HOW?

On my recent trip to India, I stayed at 10 hotels in 40 days. I made all my reservations by e-mail (mostly using the addresses found in LP), and never had a problem. Only two places wanted a charge to my credit card for the first night. All types of accommodations in Delhi, from four-star hotels to budget-range places, are used to travelers arriving at all hours, and to travelers' fights being late or cancelled.

Arriving at 3am is no problem in most places, and usually neither is a major flight delay. You'd have to ask the policy at each place you contact.

-- Steve

a lot of hotels have email addresses, and even websites. i've decided it's worth my while to reserve in advance, even if choosing a hotel with email will probably mean spending a tad more money than i could get away with if i didn't prebook.

you could also call them before you leave home. calling India for only a few minutes won't kill your bank account, and in a lot of places you can get special "international calling cards" with very competitive rates (usually around $0.10 per minute to India). check at gas stations and convenience stores in your area.

send an email and they will get back to you. They want your custom and will bend over backwards to milk your $$ from you. It will cost a fee for the pick-up, plus an extra non inclusive fee for the driver, the bell-boy and anyone else who somehow finds something that you need. They are poor and desparate - a few rupees is not a big thing to part with.
Anyway - YES!! email and pre-arrange a pickup at the airport. If you cannot find an email address or phone number for a place you wish to stay - the forum is open 24 hours/day for any suggestions. You will be much better off and less likely to be ripped off. (more than usual)

Oh - and they do not want your roupees up front. They want you there and will make sure that once you contact them - you will be there..

Many hotels will arrange airport pick-up for you if requested when you book or shortly afterwards. If they don't respond to your email, phone them, fax them or go somewhere else. It's worth while making your first hotel somewhere that can be booked online and is willing to arrange airport pick-up even if it is a little more expensive than you would normally pay. A safe comfortable arrival (and departure) is worth paying for.

Two times, by email, I've booked a room and taxi through Anoop Hotel in Paharganj. Anoop is not great, but it is OK for a night or two. It's a big hotel, popular with backpackers, and basically what you get is a darkish room with a bath. Most hotels in Paharganj are similar. Contact Anoop Hotel by email, tell them you'd like a room (indicate your preference for single, double, AC or non-AC, etc.) and also state that you'd like to have a taxi. Their charge for taxi will be about IR 350. You'll also need to provide them with your flight arrival details: carrier name, flight #, arrival time and an identifying name. They will email you back to confirm the reservation and also to give you the current charges. Last time I stayed, Sept 2006, a single with bath and fan was IR250. The alternative is to make a reservation for hotel room only, then take a pre-paid taxi, which will cost approximately IR250. Purchase the pre-paid taxi coupon from the pre-paid taxi kiosk at the terminal exit. I'm not sure this is the correct e-address of Anoop, but give it a try: anoophotel@hotmail.com

Alternatively, splash out on a posh hotel for the night of your arrival; always reliable in the airport pickup stakes.

I ended up taking a pre-paid to the anoop after booking a taxi pickup as the driver didnt wait because it took so long to clear immigration in Oct.05
food for thought...........................S.B.

Hote pick up s mostly charge 200-300 Rupees more than taxi tariff... but it is worth to be picked up early in the morning