Is there such a thing? We had such great experiences with the Heritage hotels on our last trip to India, but in researching one for Kolkata, I am only coming up with the Oberoi so far. Is that hotel really $400.00 US per night? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

P.S. Also saw that Calcutta Walks has homestays. Has anyone had any experience with their homestays?

When are you going to be in Kolkata? We stayed at the lovely Oberoi (though I wouldn't pay $400 a night) in December for $700 for three nights including tax, service and full breakfast. If we'd been there even a few days earlier (end of November) we could easily have gotten the Oberoi for under $200 a night. Look at some discount websites. The website we ended up using was www.gtahotels.com We were very satisfied with their service and with their price! So don't give up on the Oberoi yet.

We used Calcutta Walks for two days and thought they were absolutely fabulous. I know nothing about their homestays, however. If you click on my name, you'll be able to find my trip report. We stayed at Heritage Hotels in Sikkim and just loved them.

Thanks for the website. We are not going until 10-31-11 and need two nights. That would be great to get that rate. I tried the website and they show two other options, saying that the Oberoi is not available. The Park Kolkata and Swissotel Kolkata. Do you think that I am perhaps looking too early. How long before your stay did you book?

I do think it is too early to book. I finally booked our room just a few weeks before we left the US, maybe a month before our stay. I made it a practice to check the Oberoi prices several times a week for months.

Well, I may persue some other ideas. That would be all well and good to get a nice rate, but by waiting that long - small heritage properties and/or homestays would most likely be booked and who knows for sure if the Oberoi will work out. Many of the places we stayed on our last trip had only around 7 or so rooms and were fully booked well in advance. If anyone knows of anything like that in Kolkata, please do advise. Thanks.

the heritage site does not list an heritage hotel in K

connette - we were just in Kolkata for three nights. I had a bit of trouble finding something that felt right for us. It seemed like there were a lot of 'budget' places and then the real high end like the Oberoi. Although it would have been wonderful, we didn't want to pay that much. I ended up booking the Bodhi Tree. It's a guest house in South Kolkata - rather unique. It is an art lovers paradise. We found it to be great. I was a little concerned that it might be kind of dusty with all that art, but it wasn't. The staff was great, it was clean and comfortable, and the breakfast was good.

It is a couple of blocks from the Metro station so really handy for getting around if you decide to brave the Kolkata subway. It's an experience that's for sure...

We were travelling with another couple so we booked the Bodhi Master Suite. It was two separate bedrooms with on-suite bathrooms, a kitchen and living/dining area. It was really comfortable and great to have the sitting area. We paid 8000 INR per night. I think the regular suites are around 3500 or 4000 rupees. Here's the website if you want to check it out.

http://bodhitree-cal.spaces.live.com/

Good luck with your trip.

Tollygunge Club

http://www.thetollygungeclub.com/Home.htm

Someone on Fodors mentioned it once, I thought??

Definitely "heritage"


IF i were booking for Calcutta, i would def'lly check into Calcutta Walks recommended homestays.

connette, if you want to Oberoi, I'm sure you can book earlier than I did, as you are traveling in October/November rather than December. You should be able to get it for less than US$200 a night from many of the booking services.

I must be way too early for any discounts at the Oberoi. I have checked around 10 so called discount sites. Most seem to be $100-150 more than the $412.00 per night going direct.

Misty, thank you for the Bodhi Tree website. It looks like the type of place that we stayed in India last year. Did you happen to use their transfer service? Our flight comes in so late, I think that is a negative for a home stay. I am wondering whether they hire a service or if they actually provide the transfer and if it is the type of place that is condusive to coming in so late at night. That is one reason the Oberoi or a regular hotel would work out well.

I am kind of wondering if they have regular showers too. It kind of looks like they do. Not a huge fan of the bucket showers. But it is India, right?

Thanks!

Yes, I think it is too early right now for Oberoi discounts. But I don't expect you'll have to wait as late as I waited for the discount.

Kathie, I remember last year, when you were trying to get a decent rate at Oberoi. Dogster kept telling you to wait, and you wanted to get it booked.

I usually plan trips only two or three months in advance, so I guess that's why I often find great specials in India.

Hi,

Sorry to butt in but we do have a homestay in a heritage building situated on Park Street.

Email us on [email protected] if you'd like to know more.

Thanks and regards,
Explorer Ifte
www.calcuttawalks.com

Calinurse,the Tollygunge club rooms are available to members & affiliate club members only.One needs to book thru a member,as is in all elite clubs in India.Its most certainly a superb property.Especially inviting, for golf enthusiasts.The other being the Royal Calcutta golf Club,the oldest outside of the British Isles.

HOw do i meet a member, lol???

If really keen,one option is to write to the Hon'Secretary of the club expressing your desire.Sometimes(they are absolutely proud of their heritage property) they do accommodate.I've stayed in both of them & its another world altogether(I'm an avid golfer,guess I felt 'at home').Its was arranged by the company I represent,which has corporate membership to an affiliate club,they in turn booked me in.

Thanks, Inquest, ,from mer, and pernaps this will give the OP an idea.
I'm neither a golfer nor a member of any other clubs, but the place sounds and looks wonderful. Is the atmosphere inside very formal?

Woody Allen and Goucho Marx said, "“I'd never join a club that would allow a person like me to become a member.”