Our Taxi Trip for the Weekend From Ahmedabad to Rajkot Did Better than I had

It began, in truth, as a last-minute idea. My cousin contacted me on Thursday night to ask whether we would like to meet her in Rajkot the following weekend. My wife and I looked at each other - at times excited, and then thinking about the logistics of it all in our minds. We hadn't left Ahmedabad for months. The timing was not ideal. Sometimes, you have to accept the offer and work out the rest later.

We thought about the train for a moment but the trains that were decent were already reserved. We could drive ourselves? We weren't enthusiastic about navigating the more than 220 miles of Gujarat highway traffic, while juggling snacks, playlists and my wife's propensity to sleep in the company of Nadiad. We did what seemed normal and booked a cab.

We chose to use Real Rental Cabs following a recommendation from a friend of ours. I booked the Ahmedabad for a Rajkot taxi online, the night prior and in a matter of minutes, received confirmation of the driver's details. To be honest, I had hoped for more friction than this.

The Morning We Left

The driver picked us up outside our home in Satellite around 7:15 am. Our driver was calm but the friendly guy known as Rameshbhai was almost on time. This has been a reality for anyone who's had to deal with taxi logistics in India you'll know isn't something you can be taken for granted.

The car was a well-maintained Dzire with functioning AC that sounded like the sound of a low bar. But believe me, after having a few negative experiences with smelly cabs I really like a clean interior. He helped us load our bags without asking and confirmed our destination and we were on our way at 7:15.

Departing Ahmedabad on the morning of a Saturday is not as chaotic as you imagine. As soon as you cross the SG Highway, and then merge onto the Ahmedabad-Rajkot expressway, the city is exhaling. The roads become open. There's something peaceful about it, it's as if the city is sleeping and you've slipped away quietly.

What the Drive Is Actually Like

If you haven't taken this road in the past, you may not appreciate how excellent the infrastructure for highways in Gujarat has become. The expressway is truly smooth and well-maintained. It has large lanes, and decent signage. There were a few trucks but there was nothing that hindered us for a long time.

Rameshbhai seemed familiar with the roads. He didn't even need a GPS once the expressway began and he even took an unintentional detour through an infrequent area close to Botad without a word of explanationHe just sat back and quietly adjusted his course, and was back on the right track. That kind of subtle ability is exactly what you'd want from drivers who travel long distances.

If you're thinking of an identical Rajkot road journey The drive will take approximately between three and three-and-a-half hours, depending on the area in Ahmedabad where you begin your journey and which direction you are heading in Rajkot. We stopped for a pit stop at a dhaba about the midpoint but not to fill up but due to the smell of freshly made tea and theplas was too overwhelming to drive by. Rameshbhai was awed when we stopped.

A Small Digression About Why We Didn't Just Drive

A few of our guests thought we were unprofessional by taking a taxi to such a short distance. "It's barely 220 kms," one of our friends told us, as if we were being a bit extravagant.

But here's the deal: when you purchase an one-way taxi service for a trip out of town it's not just taking a charge for the distance. You're paying to not have to be focused at the wheel. You're paying for the ability to read, nap and debate about what to eat for dinner, and in general, just enjoy being a passenger. My wife read a half-length novel during the trip. I listened to the podcast I'd been wanting to get around to listening to for a while. We didn't arrive with a lot of stress.

Also, consider the more practical aspect. Tolls, fuel and the wear and tear of your car add much faster than what most people consider. We did some rough calculations and found that the cab was much more affordable than it first appeared. Particularly for one-way trips that you'd normally drive back on your own.

Booking the Trip: Easier Than Expected

I'd like to take some time on this as I was really amazed. I've used several taxi companies for travel outside of the city in the past, and my experience was anything from smooth to a bit chaotic. Not receiving confirmation messages. Driver numbers that are not answered. Disputes about the price at pickup.

Through Real Rental Cabs, the booking of cabs outstation was clear and straightforward. Pricing upfront before you sign there are no hidden charges added following the booking and the driver's contact information (name vehicle number, name and contact number) were delivered via SMS prior to the pick-up time. I didn't need to contact anyone to confirm any information.

This may sound like a minor thing, however, when you're planning a trip on the night prior and you're already feeling a little worried about details, a seamless booking experience will reduce the tension. It helps set the tone for your entire trip.

What Rajkot Is Like If You Haven't Been

We stayed two nights which made me think about why I really like Rajkot quite a bit. It's certainly not a small city in any way. It's the fourth-largest in Gujarat however it's not the raging urban sprawl of Ahmedabad. There's plenty of room to breathe. The old city districts are filled with tangled streets filled with old sweets and havelis shops that appear to aren't much changed from the 80s. Pedak is the local milk-based sweet, and is worth looking up if you haven't had the pleasure of trying it yet.

We visited the Jubilee Garden one morning, wandered through and around the Rotary Doll Museum with my cousin's children (surprisingly amusing) and then ate from a local restaurant my aunt has been to for a long time. It was not Instagram worthy, but just tasty food and a peaceful afternoon. This is the ideal type of vacation.

If you've been on Gujarat Highway taxi journeys from Surat as well as Vadodara, Rajkot is worth including in the itinerary. It has a distinct character which doesn't come through loudly and you'll find it on the way.

Coming Back

We chose to make only one way booking to return instead of trying to find Rameshbhai to return us. The return was booked via the same booking platform, the same seamless experience, but with a different driver. The return journey was a bit longer due to the fact that we left in the afternoon rush hour, but it was feasible.

A thing I noticed was the driver returning us was from Rajkot initially, and he knew all the routes through the city in order to take our vehicle to the main road quicker. Local experience is something you can't acquire from reading from a GPS.

The Ahmedabad taxi service aspect of the process and the pickup on our return executed well, too. They confirmed the pickup location earlier in the evening, and then arrived exactly when we requested.

Who This Kind of Trip Is Good For

I'd suggest this method to everyone who would like to take an excursion on a weekend without the burden of extensive planning. This isn't just for those who don't have cars - a lot of people we know own cars, but still opt to hire taxis for longer journeys since they don't want to be tasked with driving.

Families with children particularly and the security of not having to be the driver, while managing children with a lot of restlessness is worth the effort. This is also true for older travellers or anyone who has back problems or those who would like to get to their destination feeling refreshed some.

If you're considering this as an Rajkot trip guide kind of guideline, the shorter version is: get there with no stress, allow yourself a minimum of a day and a half for exploring and eat in places that you've heard of from your friends in the area and don't forget to buy local snacks to take back home. The return trip is more enjoyable If you're at ease in the car.

What We'd Do Differently (Not Much)

I would have liked to leave a bit earlier, i.e. at 6:30 rather than 7:15. The extra time in Rajkot would have been great, especially as the winter sunset seems to be a little short. We also overpacked and that is a common problem for us, and it is not related to taxi service.

This is the complete set of regrets.

Final Thoughts

There's a kind of trip that I would describe by the term "low-effort, high-return." That was the case. We didn't have to plan for a long time, didn't run into any issues and returned feeling like we'd taken an enjoyable break. It's not every time you'd like.

It was the long distance taxi experiences -- such as the performance of the car and the reliability of the driver, the ease of booking made a huge difference. When travel logistics operate in a quiet manner and the journey itself is made to be the focal point. That's the way it should be.

If you're located in Ahmedabad and are considering the possibility of a trip to Rajkot or, in truth, anyplace in Gujarat is worth looking at realrentalcabs.com -- particularly their taxis for outstations prior to reverting to trains or attempting to convince someone else to join an auto-pool on the road. Sometimes, the most straightforward option is the most effective one.

We're already planning our trip to Dwarka in the month of April. Same approach, different destination. I'll let you know.