Just checked in for my Nth stay at the Oberoi, and while this hotel still has its charms--mostly the restaurant and the pool, plus the service--it is really getting old and tired as far as room decor. I've just come from the Grand Hyatt in BOM, which these days is my favorite place to stay for business in that city, and the fusty old rooms here at the Oberoi are very jarring in comparison. I've been coming here for 10+ years and I think they might have installed new faucets in that time, but that's it!
I wrote off the Taj Palace years ago for the same reason. But where can I go these in DEL that's modern and updated, reasonably well located for meetings (I have to go all over Delhi plus Gurgaon and Noida), and well equipped with good food and service for the business traveler? I'm not fussy about brands, just want the quality.
Last edited by travelmad478; Oct 2, 09 at 1:02 am.
You could try the intercontinental on barakhamba road / connaught place - central enough for DEL and close to a metro stop too (which given DEL distances will probably be the best way to commute for a while). The old wing looks like something out of a 70s era communist hotel, but the new wing is all glass and wood - angular designs etc. Very nice.
I stayed at Hans Plaza on Barakhamba Road many years back, and found them to be very good (particularly their rooftop restaurant with a view, should be good now that winter has started to set in). Not too far from Intercontinental, so the rest of hserus' advice can be applied there too.
If you have work in Delhi and Gurgaon, why not try the Radisson - very close to the airport, and therefore only a short/reasonable drive to central Delhi (by Delhi standards, of course ). And its virtually at the Delhi-Gurgaon border, so the only thing you'll need to worry about is Noida.
The Leela Palace near CP is great, just off Barakhamba Road, if you need to be more central. I haven't stayed at the Shangri La yet, but many people I know tout it as one of the nicest in Delhi. If you're down in Gurgaon, then there's the Leela Kempinski.
Where is the Shangri-La? And how old is it? I know the Leela has been around for ages so that's probably looking as tired as the Oberoi by now. I'd love to stay at one of the new places in Gurgaon but it just makes a lot more sense for me to be in Delhi--at least half of my work is there, and getting back and forth to Noida from Gurgaon would be a nightmare.
Where is the Shangri-La? And how old is it? I know the Leela has been around for ages so that's probably looking as tired as the Oberoi by now. I'd love to stay at one of the new places in Gurgaon but it just makes a lot more sense for me to be in Delhi--at least half of my work is there, and getting back and forth to Noida from Gurgaon would be a nightmare.
The Shangri-La is a handful of years old and one of the newer high-end properties in central New Delhi that came up this decade. I consider it a good location for New Delhi proper -- if you know the Ashoka hotel, it's near there -- and a decent value given DEL pricing. [The hotel was built on the location of a previous hotel that was completely gutted after being sold off by the government.]
The Aman is overkill in terms of price.
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Based on some quality feedback I got here a couple months ago, I stayed at the ITC Maurya for a week when in Delhi. I was going to Gurgaon every day, and as long as we left at a reasonable time (8am or so), we were there within 30-40 minutes.
I was very happy with the hotel, food, etc.
Against my will, I also stayed for about a week at the Hyatt and although the public areas and gym were great, I was thoroughly unimpressed with the rooms (and I saw both the renovated and unrenovated). I also felt like everything was more expensive there (food, laundry, etc.).
In addition to the ITC and Hyatt, I also had a room at the Radisson near the airport for a half day due to a very late departing flight. It doesn't look all that nice from the outside, and I wouldn't want to be located there for an extended period of time, however I was really impressed with the gym and food. Much better than expected. If you're really focused on minimizing time in traffic, this might be worth serious consideration.
Based on my experiences, I vote for the ITC. Good luck.
Thanks--I think I'll give the Shangri-La a spin next time. That location sounds good. Staying near CP would probably add 20-30 minutes to my drive to and from meetings each day, so being up there is probably less desirable. As for the ITC, that hotel too is rather long in the tooth. In my most recent stays there (admittedly, several years ago) it seemed that if you got a Club room you'd be OK, but the non-Club floors were not too great. I do love the chocolate turtles they give you in the Club rooms, but that's probably not a valid reason to stay there!
Thanks--I think I'll give the Shangri-La a spin next time. That location sounds good. Staying near CP would probably add 20-30 minutes to my drive to and from meetings each day, so being up there is probably less desirable. As for the ITC, that hotel too is rather long in the tooth. In my most recent stays there (admittedly, several years ago) it seemed that if you got a Club room you'd be OK, but the non-Club floors were not too great. I do love the chocolate turtles they give you in the Club rooms, but that's probably not a valid reason to stay there!
I think they are all classified as Executive or Club rooms, for whatever that's worth.
I was in a "Luxury Room" and was also shown an "ITC One" room, but thought the Luxury Room was large, well laid out, and fairly modern. But I guess that's open for interpretation.
Thanks--I think I'll give the Shangri-La a spin next time. That location sounds good. Staying near CP would probably add 20-30 minutes to my drive to and from meetings each day, so being up there is probably less desirable. As for the ITC, that hotel too is rather long in the tooth. In my most recent stays there (admittedly, several years ago) it seemed that if you got a Club room you'd be OK, but the non-Club floors were not too great. I do love the chocolate turtles they give you in the Club rooms, but that's probably not a valid reason to stay there!
I think they are all classified as Executive or Club rooms, for whatever that's worth.
I was in a "Luxury Room" and was also shown an "ITC One" room, but thought the Luxury Room was large, well laid out, and fairly modern. But I guess that's open for interpretation.
It's the ITC One wing that I meant. Those rooms are a lot nicer. Anyway, I've got another 6-8 months to contemplate all this now...just wound up my DEL trip. Thanks to all.
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If you dont mind Gurgaon
The Leela Kempinski is the newest hotel 3 months this has a good gym and pool a great italian and a multicuisine restaurant. Also an Indian but have not eaten in there.
The rooms are large and have great showers, The hotel is next to the biggest shopping mall in the NCR region so if you want a taste of local life just go into there where there are also a number of other eating options. Cinemas etc.
The Marriott Gurgaon should also open this month so is brand new but lacks a pool I am told.
). And its virtually at the Delhi-Gurgaon border, so the only thing you'll need to worry about is Noida.
