RAJASTHAN TOURS TRAVEL

Guest Name : Michael
Country : AUSTRALIA
Email : michaelcwilliams@netspace.net.au
Year: 2006, January

Hi Sue,

Got home almost a week ago with a stinker of a cold so have been laid low.

Worst one I have had. I am not sure whether to blame Qantas or India but at least it was not some rare tummy bug!

Just a note, to thank you very much. We had the best possible time thanks largely to your efforts and the staff at Compass. We would happily use you again and we would like to go to back at some point, possibly to the south.

Just a few points, which might be helpful to you. I am highlighting a couple of negatives but be assured that they are minor in the overall scheme of things. Best you are told for the future if they are of concern to you.

All hotels were exceptional except the Hilton Agra (as we knew it wouldn't be) and, surprisingly to me, the Taj Ganges at Varanasi. It was a disappointment in terms of quality of rooms and facilities. Don't know if there is anything better there. I commented on FP already.

The food at Umaid Barwan Palace was superb. Great inventive chef. All the tour arrangements worked well except in Mumbai. I told Compass boss about this when we met him. Problems were minor but annoying.

I. Met by driver but no representative. Driver gave us papers which were wrong (flight from Varanasi to Mumbai on wrong day). Told to phone Compass. Phoned and the contact said he would get back to us. Late next day he still hadn't so phoned again. He told us tickets would be changed in Delhi. Representative, as met us in all other places, could have sorted it out. Rep at first stop, particularly in such "foreign" a country as India is important.

2. On check out, driver 45 minutes late (which still left us enough time but caused a bit of angst) but again no rep. Problem on check out as hotel insisted on payment for room and breakfast. Voucher was not acceptable. Took 15 minutes to sort ou , with me refusing to pay, and turned out someone had told them Williams started with a "V" which they clained was the problem. A Compass rep there could have solved it. Hotel was otherwise excellent.

3. On return to Mumbai met by rep and transferred to Leela. Told they would let us know transfer time the next day but no one called and had to chase the office again on check out time. Again, nothing too bad but a bit scary on the first stop and we got a false idea of how efficient Compass were. They proved a lot better than the start had been. Good if cars had seatbelts that worked. 0nly 1 or 2 did. One driver told us you don't need them in India which we thought was a touch optimistic on his part! Very good guides at all places.

Highlights for us, amongst many great things, were Taj Mahal which is unbelievable in its impact and the Ganges. Never sorted out tipping. I think we dramatically over tipped generally but also got a bit annoyed on the odd occasion (or rather I did not David). Eg At FP the man who unpacked the car needed a tip.

Then the FO supervisor escorted us to the room and two boys carried the bags up to our eerie. All made clear expected tips so tipping 4 to just get to your room struck me as excessive. I did not know what would have happed if I had just tipped one and waved the others away.

Noticed at Rambugh Palace that they appeared to recognised this issue generally and made clear that tipping was not expected. Must be me! But I think I understand tipping in other parts of Asia and US.

Many thanks again Sue

Regards

Michael
AUSTRALIA