We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
There's nothing quite like a hotel room with a view over one of the world's most famous monuments. And that's what you get at the Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra, India: being just 600 meters away, many of the rooms, like this one, come with a view of the Taj Mahal.
As well as having literally unbeatable views, the Oberoi Amarvillas come out on top at TripAdvisor too, with the #1 position of all hotels in Agra. Rates start at 29,500 Indian Rupee for the cheapest rooms, which is around US$740--which sounds expensive even before you remember that it's in India, where the cost of living is a lot cheaper. But come on--a view of the Taj Mahal from your window? That's not something you get every day.
India gets a bad press for its increasing use of energy and fossil fuels to feed a booming economy. But it's not all bad - there's a trend towards building 'green' hotels which use around 35 per cent less energy as standard hotels.
The latest is the Park Hotel in Hyderabad, capital of the Indian state Andhra Pradesh. It's due to open in mid-2009 and will have 280 eco-friendly rooms. Its baby green hotel-sister also being built in Pune by the same chain.
They make a big deal of the 90 per cent non-smoking rule - if you've ever smelt the fumes rising from an Indian cigarette, you'll know that banning smoking in the country would cut India's pollution effect by around half.
There are Ice Hotels, Library Hotels, proposed Undersea Hotels, Hotels in Trees, on Boats and on Stilts. Hotels in Palaces, Farmhouses, and Tents.
But Guhantara may be a first: A subterranean cave hotel 20 kilometers outside India's Bangalore City.
Everything at this fantastical resort represents the powers of the earth. The entire place is carved out of rock, including the rooms (decorated with modern-day versions of ancient cave paintings).
There are intricate murals, enormous pillars, lobby, dining area, twisty darkened pathways past decorated shrines, open-air swimming pools -- all cut from rock.
The hot trend of opening a hip bar and lounge inside a hotel doesn't just apply to the lodging establishments stateside.
At the Park Hotel in Bangalore, the new i-Bar has opened. Designed by the Project Orange design group, the bar has been transformed into a high-end drinking establishment.
The layout is understood as a box within a box where the inner sanctum is accessed via the sliding timber screens. This area has a lowered ceiling and features a collection of furniture all covered in red leather, silk and cotton. On the floor are a number of individually designed textured rugs by Project Orange.
The bar itself is on the end wall standing in front of a huge textured hand carved sandstone relief. It’s timber top is supported on a long row of turned timber spindles that are lit by individual led lights.
Aside from serving up Indian and imported spirits, i-Bar has its own menu of specialty cocktails, along with a menu of Indian, western and oriental snacks. And like every bar and nightclub these days, the i-Bar
has a DJ come spin tunes at night.
As for the Park Hotel, it's a member of the Design Hotels group and gets decent reviews amongst guests looking for an "achingly hip" place to stay. However, one guest warns that Sundays usually bring a loud disco party by the pool.
Today's inspiring infinity pool--because we really just can't get enough of them--comes from the Leela Kempinski Kovalam Beach near Kerala on the southern tip of India. Sandwiched between sea and mountains, this area gets a relatively high rainfall which makes the landscape the greenest in India.
The Leela has had a large addition over the years, so that there is an old wing and a new wing of the hotel. Be sure to stay in the section near the infinity pool and then there's an added bonus of a bar overlooking the sea which has large sofa-beds where you can enjoy your drink in the most relaxing way possible.
They have "Winter Bliss" packages available now (today it was 87 degrees at the Leela) starting from $293 per night for a Beach View suite, include buffet breakfast, $25 food and beverage credit per night and airport transfers. Their so-called winter runs until April 30, 2008.
We are suckers for a room with a killer view. We find that we are even more likely to forgive some minor hotel inconveniences if we can stare out the window at something pretty--yeah we are that shallow. Let's help out our fellow hotel mavens by uploading rooms with killer views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. We will feature our favorites in this space from time to time. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number of the hot view.
Last time we were looking out a hotel window in India's huge city of Mumbai, we found mainly wasteland at the Hotel Rang Sharda. Fortunately, there are also some hotel rooms in Mumbai that have a more than decent view, like this killer view from a room at the JW Marriott Hotel Mumbai with its beautiful pool and coastal view.
The Marriott Mumbai is a five-star luxury spot on Juhu Beach, and it's also not far from Mumbai Airport. You can't see them all in the picture, but there are in fact three outdoor swimming pools to choose from. And after your swim, while enjoying the views, you can choose from a few different eating spots: Indian, Italian, Thai or Teppanyaki. The Marriott Mumbai is also popular as a business hotel, and it's got wireless access throughout the public areas, meeting rooms and the guest rooms, too. Although you should be looking at the nice view rather than at your computer screen.
India will be getting its very first Four Seasons Hotel this March. From the hotel website:
A sleek icon to the finest hospitality in India, is set in the emerging Worli district, central to everything in the city once known as Bombay. Spacious quarters, many with views of the Arabian Sea, offer unrivalled comforts and service. Anticipate the most pressing demands of business - or pause for see-and-be-seen dining, poolside recreation or ayurveda in the spa.
Some more perks at the hotel include high-speed internet (code for "pay-for ethernet service"), the San-Qi restaurant, poolside dining and a fleet of BMW Series 7 cars to chauffer guests around. Room rates start at 20,500 INR which is about $522 USD.
You know the scene. You open the door to your brand new hotel room, run over to the window, open the blinds and bam, you are hit with the anti-view. Maybe you are looking down a dirty alley, witnessing a drug deal, staring at an air shaft in the face, or seeing a brick wall. Whatever you are viewing it is not extremely pleasurable. Help out your fellow hotel mavens by uploading your anti-views to the HotelChatter/Flickr photo pool, or by sending the photo along to us. Remember to tell us the name of the hotel and the room number with the not-so-easy-on-the-eyes view.
This view from the Hotel Rang Sharda in Mumbai, India, is pretty desolate, although at least spacious. But the bell boy apparently told the guest "You have a nice view from here, sir." A clear view, yes, even a long, wide view, but we're not quite sure you could describe it as nice.
The view might be pretty average, but the Rang Sharda is at least well-located, being just a few miles from the domestic airport and about seven miles from Mumbai's (Bombay's) International Airport; there are bus and train stations within walking distance. You can probably see them as part of the "nice view" from other rooms of the hotel.
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by amandak
