Delhi – Hyatt
A bit South of the action for tourists… more of a business hotel. Rigorous security! Cars must drive around a small entrance then have boot and bonnet checked as well as under-carriage with mirror. Then proceed onto Hotel property. Then must pass through metal detector and have bags checked before entering hotel. Not unlike the JCC in San Francisco. Gave Howard confidence but I’m not sure if it made us feel safe or threatened.
Modern Indian Luxury – free so it was great! Fantastic Service. Excellent fitness center and nice pool area. Choice of restaurants.
Agra – Trident
About 1.5 kilometers from Taj Mahal. Walkable.
Fantastically hip lobby, bar, restaurant, “W – like” , although too much Jasmine air freshener piped in.
Lovely grounds. Decent food
Rooms are serviceable but a bit sad. Completely out of whack with lobby.
Jaipur – Jai Mahal Palace
A palace built as hunting lodge for Maharaja and recently renovated. It’s still in the royal family so we considered ourselves guest of the King. It was a beautiful oasis in a hustle bustle city. Our luxurious splurge – complete with outdoor marble chess set – 2 – 3 foot pieces on casters. (picture)
Udaipur – Udai Koti
Central Udaipur – 10 minute walk from old City Center and most action.
A quirky boutique hotel in Raj style… lots of Hindu arches, mirrored mosaics, bowls of marigolds and Hindu statues galore! Rooftop restaurant and pool with nearly 360 degree views of Udaipur, especially City Palace, Lake Palace Hotels and surrounding hills.
Our room. Nice sized but so much English reproduction furniture with every surface covered that it was hard to know where to put our stuff. That said, it had a comfortable – full canopy bed – I used to call a princess bed. Now Marharani bed.
Probably wouldn’t stay here again.
Saw Amet Haveli (traditional ornately decorated residence – more like small palace), a Heritage Royal Hotel down the road… much more our style a bit more bare for about the same price. All rooms have lake view. MUCH better restaurant – see below.
Amazing experiences. How do you keep yourself from trying to help these people? I realize you can't but to see how so many people live is quite humbling.
ReplyDeleteHow is the smell there? I remember Barbara telling us she wouldn't let Paul in the house after his trip there!