Anyone have experience on this? We're thiking about doing train through Rajistan next winter

http://www.palaceonwheels.co.uk/

An FTer had booked a cabin on Palace on Wheels. You might want to ask them about their experience.

Palace on Wheels

My wife and I took the Palace on Wheels a few years ago ---- and absolutely loved it. It's important to note that it was on our first trip to Rajasthan (and to India), and that spending only a week seeing the highlights of Rajasthan would probably be a great disappointment for an experienced India traveller. Our journey was end of Jan. - beginning of Feb. and we therefore enjoyed perfect, mild weather throughout the week. Our car attendants were absolutely top-notch (it was the 25th Anniversary year of the Palace of Wheels, and we therefore bought the Anniversary souvenir book, and I was not surprised to see that our attendants had been with the train for all 25 years!), and our fellow travellers were absolutely lovely. The onboard service was very attentive, but more importantly, when we were off the train there was lots and lots of unobtrusive security folks making sure that none of the passengers ever got lost or subjected to any inconveniences. Superb management.

Very, very highly recommended for first-time visitors!

[P.S. I think that you'll find lots of threads on FT re the Palace of Wheels. Unlike the thread that Yastri linked you to, we had no problems with our reservations.]

We also took the Palace on Wheels in conjunction with a National Geographic tour, and thoroughly enjoyed it. Do not expect modern mod cons, though it is indeed "luxurious" in an Indian standard, and reminds one of the very old fashioned trains of yore, with lots of colour, even pomp. Your "Khidmatgar" and his assistant are at your beck and call in your coach, dinners are sumptuous (breakfast is put together at the end of your coach by your khidmatgar and can be quite basic and variable and the khidmatgars are very, er, practiced and rigirous at getting your tip - perhaps the only and minor flies in the very nice ointment,) and the excursions are memorable.

I'd highly recommend the entire trip of seven days' duration, and I'd add a week for other touring (e.g. Delhi / New Delhi and area, etc.)

The official Palace on Wheels website is pretty descriptive and useful.

I have not been on the Palace on Wheels, but the practice of asking for tips, I assume that's what you are talking about, is quite common. I find it very annoying. I do not know if it happened to you, but some of them would even complain that the tip was too low.

No tips were solicited by anyone in our carriage. We were more than happy to tip well, as we received truly outstanding service throughout the week. We received whatever we wished at breakfast (fresh fruit, hot/cold cereal, eggs, ham/bacon, coffee/tea exactly as ordered), our cabin and washroom were spotless, our laundry was cleaned, we were always accompanied to/from group activities (i.e. bus departures/arrivals), and our requested pre-breakfast cuppa was always delivered to our cabin on time and with a pleasant wake-up smile.

I wonder if JDiver's experience may have been impacted by being part of a tour that only spent a few days on the train, as opposed to the full week. Seven days of impeccable service would not require an explicit tip solicitation, whereas 2 - 3 days .... especially if their breakfasts were only "basic".... may have generated a different dynamic.

its well worth the money...easier to see and do allot since you are not hassled by constantly changing trains and busses and hotels...