We are planning our first trip to India next March (in 2008) and are wondering about the level of hotels there. I understand it is very warm at that time of year already, and we really need hotels with air conditioning. Will only 5-star hotels provide this, or are 4-star hotels OK as well?

Since this is our first trip, we'll probably concentrate in the "must see" touristy areas (Mumbai, Delhi, Varanasi, Agra, etc.)

TIA

Linda

I got AC even in budget hotels. Not quite no-star perhaps, but headed in that direction.

As noted above, it will depend on the hotel, so check the information on each hotel to see if air con is offered. As with the PRC, a star rating in India is going to be relatively meaningless, a hotel can give itself a 4 star rating based on room size and the fact that it has certain amenities, like 24 hour room service, but it may not have redone its rooms in 25 years. I would ignore star ratings. Go with good operators. Oberoi is one. The major chains have hotles in major cities and are generally good. Taj is a good operator, but has some very uneven hotes, IMO. Heritage Hotels are long on charm and history but can be short on service and room quality. Perfectly fine if you are prepared for it. Neemrana group operate some interesting hotels, try their website. An excellent source for some unusual and cheaper hotels in India is the Allistar Sawday book and website, run a Google serach.

Agree you would probably want air conin March, esp later in March.

i would want a/c no matter when i went...

4* are just fine too....sheratons, hiltons and private hotels....

When we did India, and I confess it was a couple of years ago, we upgraded to Taj hotels and it was the best money we spent. Mostly palaces that had been re-furbished and all mod. cons. Felt like I was part of the British raj. If you are going to Udiapur the Lake Palace Hotel has be tried to be believed, set in the middle of and rising out of, a lake, with the water lapping the stairway to the entrance. Gondolas ply you back and forth.
Neala