think I'd like to stay there -- but there's something to be said for staying right where the action is (you are high above it so no noise problem) and where the boats leave from.

If only one night I might prefer Palace on River or something else around there, to make the evening and dawn boatrides really easy. With more time the one on Asi Ghat appeals to me.

Also check on how close it to the burning ghats and how you feel about that - the sight of them and the people who visit and attend them day and night, and the possible awareness of their smoke.

Check on TripAdvisor and IndiMike too.