And mind find out if we can get lots of honeybee Irishcolleen

Hampi is dry (alcohol wise) when we went the room boy brought it upstairs in a cardboard box. Then later in the restaurant anyone who wanted a beer went into a seperate room to drink it!!!
Have a look on daytrippers site - he does a good 3 day trip by train. Just had a look at it and it is 45 pounds. We went with them a couple of years ago and enjoyed the trip.

We went to Hampi with Daytripper, when you arrive you can upgrade your room [recommended].
The hotel they use is the Malligi which has a website with lots of photos and information. The hotel has 2 restaurants which are both really good, they didnt do Honeybee but something similar which I cant remember the name of. Its a 5 star and when you see the prices you realise how much you are ripped off in Goa. We had a great time.

Thankyou narial and jettii for getting back to me so fast jettii is the hotel daytrippers use the 5 star one ?I had a look on T/A and the hotels look awful I know its India but it really is awful looking ...has anyone ever went with john's boat tours or Footprints and what hotels do they use please ?......I had a look at a report for this hotel (Prayadarshini ) sp I deffo dont want to go there

Daytrippers book you in to the annexe of the hotel [I think its the original and they built the 5 star around it] Its not very nice but you can upgrade into the proper hotel which is very nice, it even has lifts . The restaurants and bars are very nice, the staff are superb and it has a swimming pool. As I said the hotel has its own website which shows you the rooms, restaurants and loads of stuff about Hampi. Hope we get to meet up in November, I think we arrive the day before you

If you email Eddy at daytripper he will give you all the info you want - very helpful - best travel company in Goa.

Malligi is definately the hotel. supposedly 4 star .... LOL! Hampi is definately not Goa... this is India for real.

If you have the cash you can hire a driver and a 4 x 4 DO NOT GO BY STANDARD TAXI it will not be comfortable enough or robust.

Myself and partner did the trip by getting up at 5AM and got driven up the Ghats and on to the Deccan plateau... UNBELIEVABLE then on to Hampi ... 8 1/2 - 9 hours hours in total. We should have stayed an extra day as we came back the next day and arrived back in Candolim at 7PM.

I think we paid 7000 RS ... a lot of people thought we were crazy doing it this way (including taxi driver). Normally 4 share a 4x4 but we had spare cash and I wanted to stretch out or have a sleep in full aircon with sound system. I also wanted to stop and take photos. AN AMAZING experience I will NEVER forget.

I have heard the train is great also.

I'm in the process of uploading a load of images of Hampi to FLICKR and will post link in an hour or so.

Thankyou Neil I cant wait to see your photos ..did you stay in the Malligi hotel ?and was it ok ..thing is hubby wants to go on the train so im told to bring a cushion for your B** as the seats are made from wood and im told the train is about 6 or 7 hrs

The train takes ages but is really interesting, amazing views of the waterfalls and all kinds of foodsellers at the stations, really cheap and nice. It isnt very comfy but but not unbearable. The Daytripper reps actually take you to your seats so you dont have the hassle of having to move people yourself if they are in your seat. Its a sleeper train so if you get fed up you can climb on to the top shelf for a snooze or a read. Dont wear anything good cos you will get covered in the red dust. The only thing I didnt like about the trip was the toilets but I know you have travelled in India so you know what to expect. As Big Neil said its not Goa but the hotel is better than what you get in Goa, the rest is a bit grim

It is a long day - we left Calangute at 6 am and got to Hampi about 11 hours later but had a great laugh on the train with the other people on the trip. We took a picnic with us (no meat) although you can buy food on the train and at stations on the way but not brilliant. Omelettes at the stations ok.
One thing to tell you about the train - beware of people - mainly children - stealing anything that you are not keeping your eye on. On our train quite a few bags went missing stolen either by the train kids or people putting their hands through the open windows when the train stopped. I always take one of those bead filled cushions on the plane and it goes on all our train journeys - another essential is a toilet roll and some of the hand cleaner gell or wet wipes.

OH jettii what do you mean the rest is a bit grim come on tell me I would rather know dont wait to you meet me in november to tell me tell me now...colleen

you'll find some info here as well

I wondered what the grim bit is - we didn't find anything grim

Ok... here's the photos... http://www.flickr.com/photos/neilwarden/sets/72157606677398361/

The Mallagi .... make sure you get the most expensive room and get to see them. I stayed in the rooms in the old part ... to the right of the reception. The rooms had clean laundry, aircon, etc but were pretty filthy... circa 1960. I've heard there are much better rooms... can't remember prices but was very cheap.

But seriously if you are put off by the train (if you have delhi belly or are getting over it... avoid probably) get a good driver, we stopped off at a few villages on the way.... amazing greenery, fields of chillis and harvested into huge piles, oxen transporting people, was like something out of time gone by.

I think we also stopped of at Hubli for a rest and had a soft drink. Ladies... cover up, I even got odd looks wearing shorts. Mind you there were no foreigners around a lot of places we stopped at so we were the centre of attention... I'm 6'3' so I can't help but draw attention.

Anyway enjoy the photos.

Sorry that should read ..... 'to the left of reception'.

Brill photos thank you so so much Neil I cant wait now to go ...colleen

Yep absolutely fantastc photos, thanks Neil.

Colleen
We've been to Hampi 2 or 3 times.
We've not used Daytrippers although we did go to Mumbai with them and they're well organised.
We booked with a number of different places (John's Boat Tours being one) and always ended up with MeloTours.
Pickup at hotel is very early (before dawn) and both days on the tour breakfast was at 06:30, it's a tiring tour so make sure you plan your holiday round it.
Melotours stay in Hospet, the hotel Malligi is also located in Hospet.
If you get chance, do take a stroll round the town, it's very different to Goa.

It's great value for money and a fabulous trip.

Hi Gemma,
We went a few years ago and it was great. The htel we stayed in had beer and spirits.
Don't try to do it independently, take a tour. You need a guide in Hampi and sites are quite far apart so the tour has the bus meet you at various places and you walk in between.
The train journey adds interest.
You will love it.