Why two quotes for the same trip can differ
Quotes are built from different assumptions: a different hotel category, a different meal plan, a different vehicle, a different number of days on the road, and different things left out. A difference in price may simply be a difference in scope. The way to tell is to line the quotes up item by item.
The items to ask about
| Item | What to ask |
|---|---|
| Local transfers | Are the airport or station pickup and drop included, and is a transfer within a destination included? |
| Entry and activity tickets | Which tickets are included, and which do you buy yourself? For the Gondola, tickets are booked online by each traveller through JKCCC. |
| Parking and tolls | Are they in the vehicle price? |
| Driver allowance | Is the driver’s food and stay covered, or charged to you? |
| Waiting or overtime | Is there a limit on the day’s hours, and what happens beyond it? |
| Local vehicles | Are there places your own vehicle cannot enter, and what does the local vehicle cost? In Pahalgam the valleys use a local union vehicle, paid locally. |
| Heating | Is room heating included, or charged separately by the property in the cold months? |
| Extra beds | If a child or third adult shares, is an extra bed or mattress provided, and at what charge? |
| Meals | Which meals are included, and are lunches included? |
| Taxes | Is tax included in the price quoted? |
| Changes to the route | If you change a stop or add a day, how is it priced? |
A reusable checklist
Make one copy for each quote you receive. Write “yes”, “no” or the amount, and keep the written confirmation beside it.
| Item | Included? | Quantity or duration | Extra charge | Written confirmation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airport or station pickup and drop | ||||
| Transfers within destinations | ||||
| Entry and activity tickets | ||||
| Parking and tolls | ||||
| Driver allowance | ||||
| Waiting time or overtime | ||||
| Local union vehicles | ||||
| Room heating | ||||
| Extra bed or mattress | ||||
| Meals (which, and lunches) | ||||
| Taxes | ||||
| Changes outside the quoted route |
How our own plans state their exclusions
As an example of how a plan can list what is not included, our six-day Srinagar – Gulmarg – Pahalgam plan states that it does not include flights or train tickets, Gondola tickets, the Pahalgam union vehicle, ponies and entry tickets, lunches and personal expenses. It includes the private cab with fuel, tolls and parking, breakfast and dinner, and GST. Compare any quote, ours included, against a list like this.
Your quote, not this article, is what governs what you are paying for.
Before you confirm
- Get the quote in writing, with the items above stated.
- Ask what happens if you change dates, route or group size, and how it is priced.
- Ask what is awaiting confirmation, such as a room that is not yet held.
- Keep the written confirmation with your booking details.
Questions This Article Does Not Answer Above
Are parking and tolls extra?
It depends on the quote. Our plans state that the cab price includes driver, fuel, tolls and parking; for any other quote, ask.
Are taxes included?
Our plans list GST as included in the quoted price. For any quote, ask whether the amount shown includes tax.
Can a hotel charge for heating?
Some properties may. We do not assume it either way, so ask for heating to be confirmed for your room.
Why does one quote look much cheaper?
Often because it covers less. Put the two side by side with the checklist before you decide.
Next Step
Send us a quote you have received and we will help you line it up against the checklist, or ask us for a quote that states each item.
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About This Article
Published by Kashmir Tour Plan, a Kashmir-based planning team. No individual author is named. It contains no operational claim that needs a dated check.
- Inclusions and exclusions quoted here are from our package record for Srinagar – Gulmarg – Pahalgam (5N/6D). The questions are general and do not describe any other operator.