We have booked flights to India in January and need to find a reliable travel agent in Delhi. We are looking for assistance in booking up our intended travel itinerary within India. Christine Pugh, Evesham

A Sunday Times travel expert responds: Many UK based tour operators can help with your arrangements too, even if you have already booked your flights separately. However, there are some excellent Indian agents who will be happy to assist you, and going directly to them will often be considerably cheaper. At their best, these agents are friendly, efficient, and a pleasure to deal with. They can book everything from a ticket to a Kerelan dance performance, to full tours with accommodation, transport, and guides.

In fact, UK tour operators almost always use a local company to make the necessary bookings and plans. They call them "Ground Handlers", and they save them having to base staff overseas. So chances are that you might end up benefiting from the local knowledge and products of the same local company anyway.

Delhi is chock-a-block with small agencies vying for your business, particularly around Connaught Place, but it's tricky choosing a reliable one just from the name or the look of the office. Here are some companies that you can feel confident in dealing with. You should remember that if something goes wrong though, you won't be protected as you would be by booking through an ABTA travel agent in the UK.

I'd suggest contacting Potala Tours (00 91 11 372 2552, www.potalatours.com), Wanderlust Travels & Tours (00 91 11 3092 0231, www.wanderlustindia.com), Swiftravel International (00 91 11 23347616, www.swiftravel.com), or Creative Travel (00 91 11 246 79192, www.travel2india.com).

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