A great way to travel!
India
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Mar 23 - Apr 5, 2024
We are so happy with our experience with Kimkim/Active India. Everything was well organized, which made our trip hassle-free. In particular, our two drivers (Mr. Puran and Mr. Sherin) were excellent. They made sure we were safe and comfortable the entire time we were with them, which was nice since they were the "constants" on our trip. While all our guides were good, Mr. Devinder in New Dehli and Mr. Virendra in Jaipur were superb. Devinder did a great job of being flexible with our schedule to make sure all of our time with him was used to its full potential. Virendra's historical and current knowledge of Jaipur made our tours with him very interesting and informative.
One thing to note: the guides will take you to vendors where they will receive a commission on sales. In general, the vendors offer quality items, but you have to be firm and comfortable putting your foot down to say 'no thank you' to your guide and vendor if you aren't interested in purchasing anything.
Hotel Reviews
We only stayed one short night while being transferred from Rajasthan to Muunar. The hotel was clean, and the staff was friendly. The best part of the hotel is the rooftop bar/pool area with a large-screen TV. Breakfast offered both traditional Indian and Western fare.
The hotel was great, but we were here at the tail end of the prime season, so it was quiet (not necessarily a bad thing). In fact, we were redirected from one of the restaurants that was supposed to be open. The hotel sits perched on the side of one of the mountains and is viewable from the tea plantations and town below. The views from this hotel are AMAZING, and the massages are good also. The rooms were just the right size, and the staff was friendly.
We were told the houseboat would travel through the canals, allowing you to see the small villages. What actually happens is you boat out from where you board for about an hour with about 10-15 other boats, some of which passed within touching distance. Then, you boat the hour back and dock next to a house where the boat can connect to their electricity. While our cook and captain were friendly enough, they spoke little to no English, so my husband and I couldn't really ask any questions about what we were seeing, what we were eating, etc. Also, while there are lights on the boat deck, they're quite dim and a funny color (pinkish?). As a result, we ended up going to be quite early. If we were to choose again, we wouldn't do this again.
This was our last stay for our two-week visit to India. Forte Cochi is such a cute hotel with a lot of character! Our room was spacious and clean, the beds were very comfortable, and the staff was outstanding! The hotel is also located in a cute part of the city with shops all around. We will definitely stay here again.
We stayed two nights at the Metropolitan Hotel & Spa while in Dehli. The hotel was clean, and the employees were nice and attentive without being overbearing. We ate breakfast each morning at the restaurant, which had plenty of Indian and Western options. The only negative aspect of this hotel is that the Wi-Fi connection was adequate in the common areas but spotty in the rooms.
Our stay at the ITC Mughal was very nice. The hotel & rooms were clean, comfortable, and spacious, with many options in common areas for exploring and lounging. The staff was friendly, and the breakfast included in our stay was a massive buffet with Indian and Western options. We also got a massage while staying here, and it was well-priced and good.
Several friends from India recommended Chokhi Dhani to us. So, in fairness, I don't think we had the right expectations when we arrived. We just trusted their recommendation without much research. Chokhi Dhani is a resort modeled after a traditional Rajasthani village. Each room is designed as an individual "hut/house." In the evening, the grounds around the rooms were dimly lit, and few people were eating in the restaurant or outdoor buffet area. I'm guessing that most guests were next door where the shows, activities, shopping, and traditional Rajasthani restaurants are located. However, the dim lights and sparsely populated grounds were offputting. Regarding the activities next door, they were okay, but they seemed kind of cheesy. If you were visiting with children, I think it would have been more fun and interesting. Also, when we entered, we were told not to tip the performers, yet we had several who directly asked us for tips. The activities and shows are free, but it's an additional cost if you want to eat. It wasn't terrible - the rooms were clean, and the service was good. It just not what we had anticipated or wanted.
We stayed two nights at the Royal Heritage Haveli, and our room was HUGE! Built in the 18th century, they have done a very nice job of remodeling the building while keeping its integrity. The hotel is quiet and tranquil because there are only 18 rooms - a nice retreat after sightseeing all day! We ate one dinner and two breakfasts at the hotel, all of which were tasty.
Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts about your recent trip to India! We are pleased to hear that your experience in India was wonderful and that both you and your wife enjoyed every moment of this journey. We truly appreciate your kind words and appreciation of our team. On behalf of the entire Active India team, we thank you for trusting and choosing us to organize your India tour.
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