re: India (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Udaipur)

I'll have to think in the old noggin about restaurants. Off the top of my head 1135AD inside the palace in Jaipur was a great experience and the food was good. We found some great deals at Trident hotels, which are very nice but not as expensive as Taj properties. We went off season and snagged $60 a night in Agra and $100 in Jaipur. If you want something simple, bloomrooms in Delhi was cheap but nice, along with another one that was in Connaught Place I'd have to check out, had a weird name (ETA: Hotel Bright). Those ones aren't for hanging around though, no pool or anything lIke that.

I'd also check to see if staying at any of the old palaces can fit in your plans. I believe there are a good bit available in Rajasthan and would probably be a great experience. I also don't think they are too expensive. I'll try to google an example of one that I believe is outside Jaipur.

Lastly, hotel reviews for mid range can be tough. I find Europeans/rest of the world has much lower standards than we do, so a 3 star to them can be close to a Motel in some random West Virginia town. They will mention they stay in Karol Bagh. Backpackers mostly from what I can tell. Seriously, frick that, not for me. That's around where you can do the street kid tour, not where I want to lay my head and pee into a hole.

I believe the palace hotels I was thinking of are called Samode. I'm sure there are a ton. Palaces there are like castles in Europe, everybody has one. But if you have the cash, spending on the luxury hotels is incredible and a one of a kind Indian experience.

ETA: The Spice Route restaurant in Delhi is an incredible atmosphere. Place is crazy detailed. At the Imperial Hotel.



Lodi (The Garden Restaurant) was another spot for atmosphere.
Karim's in Old Delhi is famous
Naivedyam in Hauz Khas I remember really enjoying and it was full of Indians so it had to be legitimate.

Don't know if you'll go to Udaipur, but we walked into this seemingly tourist spot right across from Jagadish Temple, and it ended up being really good. Waiter could only say "SIZZZZLER!" for my fajita-like sizzling plate, which was hilarious but very good. Wish I could recall the name but its touristy rooftop restaurant was literally straight across from the temple steps, while the other ones were slightly off to the sides if I recall correctly.

Ambrai in Udaipur is a great spot to eat at night.

We were in Agra only for a day, and I think we ate at one place that wasn't the hotel, and I recall it being fine and tasting Indian

The absolute worst places for food are the "tourist truck stops." You'll probably have to stop at these at some point with a driver. Make sure what you eat is hot but don't be expecting any thing amazing. Kind of hard to plan ahead for that time of day when you just need something and you are in the middle of nowhere, unless you want to try street food, which I stayed away from for the most part. Save that shite for Thailand