I had a very bad experience with the package tour to Shirdi from IRCTC. Unfortunately I didn’t check the
existing reviews before booking this tour. I suggest people to not get cheated by this tour package and
book the train berth and hotel on their own.
I booked the AC tour package on double sharing basis. The cost for each person was Rs. 5, 500. They
provided both ways AC 3 tier train berth, transfer to and from Shirdi to Kopargaon Rly station by AC car
and AC car to and from a place 75 km from Shirdi. Also, food coupons were given for meals in the train.
To start with, the food coupons were valid only for a particular type of breakfast/meal, which is also given to
other people for Rs 19/25. There are some other type BF available for the same price, but are not provided
to coupon holders.
There was no reserved car available for us when we reached Kopargaon Rly station. The concerned people
in Kopargaon told us that they did not receive any notification for this. And when I contacted people in
Bangalore, they told that the vehicle got punctured. We had to share a car with 9 other people for reaching
shirdi. Four people sat on a seat for three. It was pathetic.
Same thing happened in the hotel. The hotel manager told that he did not receive any notification. At last
we got a room. The room was in very bad condition. It was dirty, TV was not working and the AC controls were not working. We spent time in getting the room cleaned and removing cocroaches instead of taking rest.
Next day, the reserved car came on time and things were better. Breakfast for that day was included in the package, but teh hotel guys told that they don’t provide this.
I don’t see this package as value for money considering the kind of hotel room we got. Our total expenditure
would have been Rs. 4000 less if we havn’t taken the package, and we would have got a better room as in that case we can see the room before booking. The train tickets cost Rs. 4000 for 2 persons, the hotel room was available at Rs. 1200 and the car and food coupons should not cost more than Rs. 2000. So, the total cost is at most Rs. 7500, but IRCTC took Rs. 11000 for this.