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This Week in Hotel Lust: The Leela Kempinski Goa

November 13, 2009 at 3:24 PM | by | Comments (0)

Goa, India is an attractive resort state associated with equal parts bohemianism and luxury frills. Spirituality seeking backpackers enjoy it just as much as their richer-than-rich counterparts, who have a good number of opulent hotels to choose from as the tourism industry has taken off over the years.

The Leela operates a family of high-end hotels in some of the country's most popular destinations, among them Bangalore, Udiapur, and Goa, of course. It's the latter that we're focusing on in this installment of "This Week Hotel in Lust," with plenty of near-royal touches to qualify among the ranks of last week's Villa D'Este in Italy. And we do mean "royal"—they've had the audacity to include the word "Palace" in their name, a buzzword for anyone hoping to live the high life while traveling abroad.

Rooms at The Leela Kempinski Goa start at around $300 per night, or 13,600 Indian rupees, and can balloon as high as $1,400 per night if you book a private Royal Villa. Since we're looking at the most haute hotel offerings, we're going to delve a bit deeper into these miniature homes away from home.

It's blazingly obvious that The Leela is catering to a certain breed of Western clientele, but that's to be expected with hotels of this nature. European and American travelers may travel to Goa seeking an "exotic" experience, but still be comforted by familiar comforts like Italian marble in the restrooms, a jacuzzi, and an attached private pool.

An undeniable draw to booking a Villa, and traveling like an aristocratic jetsetter in general, is the highbrow status that comes along with it. The Leela has tapped into this elitist mentality with their Club at the Leela, a place where the rules are laid out in no uncertain terms: "[The Club] is for the discerning traveller who is prepared to give a little bit extra to get that little bit extra." That "little bit extra" includes outdoor showers in some suites, airport limo transfers, and 24-hour butler service for any on-a-whim requests you might need fulfilled. This is all in addition to the on-site spa, golf course, tennis, croquet, and other swank hotel activities for the rich and carefree.

Any place that dares say it treats its guests "like the incarnation of God" has a lot to live up to. The Leela goes there in the luxury department, and then some.

[Photo: The Leela Kempinski Goa]

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