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Meeting Point - Arrange your own tour with like-minded travellers Popular Routes, Distances and Journey Times The Importance of Cars in India Travel Within Indian Cities Travel Between Cities and Long Distance Tours of India Renting a Cell Phone or SIM card in India About Our Prices FAQ's |
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The Importance of Cars in India Cars are essential to travel in India. No ifs, no buts, without a car, you will be stranded, late, hassled and generally stressed. Of course, we're biased, and you would be right to think we want to convince you to rent a car from us when you visit India. But to be perfectly honest, we entered this business because a car is essential in India. One day in Delhi is enough to persuade anyone of this. But it's better that we offer an explanation of the necessity of car rental, whether for one day or one hundred. You may wonder how locals get around and between India's cities and villages. After all, not everybody has access to a car. Buses are the main form of public transport within cities, and trains provide intercity links. Airports are few and far between, so air travel is limited to journeys between just a handful of locations. Buses Buses are notorious for taking on more passengers than there is capacity for, and the resulting atmosphere in the non-air-conditioned bus is sticky, sweaty, and smelly. Life is particularly difficult for those carrying bags, and women are almost guaranteed harassment. Safety has always been an issue: before a merger between bus companies, there was an operator going by the name of Blue Line. This particular operator had killed so many people in accidents, that Delhiites took to describing the service as the Blood Line. Bicycle Rickshaws and Auto-Rickshaws Rickshaws are only good for short journeys: those operated by pedal power are quaint and arguably romantic, yet for long distances or when in a hurry, they can't be considered seriously. Even if you're on a local shopping trip, you need to be careful that you don't overladen the rickshaw with bags and packages. On the other hand, the more modern auto-rickshaw clearly can be used for longer distances and can actually travel at a decent clip. In fact, at times it's hard to beat an autorickshaw for speed. Drivers are attuned to the city streets and have a sixth sense for impossible gaps and daredevil routes. There are two main problems with the auto-rickshaw. First of all, you will arrive at your destination dusty, dirty, and on a hot day, sweaty. Not great for a business meeting. Secondly, and I have to choose my words carefully here, a fair proportion of the drivers are dishonest. A westerner will often be quoted four or five times the normal rate for a journey. Probably not an issue if you just need to make a single journey, but after 3 or 4 trips the logic of taking the 'cheaper' option starts to break down, especially when comfort is considered. Saying that, if you've never used one before, and feel a little adventurous, try a ride with one. In small doses they are enormous fun, just not a practical regular solution. Taxis Taxi cab services are another intra-city solution. Most taxis are old black Ambassadors with no air-conditioning. They act as suntraps during the day, and on winter evenings you may as well ride around on a rickshaw, for all the warmth they provide. Taxi drivers treat westerners in the same way auto-rickshaw riders do: as mugs with too much money. Not all are like that, of course, but how are you going to know whether your taxi driver is being fair or not. Some meters on taxis and rickshaws have even been doctored to increase at the will of the driver! Taxis generally provide value when you just need to make one or two journeys over a short, 5-10km distance. Metro Certain cities now have metro systems, which are recent projects, and they are proving to be very popular. However, some systems are only partially complete (as is the case in New Delhi). As with metro systems globally, once your journey ends, you are still faced with the prospect of finding a way to your destination from the station, which generally equates to a walk in 30 degrees sunshine. Automobile The only viable option in large cities like Delhi is the automobile, whether a taxi, a friend's car or your own. Taxis offer a relatively inflexible solution of debatable value. If you have a friend or family member who can lend you a car, great! You're one of the lucky ones. Otherwise, rental cars are by far the best option for the majority of visitors to India, as they are relatively cheap to hire, and offer enormous flexibility. One day you can use your car for a trip to the cinema, the next, you could be on the road to the Himalayas! Self-Drive Options Avis and Hertz have both set up operations in India now, so if you would like a self-drive option, that is available. However, you would be ill-advised to pursue this, unless you already have considerable experience of driving in India. When you hire from the big boys, you pay a premium to cover their expensive advertising costs, so bear this in mind. Read this independent article to see just how much extra you will pay. The daily rates shown are comparable to our standard rental rates, in terms of hours and distance allowed. In some cases their rates are more than double ours, and you don't get a chauffeur to drive you around! Chauffeur-Driven Rental Cars This leaves us with the chauffeur-driven car rental option, the most sensible choice by far. Driving in India can be chaotic: zero lane discipline, no discernible rules of right of way, and poorly maintained roads and signs. Therein lies the advantage of a chauffeur: they know the roads, they know the routes, and more importantly, they have years of experience of road convention and safety. Some routes are so well used and well-known to these professional drivers, that they even know the locations of the worst potholes and speed breakers. When you add prices to the equation, you'll find the chauffeur-driven rental option offers by far the biggest bang for your buck. Travel Between Cities and Long Distance Tours of India When travelling between cities and sites of interest in India, your options are even more limited. Aircarft is best in terms of speed and convenience, and recommended for journeys where you need to cross the breadth or width of the country quickly. Many people visit India to take in the sights, in which case, travel by road or rail is appropriate. Train With respect to trains, it is hard to beat the romance of a steam engine travelling from the tea plantations in the distant east of the country to the hill stations of the west, with the magnificent Himalayas in the background. Most other train journeys evoke different emotions. Prone to stoppages, slow-running, and with limited toilet and washing facilities, train travel leaves most tourists dishevelled and emotional. On the other hand, great friendships are often made on these journeys, between backpackers and locals alike. Everyone has great stories to tell, and on Indian trains there's lots of time to tell them. By Road: Coach Travelling by road between cities and sights can be done by coach or car. Many travel companies own relatively modern, air-conditioned coaches which tour all the famous routes and places of India. The advantages are that you have a chance to meet new people on the coach, and when you sign up to these deals, hotel accommodation will be arranged for you. What you don't have is any flexibility. Everything runs to the tour operator's schedule. So if you find you're having a great time in Manali, Jaipur, or wherever you happen to be, you'll have to end your fun at the appointed time. Equally if you visit a place which doesn't appeal to you in the slightest, unless your fellow coach passengers feel the same way, you're going to have to endure it until the hour of departure. For example, the reaction people have to the Taj Mahal varies considerably. For some, it is simply spellbinding: poetry in marble. Others think, "Great. Been there, done that, let's go." By Road: 4x4 (SUV) That's where a rental car comes into its own. You could hire an air-conditioned 4x4 with four or five like-minded friends (for around £7 each a day), and have the roadtrip of your life. Your chauffeur will take you wherever you want to go, whenever you want to go, and will let you spend as much time there as you want. And he'll get you out of any place you hate, straight away. On top of that, the money you save versus a tour organised for you by an operator can be spent on the hotel of your choice, not theirs. Whether you are on a quiet, reflective pilgrimage, or whether your group is raucous and ready to party, with your own car you have the freedom to be as you wish, without being bothered and without bothering others. And should you pass a place of awesome beauty, or feel the need to stretch your legs, the chauffeur will stop immediately. That flexibility is totally lacking on coach tours, where everything runs to a schedule of somebody else's design. |
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Renting a Cell Phone or SIM Card in India The logic behind carrying a cell phone is faultless. The wireless networks have the best communications infrastructure in all of India. Even in places where landlines are unavailable, a cellular signal can be found. Cell phone per minute rates are extremely reasonable, and connections are strong and clear. Even overseas call rates from cell phones with Indian network SIM cards are cheap, and are far better value than many networks in the West. India networks use either the GSM900 and GSM1800 protocols. As long as you have a phone which handles these standards, you won't even need to rent a cell phone in India, you'll just need a SIM card. If you are in Europe and your present mobile phone is dual band, then the cell phone should work just fine in India. Delhi itself and much of Northern India is on the GSM900 standard, so you may be able to use your cell phone in India with a single band phone. So if you have a cell phone which will work in India, you need only consider renting a SIM card when you arrive at Delhi's international airport. It makes far more sense to obtain a SIM card registered for Indian networks than to use your current SIM. The reason for this is simple: cost. Roaming charges from your own network are usually exorbitant. Calling becomes more expensive, and receiving calls costs you money too. Using an Indian network SIM card gives you access to seriously cheap calls, and you won't incur charges for receiving calls. You'll chop your calling rates down to a fraction of what your own home network would charge you to use your cell phone in India. Indian SIM cards are cheap to buy, and they are cheap to rent. So why rent when you can buy? The answer is convenience. To buy your own SIM card in India, the government demands that you provide the following documentation: 1. One photograph Take these along to one of the many outlets from which you can buy cell phones and SIM cards, and they will sell you the card of your choice. This will of course mean that you are without a phone, or at least without access to cheap calls, until you go shopping for a SIM. It also means that you will have to leave copies of extremely sensitive personal information with the government bureaucracy of a third world country, as well as with an unknown shopkeeper who probably makes no more than $10 a day. In these days of phishing and identity theft, very few of our clients feel comfortable with this prospect. When you rent a SIM card or cell phone from us, we'll hand it to you the moment you reach the arrivals area of IGI airport. Or we'll bring it to you at your place of stay in Delhi, whichever you prefer. You'll be able to make cheap calls from the start, and you won't have to make any superfluous journeys. Most importantly, you won't need to hand over your passport or any other documents that could be used to siphon away your hard-earned cash. We'll already have registered the SIM card as one of our own, so you don't run risks or face the hassle of bureaucracy and tedious forms. |
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There are three car hire options available on this site, Standard and Premium. The Economy Rental Option gives you the chauffeur-driven car of your choice for 8 hours per day, and includes up to 80km of travel within the National Capital Region. The National Capital Region includes all of Delhi, as well as Gurgaon and Noida. This is the most suitable option for business trips, shopping expeditions and sightseeing within the NCR. The Standard Rental Option provides you with the chauffeur-driven car of your choice for a complete 24 hours, and includes 200km of travel per day anywhere in Northern India. This gives you the incredible opportunity to visit famous monuments and sites such as the Taj Mahal, under your own steam. This can save you a lot of money versus organised tours, and lets you set your own itinerary. The Premium Option is an UNLIMITED mileage option giving you the chauffeur-driven car of your choice for a complete 24 hours, for use anywhere in Northern India. For further information on prices, please click here. |
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