BootsnAll Travel Community

Help!
I am to lead a group of 12 college students to Calcutta. So far, I am pissed off by how much our local travel agent is trying to rip us off (among others, who, in any case, are all conspiring to rip us off).

we're being quoted aprice for the YMCA in calcutta which I happen to know is a complete and utter DUMP for 30$ per person , per room per night for a TRIPLE which means $90 per night per room. Now I dont know much about much but im damn sure we could stay in a NICE place for $90 a night in calcutta.

im so pissed.

so i am ALMOST to the point of "firing" the travel agent and doing the legwork myself to save us from getting ripped off...this means, of course, a hell of a lot more work for me which sucks. anyways, she sure didnt appreciate a conference call i just had with my supervisor on this topic...she was very defensive, used terms like "commissionable rate" and almost told me to f off.

ive posted on this elsewere on boots and have a few good leads (which led me to the conclusing om being ripped off here)

so i need these two things:
1. encouragement that its a good use of my travel savy to appy it to this trip and save my students 100s of dollars

2. advice about WHERE to stay in calcutta near Sudder street.

3. a reminder of what the fok ive just undertaken here.

ugh. i need a DRINK.

You are probably getting ripped. This site lists Calcutta

quote:

YMCA as $5. YMCA, 25 Chowringhee Rd. (292192) (below $5)
YMCA,42 SN Banerjee Rd (244 3814) (below $5)
Youth Hostel, 10 Ananda Dutta Lane, Howrah (692869) (below $5)
YWCA, Middleton Row (290260) (below $5)

Bombay one has a website and the Calcutta rates should be in the same ball park as Bombay (rupess 45 is 1 dollar) :

Individual Tariff
Rates are per room per night without service charge.
Room Type Rupees Advance Deposit
Single Occupancy (A/C) 665 1000
Double Occupancy (A/C) 920 1500
Single Room (Bath Attached) 565 1000
Double Room (Bath Attached) 810 1500
Single Room ( Common Bath ) 435 700
Double Room (Bath Attached) 660 1000
Extra Person (Bath Attached) 300 -
Extra Person 300 -


I would just suggest calling Calcutta directly - (91-33) 249 2192, 249 2111.

Go for it. (Using your savvy and while you're at it the drink too.) $90 a night is just ridiculous. You should be able to find a nice place for less. It wouldn't surprise me if there are $90 rooms in Calcutta for international chains or something...but, as I'm sure you already know, staying somewhere more local/normal/whatever will be much more interesting.

That is a total ripoff for YMCA...a good 3 star hotel will cost that much not budget hotel.

Zopa..check Indiamike.com they have more people who have been to India and locals as well...maybe you can get some help there with the specifics. Lot mroe local Indians participate in that forum.

yeah call the hotels directly...rates are pretty cheap to India. if you get a calling card it should max like 15cents a min...if not AT&T costs like 48 cents. I pay 12 cents a min to India.

Madhu
p.s I have not forgotten the little book..will send soon.Or maybe give it to you in person when you come visit bay area.

Yes, you are completely getting ripped off.

Two years ago a friend and I paid $25 total for a double with cable TV and aircon. And since I spent about 36 straight hours in the room deathly ill, it was well worth the amenities. Well other than fact that the hotel staff would come by about every 2 hours trying to offer me water, etc. Anything to get a tip. Drove me crazy when I just wanted to suffer in peace and quiet.

I'll be in Calcutta possibly for a day in the beginning of October and definately a few days mid November if you want me to check anything out for you.

this is why i love bootsnall. people are knowledgeable and friendly.

at the travel agent rate, wed have to pay something like $3600 to rent four nasty-ass rooms for 10 days. gimmie a foking break. thanks for the ymca number for calcutta, i have had a hell of a time trying to locate that.

yes, when you are in calcutta, please have a look around, if you are able to get a quote from the y itself, that would be helpful.

thank you all
zopa

ps
i am open to any/all other suggestoins

Yeah, you are right to be angry. Those rates are absolutely insane. Either the travel agent is a complete dumbass and doesnt know how much rooms cost in Cal, or she is trying to take one of the biggest rips ever. Either way you should ditch her and do the leg work yourself...

quote:

Originally posted by Supraintendent:
Yeah, you are right to be angry. Those rates are absolutely insane. Either the travel agent is a complete dumbass and doesnt know how much rooms cost in Cal, or she is trying to take one of the biggest rips ever. Either way you should ditch her and do the leg work yourself...

man, homegirl hates me i have pointed out to the powers that be that shit, we dont need to PAY THIS LADY TO "PROCESS OUR VISAS" FOR US when that entails me driving them to her travel agency and her sticking them in an envelope with our money, that service is worth approximately, uh, nothin' since i have to use up gas to do it.

ugh.

im on a rampage. look out, world.
zopa

Yeah there's a difference betw marking something up for honest service & just ripping people off because you can (or think you can).

Dump her Zopa! You're right to be mad.

okay, so the powers that be told homegirl that we will not be needing her services on this one (shes beenworking on this program for over ten years) uh oh. now its on me to do these details...but i really couldnt justify what she was trying to do to us.

thanks for the encouragement.