Thailand versus India in Aug/Sept

Mr_Wang

totallybored wrote: »

OP, I have a Thailand/Vietnam/Cambodia thread somewhere. I'm part they way through my trip and am about to start the SE Asia bit soon. I'm expecting rain but don't care (although all it has done while I was in HK was rain!!).

If you're looking for somewhere a bit different I absolutely loved Korea and wish I'd spent longer so I could see more of the country.

In regards to rain not all of SE Asia gets drenched. And excpet for a few places, when it does rain it's not for long and usually is around mid afternoon.

I know in Thailand for Example, the monsoon effects the East and the West differently and so if it's raining in Koh Lanta then its probably sunny in Ko Samui etc etc

Doshwaster

Mr_Wang wrote: »

I know in Thailand for Example, the monsoon effects the East and the West differently and so if it's raining in Koh Lanta then its probably sunny in Ko Samui etc etc

If it's raining in Samui then it's just a matter of running into a bar, having a beer and it's usually stopped by time you have finished your Singha. Total washouts are very rare.

The daily downpour is a good thing. It cools the place down and cleans the streets.

Mr_Wang

Doshwaster wrote: »

If it's raining in Samui then it's just a matter of running into a bar, having a beer and it's usually stopped by to you have finished your Singha. Total washouts are very rare.

The daily downpour is a good thing. It cools the place down and cleans the streets.

You just reminded me of the bars on Ko Phangnan

Beer and a movie

Rossie_Cheeks

Hi everyone, and OP hope you don't mind me joining in with your thread.

I am thinking of doing North India trip this year in October or November which will be the Golden Triangle and Rajasthan followed by relaxation in Kerala. My plan is to book my international flight and then use Indian Tour companies recommended on Tripadvisor where we will have Private Driver and they will select all the hotels.

We did a similar type trip last year to Sri Lanka (Golden Triangle) and absolutely loved it, but I am worried about the poverty of India and if it will be the right thing for my husband, (he has only done Europe prior to big trip last year, apart from Kenya and did not really like that so much). I have also been thinking of maybe doing SE Asia instead ie. Thailand or Vietnam.

Our holiday will be for 2.5 weeks.

How long should we allow for the tour part of the holiday.

Any advise on hotels, Itinerary etc. locations would be much appreciated.

With regards hotels should we opt for 5* as apposed to 4*.

Thanks in advance for any suggestions and advice.

R

bazster

The dirt and poverty in India is grinding and in-your-face. Doing it the luxury way will give you some protection, but you will still encounter lots of beggars and scammers, some of them with missing body parts which they will ostentatiously use in an attempt to elicit your sympathy (and money).

You could "do" the Golden Triangle in week, but you also mention Rajasthan, so it depends what you mean by that, Rajasthan is a big place! Jaisalmer is as remote as you are likely to get, beautiful from a distance, filthy close-up. Don't "do" the sunset walk between the two sets of ramparts, however romantic it might seem: those smelly brown heaps were not produced by dogs! And beware the camel treks in the desert, we both contracted a severe case of Ghandi's revenge from the catering.

Can't really comment on hotels, we backpacked and stayed in the kind of places where the rats were checking out as we were checking in.

Rossie_Cheeks

bazster wrote: »

You could "do" the Golden Triangle in week, but you also mention Rajasthan, so it depends what you mean by that, Rajasthan is a big place! .

Hi Bazster thanks for that.

This is the suggested itinery

Oct 6 - Arrive Delhi. Time permitting sightseeing. Overnight Delhi.
Oct 7 – Fly to Udaipur . Check in at Udaipur hotel . Afternoon boat ride on the lake. Night at Udaipur.
Oct 8 – Udaipur sightseeing . Eklingji & Nagda Temples. Night in Udaipur
[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 9 - Morning drive to Kumbhalgarh (2 hours). Visit Kumbhalgarh Fort. Later drive to Ranakpur Jain temples (1 hour). Visit & drive to Jodhpur (4 hours). Night in Jodhpur
Oct 10 – Drive Ranakpur to Jodhpur (4 hours). Afternoon visit Mehrangarh Fort. Night at Jodhpur.
Oct 11 - Drive to Khimsar. Option to have camel ride in the desert. Night in Khimsar - www.khimsar.com[/FONT]
[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 12 - Drive to Jaipur (5 hours) en route with a lunch stop at Pushkar. Night at Jaipur.
Oct 13 - Jaipur. Full day sightseeing in Jaipur - Amer Fort (option for elephant ride or a longer elephant safari in a nearby forest), City Palace, Observatory. Evening car at disposal for shopping at places of your choice.
Oct 14 - Drive Jaipur to Agra(6 hours) visiting Fatehpur Sikri en route. Visit of Sikri (2 hour). Night in Agra - Dussehra Festival
Oct 15 - Morning visit Taj Mahal & Red Fort. Drive Agra to Delhi ( 5 to 6 hours). Night in Delhi.
Oct 16 - Delhi. Morning visit Old Delhi - Jama Masjid, rickshaw ride, Red Fort. Afternoon visit of New Delhi - drive around Lutyens Delhi, Humayun's Tomb, Qutab Minar. [/FONT]
[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 17 - Delhi - Cochin flight and drive to Allepey (2 hours). Night on the Backwaters at Allepey or Kumarakom[/FONT]
[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 18 - Day at leisure at resort on back waters at Kumarakom or Allepey[/FONT]
Oct 19 – Board a houseboat. Night on the boat in the backwaters.

Oct 20 - End houseboat trip at Allepey and drive to Marari (1 hour). Night at the beach at Marari.

Oct 21 - Day at leisure at Marari Beach

Oct 22 - Day at leisure at Marari Beach

Oct 23 - Day at leisure at Marari Beach

Oct 24 – Marari – Cochin drive (2 hours) Sightseeing and night in Fort Cochin area
[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 25 –Cochin – Mumbai flight. Sightseeing & night in Mumbai[/FONT]
[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 26 - Depart Mumbai[/FONT]


Any thoughts much appreciated as I want to try and get it right.

Thanks again


R

bazster

That is a fast and furious schedule!

Udaipur: a day there is fine. I hope you are staying in the Lake Palace, it's a long way to go not to stay in one of the world's most beautiful hotels! We certainly would if we went again.

Bit puzzled about Oct 9 and 10, you seem to be driving to Jodhpur twice!

Oct 9 as stated is daft, you need most of the day to see both Kumbhalgarh and Ranakpur. I presume it should say "night in Ranakpur".

Incidentally, when we were there, the biggest crook in Ranakpur was the head priest at the temple, his spiel to part us from our cash was relentless.

You can certainly "do" the fort in Jodhpur in a half-day (and it's a lovely oasis of calm amidst the craziness; when we were there it even had clean, modern toilets), but there is more in Jodhpur than merely the fort. I hope you're staying at the Umaid Bhawan (see Udaipur above!)

Never been to Khimsar.

I'd want two days in Jaipur: one for Jaipur itself, another to visit the Amber Fort (which is magnificent but vast).

One morning in Agra??? Daft! You need a full day for the Taj, the Red Fort, and the lovely but little-known baby Taj on the other side of the river!

I would also suggest that Old Delhi and New Delhi are worth a day each.

Rossie_Cheeks

Bazster

Thank you again for all your input. I guess I know to go back to the drawing board with the guided tour.

I don't want something that is too rushed as with all the driving involved you need time to relax.

I did get this itinary from another toup operator, do you think this looks better but replace GOA with Kerala and definately add in the Lake Palace

Day 1- Delhi – Colonel’s Retreat Homestay
Day 2- Delhi – Colonel’s Retreat Homestay
Day 3- Delhi to Agra (5 hrs) – Hotel Clarks Shiraz
Day 4- Agra to Jaipur (5 hrs) – Hotel Khandela Haveli
Day 5- Jaipur – Hotel Khandela Haveli
Day 6- Jaipur to Pushkar (3 hrs) – Hotel Master Paradise
Day 7- Pushkar to Jodhpur (4 hrs) – Hotel Haveli Inn Pal
Day 8- Jodhpur – Hotel Haveli Inn Pal
Day 9- Jodhpur to Udaipur (6 hrs) – Hotel Jaiwana Haveli
Day 10- Udaipur – Hotel Jaiwana Haveli
Day 11- Udaipur to Goa (via Mumbai) – Hotel Ronil Beach Resort
Day 12- Goa – Hotel Ronil Beach Resort
Day 13- Goa – Hotel Ronil Beach Resort
Day 14- Goa – Hotel Ronil Beach Resort
Day 15- Goa – Hotel Ronil Beach Resort
Day 16- Goa – Hotel Ronil Beach Resort
Day 17- Goa to Delhi OR Mumbai by flight and then fly for home

I will do more research at the weekend as well.

Thanks again

R

Doshwaster

Rossie_Cheeks wrote: »

[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 17 - Delhi - Cochin flight and drive to Allepey (2 hours). Night on the Backwaters at Allepey or Kumarakom[/FONT]
[FONT=georgia, serif]Oct 18 - Day at leisure at resort on back waters at Kumarakom or Allepey[/FONT]
Oct 19 – Board a houseboat. Night on the boat in the backwaters.

Oct 20 - End houseboat trip at Allepey and drive to Marari (1 hour). Night at the beach at Marari.

The area around Cochin is one of my favourite parts of India. It's relatively prosperous and very green so you don't get the absolute poverty you see in other areas - it has a more of a SE Asian feel. The houseboats on the backwaters are fantastic and are a very relaxing way to spend a day though the food wasn't very good on the one I went on.

I'm not sure I'd want to do such a long guided tour with one company and being stuck with the same group of people. I'd rather put the main itinery together myself with flights and hotels then pick up local tours in each place. That way you can a much more personalised trip and there's no danger of being trapped on a bus with "Colin and Brenda", who decide that they are you new best friends, for 2 weeks.

Standingtall

Just a thought, but there is a very luxurious train that runs between Delhi and Rahjistan. Might be worth a look.

Regarding poverty in India, well it is all pervasive. I feel akin to royalty when I travel to Delhi with work. We stay I'm the Hyatt or ITC hotels as the company will not allow us in anything less than 5 star in India (too higher risk of us becoming I'll and missing valuable working hours, lol). I quickly become used to the wonderful service and opulent surroundings and then feel absolute guilt ad I walk the ten minutes to the client's office and see the abject poverty of the children and the despair on the faces of the adults.

Yet, the people of India are generally upbeat and welcoming as a whole and I feel safe as a solo female business traveller. Having said that the crime rate in Delhi seems high compared to Kolkata.

Regarding your very rushed itinerary, I appreciate you want to see as much as possbile in a limited time, but the appeal of India is it's unused lifestyle. Have a look at the luxury train. I cannot remember its name but I am sure a quick google search will bring it up.