What do you think of these Delhi accommodations?

oakye

Hi there - I'm heading out to Delhi very soon and have been trying to absorb information in my Rough Guide, this website's Hotel listings, and on the hotel websites themselves.

There is also a site, www.tripadvisor.com that I checked out...though the posts are not all recent (ie 2006).

Below are price quotes for 3 people in mid-March, including a 12.5% tax:

I removed two from my list, based on overall feedback:
* Hotel Alka - USD$113 - even tho it's 4-star, the postings seem to contradict what my Rough Guide says. Room quality is a crapshoot and it's overpriced.
* Hotel Ajanta - USD$47 - a bit too close to the heart of backpacker country and also a crapshoot with rooms.

So I've narrowed my choices to the following hotels in Delhi and would just like your final thoughts on them.

As background, we are 3 women professional travelling on vacation from the US. We are looking for simple cleanliness, perhaps in the mid- to upper-range of the Lonely Planet. If you are familiar with US hotel chains, I'd say we wouldn't mind a Motel 6 or Best Western.

It appears that Connaught Place is the better district for us but I'm not sure which one can provide a balance of walking proximity to to main area, and simple comfort.
* Nirula's -- USD$140 (for 3 of us)
* Hotel Madonna -- USD$65 -- another poster said this requires a rickshaw ride to Connaught
* Hotel Clark International -- USD$105 (not sure where it's located relative to things)
* Yatri House - USD$53 - overall good reviews but still need some assurance

And should I worry about the availability of mosquito netting at any of these places?

Best to all...

Liz

** Edit--- added this comment
-- I looked at the reviews on the other part of IndiaMike's site - looks like we need more people to rate/rank these places...not sure what the effort has been on that...

kidsan

sorry Liz, bit out of my price league and, i suspect, that of most India Miker's...but let's see!

oakye

good point - remember that the above rates are for 3 people. let me re-list with per person prices:

Nirula's - ~$USD45
Yatri House - $17
Hotel Madonna - $22 (recommended on this site)
Hotel Clark International - $35 (recommended on this site)

Mikki

Don't worry about mosquitos. There are some in Delhi, depending on the season, but I th ink they tend to shy away from hotels in this price range.

saurabhawasthi

hi...
just a couple of things to bear in mind - its a bad idea to stay in the middle of Connaught Place (CP) - the roads are very busy, noisy through most part of the day and full of tourists.

having lived in delhi for over fourteen years, I can tell you that its critical that you stay in a place that is safe and hygienic and not worry too much even if you have to travel 20-30 mins to get into CP. Yatri House, Madonna sound very shady - don't know any friend who ever stayed there. Nirula's is popular and relatively safe, but a tad over-priced.

I also strongly recommend the following place:

Oberoi Maidens, Civil Lines, Delhi

Pluses:
- Its located in one of the quitest and most beautiful parts of Delhi.
- Its part of the "Oberoi" chain.
- Staff would be professional, services would be above average, the building is sort of like a heritage one
- Very close to the Old Legislative Assembly, Governor House, St. James Church (Oldest church in Asia), Delhi University
- Has a taxi stand which is five minutes away (next to IP college) - I suggest that you hire ONE taxi guy for the entire length of your stay in Delhi. Rates are about Rs. 500 for 8 hours or 80 kilometres (we don't use miles in India) plus actuals beyond this threshold

Negatives:
- Slightly high on pricing
- 25 minutes away from CP (Central Delhi) - Not strictly a negative though, if you're not finicky about location

Also, be careful when travelling in the evenings (especially after 8PM or so) and refrain from walking on the road late in the evening as also, be careful when walking in crowded areas. Last but not the least, delhi is slightly less evolved than other cities in the west, south of India, so dress conservatively and ignore the fact that you will be stared at!

PeakXV

I've recommended Hotel Center Point @ 13 KG Marg on an earlier thread.
It's in the $100.00 range with an excellent centrally located site - in an old British Residency . Apparently it is under renovations now - I've tried to call them a few times but the phone rings out! Perhaps one of you Delhi-ites could tap on their door (when you get a monent) and see if they expect to resume business soon. Another option if/when it reopens!?

__________________
What lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters compared to what lives within us.
~ Oliver Wendell Holmes

Don't go to India ~ Pre-trip Warnings & Misconceptions?

hfot2

We stayed at Maidens last year - nice, but far from everything. Last year they were working on the metro right across the street so it was dusty and not that quiet by day but perhaps that's completed now.

This year we stayed twice at Hans Plaza on Barakhamba Road http://www.hanshotels.com a very short and easy walk to CP and with the new metro station open just around the corner a breeze to get anywhere it goes - eg Chandni Chowk. Plus, there are great views of the city from the top floor dining room and the staff is really helpful.

hfot

NB On our first stay there, there was a high school group from Washington state. We chatted up a mother/chaperone and her daughter and they showed us their room - a "suite" with 2 bedrooms which might just suit your group of 3. I think it would have been either room number 1905 or 1907 [we were in deluxe room 1906]. Floor 20 is a bit noisier with the restaurant overhead - the hotel begins on about the 16th floor of the building, though the lobby is on the first floor.

oakye

this is all great information - thanks everyone for chiming in, and please continue to do so!

Sunray

I stayed in Phargang and it was great. Hardly got stared at at all. Tourist desensitised they are round there.

argy39

Hi,
We stayed at the Mauyra Sheraton at Sardar Patel Marg in the Diplomatic Area in January this year. We were 2 Adults and 1 Child (10YR) so we shared a room. I think we paid about $150US per night per room which included breakfast. It is about 20-30 mins from CP. It is a very nice hotel in a quite area. However my son and I are back in India to do a trek in Ladakh in June and have booked a few days at the Imperial at the end of our trip. A bit more expensive ($190US) including breakfast and airport transfers but I think the expereince will be worth it. It is also walking distance to CP so will be a lot more convienent for shopping etc.
Good Luck

Heaven in hands

Hi guys,
Am not really sure if you would like to stay in this part of Delhi which is South Delhi (Quite western). But there are couple of nice Guest Houses in Greater Kailash part 1 Extension & Greater Kailash part 2 Extension. One of the best from them is "Rockland Inn" which prices not more than US $ 45 for 3 People, also you can bargain for the best deal. They have all the Hotel facilities and easily accesible to all means of transport (Except Metro).
There are atleast 10 on both sides of the streets and am sure you would love it.
Thanks

hfot2

Addendum re Hans Plaza:
I forgot to mention that the rate includes a huge all you can eat breakfast buffet AND that the buffet included a fair number of Indian dishes, not just the Western fare of some buffets. We ate a big breakfast and small lunch - not that lunch/snacks cost anything much anyway ...

Brahma

Thanks to Hfot2 for your info re Hans Plaza. Booked there for 11 nights end of March, and was couldn't find any feedback on this site. Feel much happier now!
Best wishes
Raj

9hanover

We would always choose the Oberoi Maidens - it is comfortable and has character. Old Delhi gives you a glimpse of what India's about. We're staying there again next month.

(Watch out for the respectable looking and very polite shopping tout who lurks outside the hotel)

PeakXV

What do they charge for a Night there .... and is there a complimentary breakfast buffet?