New Delhi (DEL) Where to stay and what to do for one night

[Daver6]

Hi all. After some input.

I'm likely going to need to overnight in New Delhi in June at the back of work trip. I could arrive mid afternoon one day and depart the following around 6pm. I've never been to India before.

I wouldn't mind taking in a site or two. Not interested in an all day tour. More than happy to walk around/take the local trains. Rest of the time I wouldn't mind just unwinding by a nice hotel pool.

In terms of area to stay, seems around India Gate/Connaught/Diplomatic Compound might be a good option. I noticed there is a lack of major hotel brands in the city with Marriot being the best represented. I'm not set on a major brand, but would prefer Hilton/Marriot/Accor as have some status there and collecting points. Looking for a 5 star hotel with a half decent pool. Open to places I should consider or avoid.

I also notice a plethora of decent hotels by the airport including a JW Marriot. Would I maybe be better of plonking myself there?

In terms of getting to a hotel, is the train from DEL the best option?

In terms of things to checkout. My thinking is the Red Fort and then there seem to be a bunch of places around the India Gate area. Probably a little less interested in museums but do like an impressive historical monument (not interested in a day trip to the Taj).

Any advice/input appreciated.

 

[RB]

Hi all. After some input.

I'm likely going to need to overnight in New Delhi in June at the back of work trip. I could arrive mid afternoon one day and depart the following around 6pm. I've never been to India before.

I wouldn't mind taking in a site or two. Not interested in an all day tour. More than happy to walk around/take the local trains. Rest of the time I wouldn't mind just unwinding by a nice hotel pool.

In terms of area to stay, seems around India Gate/Connaught/Diplomatic Compound might be a good option. I noticed there is a lack of major hotel brands in the city with Marriot being the best represented. I'm not set on a major brand, but would prefer Hilton/Marriot/Accor as have some status there and collecting points. Looking for a 5 star hotel with a half decent pool. Open to places I should consider or avoid.

I also notice a plethora of decent hotels by the airport including a JW Marriot. Would I maybe be better of plonking myself there?

In terms of getting to a hotel, is the train from DEL the best option?

In terms of things to checkout. My thinking is the Red Fort and then there seem to be a bunch of places around the India Gate area. Probably a little less interested in museums but do like an impressive historical monument (not interested in a day trip to the Taj).

Any advice/input appreciated.

I am no help with hotels but you might find something of interest in my trip report from 2013- The section of what we did in Delhi that time starts at post 39 in the report And Our Driver Said You Need A Good Horn, Good Brakes & Good Luck to Drive In India | Australian Frequent Flyer

 

[RooFlyer]

I stayed a couple of times at the Pullman Aero city just on the edge of the airport complex.

Aerocity has a number of other chain hotels and there is also a train station very close by so you can get a regular train into downtown. Very easy to use.

The India Gate to Jaipur column axis is a very nice walk with a number of good buildings to see especially at the latter, government end.

Aerocity and metro train andself walking here
A series of Firsts: India and Xi'an, mainly thanks to AFF

 

[RooFlyer]

A post further up in the above thread describes the Qutb Minar. I'm not sure if there is train station nearby, but if you wanted to see an extraordinary ancient monument, think about visiting it.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Taj and Oberoi are the big brands in india for luxury hotels. i would wholly recommend staying in one of those, not least because they have an indian vibe rather than a room that could be anywhere in the world!

My key tip for india is to have a car booked, before you arrive, for transport to your hotel. The driver will meet you and you’ll avoid the huge crowds, touts, and everything else that comes with an airport in india.

We tried the ‘do it yourself’ approach the first time we went… it was quite a hassle. Never unsafe, but just a lot of negotiating - the crowds, finding your transport, the distance you need to go - in somewhat oppressive heat. And then the concern that you might be going the long way!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I was just reading up on the metro! That wasn’t there when we visited.

It *sounds* great. But i wonder what happens when you get to Delhi railway station? You then have to get a taxi or under and get to your hotel.

Going back to the airport taxi from hotel to connect to the metro sounds ideal, and easy.

 

[RooFlyer]

I was just reading up on the metro! That wasn’t there when we visited.

It *sounds* great. But i wonder what happens when you get to Delhi railway station? You then have to get a taxi or under and get to your hotel.

Going back to the airport taxi from hotel to connect to the metro sounds ideal, and easy.

Getting a taxi from central rail to hotel is pretty much the norm in most large cities? Where I've taken taxis in India, its been a simple process and even if you pay 'full price' its not expensive. State of the cars though .....

I see in my TR that I caught the airport express line in from Aerocity to New Dehli station, then the metro to .... it would have been to 'central secretariat' near the Parliament building and it was no problem at all.

@Daver6 , in addition to my post above re staying at Aerocity at the airport. The Pullman and I expect all the Aerocity places will send a car for you to the airport; I was Accor Plat at the time and there was no charge at least for the inward journey (I used tour driver to leave). .

And for info for others reading this thread, I used about 4 airports in India over several trips, each time having a car to pick me up. I don't recall a problem at DEL (the international terminal is new and laid out as most others) but at BOM and others, it is a real scrum of drivers waiting to pick pax up (and I mean a scrum!). BOM was horrible. Drivers aren't allowed in or right outside the terminal so you have to first know where they are (basement, certain level of outside concourse etc) and then find the guy amongst the pack of booked drivers and those just wanting a fare. So get *very explicit* instructions as to where to meet him and a contact number in case you can't find him.

Security at Indian airports was (and I expect still is) very strict. I had to show same-day ticket, passport and maybe some other ID?? to enter the terminal. Security inside the airport is run by the army, in full uniform with arms.

 

[daft009]

definitely stay around aerocity for 1 night.
I've had ibis & novotel organise a pickup & drop off for me at booking time

How about this will end up in a nice "circle" though will be hectic
1. qutub minar
2. lotus temple
3. india gate/lotus temple/parliament area
4. Connaught Place/jantar mantar
5. back to hotel

 

[Daver6]

definitely stay around aerocity for 1 night.
I've had ibis & novotel organise a pickup & drop off for me at booking time

How about this will end up in a nice "circle" though will be hectic
1. qutub minar
2. lotus temple
3. india gate/lotus temple/parliament area
4. Connaught Place/jantar mantar
5. back to hotel

For that mini tour, is that do-able taking the local train?

My thinking for not staying by the airport is I'd likely arrive mid-afternoon on one day. So could go for a walk to see something of interest and then the following day similar for a couple of other sites. I'd much rather see fewer things and make it less hectic. Please do let me know if my thinking is flawed though

 

[RooFlyer]

Staying at Aerocity, not only do you get a pick up from the terminal from the hotel ( assuming one of the better places), it’s easy to get into the city by train for your recce walk.

Next day, train it into town again (hopefully around some of the sights) then back to Aerocity for hopefully late check out and drop off to airport.

If staying in the city, I wouldn’t trust Delhi traffic to get back to the airport in any reasonable time, so I’d use a huge buffer and lose a lot of touring time.

 

[daft009]

I've heard good things about the train from my extended relos who live there but never personally used it.
I haven't been to India since late 2017.

I agree with @RooFlyer traffic is really bad and I'd think you'd want to have a shower in the arvo before heading to the airport again.
Delhi pollution is pretty bad and its still peak summer in June.

CP is where all the cool restaurant/bars & designer shopping is.
from aero city station you can head straight into CP it seems
think you might have to drop #1 or #4 to fit in a day.
unless you do 4 as soon as you get to the hotel and set out again and have dinner/drink around CP, that's when CP will be busy anyway, after work hours.
see what tickles your fancy from those options and which one you'd prefer more.

https://www.delhimetrorail.com/static/media/Network-Map-English.e17d3ce0.pdf is a metro map

 

[Daver6]

Which hotel would folks go for at Aerocity. Tossing up between the Pullman or JW Marriot. Gold with both chains.

 

[RooFlyer]

Only stayed at the Pullman, both times (TR referred earlier) . The Marriott is a bit closer to the metro & shops and a bit further away from the runways, so other things & status being equal, I'd choose the Marriott.

 

[Gigi]

We stayed at Andaz in aero city, lovely hotel. I went through security check to enter the hotel with some cutlery I had bought and we got very politely thoroughly checked.

 

[daft009]

I stayed at the Novotel and the Ibis.

Novotel and Pullman have a common restaurant I felt

 

[Austman]

Question for Daver6: Have you been to India before?

 

[Daver6]

Question for Daver6: Have you been to India before?

No. This will be my first time.

 

[Austman]

No. This will be my first time.

It's a great place.

But can be different. Walking to places in the big cities? Mmmm. Maybe better to get a guide or a driver. They are good value and can be very knowledgable.

If you are only there for a short time (transit) perhaps be a bit careful with what you eat and drink unless you want to spend the next flight in the aircraft's toilet. The food in India (and the sub-continent in general) can be absolutely sensational but a bit risky for an unaccustomed stomach outside upmarket venues. Good hotels etc will unlikely be an issue.

I've been to the sub-continent many times and loved it. But always at some point suffered stomach issues. As did all my work colleagues.

The drivers we had (that came automatically with a rented car from Avis/Hertz etc) became our best friends! As I mentioned to one or two of them, I'd still be attempting to make that right turn months later... The traffic negotiation skills needed if driving can be "interesting". Traffic jams in Australia are nothing compared to cities in the sub-continent.

So, get a driver/guide if you wish to venture out of the transit hotels. And trust them. They usually know what they are doing.

 

[daft009]

Yeah it's called Delhi belly for a reason

Try and stay away from salads and milk products if eating outside. Buy bottled water from upmarket supermarkets only

 

[Austman]

So, get a driver/guide if you wish to venture out of the transit hotels.

I should have said "if you wish to venture more than a block or two out of the transit hotels". No harm in just walking around the block. You can assess the area yourself.

I did this on a few of my stays very much against the wishes of the hotel staff.

It depends where the hotel is actually located of course!