Luxurious India
My first experience of Oberoi was actually in Agra 3 years ago. At the time, it was a trip of a lifetime as we were ticking off the Taj Mahal from my mother’s bucket list. We were blown away by the quality of the hotel and the service from the staff. It was one of the best hotel experiences I’ve ever had. Since then, I’ve stayed in the Oberoi Al Zorah in Ajman, where I was equally impressed and visited the Oberoi in Bali (beautiful!). Needless to stay, expectations were high for this trip!
From the moment we arrived in Delhi, expectations were met and exceeded. The first stop was Oberoi Gurgaon. This is a business hotel in the main business district of Delhi. One thing that struck me was the greenery and resort feel of the hotel – I can imagine coming back here after a day in the office and being able to completely switch off. We arrived at sunrise to an extremely warm greeting from the hotel staff. At each Oberoi, you get a traditional Indian welcome where they greet you with a tikka (similar to a bindi, made from sandalwood). The rooms are a good size with king size beds, sofa & desk area as well as a great bathroom with free standing bath and shower. Oberoi is all about the personal touches and I was greeted with a welcome sign in flower petals and some hand made chocolates in the room. The hotel is full of natural light and is 100% solar powered – I love it when hotels are making inroads to a more sustainable and responsible future.
The next stop was Oberoi New Delhi where, again, we were warmly greeted by the staff. The rooms here are also a great size with free standing baths, sofa area and work station. The views are overlooking the green city of Delhi (I was really surprised at how green the city is!) This hotel has recently undergone a massive upgrade and the technology is amazing. Each room has its own ipad where everything in the room can be controlled from opening the door to the lighting system. Delhi is known for its pollution and one of the most impressive things about this hotel is the fact that they purify the air in the hotel so the air quality is guaranteed. For example, when we arrived, the air quality in the city of Delhi was 47 and in the rooms it was 2! They have a monitor in the lobby so you can clearly see the difference.
On the second day, we drove to Agra to the stunning Oberoi Amarvilas. If you are going to see the Taj Mahal and you want a WOW experience, you need to stay at Amarvillas. When we arrived, all of the staff were lined up across the property to greet us. This is one of the traditions in India – when someone comes to your home, everyone in the household comes out to greet you. We were showered with flower petals and greeted with the tikka. It really is a very special feeling. As we approach the lobby, a glass of sparkling wine was waiting for us along with a stunning view of the Taj Mahal. It is really spectacular and a moment you won’t forget! This was my second visit to this hotel and I immediately felt like I was home when I arrived. It is a very special place. Each room has a view of the Taj Mahal, some with balconies, some without. Again, as with all Oberoi’s personal touches are key – homemade chocolate on arrival in the rooms, a porcelain Taj Mahal ornament, screen cleaner for your laptops – the housekeeping staff are amazing and really put their guests first.
Our final stop was at Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur. Of the 4 hotels we visited, this one is the most ‘resorty’. It is situated on acres and acres of land with roaming peacocks and plenty of birdlife. There are on site tennis courts and a croquet lawn. The rooms are fab (as to be expected) but the bathrooms sold it for me – a sunken bathtub with a private garden view. This was the perfect way to relax and unwind after a long drive from Agra.
I had my reservations about visiting and selling India in June but honestly, the weather was fine. We had a few spats of rain but if anything, it cleared the air and was refreshing. It was hot, but not unbearable, especially for those visiting from Dubai and used to the heat. As long as you keep hydrated and are sensible, you will be fine. The rates are much lower in the summer so for those looking to have a luxurious trip to India but without the 5* price tag, I would recommend to visit in summer.
This trip has only cemented my love for the Oberoi brand. I look forward to experiencing more of their properties and most importantly, recommending them to my clients. If you are looking for a wow experience or you want to see the more luxurious side of India – Oberoi is the way forward! I would be more than happy to curate this for you so please get in touch to learn more.
For full videos of the rooms and property tours, please check out my highlights on Instagram @lisakingtravelcounsellors.