My wife, kid and myself visited Jaisalmer during October 2010. We travelled by our Hyundai Verna and drive ourselves. We stayed at Hotel Jaisalgagh, which is good value for Money Hotel. My feedback on the Jaisalmer is follows:
Pros:
Amazing fort and Havelies ( Temples inside fort area are wonderful). Once must visit place in India.
Many Good Luxury hotels available. (we went during weekdays and in off season, so we got a good deal, but as I learnt, during the vacations you will only get quality rooms for minimum Rs. 5000 + with clean washrooms, bedsheets and car parking)
Hotel Jaisalgarh is a good place to stay. Do not expect much for food quality, but they are fair in efforts to satisfy thier customer. Good and new property to enjoy your stay. But you need your own Vehical otherwise you will not able to visit town, since this hotel is little far from town. Most of the Luxury hotels are little far from the town.
Sam is the village name, where the sand dunes are very polular. It is 40 Km from Jaiselmer and you need vehical to go this place. Swiss tent is the famous accomodation here in an open sky with local dance & camp fire. Even you get DJ playing "Munni" with drinks to hang out !!!!
Roads are very good, if you can drive your vehical, it is fun and most comfortable way to explore Rajasthan.
Cons:
- Making indian and forginers fools at Sam Sand duns. In Gujarat, We have better Desert at Kutch. Here you can not see an Ocean of Sand, only few sand duns to see. Money exploiting activities from tourist like expensive camel ride, expensive tent accomodation etc. We are in off season and rates are sky high. Middle man making money like Hotels and agents for Safari Bookings.
Suggestion : Negosiate at the Sam Sand dunes palce itself. Not at Hotels and with Agent. Negosiate on Hours, not on a sunset trip with Camelwala directly. You will get good ride in Rs. 300 for two hours, otherwise you may pay upto Rs. 1000...and still in control to agents....
- Misleading photographs on website by almost all the hotels. As an Indian, it is less shocking but for the forigner, it is a shock, once they will not get, what they have paid for.
Suggestion: Ask for every thing, like swimming pool, camp fire, healthclub, poppet show before check in and the charges for the same.
- All Taxiwala and Guides are working together to make you fool. At Sam Sand duns, you are forced to take a dinner at desert camp. Travelwala or Texiwala will only pick you up after the dinner. We are lucky, since we have our own car and we left the place on our wish. Other wise, you are on mercy of these guys, since the palce is far and no other mode of travel is available. People approach on bikes to you, once you enter in the city and forced you to follow them.
Suggestion: Go with your own car and drive your self. You will be king and no one can drive you. Just say sorry to all Bike riders firmly otherwise they can mess your trip.
- Guides are the same dishonest and irritating as all other places in Rajasthan. They exploit you slowly -- slowly like first charge for fort visit, than charge for palace visit inside the fort , than charge for visit to Havelies. They want you to purchase things rather than sharing the history in fort area. If you ask, you will get the information.
Suggestion : Negosiate for all three places together from the morning.
Hope, My information and feedback will be useful to you during your visit to Jaisalmer.