The purpose of taking the train rather than driving Agra - Delhi is that it is a huge time-saver (2 or 3 hours versus 4 to 6).

Keep in mind that you can't do it all --- or even a lot. Be discriminating in terms of what YOU and YOUR SON want to see. When planning our trip, I tried to keep the geographical area as compact as possible. I also eliminated Jaisalmer as I felt we'd spend too much time in Rajasthan and Jaisalmer is on the western edge of Rajasthan. I added Amritsar -- fabulous! -- because we could fly from Delhi, then back through Delhi to Jodhpur.

Ram is a Rajasthani and knows the area thoroughly. Don't hesitate to consult with him or his staff. He showed us so much more than I ever planned to see!

I was determined to see Gwalior, which I thoroughly enjoyed, but wound up with one and two night stays at the end of the trip. I'd have been better served to spend several more days in India rather than cramming the last few destinations into the time period I chose (This is all my fault as my dear husband let me make all the plans!)

hello dear all
day:1 delhi
day:2 delhi and over night train or next day morning flight to jhodpur
day:3 see the jhodpur
day:4 drive to ranakpur and Kumbhalgarh over night stay in Kumbhalgarh 5hrs drive
day:5 drive to udaipur 2hrs
day:6 udaipur city tour
day:7 drive to Shapura Bagh 4hrs drive
day:8 drive to jaipur 5hrs drive
day:9 jaipur city tour
day:10 jaipur
day:11 drive to agra 5hrs
day:12 drive to delhi
thanks
Ramesh Meena

Ramesh, she has 3 weeks.

Craig, gotta keep them straight. JuliaJane has 11 nights. It's NancyLA who has 3 weeks!

Thanks, Marija - you are so right. Apologies to Ramesh.

What I don't like about Ramesh's itinerary is that it is moving every other day/every day except for Jaipur, which would not be my choice to spend two full days versus Udaipur. While this is a great itinerary if you really want to move along, Jodhpur just takes away from the slower pace which you might prefer.

I agree..I am still thinking Delhi (2 nights)
Udaipur 3 nights
somewhere in between Udaipur and Jaipur 1 night (possibly)?????
Jaipur 2 nights
Agra 2 nights
Delhi (1 night)
Probably 10-11 nights

IF Oberoi cant guarantee late checkout on my last night..I will stay elsewhere..still open to suggestions but feeling more comfortable with this schedule.....

Everyone says don't drive at night in India..I think I can avoid this...also when people say this to they even mean if you are going out to dinner???

So if I get Rameesh would he be my driver and guide other than transports???or just driver???
If they give u a quote for the day how many hours does that include? For examle, say you go out touring then come back to hotel and rest..then want to go out to dinner...is it the same driver...same price per day???

oops..I mean transfers!!!

i am sorry criag you don’t like that itinerary so here new one
day:1 delhi
day:2 delhi full day delhi tour
day:3 fly to udaipur
day:4 drive to Kumbhalgarh and ranakpur and bake to udaipur
day:5 udaipur city tour
day:6 drive to Shapura Bagh and on the way Chittorgarh
day:7 drive to jaipur
day:8 jaipur city tour
day:8 drive to agra on the way Fatehpur Sikri
day:9 agra city tour and baby taj
day:10 drive to delhi
and when and what time you fly bake to home?
Thanks whit, kind regards
Ramesh Meena

Well, what a saga. It seems that you are moving along. With the combination of Rameesh and Oberoi you will be fine. Ram will cost a great deal less than that Oberoi transportation cost. But you have [or soon will] the comparitive costs. You can jump in right now.

Here is the moment of decision. Don't stress about the transport. Really, that'll work itself out - you'll be either using Ram [who I don't know BTW] or an equivalent. Whatever the costs are, they'll be pretty much about right.

Let's go over the costs so far: correct me if I'm wrong.
10 N Oberoi 'tour' [incl A/p transfers/bfast and upgrade]

OBEROI $ 3,810
FLIGHT 2 X $80

TRAIN 2 X $50
PLUS RAMEESH.

Now, if you're happy with Oberoi, just do it. A night at Shapura Bagh seems a really great idea. That'll be easy to book yourself.
I feel duty bound to say that you can easily set up a wonderful trip without Oberoi for that same amount - and probably a great deal less. If you read between the lines above, that's what people are gently trying to tell you to consider.

Me? I don't care - we came into this looking for 'the best' hotel in Delhi and, if you stick with Obe you'll be juuust fine. Yup, you'll be missing out on 'real India' - whatever that is - but you'll be enjoying a different kind of India. It's up to you. I reckon you're locked in the Obes, so go for it. It's an easy deal.

All you have to do is a/book a flight:
jetairways.com
flykingfisher.com

book shapura bagh:
www.shahpurabagh.com/

lock in Oberoi deal
and lock in Rameesh. Go for his last itinerary, above.

Now, if you want to think again, we can help - but only if you are going to get stuck into it. If you need to keep an elegant reserve from the details, for reasons of sanity, then just do the above. You can knock it off, bar Rameesh's final quote, in about ten minutes with a 'puter and a credit card.

Yes, you can.

Ok..so I like the idea of Shapura Bagh..seems a little more intimate than Oberoi....ok..so when I book do I ask for a suite..also how do I demand suites at the Oberoi!!! I may be high maintenance but not too pushy...Dogster seems to be saying make some demands!!!!
One last thing...shapura Bagh is a good halfway point? Also how long from Shapura to Jaipur..how many hours..and lastly I will have driver (not thru Hotel) but how do u arrange guides (not thru hotels I assume).
JJ

Shapura Bagh is a good halfway point, although I think it's closer to Jaipur than to Udaipur. We detoured to Chittorgarh before heading for SB. The trip took most of the day from Udaipur.

Shapura Bagh is quite small. It used to be the Maharaja's hunting lodge. There's a main building with some guest rooms, perhaps four -- quite spacious -- and an adjacent building with four large guest rooms. Meals are served in the main building. I have no idea whether or not there are "suites," but the rooms are so large you won't feel deprived if you can't have a suite.

A gentle reminder that our excellent driver's name is Ram-ESH MEE-na, not Ram-EE-sh, but everyone calls him Ram. (I'm concerned that you might wind up with the wrong person if you don't have the correct name.)

You can see driving times and distances between Shapura Bagh and Jaipur and Udaipur here:

http://www.shahpurabagh.com/gettingthere.htm

I was looking at the Shapura Bagh website. It seems like the type of place where many of the guests will linger for 2 or 3 days rather than just use it as an overnight stop.

Shapura Bagh is located half way between Jaipur and Udaipur - 4 hours drive, 220 km (137 mi) from both. It is 2-1/2 hours from Chittorgarh which is 2 hours from Udaipur - get an early start so that you can enjoy the property in the afternoon. More information on location and distances, including a map can be found here:
http://www.shahpurabagh.com/gettingthere.htm

If it were me, I'd go for a suite at Shapura Bagh - at about $160 including tax, they are cheap compared to Oberoi.

As far as suites at Oberoi are concerned, asking for a suite at the regular room rate can do no harm - all they can do is say no (and risk you staying somewhere else).

Rameesh can help you arrange local guides if you think you need them.

Hmmm, didn't realize you stayed there, Indiana - the timings I give are from the website. It doesn't surprise me a bit though that it takes almost all day to get from Udaipur to SB via Chittorgarh. And sorry about not getting Ram's name right.

The website has a photo of one of the suites. It looks huge.

The ceilings at SB seemed to be 20 feet --- very impressive -- although the power cut out more frequently than any other place we stayed in India, but comes back on quickly with generators. The property was given to the ancestor of the current owner by Shah Jehan, the raja who built the Taj Mahal.

We arrived in mid-afternoon and collapsed into an afternoon nap, woke in time for drinks around the pool (Do they ever take a sober breath?), then dinner in the main building. It would have been lovely to stay there longer. There's a fort nearby and some other sights, but we were off for Jaipur the next morning and couldn't stay longer.