Luxury Tour of India: Thoughts on these hotels?
#196
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Join Date: Apr 2017
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current thoughts Mumbai properties?
Unexpected three night trip to Mumbai this month and waffling between the flagship Taj and Oberoi properties, both have decent deals for suites. Given the monsoon season I realize weather is so unpredictable but among deciding factors for me is pool. The pool at Oberoi does not look nearly as nice as Taj but I am only basing this on a few photos and am interested in experiences? Interested in other aspects from those of you with experience to help decide between the two. Other properties that I should also consider? Location is not an issue as people will come to meet with me. Thanks and regards!
#197
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Unexpected three night trip to Mumbai this month and waffling between the flagship Taj and Oberoi properties, both have decent deals for suites. Given the monsoon season I realize weather is so unpredictable but among deciding factors for me is pool. The pool at Oberoi does not look nearly as nice as Taj but I am only basing this on a few photos and am interested in experiences? Interested in other aspects from those of you with experience to help decide between the two. Other properties that I should also consider? Location is not an issue as people will come to meet with me. Thanks and regards!
#198
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It looks like a really nice property and beautiful pool, thanks for bringing to my attention, I am going to consider after some more research. Is the Four Seasons still viewed as substantially below par compared to the other Mumbai luxury properties?
#199
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 323
+1
Exactly. That is why we considered and ultimately rejected the opportunity cost of a 1 day tiger safari at Sariska. The Aman staff were in consensus before and during our stay that almost no one sees a tiger at Sariska, agreeing with almost all reviews that I'd seen. We decided it wasn't worth the time or trouble.
Exactly. That is why we considered and ultimately rejected the opportunity cost of a 1 day tiger safari at Sariska. The Aman staff were in consensus before and during our stay that almost no one sees a tiger at Sariska, agreeing with almost all reviews that I'd seen. We decided it wasn't worth the time or trouble.
Please no one travel all the way to Amanbagh and do the safari on account of this and then not see a tiger and then be sad with me or the hotel though
As to inflexibility, Amanbagh has 4 levels of rooms. The package they are offering includes a guaranteed upgrade from the lowest tier to the second and from the third tier to the fourth. I had asked about the upgrade from the second tier to the third and their response kept glossing over this so I kept pushing -- and they finally said NO. I get the impression that the reservations manager I have been corresponding with exclusively is cut from the same "no waivers, no favors" mold that the airlines went through a while back. Maybe it's necessary to talk to the GM. I'll leave that task to the TA I ultimately use to make the booking, as Amanbagh gives absolutely zero incentive to book direct.
#200
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Hrmm, that's not what the Amanbagh staff told us. We took the morning safari to Sariska in May and saw a tiger in the first few hours. The Amanbagh guide works with the tiger reserve and we tipped one of the national park's trackers to help us find one and the tracker drove around with us until we did. We sat there for maybe an hour watching the tiger chill in the dam. I got the impression that the chances of seeing a tiger were more like 1 in 4 but it does depend on the time of the year.
We were there in January, a much cooler and less dry time. As much as I want to see a tiger, I couldn’t deal with the heat.
#204
Moderator: Luxury Hotels and FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Palo Alto, California,USA
Posts: 17,854
Could use a bit of help in choosing between two Delhi hotels. Have booked both, but reservations are cancelable. Both rates include airport transfers, club access, and breakfast. The room rates are pretty much the same, only $20 a night difference between them.
1. Oberoi --- Premier Plus room, 550 sqft, booked through Amex FHR, also get one included dinner
2. Leela Palace -- Royal Club Parlor room, 700 sqft, booked through "Discovery" to get a discount, includes butler service.
I'm leaning towards the Leela Palace. Please speak up if you have stayed at both or even either!
Thanks
1. Oberoi --- Premier Plus room, 550 sqft, booked through Amex FHR, also get one included dinner
2. Leela Palace -- Royal Club Parlor room, 700 sqft, booked through "Discovery" to get a discount, includes butler service.
I'm leaning towards the Leela Palace. Please speak up if you have stayed at both or even either!
Thanks
#205
formerly known as deathscar
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Hong Kong
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Posts: 2,096
Could use a bit of help in choosing between two Delhi hotels. Have booked both, but reservations are cancelable. Both rates include airport transfers, club access, and breakfast. The room rates are pretty much the same, only $20 a night difference between them.
1. Oberoi --- Premier Plus room, 550 sqft, booked through Amex FHR, also get one included dinner
2. Leela Palace -- Royal Club Parlor room, 700 sqft, booked through "Discovery" to get a discount, includes butler service.
I'm leaning towards the Leela Palace. Please speak up if you have stayed at both or even either!
Thanks
1. Oberoi --- Premier Plus room, 550 sqft, booked through Amex FHR, also get one included dinner
2. Leela Palace -- Royal Club Parlor room, 700 sqft, booked through "Discovery" to get a discount, includes butler service.
I'm leaning towards the Leela Palace. Please speak up if you have stayed at both or even either!
Thanks
Leela - the rooms are certainly nice but the whole place has a very 'faux' air about it (better done than most places I've seen, but still). Rooftop pool is nice but questions over how much you'd really use it at all in Delhi. The Japanese restaurant I ate at was extremely good value. Service was slow the short time I was at the hotel (getting someone to attend to me for what I needed etc).
Oberoi is a classic, but it also draws in a crowd because it's a 'place to be seen' (think Peninsula Hong Kong - not quite as bad though). I stayed here pre-renovation, and even then, it was superb. Sure the hard product was dated, but it was kept in excellent condition. Exciting to see what they've done with the refresh. Food is good throughout. Service was spot on. Really impressive considering the size of the hotel, the constant in- and out- of random strangers etc.
I would much prefer to stay at Oberoi than the Leela.
#206
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: USA
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Posts: 218
Been to both, stayed at Oberoi.
Leela - the rooms are certainly nice but the whole place has a very 'faux' air about it (better done than most places I've seen, but still). Rooftop pool is nice but questions over how much you'd really use it at all in Delhi. The Japanese restaurant I ate at was extremely good value. Service was slow the short time I was at the hotel (getting someone to attend to me for what I needed etc).
Oberoi is a classic, but it also draws in a crowd because it's a 'place to be seen' (think Peninsula Hong Kong - not quite as bad though). I stayed here pre-renovation, and even then, it was superb. Sure the hard product was dated, but it was kept in excellent condition. Exciting to see what they've done with the refresh. Food is good throughout. Service was spot on. Really impressive considering the size of the hotel, the constant in- and out- of random strangers etc.
I would much prefer to stay at Oberoi than the Leela.
Leela - the rooms are certainly nice but the whole place has a very 'faux' air about it (better done than most places I've seen, but still). Rooftop pool is nice but questions over how much you'd really use it at all in Delhi. The Japanese restaurant I ate at was extremely good value. Service was slow the short time I was at the hotel (getting someone to attend to me for what I needed etc).
Oberoi is a classic, but it also draws in a crowd because it's a 'place to be seen' (think Peninsula Hong Kong - not quite as bad though). I stayed here pre-renovation, and even then, it was superb. Sure the hard product was dated, but it was kept in excellent condition. Exciting to see what they've done with the refresh. Food is good throughout. Service was spot on. Really impressive considering the size of the hotel, the constant in- and out- of random strangers etc.
I would much prefer to stay at Oberoi than the Leela.
I visit my in laws there and the Oberoi is higher regarded and a place where the well to do (and those looking for a special occasion) go to for food. The food is excellent and classic luxury.
#208
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Here there and everywhere
Posts: 6,303
Could use a bit of help in choosing between two Delhi hotels. Have booked both, but reservations are cancelable. Both rates include airport transfers, club access, and breakfast. The room rates are pretty much the same, only $20 a night difference between them.
1. Oberoi --- Premier Plus room, 550 sqft, booked through Amex FHR, also get one included dinner
2. Leela Palace -- Royal Club Parlor room, 700 sqft, booked through "Discovery" to get a discount, includes butler service.
I'm leaning towards the Leela Palace. Please speak up if you have stayed at both or even either!
Thanks
1. Oberoi --- Premier Plus room, 550 sqft, booked through Amex FHR, also get one included dinner
2. Leela Palace -- Royal Club Parlor room, 700 sqft, booked through "Discovery" to get a discount, includes butler service.
I'm leaning towards the Leela Palace. Please speak up if you have stayed at both or even either!
Thanks
#209
Join Date: May 2011
Posts: 323
Been to both, stayed at Oberoi.
Oberoi is a classic, but it also draws in a crowd because it's a 'place to be seen' (think Peninsula Hong Kong - not quite as bad though). I stayed here pre-renovation, and even then, it was superb. Sure the hard product was dated, but it was kept in excellent condition. Exciting to see what they've done with the refresh. Food is good throughout. Service was spot on. Really impressive considering the size of the hotel, the constant in- and out- of random strangers etc.
I would much prefer to stay at Oberoi than the Leela.
Oberoi is a classic, but it also draws in a crowd because it's a 'place to be seen' (think Peninsula Hong Kong - not quite as bad though). I stayed here pre-renovation, and even then, it was superb. Sure the hard product was dated, but it was kept in excellent condition. Exciting to see what they've done with the refresh. Food is good throughout. Service was spot on. Really impressive considering the size of the hotel, the constant in- and out- of random strangers etc.
I would much prefer to stay at Oberoi than the Leela.
@chinmoylad I didn't notice any random people there 'to be seen' at all, but maybe I was there at a quiet time. Actually I found the lobby etc really, really quiet. Could have just been luck or the fact that it was 45 degrees outside My understanding is that the Oberoi in Gurgaon is more known for being "Instagram-friendly"
@RichardInSF Make sure you check out Indian Accent and Bukhara while you're in Delhi if you have time! Have fun
#210
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@RichardInSF Make sure you check out Indian Accent and Bukhara while you're in Delhi if you have time! Have fun
We dined at and loved them both. They are the biggest reasons we stayed in Delhi for 2 nights, in fact.