The worst thing happened to me when preparing for my upcoming travel to India. In fact, I should be enjoying the sights and smells of North India at this moment. However, I received a call just three weeks before my plane was scheduled to whisk me off to Mumbai. My travel agent called to inform me he was double booked and could not accommodate my itinerary. His small, boutique agency is only 1 of 3 agencies I’ve worked with in all my years of travel in India. Feeling sucker-punched, I had no option but to contact a different agency in hopes of salvaging the preplanned itinerary.
Finding an Indian travel agency can be a bit of lesson in patience. Of course I tapped the referrals from my list of contacts first, only to be led to dead ends, unreturned emails, and several unanswered responses after initially receiving welcoming words. I scanned my favorite travel guide books and read forums. I looked through state tourism sites with recommended agencies, all in a futile effort to get someone to respond to me with positive news. Finally two agencies emerged. These are the two companies any tourist of India should contact first when planning a trip.
Hello Travel
Consider them a travel middle-man. Hello Travel fields request from prospective travelers and then shops your needs to their network of trusted agencies. What does trusted mean? Hello Travel pre-qualifies individual agencies for service and quality before referring any traveler. All you have to do is fill out a brief travel requirement form stating dates, locations, and interests. A travel expert will contact you with tour options and pricing. Pick the one that best fits your budget and needs. It’s that simple. Start to finish, a fully planned trip can be secured in less than a week.
Go Heritage India Journeys
This travel agency, with offices in India, UK, Spain and USA, is serious about travel. I received a response email within 5 minutes of my initial inquiry. Less than 30 minutes passed before I had a dedicated representative working with me on my travel plans. Within 24 hours, a detailed itinerary was sent to me. And within 48 hours a complete travel plan with pricing was presented. You won’t find that from any other agency in India. Go Heritage has 26 India offices which ensure travel is smooth and efficient. No hiccups or surprises here.
