juliebudd

I will be flying in late 10:25pm to Mumbai. I leave out the next afternoon 5:00 for Delhi. Should I just stay at an airport hotel (The Grand Interconti is $108 per night, Leela $138 and Hyatt $190) and get a driver for the day or stay at The Oberoi? Is it too far from the airport for the short visit? Please help.

Cicerone

That's a tough call, as you do have a good bit of the day to spend in Mumbai. From the airport to the Oberoi without any traffic is about 45 minutes. You might also consider the Taj Mahal Hotel (which I understand has just been redone) as it is about 10 minutes closer to the airport than the Oberoi, and the area around the Taj offers more sightseeing within walking distance, i.e., the Gateway to India, the north end of Chowpatty Beach and Marine Drive plus the fantasy wedding cake of the central train station is quite close. The Taj itself is a landmark.

That being said, the pool at the Leela is very nice, and I am sure the others are as well. A day spend lolling by the pool might not be a bad way to spend the day.

agtoau

juliebudd,

Staying at The Oberoi or the Taj Mahal will put you in the nicer, pleasanter areas of Mumbai - the grand, old Mumbai of the 1940s and 1950s, so fondly recalled by our grandfather's generation. If you choose the airport hotels, you will be bang in the centre of the 'real' Mumbai. If you want a slice of this Mumbai, stay at an airport hotel. If you simply want an elegant, relaxing time unencumbered by crude contact with reality, then head for The Oberoi. Of course, you can also have a relaxing time if you confine yourself to the 5-star comforts of the airport hotels.

You mentioned a $190 rate for the Hyatt. Is this the Hyatt Regency (right next to the international airport) or the newly-opened Grand Hyatt (closer to the domestic airport and about 20 mins from the international airport)? If it is the Hyatt Regency, that rate is simply not worth the money. The Grand Hyatt, by all accounts, is a lovely hotel, so that would be a good prospect. Also try and get a rate for the Grand Maratha Sheraton (very close to the international airport) which is a far more luxurious hotel than the Hyatt Regency.

agtoau

Addendum: I just did a rate check on the www.hyatt.com sites for both Hyatt Regency and the Grand Hyatt in Mumbai for a sample date (June 1, 2004). The Regency comes up with $135 and the Grand Hyatt gives $108 for the basic room. I would recommend the Club Room at Grand Hyatt ($143). Also, see if you can negotiate a buffet breakfast by directly writing to the hotel.

juliebudd

Thanks for your information. It is the Hyatt next to the International Airport (Hyatt Regency). The date is Oct. 5, the rate is $190 on hyatt.com and less for the Grand Hyatt $149, guess it is cheaper in June. I won't stay there.
I don't care to relax around the pool, I would prefer to see sights or shop. I wonder how much the taxi fare is to The Oberoi (45 min).Any more ideas?

Sameera_Anand

Taxi fare from the international airport to Oberoi will be Rs500-750 depending on what u book. I wud reco a private car or a "cool cab" which is the a/c taxi service (phone 2490 5151). Avoidable is a prepaid taxi from the airport - he will be exp and u will have the inconv of queuing up imm on arrival when u are dying to get into your hotel room. IMO the Taj is a little farther than the Oberoi as the Oberoi is on Marine Drive itself. At night it will make 3 mins diff. At 2:30 when u will have to leave for international airport next day maybe 10 mins diff. But Cicerone's comments re the Taj being in a scenic part of Mum are abs correct. U could also consider a mid way ish option - the Taj Lands End in Bandra. Comfy rooms facing the sea, only about 20 mins from international airport. Bandra has a great deal of mumbai local flavour.

juliebudd

Thanks for your help. I have booked the Taj Mahal Palace, Mumbai. I am trying to email the hotel to see if the hotel car can pick us up. I got what I thought to be a good deal $170 USD for an early booking.

celeste60

I am sure the Taj Hotel can arrange for your transportation, but they are expensive. I was in India in Jan 04 and used a company call Car Hire.com which I found online. They are located in bombay. They picked us up at the airport in a toyota and dropped us off at the hotel for about $26. We used them the entire time we were in bombay. We called them when we need a car and paid them daily. The driver did not speak great english but enough to make small coversation.

Kenstee

Getting a cab at the airport is no problem. They are lined up right outside the terminal. And they are metered so there is no haggling. You are arriveing late so you really won't need the air conditioning. At 500r or so it's a great bargain. You're going to love the Taj Palace. Good choice!

juliebudd

Tahnks for all the help!