New Delhi (DEL) Where to stay and what to do for one night

[SeatBackForward]

Security at Indian airports was (and I expect still is) very strict. I had to show same-day ticket, passport and maybe some other ID?? to enter the terminal. Security inside the airport is run by the army, in full uniform with arms.

Certainly in the past they wouldn't let you into the terminals earlier than 4hs before your flight as well.

 

[SeatBackForward]

Please check your VISA and entry eligibility!

 

[k_sheep]

Well sadly BA have cancelled my flight and put me on another which left before it arrives (ah the joys of a 318k OWA). So now I only have like 12 hours in Delhi! Will still try to get a quick tour in (have got my visa already).

 

[Gremlin]

This is a link to part of our drivers web site with his contact details & a simple outline for a 1 day look around Delhi-he will adapt things to your preferences Contact Us

Sorry to relaunch a dying thread, but Mrs G and I have a few days to be tourists in Delhi after we attend a wedding early next year. @RB did you use Heritage India Private Tours for day trip sightseeing or did you have them organise accommodation and airport transfers as well?

I'm torn between sorting my own hotels and transfers or just getting someone local to do it for me.

 

[Daver6]

I'm torn between sorting my own hotels and transfers or just getting someone local to do it for me.

If you just sort out the hotel then ask the hotel to arrange airport pick-up/drop-off. Charged to the room. Easy-peasy.

 

[daft009]

Yeah too many dodgy/dirty hotels in India to let someone else pick IMHO

 

[RB]

Sorry to relaunch a dying thread, but Mrs G and I have a few days to be tourists in Delhi after we attend a wedding early next year. @RB did you use Heritage India Private Tours for day trip sightseeing or did you have them organise accommodation and airport transfers as well?

I'm torn between sorting my own hotels and transfers or just getting someone local to do it for me.

Our whole 4 week trip was with Magan & the hotels were generally booked by him after we had discussions. Delhi is obviously a little different with so many choices & areas to pick from. There are heaps of tour groups/companies who will show you around Delhi & I would be guided by finding someone you feel comfortable with after your initial correspondence. Our times in India have shown there is a vast difference between someone who just drives you between sightseeing spots (glorified taxi drivers) and someone who knows the details of what you are looking at.
I think the transfers, if between hotel & airport, could be done on the metro particularly if you consider that when you book the hotel

 

[RooFlyer]

@RB did you use Heritage India Private Tours for day trip sightseeing or did you have them organise accommodation and airport transfers as well?

If I may but in - I've also used Magan (Heritage India Pvt Tours) to suggest, and after I've checked them to some extent, book many hotels in India for me. All successful and many fantastic ones I'd never look at researching myself. Also of course sightseeing.

One story I like to tell: We went to one major attraction. There was a large scrum (that's the most apt word!) of people in front of the ticket booth. I groaned at the chaos and potential time. My driver/guide had no issue - he simply walked up to the side door of the ticket booth, talked to the guy inside, bought the tickets and in we went.

In Delhi, I got the airport hotel to pick me up when I arrived, and Magan's guy picked me up next morning, and delivered to airport at the end.

 

[Gremlin]

Thanks for the feedback.

We're there for a wedding. The wedding itself is just outside of Agra. The bride to be has organised transfers and accommodation upon arrival at DEL the first night. We're then travelling with the group to Agra for sightseeing and then onwards to the wedding where, again, everything is taken care of. After the wedding the group will be taken back to DEL and we can then make our own way onwards after that.

The trip back from the wedding venue leaves around lunchtime on the Monday and we'll fly home on the Thursday night. One option we're contemplating is to abandon the return drive with the group and instead go with a guide (sounds like Magan may be a good option) to Jaipur. Overnight then Tuesday seeing the sights of Jaipur. A second night in Jaipur before heading to Delhi on the Wednesday morning. A day and a half sightseeing in Delhi before heading to the airport Thursday evening.

The other option is heading back with the group on the Monday followed by a more relaxed three days in Delhi sightseeing and relaxing.

It will be Mrs G's first trip to India. I've been before, but only to parts of the South.

Any thoughts as to which option would be best?

Also, any suggestions for finding a shower on the Thursday afternoon/evening before we fly out? We won't officially have lounge access at DEL (Mrs G and I are both VA WP. There's a chance that Mrs G won't make requalification and will drop to SG. We're travelling SQ and SQ print "VA Plat" and "VA Gold" on their BPs. We have had luck being admitted into AI Lounges before with a "VA Gold" on a SQ BP being mistaken for *A Gold. But we're not banking on it).

 

[Daver6]

Thanks for the feedback.

We're there for a wedding. The wedding itself is just outside of Agra. The bride to be has organised transfers and accommodation upon arrival at DEL the first night. We're then travelling with the group to Agra for sightseeing and then onwards to the wedding where, again, everything is taken care of. After the wedding the group will be taken back to DEL and we can then make our own way onwards after that.

The trip back from the wedding venue leaves around lunchtime on the Monday and we'll fly home on the Thursday night. One option we're contemplating is to abandon the return drive with the group and instead go with a guide (sounds like Magan may be a good option) to Jaipur. Overnight then Tuesday seeing the sights of Jaipur. A second night in Jaipur before heading to Delhi on the Wednesday morning. A day and a half sightseeing in Delhi before heading to the airport Thursday evening.

The other option is heading back with the group on the Monday followed by a more relaxed three days in Delhi sightseeing and relaxing.

It will be Mrs G's first trip to India. I've been before, but only to parts of the South.

Any thoughts as to which option would be best?

Also, any suggestions for finding a shower on the Thursday afternoon/evening before we fly out? We won't officially have lounge access at DEL (Mrs G and I are both VA WP. There's a chance that Mrs G won't make requalification and will drop to SG. We're travelling SQ and SQ print "VA Plat" and "VA Gold" on their BPs. We have had luck being admitted into AI Lounges before with a "VA Gold" on a SQ BP being mistaken for *A Gold. But we're not banking on it).

Maybe try for a late hotel checkout so you can shower there and then head to the airport?

 

[kermatu]

Jaipur is absolutely worth a visit. That would be my recommendation.

 

[k_sheep]

Not sure your airline or lounge access. QF don't have a lounge there at the moment and you get a meal at the Irish pub. It's pretty average.

Now for me to close the loop! I had a 12 hour stopover, which turned into about 10 hours with flight delays. Did a day tour with Magan which was very good. Another vote for them.

Now for the good news - they no longer send you to the pub! Bad news - they send you to the holiday inn which is just awful. Absolutely no where near big enough - 3.5 hours prior to the flight there were no seats remaining (at all, not just that people were hogging seats - none). No showers. Dirty toilets. The most disinterested staff I've ever had the pleasure to deal with. No power points. No alcohol other than lukewarm kingfisher beer. No diet soft drinks. TV didn't work. Wifi was <<1mb/s and unusable. Food was stale sandwiches, watery lukewarm chicken and some dry cake.

We actually left the lounge as it was far more comfortable in the terminal. We even ended up buying an overpriced beer and coughtail in the irish pub just to be able to watch the cricket test final!

Absolutely dire lounge situation though. Why on earth don't OW have a lounge there???

 

[Gremlin]

Just wanted to loop back on this thread and say a big thankyou to @RB and @RooFlyer for recommending Magan Singh's company Heritage India Private Tours. I'll pull together a proper TR at some point, but Magan's team were outstanding.