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Hotel Openings / Kempinski Hotels / Leela Resorts / → All Tags

Leela Kempinski Gurgaon Lets You See What's Cooking

Where: National Highway - 8, Gurgaon , Delhi , India, 122 002

There are a few Leela resorts around India but the very first in northern India has just soft-opened: the Leela Kempinski Gurgaon near Delhi, close to the Indira Ghandi International Airport. But hotel delays even happen to the best of the best in India. The hotel's website is currently boasting a planned opening date of January 15, so it's a couple of months late and not everything's up and going yet.

However this hotel's unique selling point is that it's the only hotel or resort in the region that's got a full range of accommodation choices, from rooms and suites through to three-bedroom residences.

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Hotel Deals / → All Tags

Hanging at the Pool...In India?

Where: Dr. Zakir Hussain Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, India, 110 003

When we think of summer getaways, we don't usually think of the sweltering heat of New Delhi. But when we caught a glimpse of the Oberoi Hotel New Delhi's pool, we started to reconsider this destination.

The hotel is pushing to get foreign visitors interested this summer, by running the "Exotic Vacation Summer 2006 promotion" with steeply reduced rates. A 12 night stay will give you 7 free nights!

But, before you get too excited, the grand total still amounts to $2900 (which leaves us with about two bucks leftover in which to survive off of street-stand curry). For a little less, an 8 night stay will get you 4 nights free and cost $2300.

Aside from the "free" nights, what else will this chunk of change get us?  A deluxe room, transfer from the airport or rail station, and 25% discounts at the spa. We probably won't be able to make it to the spa, but a chance to swim in their pool just may be worth the money. Plus the Oberoi Hotels are known for their high-class luxury. The IndUS Business Journal recently reported on the Oberoi's status:

Nine Oberoi Hotels & Resorts are members of The Leading Small Hotels of the World, a select association of international luxury hotels chosen for their extraordinary levels of guest comfort and service. Additionally, seven Oberoi Hotels are also members of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, a collection of exclusive hotels carefully selected for their style, sophistication and the highest standards of service.

So there we have it, major luxury, great pool, and 4 or more free nights--all for the bargain deal of $2300 and up. Sadly, for this price, we may have to throw the towel in on this one and get our dose of Indian culture at the corner curry take-out stand and eat it at the public pool.

Image via ichimusai/Flickr

Related Stories:
· Oberoi targets U.S., plays up summer travel to India [IndUS Business Journal]
· Oberoi New Delhi Hotel Reviews [TripAdvisor]

Hotels / Vikram Chatwal / → All Tags

Want to Stay at Vikram's Hotel?

Where: Ring Road Lajpat Nagar, New Delhi, Delhi, India, 110 024

Er...we mean Hotel Vikram in India.

This 3-star hotel is "centrally located" in Lajpat nagar New Delhi. The hotel serves Indian, Chinese and Continental foods but the guest reviews are not-so-kind:

The staff was quick with check-in, but the floor lobbies & rooms had old carpet, which smelled stale and bad. Plenty of hot running water (which leaked through the standup shower door onto the entire bathroom floor), but bed mattresses were old & lumpy. Wouldn't recommend or stay here again.

Ostensibly, Hotel Vikram is in no way related to our favorite Sikh hotelier, Vikram Chatwal. However, these guys seem to have the smells like ass part down, so maybe Hotel Vikram is closer to the Heir Vikram than we originally anticipated. Especially since his new Night Hotel's black and white decor may have been inspired by the photo above.

Related Stories:
· Hotel Vikram reviews [HotelChatter]
· Dream Hotel Smells Like Ass [Gawker]
· Vikram coverage [HotelChatter]