I am going to India in a few weeks and cannot decide whether to stay at The Rambagh Palace or Rajvilas. We are staying for 8 nights so I want to get it right. Any info on these hotels would be great.

I have been to Jaipur twice. Once I stayed at Rambagh Palace, once at the Sheraton. The Rambagh Palace is very "old world." It has princess telephones and satin beadspreads, very 1930's Hollywood glamour. Peacocks stroll across the lawn. You can see the Duchess of Windsor in just such a setting.

I don't know anything about Rajvilas.

If you can afford it, go for Rajvilas. All Oberoi properties in India are world-class, and in most places they have no peers.

8 nights is a long time to be in Jaipur. The experience at both hotels is very different. The Rambagh is a restored palace property in the heart of the city - very historic, reminiscent of days bygone, large. Raj Vilas is a resort property on the outskirts of Jaipur - luxury, very intimate and boutiquey. What about a few days at each?

We are going to India for business so that is why we have to stay for 8 nights in Jaipur. We are also considering a cheaper alternative, after reading a lot of reviews, at Jasvilas which costs nothing in comparison to the other hotels.

Look at Samode also in that case - a palace experience but much cheaper than Rambagh. If you are there on work not sure Raj Vilas is the place to stay - is amazing IMO if you have the opporunity to enjoy the resort settings and facilities at leisure. Treat yourself to a night there before you leave and stay in the city.

Have you seen Jasvilas and Samode? I've read some negative and positive remarks on Samode. I really had my heart set on Rambagh but we've had to rethink our budget due to our length of stay.

I would consider staying at Rambagh Palace only if I didn't have to eat there. We had our worst meal in our 2 weeks in India at Rambagh Palace. We stayed at Rajvilas which I highly recommend both for the hotel and for the restaurant. Perhaps you can negotiate (or your travel agent can negotiate) a better rate for an 8 day stay no matter what you decide.

The cheapest rate I could find at Rajvilas is $2000 for 8 nights, which is still fairly expensive.

If that rate includes breakfast, tax and service it is a great rate. Go for it if you can - you won't regret it.

The Rajvilas is a lovely property, but it is quite a bit outside Jaipur, and if you have to go back and forth into Jaipur every day for business and/or fun, it can become a chore for 8 days. Look into the cost of transort each day as well, as that will add to the high cost. I agree that splitting time between Rajvilas and the Rambagh might be the best. I agree that the food at Rambagh is not the best, you need to be in love with the charm and history of the place to appreciate it.

I think it is the Samode Haveli outside Jaipur which is has received bad reviews and is quite old and in need of a redo; I think the Samode Place in Jaipur itself is better, although I have not been inside it in many years so can’t confirm this myself. Both are Heritage Hotels, which tend generally to be long on charm and short on amenities, IMO.

Unless you are seriously rich, Rajvilas, Rambagh and the Samode Haveli are all too expensive for an eight night stay. It's not just what you pay for the room; all the extras add up to a substantial amount!

Jasvilas is a very fine family hotel, and excellent value for money, but do not expect it to be as grand as the Rambagh or the Rajvilas.
Servicewise, I would rate Jasvilas higher than most five stars as the owners are always present to oversee the operations - and they are proud of their high standards.

If budget is the main determiner, Arya Niwas is also a good choice for long staying guests. The rooms are clean, but basic. But they have ninety rooms to the nine of Jasvilas.

Rajhelp, I think you're right. Rambagh and Rajvilas would probably end up costing too much. Could you tell me what you would recommend, Jasvilas or Arya Niwas? I know neither would compare to Rambagh or Rajvilas, but sometimes having good service means more than staying in a beautiful hotel.

The two cater to different clientele, and also differ in prices, so a fair comparison is not possible (Apples and oranges)

If you want to be pampered in a small, cosy hotel with a swimming pool, it's Jasvilas

If budget is your main consideration, it's Arya Niwas.

Jas Vilas is twice as expensive as Arya Niwas, but then, it has only nine rooms and the service is excellent.

Thanks for the advice. I think i'll stick with Jasvilas. A swimming pool is a must, even if it's only a small one. Do you think it would be a good idea to stay 6 nights at Jasvilas and 2 nights at Rambagh? Or would it be a waste of time changing hotels?

Easy-

After you are in Jaipur, check out the Rambagh, Rajvilas, Samode Haveli, and even the Arya Niwas. Perhaps you can have a meal in these hotels and decide whether you want to spend more time in any of the places.

Room availability is hardly likely to be a factor with most hotels offering discounts.