Hi
I need a nice hotel for 2 nights not far from the airport at the end of March. For the moment I have book a Club Floor room at the Leela Kempinski (165 USD a night with limo transfert, buffet, cocktail, lounge, fruits, buttler, ...)

Have you some comments about this hotel or some other ones not too far from the airport ? I will stay about 30 hours (just a short meeting... 15 min maxi).


Thanks

Herve

Leela used to be the nicest airport hotel back when it was a Kempinski franchise, but its quality has fallen in recent years. It is still a very nice property, but I hear more and more people say how it is slipping.

There are now other excellent hotels even closer to the international airport than the Leela, notably the Sheraton, the Hyatt and the Meridien. I find the Meridien to be rather tacky and ostentatious and the Hyatt a bit too overbearing, but the Sheraton is a wonderful property with excellent facilities. Given a choice, I would go with them.

Yes, The Leela in Mumbai has frayed somewhat but it is still a reasonably comfortable and luxurious hotel. I have stayed at Hyatt Regency three times since it opened in Dec 2002 and it has steadily gone downhill in terms of service. Neverthless, its proximity to the airport makes it an attractive candidate. The Grand Maratha Sheraton, situated next to the Hyatt Regency, is plush and luxurious. Next door to it is Le Meridien. Finally, the new Intercontinental Grand is the latest entrant in the loop of 5-star properties in the vicinity of the international airport in Mumbai.

If I had to vote, I would at the present time choose Grand Maratha Sheraton (especially the ITC One rooms in the tower). I think the rate of $165 for Leela is at least $30 too high.

Another vote for the Grand Maratha Sheraton. ITC Sheraton is finally getting its act together, and the rooms/restaurants are much improved--I've eaten at some of the restaurants at the Maratha. Two weeks ago I stayed in the "ITC One" wing of the Maurya Sheraton in Delhi and the room was extremely nice, vastly better than the old wings of the hotel where I'd stayed before. Not to mention, the chocolate-almond turtles in the candy dish in the room are amazing. I hope you get them at the Maratha too. I ate about 15 of them.

Thanks for your advices.
The Sheraton is more expensive for a basic room than the Leila for the package in the Club floor bith buttler, transfert, drink, lounge, ... I don't know I suppose that I will anyway follow your advice and go to the Sheraton...

Thanks again

Herve

Yes, those chocolate turtles are amazing. I stayed at the Rajputana Sheraton in Jaipur and was thoroughly impressed, especially with the restaurant, Peshwari.

I do not know what constitutes "near the airport" but I'd take J.W.Marriott at Juhu Beach - I stayed at ITC and JWM - If great food and restaurants are of importance to you, then ITC wins hands down.....

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by akhullar:
I do not know what constitutes "near the airport" but I'd take J.W.Marriott at Juhu Beach - I stayed at ITC and JWM - If great food and restaurants are of importance to you, then ITC wins hands down.....</font>

By "near the airport" I mean something you can get to within 5 minutes of driving in Mumbai at peak hours. It takes about 20 minutes to get to J.W. Marriott.

The rooms at J.W. Marriott are disappointingly small. I stayed on their Executive Floor once and when we got to our floor there was a posse of policemen squatting in the hallway leading to the rooms. Utterly shocking, it was. Apparently some big cheese politico had checked in on that floor and this was his security detail. I complained to the hotel management and after some coughs and apologies they had the area cleared. The JW has a good lobby though. The restaurants were mediocre at best. I am talking about mid-2002, perhaps things are different now.


[This message has been edited by agtoau (edited Feb 24, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by agtoau:
Apparently some big cheese politico had checked in on that floor and this was his security detail. </font>

Which politico is not big cheese in India?!?! http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttravel_forum/rolleyes.gif

Yes, The Leela in Mumbai has frayed somewhat but it is still a reasonably comfortable and luxurious hotel.


This is an update on my earlier assessment. We stayed at the Leela Mumbai in July 2005 and were pleasantly surprised. The hotel has just undergone a major renovation in its infrastructure and the new rooms are stunning. There are all the implements of modern hi-tech living (plasma flat-panel TV, wireless connectivity, thoughtful switch points etc) and the re-done bathrooms are bright, spacious and sparkling. We stayed there twice, the first time on the Privilege Club floor. The rooms (Deluxe Premiere) on both the occasions were similar. Even the service throughout the hotel has become more sharp and attentive.

With this, I think Leela Mumbai is back in the game, after being soundly beaten the past 2-3 years by all the newer properties in its vicinity (Grand Maratha Sheraton, Hyatt Regency, Intercontinental Grand etc). The Leela Mumbai is also offering bargain rates at the moment to attract their former patrons.

Any new reports from this hotel?
I will be there in about 2 weeks and wondered how the renovation held up and what to expect.