Oberoi Udaivilas is the world's best hotel

shashank.aggarwal · Jul 11th, 2007, 20:57

The Oberoi Group has scored a first by receiving top honors in the prestigious Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2007 readers' survey.

Click here to Read On

camelgirl · Jul 11th, 2007, 21:43

That's a gorgeous hotel! I wish I could afford to stay there.

I do wonder about these surveys though. This whole "best in the world" always seems suspect to me. How exactly do people vote? And what people? No one ever asks me

It does say it's a "readers survey." How many readers do they have and why exactly does India score so high? Is this a magazine geared to very wealthy people from the USA, around the world, English speaking countries?

In any case, I still would love to stay at one of these Oberoi places (if someone else would pay for me

)

roopesh_kohad · Jul 11th, 2007, 22:13

Just like recent Seven Wonders of the World poll, all these surveys are not scientific and should be taken with a tea-spoon of salt

NeeliAankhen · Mar 5th, 2008, 22:04

I do think it's nice for India that that hotel has received that kind of recognition from a respected western publication.
We can say this shouldn't be so -- but in fact it still means a lot in a complicated world. (And -- I wouldn't worry about the lack of science involved in hotel evaluations, I believe the writers and staff of the big publications have a fairly good vantage point from which to make judgments.)

Although staying at a place of this kind probably is not in my own fate, given my budget etc, I did have an opportunity to visit this particular place when I was in India a few weeks ago, as somebody had a buffet lunch there for guests at the end of a wedding weekend.

And - it really is beautiful and worth a visit if you like to see dazzling creative architecture. With even my small, to that point, exposure to the palaces of the region, I could recognize the charming and, I'd say, witty references to elements of things -- look at nested archways, use of systems of pools of water, something like a sun-faced sundial, etc.

It occurred to me that this place in its splendor kind of reproduces the experience a traveller from seomwhere else would have had 400 years ago, on first encountering the (contemporary for that time) splendor of the maharajahs' creations.

If you happen to like that kind of thing I'd say - make a lunch reservation or something and take a walk around the common areas and the property.

anar · Mar 5th, 2008, 23:27

i stayed at the trident hilton next door - they seem to be related but what a poor relative the trident turned out to be! if you have to choose, pay the extra whatever and stay at the oberoi property - it has to be seen to be believed. dazzling!

ScarletLSG · Mar 5th, 2008, 23:34

I Agree with the report WHOLEHEARTEDLY. You definitely PAY and PAY WELL for that "best in the world" ... but it is worth every stinking rupee!! We stayed ONE NIGHT at the Oberoi Amarvilas near the Taj Mahal and WOW. Both my friend and I have stayed at some very high end places in the U.S., Canada, and Europe -- to include the Ritz Carlton, Claridges, etc and the don't even come close to the Oberoi. The biggest difference is the level of service and KINDNESS extended. The staff are quite obviously very well trained and take a great deal of pride in their jobs. HUGE SPLURGE -- but worth it for an amazing memory of India.

shashank.aggarwal · Mar 5th, 2008, 23:45

well I have not been fortunate enough to stay at any Oberoi property..or any five star for that matter...however if and when I can afford it, I will love to check it out..

ScarletLSG · Mar 5th, 2008, 23:54

Shashank,

I find staying at five star properties almost a ridiculous indulgence. To be honest ... here in the U.S., I feel that they are just like any other hotel room ... I mean, a room is a room is a room. In India, it was a place for a really refreshing night ... especially for a first trip. But I don't think we'd stay for more than one night -- the cost is RIDICULOUSLY high, even by Western standards. We only afforded one night in the Oberoi because we SPLIT the price in half!!

Scarlet

crvlvr · Mar 5th, 2008, 23:56

If anyone is interested the Top 100 Hotels list here --http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2007/results.cfm?cat=hotels

Jul 11th, 2007, 20:57	#1
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,491	Oberoi Udaivilas is the world's best hotel The Oberoi Group has scored a first by receiving top honors in the prestigious Travel + Leisure World's Best Awards 2007 readers' survey. Click here to Read On __________________ Travelogue - Around India Random Reviews

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Jul 11th, 2007, 21:43	#2
camelgirl 10 year Visa okee dokee Join Date: May 2005 Location: Swannanoa NC usa Posts: 1,018	That's a gorgeous hotel! I wish I could afford to stay there. I do wonder about these surveys though. This whole "best in the world" always seems suspect to me. How exactly do people vote? And what people? No one ever asks me It does say it's a "readers survey." How many readers do they have and why exactly does India score so high? Is this a magazine geared to very wealthy people from the USA, around the world, English speaking countries? In any case, I still would love to stay at one of these Oberoi places (if someone else would pay for me )

Jul 11th, 2007, 22:13	#3
roopesh_kohad Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Pune, Maharashtra Posts: 164	Just like recent Seven Wonders of the World poll, all these surveys are not scientific and should be taken with a tea-spoon of salt

Mar 5th, 2008, 22:04	#4
NeeliAankhen Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York, NY USA Posts: 268	I do think it's nice for India that that hotel has received that kind of recognition from a respected western publication. We can say this shouldn't be so -- but in fact it still means a lot in a complicated world. (And -- I wouldn't worry about the lack of science involved in hotel evaluations, I believe the writers and staff of the big publications have a fairly good vantage point from which to make judgments.) Although staying at a place of this kind probably is not in my own fate, given my budget etc, I did have an opportunity to visit this particular place when I was in India a few weeks ago, as somebody had a buffet lunch there for guests at the end of a wedding weekend. And - it really is beautiful and worth a visit if you like to see dazzling creative architecture. With even my small, to that point, exposure to the palaces of the region, I could recognize the charming and, I'd say, witty references to elements of things -- look at nested archways, use of systems of pools of water, something like a sun-faced sundial, etc. It occurred to me that this place in its splendor kind of reproduces the experience a traveller from seomwhere else would have had 400 years ago, on first encountering the (contemporary for that time) splendor of the maharajahs' creations. If you happen to like that kind of thing I'd say - make a lunch reservation or something and take a walk around the common areas and the property.

Mar 5th, 2008, 23:27	#5
anar Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 444	i stayed at the trident hilton next door - they seem to be related but what a poor relative the trident turned out to be! if you have to choose, pay the extra whatever and stay at the oberoi property - it has to be seen to be believed. dazzling!

Mar 5th, 2008, 23:34	#6
ScarletLSG Maharani Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kailua, Hawaii Posts: 181	I Agree with the report WHOLEHEARTEDLY. You definitely PAY and PAY WELL for that "best in the world" ... but it is worth every stinking rupee!! We stayed ONE NIGHT at the Oberoi Amarvilas near the Taj Mahal and WOW. Both my friend and I have stayed at some very high end places in the U.S., Canada, and Europe -- to include the Ritz Carlton, Claridges, etc and the don't even come close to the Oberoi. The biggest difference is the level of service and KINDNESS extended. The staff are quite obviously very well trained and take a great deal of pride in their jobs. HUGE SPLURGE -- but worth it for an amazing memory of India.

Mar 5th, 2008, 23:45	#7
shashank.aggarwal Mr. Badboy :D Join Date: May 2007 Location: ~ Dilli ~ Posts: 5,491	well I have not been fortunate enough to stay at any Oberoi property..or any five star for that matter...however if and when I can afford it, I will love to check it out..

Mar 5th, 2008, 23:54	#8
ScarletLSG Maharani Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Kailua, Hawaii Posts: 181	Shashank, I find staying at five star properties almost a ridiculous indulgence. To be honest ... here in the U.S., I feel that they are just like any other hotel room ... I mean, a room is a room is a room. In India, it was a place for a really refreshing night ... especially for a first trip. But I don't think we'd stay for more than one night -- the cost is RIDICULOUSLY high, even by Western standards. We only afforded one night in the Oberoi because we SPLIT the price in half!! Scarlet

Mar 5th, 2008, 23:56	#9
crvlvr Guru Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Hollywood Posts: 4,473	If anyone is interested the Top 100 Hotels list here --http://www.travelandleisure.com/worldsbest/2007/results.cfm?cat=hotels

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