Good part
• Very safe and skillful driver, showed excellent patience.
• New Innova Crysta in excellent condition
Not so good part
• At Chandigarh airport, we requested the driver to bring the car to exit gate as we were travelling with a senior citizen and a special child. Driver refused it citing some excuses and made us all walk with luggage all the way to parking under scorching sun. That did the first damage for my mother in law’s knee to ultimately becoming bed ridden with pain during the entire Manali trip.
• Drivers are expected to be guide as well, for the local places. That part was totally missing. In fact, he misguided us on couple of occasions.
• Extremely reluctant to give stoppages even for food/snacks during long trips, leaving aside stoppages to take snaps.
• Always put his priorities over ours and very manipulative.
• Indiscriminate usage of phone while driving.
• We were travelling with a senior citizen & a special child and this was communicated at the time of booking with Trans Himalaya Travels (Ms. Ritu Lalta form sales) several times, highlighting the uniqueness of our situation.
• We requested 6 weeks in advance, for a 1+7 seater Innova crysta with 3 seater middle row. The car actually provided was 1+6 seater and with a makeshift seat in the middle which was of no use rather than causing trouble occupying space. While we requested our driver to do away with that seat /or place it on the top of the car, he was reluctant again.
• At the time of booking, we asked for a car with Himachal registration and local driver from Himachal who would be familiar with local roads. What we got a car registered in Punjab and driver from Chandigarh who was not familiar with local roads in Himachal much.
• Message from Trans Himalaya Travels (Mr. Ramit Chauhan) was – “please adjust it sir, this is rush season, we can’t provide you with alternate car or driver”.
• Tour itinerary made by Trans Himalaya Travels without any consultation/discussion with us. It was packed with the places which are more suitable for activity enthusiasts (like paragliding, rafting, bungee jumping etc.) and not meant for families travelling with senior citizen or a special need child.
• Package was inclusive of Rohtang. Though Rohtang was not open but cars were allowed till Marhi. But Trans Himalaya Travel could not arrange permit as promised. Instead, they took us to Gramphu, which was again not a place worth visiting and should be avoided because of narrow roads and lack of basic facilities.
• While travelling to Manali from Shimla luggage were not covered properly. Water seeped into all the luggage, making us stranded on the first day at Manali.
