New Delhi: Tour of Feroz Shah Kotla, Safdarjung's Tomb by Car

We received an email requesting the exact location of our hotel and we answered
We were not given any information about
Pick up time
Type of car
Driver/guide name and phone number
Very poorly organized almost a last minute rush job that was outsourced to the C team
Very old vehicle not expected for an upscale La Vacanza Travel tour
Driver Sitaram very grouchy and irritable
I speak fluent Hindi and was appalled listening to him convincing the free lancing guide to modify the tour due to time and traffic
He was steering us to free sites first like the Lotus temple and. Prominent local temple knowing Delhi traffic that we would run of of time for the big three Humayuns tomb, Quitub Minar and Red Fort
He recommended strongly against Jumma Masjid and old Delhi Chandni Chowk stating it is too crowded in the evening
Mind you I gave them the list of places and trusted them with logistics
Our poor guide was excellent and did a great job trying to salvage the day but was overruled by the cantankerous driver who was borderline obnoxious
The driver suggested a dump for lunch as it was lose by and convenient and he was too lazy to drive
We declined and the guide picked an excellent place and we paid for the great lunch that was to be included in a very overpriced package
In the guides defense when we exited the Restaraunt, he camping running to us offering to settle the tab. Too late. I will write that off as an honest miscommunication and he seemed upset that we paid but I assumed since we did not eat at the dump, we should pick up the tab. I was unaware that the nicer meal tab would be covered and I was presented the tab at table.
I have since realized that for a fraction of the price the hotel travel desk could have arranged a nice A/C car for 50 for 8 hours and a free lance guide for a paltry sum of money.The tickets to the monuments are around 35 in total.
My advice to La Vacanza Travel
1. Dont drop standards
2 Change your local vendor vetting process
3. Price the tour fairly
4. Hold local vendors accountable
It seems like all he did was subcontract with driver, guide and make a huge profit.
By the way my second La Vacanza Travel tour to Agra was flawless and awesome on the next day and will be reviewed separately
Good luck
Gerry John

This was a private car/guide/tour. Guide arrived at the hotel promptly! His english was good, but...I still had some problems understanding him and we have several Indian friends.Until my ear adjusted, I needed him to speak a little slower. I was surprised not pleasantly at the age/condition of the car. It was an older model, and well worn! Considering what I was paying for a private car/guide/driver, not at all what I expected. I looked like a last minute OMG we need a car! On the drive into Delhi I was staying in Aerocity the guide mostly conversed with the driver. I had to ask what various interesting looking building were. The tour itself began with a visit to the Mosque, and walking through the streets of Old Delhi and then on to the significant historical sites. From this point on my guide was very knowledgeable and thorough. In Old Delhi there was one stop at a spice shop where I got the feeling I should buy some spices to take home I didn't, and a stop at a jewelry shop where I was offered water -but no real pressure to buy. I loved walking the streets of Old Delhi and the Pedi-cab rides. And I appreciated when I said I would rather skip lunch but just get some cold refreshments that that's what we did. His knowledge of the historic site was excellent and there was never any pressure to leave to go to the next site. As a woman traveling alone, I felt completely comfortable, and I had a very pleasant re-vist to Delhi after 17 years.