Ingrid Milton - Delhi to Kovalam Holiday Tour, India

Back

Ingrid Milton took part in our Customer Delight Programme and was kind enough to share her holiday adventures with us. She visited India in February and had an elaborate itinerary that took her from Delhi to Kovalam, with many stops in between. Find out more about her holiday in India and all that she has to say about her experience with Southall Travel.

You booked a luxury holiday to India. Was it your first time in the country and what inspired you to visit India?

I always wanted to visit India and explore some of the country!

You stayed at some of the best-known hotels during your journey across the country. How was your experience at the different resorts?

New Delhi: The Park Hotel: Central, clean and very busy
Agra: Double Tree by Hilton - The most modern, clean hotel but in a deserted area! Excellent breakfast
Ranthambhore: The Pugmark - Typical safari lodge bungalows, clean but very dated, bathroom facilities could be better
Jaipur: The Ramada - Good quality hotel as all Ramada hotels in the world, clean and great breakfast in a busy area with shops.
Jodhpur: The Ummed - We were warned by guides that this would be the most basic hotel, but we liked it, generous bedroom, clean but totally outside of city centre. However we experienced an Indian wedding there and were invited to join it.
Udaipur: Shikarbadi Hotel, again totally away from the centre, clean with its own charm surrounded by dear, peakcocks and monkeys.
Kovalaam: The Leela, an excellent clean and modern hotel, great breakfast and food. The beach next to the hotel is not very nice!

Your itinerary hints towards your fondness for the wildlife. How was your time spent at Ranthambore National Park and Shikarbadi, Udaipur? What would you share with our readers and fellow travellers about exploring wildlife at these places?

After Safaris in Zimbabwe Ranthambore was a great disappointment, dozens of jeeps full with tourists one behind the other. Hair raising jeep rides not for the faint hearted. However we spotted a tiger on our afternoon safari, sadly only in the distance! It all added to our adventurous trip!

You visited some of India’s most well-known palaces, monuments and forts. Which impressed you the most and why?

The Taj Mahal was very impressive but so many people are let in at the same time. The magic got a bit lost amongst the crowds.

Fatehpur Sikri was very interesting. The Jaipur City Palace complex and Jantar Mantar Observatory impressed me most, if only I could recall all that we were told! Every fort had its own history and tales and the guides were very knowledgeable.

You spent considerable time in Kovalam. How was your experience there?

Great Hotel! Safe area to walk around and explore. Definitely not a very nice beach!

As per your feedback, you really enjoyed the Indian food. What impressed you more - the rich north Indian fare or the flavourful southern delicacies?

We ate Indian food during most of our stay and enjoyed the great variety of curries. We stuck to vegetarian food which was imaginative and never got boring!

As we ate most of the time in our hotels it is difficult to say what food is like in families and local eateries. The guides warned us off eating out.

How happy were you with the great value deal you booked for your holiday to India in February, which is a peak season when the country attracts lot of tourists?

The weather was favourable from the cold wet English temperatures but we paid the price of many tourists in all the places of interests. The Indian tourists far outweigh the European tourists.

What tips would you like to share with travellers who are planning a trip similar to yours to India?

Although we liked the knowledgeable guides in all the places of interests, we were sometimes over loaded with information.

The tipping got on our nerves I would rather that the guides are paid by agents and a cost added to itineraries.

I suppose tipping is the nature of India!

You are recommending Southall Travel already. What did you like the most about dealing with us

The most I like about dealing with Southall was their polite, patient agent William. He always got back with answers to all my questions!

Thank you William!