Since the 1950′s, this 137 room luxury hotel located in the center of Delhi’s Embassy hub has been pampering guests. In most recent years the hotel in Delhi has been undergoing what feels like a never ending renovation. Superficial upgrades to guest rooms ensuring a more luxurious and comfortable stay are easily seen. On the backend, where most guests are unlikely to notice, the India hotel recently installed new comfort systems in a bid to reduce it’s energy consumption while making the climate conditions of the historic building consistent.
Guests enter via a half circular drive to be greeted by a perfectly dressed stereotypical British Raj Indian doorman. From there they are swooped into the marble filled lobby where an efficient check-in process is completed. This is old world charm. Bright, airy passageways painted in light colors to deflect the natural sunlight beaming through floor to ceiling windows up front envelope newly arriving tourists in grand form. Rooms are accessed via the provided lift or by way of the over-sized spiral staircase which nearly takes your breath away. Take the staircase at least once. Polished marble floors continue up into the guest room hallways where one can gather a glimpse into what maharajas might have ‘endured’ within their palaces.
Guest rooms have been updated with modern themes still keeping a tasteful recollection of the hotel’s origin. Flat screen TV’s, plush mattresses outfitted with crisp imported linens, WiFi, western bathrooms with full time running hot water and more. If lucky enough, backside rooms provide excellent views of the backyard garden oasis complete with pool and bar.
But The Claridges Hotel is a misunderstood property among tourists in New Delhi, India. Reviews are mixed about the service. Ongoing renovations hamper the sleeping patterns of late-night arriving guests. The opulent marble clad lobby, hallways and foyer are off-putting to those travelers who find comfort and assumed luxury in carpeted surroundings. And the fact the hotel is not in relatively easy walking distance to major tourist attractions leaves guests with only one option to move about. Even so, The Claridges has been named the leading luxury hotel of India for 2009, and 2010 by the World Travel Awards.
There aren’t many hotels in Delhi where a tourist can look forward to waking up and The Claridges is on the list. Walk down to Pickwick’s located inside the hotel. Here the complimentary breakfast buffet is waiting to greet the groggiest of travelers. Fresh fruit, omelets to order, espresso and many traditional Indian breakfast foods are begging to be tried. The main dining hall is compact, offering more of an intimate setting where tourists can potentially strike up conversations with other guests. Swap tips and ideas while sampling hearty fare.
The Claridges is classic four-star luxury among India. Tourists arriving beat up from long overnight flights in the wee hours of the morning, depart refreshed after a restful sleep, hot shower, and some pampering by the attentive staff.
Room rates vary based on seasonal activities. The Claridges used to be an understated bargain in comparison to the outlandish room rates imposed by it’s rival, The Imperial, just miles away. But the two luxury hotels in New Delhi are locked in an aggressive tug of war for foreign tourist dollars. The question now is, for the same cost, do travelers stay at The Imperial or The Claridges?
