Heather
·
August 5th, 2025
Our tour experience was wonderful. Sonia was able to design a trip the met the interests of our group. We were a group of adults and teens so it was important we learn and experience the Indian culture. Our Golden Triangle tour definitely did this! Our guide Vivick was very knowledgeable in Indian history and took very good care of us. We were taken to restaurants with a variety of international cuisine choices. Our driver was amazing navigating the chaos on the roads. I would highly recommend Joyful Holidays!
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Dear Heather Stengel,
Thank you so much for your lovely review! It was a true pleasure crafting a journey that matched the interests of your wonderful group. Designing a trip that could engage both adults and teens while immersing everyone in the...
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Our tour, guide, and driver were all exemplary. I felt comfortable, safe, and well taken care of. Vivek, our guide, was extremely knowledgeable and really enhanced our experience by sharing so much great information.
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Dear J Carlson ,
Thank you so much for your kind words! I’m truly delighted to hear that your tour experience was everything you hoped for—and more. Knowing you felt comfortable, safe, and well cared for means the world to us.
Vivek will be thrilled...
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White glove service from start to finish. Our guides and driver were all exceptional. The history and information they were able to provide at all the sites and along the way was fantastic, as well as their ability to answer all of our off the wall questions. Very personable and pleasant to be around. Sonja was also great to work with and very prompt in all of her communications, and her personal story is an inspiration to women everywhere. Thank you for providing a great experience in your country!
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Dear David Schoenecke,
Thank you so much for your incredibly generous words. It was an absolute honor to be part of your journey through India, and I’m thrilled to hear that the experience felt like white glove service from start to finish.
Our guides...
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This was a family trip for four night and five days. First day was tour of Delhi— heavy rain was slight challenge. Second day, we left early morning to Agra where Taj Mahal is. It took Approximately 3-4 hr drive to arrive at the hotel. Grand Murcure was very nice hotel and we were given a room with view of Taj Mahal. Around 5 pm, we were greeted by local guide who was extremely knowledgeable and respectful. He helped us tour Taj Mahal for evening sight seeing and next morning early visit to Taj Mahal. It was highlight of our entire tour and my family enjoyed every moment of it. Our tour guide at Agra made everything smooth and gave thorough history of the Taj Mahal which was entertaining and educational. Due to such an overwhelming experience at Taj Mahal, I didn’t know what to expect at Jaipur. However, Jaipur had its own unique surprises and my family had another wonderful day of informational entertaining tour. We were guided by another local Jaipur guide who was also very helpful and knowledgeable. At Jaipur, student ID is required for children of foreigners to receive student price (usually 1/2). Also most places only took cash for admission fee. I found out exchange rate is the worst at the airport and it’s easy to find exchange places while traveling so no need to change lump sums at the airport. Also, Using Uber was cheaper than getting around by taxi .
Sonya (owner of the Joyful Holidays) was very personal and attentive. Our driver was also very prompt & helpful. The entire team worked diligently to make our experience worth some of the obstacles we encountered. Would recommend Joyful Holidays for exploring India.
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Dear Jacob Oh,
Thank you so much for sharing such a thoughtful and detailed account of your family’s journey through India. It was a true pleasure to help design your four-night, five-day adventure, and I’m so glad to hear that—despite a few weather...
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Pascale
·
April 24th, 2025
This tour was really fantastic and superbly organized by Sonia, who checked in with us every day. The sites were each more beautiful than the last. The drivers are excellent, attentive and keep us well hydrated.
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Dear Pascale Bracke,
Thank you so much for your lovely feedback, We're absolutely delighted to hear that you had such a fantastic experience. Sonia will be thrilled to know her daily check-ins and thoughtful planning made a meaningful difference to your...
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Pascale
·
April 22nd, 2025
Thank you for the excellent work of the guides. All very friendly and considerate.
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Dear Bracke,
Thank you so much, We're truly grateful for your kind words. It’s wonderful to hear that our guides made a positive impression with their friendliness and thoughtful care. We believe that great hospitality makes all the difference, and...
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Thank you for a wonderful trip to India. Everything was planned exceptionally well to make the most of my time there. Nothing was too much trouble for my driver Raj as we travelled around the Golden Triangle to the sound of Bollywood tunes. The guides who escorted me along the way had a wealth of knowledge which brought the sites we visited to life. Really a 5 star holiday and as a single woman travelling alone, I can honestly say I felt safe and comfortable throughout.
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Dear Ann Seery,
Thank you for your kind words! We’re thrilled to hear that your journey through the Golden Triangle was planned to perfection and that Raj made your travels smooth and enjoyable—Bollywood tunes included! It’s wonderful to know that our...
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Ian
·
February 27th, 2025
If you choose this company your tour will become an experience of a lifetime. Everyone involved is friendly, organised, knowledgeable and professional. How they can be so organised in a place like India is nothing short of miraculous.
Our guides Karan, Sanjay, Wasim and Neeru were superb -teachers and protectors. Special thanks to the scholarly and compassionate Sanjay and Neeru for their support and understanding at a sensitive time for us.
Finally, special thanks to our dedicated driver for the entire tour, Raju… a magician behind the wheel and a ninja of the road. He was always there when we needed him and we will miss him. Peace and happiness my friend.
Mr Ian and Patsy.
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Dear Ian Lewis,
Thank you for your heartfelt review! It’s truly wonderful to hear that your experience was nothing short of extraordinary. We're so glad that Karan, Sanjay, Wasim, and Neeru made your journey insightful, safe, and memorable, not just...
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THERESA
·
January 26th, 2025
Making History in the Golden Triangle
For this trip, I was continuously amazed as this solo guided tour with driver and guides starts from Delhi either from the airport or your hotel. The timing worked well since returning was after the holiday parade for me. This particular tour gives options for the star quality of the hotels, so if common necessities are needed, go a star higher. Most of India’s hotels are completely different from each other. Get your hotel list from the organizer as early as possible. I did a three star option, and was already prepared with most of my necessities. It included towels and shampoo/gel/kettle. Breakfast styles vary. Your driver will guide you to general stores as needed, so take a shorter lunch break each day if needing necessities.
In Delhi, there are photo op stops and visits through mosques, memorials, and monuments with the landscaped government buildings as a visual treat. Lunch suggestions included both local and western food menus. My guide, Indu, gave a personalized touch with cultural descriptions and a lovely tea time presentation of locally made rugs, scarves, and traditional clothing. My suggestion is to only do one gallery presentation for the five days and explore other markets the rest of the days. Make sure you know where the ATMs and services are throughout the day, as your driver can stop for you.
Taking the train to Agra was really easy since the company organized the purchase of the ticket. Navigating through the train station is self-explanatory, but the drivers are available as needed. The train ride was mixed with larger tours, so interacting was fun. There’s also a food tray offering with tea.
During this tour, I was guided through the Red Fort and Taj Mahal. Weather adjusted the order of sightseeing. Anushka was my guide for this day full of historical knowledge. He personalized the sightseeing with well-timed transitions. Lots of hidden gems while in Agra were highlighted with painted murals throughout the city. Fatehpur Sikri and Abhaneri Stepwell had amazing photo ops. Both my driver Pooran and guide Bandi are great at taking photos. There are temples and markets in these areas, and they can both guide you where it is good to shop.
There’s a cute rooftop lounge in Agra called The Salt Cafe. In Agra, you will see more monkeys, so it’s best to ask the driver for transport or request a hotel near the business streets. My driver Pooran was from Agra also, and he navigated the 5 days with exceptional service. He even accompanied to the local shop when needed!
Jaipur involved two nights of stay in order to get an earlier start back to Delhi on Republic Day. Jaipur is very alive with palace museums and courtyards as well as shopping, so let your guide know if you prefer to see the walking markets over the distributor galleries. Jaipur is where you’ll see more elephants, camels, and cows. You’ll also see the manicured areas of Hawa and Jal Mahal structures while roaming through Amber Fort and City Palace. The Jantar Mantar Observatory was a nice end to the guided trips with Ydilip. He was able to read the crowd and time transitions well. We found two great spots within the attractions for coffee and tea times. Amazing views! There is more shopping and live artistry inside these sights. Pooran was ready for pick-up at each spot every day since he collaborates timing with all guides.
Note that all sights have a special foreigner price, all cities have similar shops with different prices, and most items can be bought with card readers. Cash Only signs are very common though. Some price quotes you will get in Euros or USD, so ask sellers to specify.
On the way back to New Delhi, you’ll have a chance to eat and shop more at the Dawat Restaurant. It’s at the mid-point of the 4-5 hour drive which has scenic views of mountains, farms, and more. For me personally, it was a good first-timer solo-tourist trek. I should suggest more market time and hotel location consideration for ATMs/necessities.
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Dear Theresa Mam,
Thank you so much for your detailed and insightful review! We're delighted to hear that you had an amazing solo guided tour through the Golden Triangle. It's wonderful to know that the timing, hotel options, and the guidance of our...
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Andrew
·
January 22nd, 2025
Well organised, clean and comfortable high quality hotels booked. Saw everything as promised, our taxi driver was an excellent and safe driver. Only dropped 1 star as two initial guides for Delhi & Agra were mot top notch, the first joined us for lunch without invite and declined to pay anything, the second just seemed disinterested in being our guide. However both were invaluable, as were the two subsequent guides, inobtaining the correct tickets and entrance for foreignets and
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Dear Andrew Sir,
Thank you for your feedback. We're pleased to hear that you found our tour well-organized and enjoyed the high-quality hotels and safe driving. We're sorry to hear about your experience with the initial guides in Delhi and Agra and...
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