Hello -
I am planning a trip to Northern India in Feb 2006. I love the thought of staying in a heritage hotel, a former palace sounds very romantic. I read on this forum that some are better than others -
I am specifically interested in feedback on those in Jaipur - Raj Palace (looks great), Rambagh Palace (is it true food is bad), and the Samode Palace (not Samode Haveli.) Thanks!
Diane

Better get moving as hotel rooms supply is limited in India and it is a very popular destination right now. I can attest that the food is horrible at Rambagh Palace - you probably read my trip report - the service was nothing to write home about either. The property itself is gorgeous though. The Samode Palace is about an hour or so outside of Jaipur and not really convenient to anything. There is nothing to do in the area of the hotel. Others will chime in on Raj Palace which seems to have gotten good reviews.

About heritage properties in Jaipur, my vote would definatley go to the Rambagh Palace! It is regal/lavish/gorgeous and has incredible history attatched to it! If you stay, make sure to ask for a tour of the suite rooms, it is breathtaking! It is also well-located in JAIPUR, so easy acess to all the attractions of this great city and I absolutely love Jaipur! I have eaten there before along with my guests, and did not have a bad experince. Rambagh Palace also has one of the few hapening bars in Jaipur. It was under renovation last spring but it should be finsihed by now! In jaipur, there is also the heritage Jai Mahal Palace in JAIPUR and it is also quite beautiful and location is also good with beautiful gounds too. The Raj palace is less extravagant, but I would say it is still a good small property and would be a less expesnive choice. i have been there many times for lunch with my groups and to the cafe/coffee shop! The place is nOT exactly regal, but it is a heritage property and the courtyard is lovely for an outdoor lunch and puppet show!I have stayed also at the Samode Palace, but the location is not great for Jaipur sightseeing, and i am not the greatest fan of that property as the lay-out and all the steps make it somewhat difficult for mobility and carrying suitcases. I went with a group of older people and the had a very difficult time . Overall, I would go for the Rambagh Palace, and then the Jai Mahal Palace. Feel free to be in touch if you have more questions/concerns, as i have stayed at almost all jaipur heritage properties and happy to help. happy travels!

There are several categories of heritage hotels in Jaipur. The Rambaug Palace is of course the top of the line, being former residence of the maharaja & the maharani Gayatri Devi of Jaipur. The rooms are most beautiful, though the food preparation can be said to need a little improvement. The ambience is great. In the complex is the ‘Steam” for youngsters to shake a leg. It is housed in the erstwhile maharajas toy train. Next door is the Rajasthan Polo & Riding Club, as also an 18 hole golf course.
The next best is Jai mahal palace. Again a wonderful property. The rooms are excellent & their Rajasthani Thali dinner with accompaniment of non-alcoholic Rajasthan authentic brews is very good.
The Raj Palace has some very charming rooms, but in ambience, the above two hotels are incomparable.
Next to these properties come some smaller heritage properties like the Samode Haveli (enjoys wonderful reputation), Alsisar Haveli & Shahpura House. These are patrician houses belonging to the chieftains of Jaipur.
If I were looking for a truly magnificent palace hotel, I will check into Rambaug Palace Hotel. However, some rooms are better than the rest.

Thank you to everyone. Would you agree that staying in a heritage hotel is better than splurging at Rajvilas?
Craig, I also have a question for you -
I plan to contact the same tour company you used. Were they able to get you good rates at the top hotels (Imperial, Rajvilas, Amarvila)? I don't usually use a tour company, but if they can get me better rates, I will do it. I don't want to pay rack rate.
Thanks!

Just so you know Diane, I am extremely biased in favor of splurging at Rajvilas rather than staying in a heritage hotel. Although it is not a refurbished palace, it has plenty of character and ambience that is reflective of the area.

I do not ordinarily use a tour company either but in the case of India, it makes sense. We received substantial discounts below rack rates on Imperial, Amarvilas and Rajvilas. Please be aware that you may have to make a substantial advance deposit to hold your reservations - that is, if Compass can obtain them at this late date. Having worked with Compass already, I would feel quite comfortable doing this.

Thanks Craig. I did not think India would be so popular, I was impressed that I was planning 5 months out. You really think hotels will be booked?

The month of Feb is still high season in northern India, so better book your hotels early. Also - the decision to stay at Oberoi's vilas properties is a no-brainer (assuming one has the budget): they are among the finest hotels in the world and provide a worthwhile experience.

Diane - it is quite possible that the better hotels will be booked. Durjay at Compass told me recently that for 2006 the big tour operators have taken huge blocks of rooms. This significantly limits the supply available to individuals. The hotels are not very big either - the Oberoi properties in Agra and Jaipur for example have 106 and 71 rooms respectively. You might try e-mailing the hotels yourself just to see what the situation is - there is no obligation to book directly with them.

Also, did I gather from other India posts, that people can make reservations without leaving a deposit? Therefore the perception could be that they are booked out, but really space will become available later? I will see what Compass tours can do for me. I also heard today that if I cannot stay at Amarvilas, you can do Agra from Delhi as a day trip ?

You can be put on a waiting list (no guarantees) without putting down a deposit - I don't advise doing this as you may end up with no decent place to stay. I do not recommend a day trip from Delhi to Agra. You want to be there at sunrise when there are few other tourists. If you do a day trip it will be crowded when you arrive. You will also be unable to view the Taj at different times (it changes in appearance as the day progresses). Lastly it takes about 3-4 hours each way by car although by train it is 2 to 2-1/2 hours if you get the express and it fits with your schedule. If I was doing the day trip, I would definitely take the train. Compass can help with train reservations - there is no additional cost over reserving direct.

Diane, I agree with Craig that you need to book in advance as Feb is high season. INmost case a good travel agent can get you a better rate than what you will get directly. Also, the travel agent will organize transfers, guides, car, driver, etc so in all is efficient. Re the Vilas properties. For our trip Ranthambore, Jaipur, Agra last yr we had budget to splurge on only 1 Vilas property so chose Agra i.e. Amar Vilas. In Agra no other hotel compares with Amar Vilas IMO. IN Ranthambore and Jaipur options exist. The experience of staying in a heritage hotel is very different from a Vilas property as the former has history in every nook and cranny and the latter is brand new tho gorgeous and comfortable. I would combine the 2. I am personally not a big fan of the Rambagh simply because I find it too big - I have a pref for smaller properties. Samode is great. We stayed at Raj Mahal which was not luxurious but charming.

Be aware that vp_singh (legendsandpalaces) who has posted in this thread is actually a travel agent and is posting here in spite of the rules against commercial advertising and promotion set by Fodor's.

He has already given erroneous advice on other threads here in an attempt to sell his services. There are lots of reputable travel agents in India. He is not one of them!

ken---you are getting boring

Hello there. India is set to have a boom-toursit-season, and yes, many of the best and even mid-range hotels in Delhi-jaipur-agra, etc., circuit are already booked up and/or blocked by the big local Operators such as Creative, Kuoni, Tci, Le Passage,etc, to name just a few. If you are planning a trip this season-oct-march, it is a good idea to have your trip all sorted out as early as you can, too avoid much travel-heartache later on as there is somewhat of a shortage of good-rooms, around the main tourist destinations. Your best as others have said is to work/coordinate with a reputable local operator who may be able to get you rooms for sold-out dates due to their connections and blocks of rooms. Also, when you book with an local operator, you will also get the benefit of lower prices and the added comfort of having someone sort out all the other travel logisitcs for you and of course, look after you while in-county! Eveyone has a different payment policy, so will not comment on that specifically, but generally all operators will want a sizable deposit once the trip is booked and sealed-like 50%. Drop me a line if you have any questions or want some addit reccos of operators in Delhi to contact, as i am an American woman living in the region, and only check the site from time to time when not busy on the India-road. happy travels~!