shimla - oberoi yes? oberoi no?

anar

a friend said that the oberoi in shimla was the best hotel he had stayed in in all his years of travel in india. i'll be in shimla in june with my sister - i discussed this with her and we are both of the opinion that after 'roughing it' in dharamshala (ten days of strict meditation - vipassana), we could treat ourselves to a few days of super-luxury when in shimla.

i'm hoping someone on im will be able to offer his/her opinion - has anyone stayed? did they think it was the bee's knees? which hotel would you recommend (if not the oberoi) and why?

PeakXV

Clarkes for the heritage/nostalgia.
Cecil for the added luxury.


....WildFlower Hall is Oberoi too maybe they should change the name of that little Hill Station.

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ScarletLSG

I didn't stay at the Oberoi in Shimla, but did stay at the one in Agra and it was BY FAR the best hotel I've ever stayed in ... including those in the U.S. (Beverly Hills Ritz Carlton - New York Athletic Club). For a short stay it is worth every Rupee they charge. Take advantage of the complimentary tours of the kitchen, music and dance programs!!

Tweety

I have stayed at Clarkes.It was very nice.Clean and simple rooms.It is a heritage property. And very conveniently located if you don't have a vehicle at ur disposal throughout .Its good value for money.
Cecil is priced slightly on the higher side.But don't know how good the hotel is..

nayan

I think anar's friend meant Wildflower.

gobi

Oberoi's Wildflower Hall is amazing. If you've got the money and are willing to give it away in large amounts, it would be a nice place to go after your vipassana or anytime for that matter...anichi, anichi. You can enjoy majestic views of the Himalaya with delicious breakfasts on the terrace, walks through lush forests beneath the canopy of towering pine trees or the brilliant starry skies from the outdoor jacuzzi. There are also daily yoga classes.

http://www.oberoiwildflowerhall.com/

praks

Although both the Oberoi Hotels in Simla are very good, I prefer to stay at the Woodville Palace Hotel for its old world charm and personalised service. Visit www.woodvillepalacehotel.com for more info.

puchoo

i am a shimla boy and for me the best one is the Clarkes.... there is a certain degree of 'personal touch' which i dont find at the Cecil or the wildflower...ofcourse things change..they have a new GM now and i dont get the time to go back home as much as i would like so might be slightly 'out of tune'

The clarkes is locatde at the start of the mall..u step out and you are there. Cecil is about a 20 minute walk from the opposite end.

The wildflower hall has the best property though...it takes you out from shimla. You would be very close to Kufri , Narkanda and Naldehra.

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anar

i'm wavering in favour of wildflower (my sister has put the onus on me - i have to decide - she will go along with whatever). it's the price that's stopping me from pressing the button!

dzibead

I once stayed there, too. It's old-fashioned in a nice way. Pretty grounds, too.

mukundbansal

dear Anar i've never stayed at oberoi but if i'm not wrong the location of the hotel is not good ... i mean shimla is all about the mall road and the ridge ..moreover taxis or private cars are not allowed ..they are allowed till the taxi stand where there is a municipal corp lift to go to a mall ... i've found Comberemere hotel as the best one ..okie luxury but yes very nice location and a great cafe to sit and njoy ... apart this you can try outskirts of shimla ... there are some nice properties .. one is shilon resorts .. on the way to chail (another great place ) is again a nice resort with all basic facilities .
lastly from all my experience choose any hotel in Shimla but check it's location first !!!!

mukundbansal

Dharamsala and vipassana ..are u talking abt oshonisarga resort ?? have u been there before .. i'm planning to go there ..but don know what will be the best time ...

Dilliwala

That's true about the Mall, anar - vehicle-free zone. Porters will have to lug your luggage to the hotel, which they will. The usual story, u'll have to haggle, and June is absolutely the worst time in Shimla as u can imagine. Other than that, the Oberoi at the eastern end of the Mall (can never remember which is which) wud be my pick if it HAS to be Oberoi. Smaller, a bit quieter location, slightly better access from the High Court road (parking nearby if it's available - otherwise for the other one near the Lift, which is like a zoo).

Wildflower Hall - great location, quiet, views, nothing else around though. Closer to Kufri and Mashobra, outstanding 360 view from the helipad which is close by (2 km drive uphill from the road opposite their gate). Pricey.

puchoo

If it was not for the price no one would go anywhere else...