UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver

Singapore
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UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Hi all, help needed for last minute planning for India trip. Here's two rough itinenaries I came up with and would appreciate your thoughts:

23rd Dec - arrive Delbi close to midnight

24th Dec- delhi

25th Dec - take express train in am or if cannot get ticket, find transport to Agra

Overnight at Agra.

26th Dec - fly to Jaipur early morning again

27th Dec- Stay in Jaipur for two days

28th Dec - From Jaipur take flight to Jaisalmer

29th Dec - One and a half days at Jaisalmer

30th Dec - rent car n driver from Jaisalmer to Jodphur

31st Dec-

1st Jan - From Jodphur drive to Udaipur

2nd Jan - Udaipur

3rd - flight back to Delhi

My questions are:

1. Is the above too ambitious? Should I give up Jodphur? The alternative is to leave for Agra the morning immediately after my flight to Delhi. It will be very tiring but at least I arrive in Delbi two days before my flight back, giving me buffer in case of delays etc. Would greatly appreciate any thoughts that any experienced India travellers would have.

2.Would anyone have good recommendations for honest, reliable,competent and reasonably priced drivers. I wrote to three companies and got such diverse pricing for the same car - one quoted about USD 230 per day for a Toyota Innova and another quoted about USD 117 for the same car (in both cases, all in). Would appreciate a sense of what prices are?

3. Does anyone have any comments on the mode of transportation? I am choosing to fly because of time constraints but for Jaslmer - Jodhpur - Udaipur leg, I am given to understanding that it is a scenic route and should be taken on the road.

I am very excited but also kinda stressed

Thank you all in advance for any of your advice or suggestions. I am very excited but am also rather stressed ...realised now that planning for India trip is not easy.

Mumbai, India
Destination Expert
for Mumbai, New Delhi, Kochi (Cochin), Chennai (Madras), India
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1. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Hire a vehicle in Delhi on 24th for sightseeing. On

25th morning, don't stress yourself out with an early morning train, the same vehicle can take you to Agra for Agra sightseeing. On 26th morning, drive to Jaipur via Bharatpur, or via Fatehpur Sikri. On 27th and 28th, keep that vehicle for use in Jaipur until your drop at the airport. Ask both operators to quote you a price for this entire trip. Don't try booking day-by-day rates.

For the other parts of the itinerary maybe someone else can comment.

California
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8 posts
2. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Hi,

I also suggest that you hire a car from Delhi, Agra, jaipur.

I just returned from India...and had a 2 and 1/2 day visit of Jaipur and Agra...We had a wonderful experience and car service choice was excellent (I also initially wanted to take the train...but it would have been a mistake). We booked the car with Icon India Tours (http://www.iconindiatours.com)for the full 3 day trip Jaipur-Agra-(Jaipur) Delhi. We had to make extra stop as per my planning mistake on visiting Taj Mahal on Friday (when closed). Fortunately Sabu (the coordinator) had provided input and re-plan that we visit Taj on Thursday.

The driver Raj was excellent, professional we felt safe at all times. He spoke English enough to understand each other, and suggested several places for visiting and food (all great choice).

We got little scared with all the terrorist attacks as we were in Mumbai at that time, but we went back to Mumbai on Dec 2nd and everything was back to normal....with extra security around :)

I hope this advise helps your decision!!!

Eli

Singapore
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3. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Many many thanks for your very quick responses and advice This is a great community. I think I will follow the advice to do the road trip. Any more thoughts from anyone on driver recommendations and my other questions would be greatly appreciated.

California
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8 posts
4. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Our driver name was Raj (Rajan ...something), he was excellent driver...drove safely in one day Jaipur-Agra-Jaipur (4 1/2 hours each way)...very professional, very nice. He speaks basic English, good enough to understand...and also speaks Spanish, Italian a little.

We were very happy with the choice. He took us to nice restaurants, show us nice sightseeing spots we didn't plan to see or noticed on the road...showed us the baby elephant on the road...and we always consulted him for tipping and prices :) He was with us for 3 days....the entire trip from The jaipur airport,on 11/26, then went on 11/27 jaipur_agra_jaipur trip in a single day...and then on 11/28 driving back jaipur Delhi to catch a flight to Ahmedabad. We had the Toyota SUV/Van car.

I even took a photo of the driver...I can send u if you want?

California
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8 posts
5. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Ye buy the way the Toyota Innova we rented was 80 USD per day!!!

I checked several sites and talked to several car services in the area (Taxi Whale, etc) and Sabu gave me the best offer! He can also help you organize the trip...I was like you planning everything myself...and made the mistake with Taj Mahal...(doesn't work on Fridays's..and I didn't read that)

Your trip is ambitious but possible...and you should do it!

Singapore
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6. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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A photo may indeed be helpful =)) thanks again!!

California
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8 posts
7. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Please send me your e-mail where I can send you the photo! I don't think there is a way to post it here.

Melbourne Australia
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36 posts
8. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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You may already be organised with a driver, as you're leaving next week, but if you are looking for further input, I cannot recommend highly enough the driver we had in Rajasthan earlier this year.

He is all the things you mentioned - honest, reliable, competent,friendly - and also not expensive. We didn't have a day rate, but we booked him for our entire 10 day trip (from Delhi to Agra, Jaipur, Ranthambore, Pushkar and Udaipur, then back to Jaipur for a flight) and this was on the basis of how much we liked him during our one day tour around Delhi. It averaged out to around $50 a day.

His name is Dara Singh email:darasinghin@yahoo.com

mobile 0091 9818609783 or 0091 9829461885

He's a lovely man and very pleasant company. His written English is a little dodgy, but he communicates well verbally.

Have a great time!

Cheers

Singapore
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10 posts
1 review
3 helpful votes
9. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver
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Thank you all very much. I am in the midst of finalising something but will keep your information at hand.

10. Re: UrgentAdvice needed for Delhi-Agra-Rajasthan trip and driver

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