Tried & Tested

This year’s India region list of the ‘Top Ten Hotels’,‘Bargain Hotels’,‘Luxury Hotels’,‘Best for Families’ and ‘Best Service Hotels’ packs in many surprises. For starters,it’s a boutique hotel that’s made it to the top of the charts. Bordered by the golden sands and gentle waves of the Arabian Sea,Casa Candolim,a lesser known boutique hotel,actually a Portuguese cottage,in Goa,has won the top honours for its quaintness,quiet and elegant atmosphere coupled with good service. “This year’s awards are a testimony to the power of user generated content and how it is shaping the online travelling community,” points out Dhall,as he mentions that beyond a picture-perfect setting and ambience,the Indian traveller is looking for superb service. “It could be a five-star property but the guests will remember exactly how the staff behaved. A pleasant stay goes a long way,” shares Dhall.

Interestingly,this year has seen new,lesser known properties give the veterans of hospitality stiff competition. Like Camp Noel,ranked eighth in the list of ten,is a nature resort tucked away in Munnar’s majestic mountains and offers mysterious woods,trickling streams,and sprawling valleys! Then there’s Jaisalmer’s Hotel Victoria,said to be the “best place to stay in the only ‘live’ Fort of the world.” It comprises two converted town houses built right into the fort walls offering a romantic Arabian Night setting in the desert town of Jaisalmer! Also making it to the list of ‘Best Top 10 Hotels’ is Jodhpur’s ‘Ratan Vilas’ where one’s assured of a lively atmosphere and legendary Rajput hospitality. The list also ranks a budget home-stay – Sajhome – in Cochin on number six. Another Cochin property,the popular Old Harbour Hotel gets second spot. “Also,as you’ll realise,our awards cut across categories and different kinds of hotels,” mentions Dhall. So in the line-up of ‘Best Luxury Hotel in India’,Jaipur’s Taj Rambagh Palace is numero uno while the award for ‘Best Family Hotel’ and ‘Hotel with the Best Service’ sees the Old Harbour Hotel,Kochi win hands down!

“Just as there’s an India edition,the global honours have also been announced,” briefs Dhall. The ‘Best Bargain in the World’ award goes to Arcadia Residence in Prague,Czech Republic while Istanbul’s Sirkeci Konak Hotel is the winner for ‘Best for Families in the World’. In the list for ‘Best for Romance in the World’,the Hilton Moorea Lagoon Resort & Spa in French Polynesia is where you should be cozying in. Now didn’t some say,a journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step. Get going then!