Blame it on the Games (as many things in Delhi are being, and not very politely either), but the last few years have seen a long overdue, massive rise in the number and variety of hotels across the NCR. From the world&rsquos biggest luxury brands and business hotels to home-grown VFM hotels to even bed-and-breakfasts and serviced apartments&hellipthere&rsquos something for everyone. And as it&rsquos our job to point you in the right direction when choosing a hotel, we&rsquove compiled a list (and divided it geographically for ease of use) of the newest accommodation around.
Central Delhi
Mid-range
Hotel Palace Heights A completely overhauled Connaught Place classic. The unassuming little hotel that old-timers will remember from the 1950s received a facelift about three years ago and reopened as a contemporary, stylish boutique hotel with swanky rooms, facilities for the corporate traveller and the popular North Indian cuisine restaurant, Zaffran. Tariff from Rs 6,500 (single). Contact 011-43582610, hotelpalaceheights.com
Radisson Marina Hotel It may not have five-star grandeur and its rooms may be limited to 90, but the months-old hotel scores on location. At Connaught Circus, it&rsquos as central as it gets, with access to the main railway and Metro stations. Formerly the Hotel Marina, a CP landmark, the hotel houses a spa, gym and business centre. On the dining front, there&rsquos the popular Great Kabab Factory as well as an all-day eatery and a bar lounge. Tariff from Rs 12,000. Contact 1800-1800-333, radisson.com
South Delhi
Luxury
Aman New Delhi The first city hotel from Amanresorts&mdashrenowned for its fabulously luxurious resorts across the globe&mdashthe Aman New Delhi stands where the Lodhi Hotel once stood. No ostentation, all minimalist luxury. The idea was to create a peaceful retreat in the middle of a frenetic city&mdashand they have succeeded. The hotel organises tours to historical sites, museums, the Old City and shopping spots. Facilities Draw your own conclusions from the fact that even their standard rooms come with private plunge pools. Tariff from approx. Rs 25,000. Contact 011-43633333, amanresorts.com
The Leela Palace Kempinski New Delhi With a location that&rsquos nearly impossible to beat and luxury that can only be faulted for being over-the-top, the newest Leela, opening at an unspecified date (but &ldquosoon, definitely before the Games&rdquo, is already the talk of the town. Inhabiting three acres in the green heart of Delhi&mdashon Chanakyapuri&rsquos Africa Avenue&mdashthe property will offer 260 rooms and suites. Choose a royal suite and be treated with your own plunge pool. And what&rsquos a five-star today without at least three speciality restaurants, a couple of bars, a spa, a rooftop swimming pool, a fitness centre, meeting rooms and a grand ballroom Tariff from Rs 25,000. Contact 011-39331234, theleela.com
Mid-Range
Crowne Plaza Today Okhla The second of the InterContinental Hotels Group&rsquos business hotel brands in the NCR after 2007&rsquos Crowne Plaza Today Gurgaon. The 208-room hotel has every facility one can expect from a business hotel&mdash24-hour gym, eight Wi-fi-enabled conference rooms, access to major industrial/commercial hubs, limo service. Views of the Tughlaqabad Fort, fine-dining options, a lounge bar, patisserie, spa and comfortable rooms ensure the leisure traveller doesn&rsquot feel out of place either. Tariff from Rs 6,500. Contact 1800-111-000, ichotelsgroup.com
Hilton Garden Inn Saket Heaven for the mall rat. Hilton Garden Inn, the mid-range brand from Hilton Worldwide, opened its first Asia-Pacific property in mall central&mdashthe Saket District Centre. Housed in the sprawling DLF Place Mall here, the hotel features 114 rooms and aims to please with pressure-relieving beds, a 24-hour convenience shop and fitness kits for in-room workouts. The property also has a multi-cuisine restaurant, fitness centre and a stylish rooftop pool. Tariff from Rs 10,000. Contact 011-39191919, www1.hilton.com
Shervani Nehru Place If you&rsquore thinking small and affordable yet deluxe and well-appointed, you&rsquore probably knocking on the right door. Shervani&rsquos second offspring in the capital (the first belongs in Sundar Nagar) is a 38-room, contemporary space located in commercial hub, Nehru Place. On offer are standard, deluxe and club rooms, all equipped with the standard facilities. Also available, an all-day dining restaurant, a fitness centre and a rooftop pool. Tariff from Rs 3,500. Contact 011-43508686, shervanihotels.com
Svelte Suites Located adjacent to the city&rsquos favourite mall, Select City Walk in Saket, this is an all-suite boutique property with five-star comforts. Each of the 83 suites has a kitchenette with fridge, microwave, hot plate and cookware, if you&rsquore in the mood to dine in your room. Or better still, get your personal chef to cook you a meal in your suite and have your butler serve you. Tariff from Rs 8,000. Contact 011-40512000, svelte.in
Trinity Art Hotel Looking for a comfortable serviced apartment that doesn&rsquot break the bank Try Trinity Art Hotel, also in Saket. This is a set of five studio apartments with fully equipped kitchenettes, maid service, room service from local restaurants and even grocery delivery&mdashjust give your list to the hotel staff before you check in and be greeted by a fully stocked larder/kitchen on arrival. Tariff from Rs 4,000. Contact 011-40568989, trinityarthotel.com
Gurgaon
Luxury
The Leela Kempinski Gurgaon The Leela Group&rsquos first property in North India, this is every bit the flamboyant hotel one would expect from the brand. Bold design, opulent interiors in vibrant colours and large scale, the hotel comprises 322 rooms and suites, as well as 90 one-, two- and three-bedroom residences. Ample spaces have also been allotted for the spa (20,000 sq ft with 11 treatment rooms) and the business centre (27,000 sq ft with multiple board rooms). But its real USP is probably its proximity to the airport&mdash10 minutes away. Tariff from Rs 21,000 (single). Contact 0124-4771234, theleela.com
The Westin Gurgaon If you&rsquove stayed at a Westin, you&rsquoll know exactly what to expect at the soon-to-open Westin Gurgaon, the luxury hotel brand&rsquos fifth property in India in less than three years. You&rsquoll find subtle interiors and expansive rooms&mdashall 312 of them displaying Westin&rsquos trademark &lsquoHeavenly&rsquo bed. You&rsquoll also find signature fine-dining options, the Heavenly spa and the Westin workout. Tariff Rs 14,000. Contact 0124-4977777, starwoodhotels.com
Mid-range
Courtyard by Marriott This six-month-old, 198-room property features well-appointed rooms, meeting and conferencing facilities, an outdoor pool, a gym, fine-dining restaurants as well as a Wi-fi-enabled executive lounge with all-day dining. Tariff from Rs 9,500. Contact 0124-4888444, marriott.com
Optus Sarovar Premier Sarovar Hotels & Resorts&rsquo third property in Gurgaon, the 80-room Optus Sarovar Premier is stylish and contemporary. Rooms are kitted out with LCD TVs, DVD players, mini-bars, Wi-fi, satellite connections, luxurious toiletries&hellipthe full shebang. Guests will also enjoy the rooftop pool, bars and restaurants, fitness centre/spa, conference halls and the hotel&rsquos proximity to the area&rsquos business hub. Tariff from Rs 5,999. Contact 9958592241, sarovarhotels.com
Peppermint This curiously named hotel, which opened its doors a few weeks ago, is the first in a pan-India series. The décor incorporates hints of lime-green in a white colour scheme, its aesthetic is minimalist. The aim is to be a &lsquonon-budget budget hotel&rsquo and it looks promising all 46 rooms offer posh amenities, including iPod docking stations, customised beds, floor butlers, wellness centre, etc. Tariff from Rs 6,500. Contact 9901766836, pepperminthotels.com
Radisson Suites Opened for business a few months ago, this mixed-use facility combines 32 full-service suites, a business centre with a capacity of 800 and private office space with secretarial services for short- and long-term lease. Tariff from Rs 12,000. Contact 1800-1800-333, radisson.com
Noida/Greater Noida
Luxury
Jaypee Greens Golf and Spa Resort This integrated golf resort and spa, spread over 60 acres in Greater Noida, boasts an 18-hole championship golf course designed by Greg Norman. The spa is another first&mdashthe super-luxurious Six Senses Spa. The property offers 170 rooms and suites, a choice of fine-dining Indian, Italian and Chinese restaurants, wine and coffee bars, a cigar lounge and the mandatory banqueting facilities. Tariff to be announced. Contact 0120-2324715, jaypeehotels.com
Mid-range
Radisson Hotel Greater Noida All the way out in Greater Noida and wondering where to check in For the deep-pocketed, there&rsquos Jaypee Greens. For the rest of us there&rsquos Radisson&rsquos 175-room hotel, set to open in October. Located just three kilometres from the Taj Expressway, the hotel will also be a good pit stop for those en route to Agra from Delhi. Tariff from Rs 12,000. Contact 1800-1800-333, radisson.com
Surajkund
Luxury
Claridges Surajkund Sleepy Surajkund got its first real taste of luxury last year with the Claridges Surajkund. Unlike its much older, rather more sedate sibling in Central Delhi, the Claridges Surajkund displays trendy interiors and offers a lot more space. Wide lawns surround the property, while even the most basic of the 72 rooms currently on offer (the hotel will add another 137 soon) are a generous 400 sq ft. With a spectacular infinity pool, 15,500 sq ft spa and a choice of cuisines, this hotel serves as a good getaway, especially for those travelling with children. Tariff from Rs 6,300. Contact 0129-4190000, claridges-hotels.com
Mid-range
Express Sarovar Portico Like its sister concerns, this two-month-old, 70-room hotel lays big emphasis on meeting corporate guests&rsquo demands&mdashfrom well-appointed rooms to high-tech meeting rooms&mdashbut lacks small luxuries such as a pool and spa. Tariff from Rs 2,990. Contact 9958592241, sarovarhotels.com
West Delhi
Mid-Range
Hilton New Delhi, Janakpuri With 228 rooms and suites, a spa, a range of fine-dining restaurants and bars, including one by the rooftop pool, a tea house and a grand ballroom, the 10-storey Hilton Janakpuri is an excellent option for those looking for high-end accommodation in the western part of the city. And everything elsewhere in the National Capital Region is accessible the hotel is only minutes away from the Metro station. Tariff from Rs 6,900 (single). Contact 011-41234123, www1.hilton.com
Mapple Emerald Southwest Delhi has a brand new hotel with Mapple Hotels&rsquo first Delhi property in the &lsquofarmhouse&rsquo area of Rajokri. Located just off NH-8, the 54-room hotel is within striking distance of both Gurgaon and the airport. Tariff from Rs 5,000. Contact 9910169555, mapplehotels.com
Park Plaza This brand is having a successful run, as it launches two properties in Dwarka (south-west Delhi) and Hari Nagar (northwest). Earlier last year, it had launched Park Plaza Noida, with 88 rooms. The Park Plaza Dwarka promises 209 rooms, and the full complement of services including a spa and multiple restaurants the Hari Nagar hotel is smaller with 57 rooms and one restaurant. Tariff from Rs 9,000 (Noida) Rs 11,500 (Dwarka) Rs 10,000 (single, Hari Nagar). Contact 1800-111-222, parkplaza.com
Note All rates for double occupancy, unless otherwise specified.
Bed & Breakfasts
Sometimes all we&rsquore really looking for is a clean, comfortable room and some breakfast in bed, maybe. In the last few years, Delhi has seen a mushrooming of bed-and-breakfasts and serviced apartments as homeowners across the city have opened their doors to the world. And these are no shabby rooms we&rsquore talking about &ndash many boast swanky interiors, modern amenities and superb locations,. Here&rsquos a list of a few that caught our attention for a complete, government-approved list of B&Bs/serviced apartments in the city visit delhibnb.info or incredibleindia.org.
Ahtushi&rsquos B&B This cheery three-bedroom B&B in Vasant Kunj (run by an OT contributor) accepts bookings only from women. Tariff Rs 3,000 (single)/Rs 3,500 (double). Contact 9899248030, https://delhihomestay.weebly.com
Apt 3 You&rsquoll feel like you&rsquore miles away from city-life if you check into this charming little place in Hauz Khas Village. Surrounded by views of the Deer Park, this is a one-bedroom fully serviced apartment. Tariff Rs 38,000 for a week. Contact 9818938881
Bnineteen An upscale six-bedroom place in Nizamuddin, located across Humayun&rsquos Tomb. Tariff Rs 6,750. Contact 9871088629, bnineteen.com
Casa Delhi The third B&B in Delhi from the Casa brand (they have one in Mehrauli and another in Friends Colony East), Casa Delhi is excellently located in Defence Colony with five rooms and two suites. Tariff Rs 6,000 (room)/Rs 8,000 (suite). Contact 9971425558, casa boutiquehotels.com
Harry&rsquos A five-bedroom apartment in Silver Oaks, a gated neighbourhood in Gurgaon. Tariff Rs 3,500 (single)/Rs 3,800 (double). Contact 0124-4055384, https://harrysbedandbreakfast.googlepages.com
Sai Villa Six en suite rooms with attached bathrooms, TVs, Wi-fi, etc. Located in Greater Kailash II. Tariff Rs 2,500 (single)/Rs 2,750 (double). Contact 9811069943, saivilla.com
Shantigriha A large home in Sainik Farms on the fringe of the Asola Wildlife Sanctuary, this B&B offers only one bedroom. Tariff Rs 3,500. Contact 9810854666, shantigrihabnb.com
The Estate A sprawling six-bedroom property in Sultanpur surrounded by expansive lawns and lots of peace and quiet. Tariff Rs 3,900. Contact 9873360002, theestatebnb.com
Thikana Stylish interiors combined with all modern facilities, Thikana in South Delhi&rsquos posh Gulmohar Park offers eight en suite double bedrooms. Tariff Rs 5,000 (single)/Rs 6,000 (double). Commonwealth Games period rates Rs 8,000 (single)/Rs 9,000 (double). Contact 9811543335, thikanadelhi.com
All rates inclusive of breakfast (of course).
