The Roseate

The Dusit Devarana is unusual for a Delhi hotel in that despite its location just south of the airport, it's really more of a resort with gorgeous outdoor space. Guests enter the cobalt-hued, two-story hotel through a high portico supported by wooden columns that resemble old-fashioned table legs. Inside, the lobby has futuristic arching eaves and ceilings, polished off-white floors, and a large expanse of multicolored rectangular patchwork stained-glass windows.The grounds are equally futuristic and funky, with golf course-style manicured hilly lawns, large reflecting pools, meandering stone paths, and hundreds of tall hedges and deciduous and evergreen trees. Though there are business facilities and it's near the airport, it's not really an airport hotel so much as a resort getaway within the city, or even a viable staycation option. During the late-autumn wedding season, it's also a popular place to stage high-end weddings. Otherwise, guests are a mix of couples and business travelers.

The Dusit Devarana is located just off the National Highway 48, a main thoroughfare that connects Delhi and Mumbai, passing through major cities such as Jaipur en route. There's little to see or do near the hotel, though it's just a 10-minute drive from Indira Gandhi International Airport. South Delhi's Qutub Minar, takes about 30 minutes to reach by car, while Humayun's Tomb is a 40-minute drive away, depending on traffic. Expect drives of 50 minutes to an hour to reach attractions in the center of the city, such as Connaught Place and over an hour to reach Old Delhi and the Red Fort. The IT hub city of Gurgaon is 30 to 45 minutes by car in the opposite direction. Overall, it's a convenient location for those who need to be near the airport or who want relatively convenient access to both Delhi and Gurgaon, but travelers will need to rely on taxis as it's not in an area well served by the metro. 

The Dusit Devarana offers two types of room: Devarana Rooms and Premium Rooms, both with either pool or garden views -- those facing the pools add terraces. Devarana Rooms feature a white, gray, and muted burgundy decor scheme, with polished white-marble floors and counters, soft lighting, arched ceilings, and sleek, modern furniture with a slight 1960s-retro look. Premium Rooms aren't much different, though they have wood floors and paneling instead of marble (which makes them look a bit like airline lounges) and are a bit larger. The rooms have an open floorplan, with large tubs sitting right in the rooms and there are a couple of vanity areas with urn-like basins for washing off, again right in the rooms. The walk-in showers and toilets -- thankfully -- are in private stalls. All rooms have minibars, kettles, flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, and tablets for guest use. At the time of writing, there were 50 rooms at the Dusit Devarana, though the resort plans to add an additional 10 Premium Rooms plus a Presidential Suite at some point in 2016.

Dusit Devarana's amenities are geared toward leisure travelers and all feature the same open, airy, contemporary decor found throughout the resort. There are two restaurants -- Kiyan and ChiNi -- and a bar, IAH, which offers cigars, spirits, and mixed drinks in a colorful, semi-open space. Kiyan has more muted decor, with round silvery booths and gray, plush seats indoors, plus an outdoor seating area with tables and chairs next to a blue reflecting pool. The menu at this all-day restaurant varies seasonally, but the selection is good and includes Western, East Asian, and Indian fare, with many of the ingredients that are grown on-site. Chi Ni features Chinese food and has a similarly muted color scheme, with dark-wood floors and two-toned gray marbled walls flanking a large display kitchen. Outdoor seating and private dining rooms are also available. Room service is available 24 hours a day.

Like much of the hotel, the spa has an open and airy vibe, with colorful passageways full of potted plants and trees. Intensive Ayurvedic treatments and a range of massages, scrubs, and wraps are available. There's also a salon for haircare and mani/pedis. The fitness center is small, but stylish, with wooden floors and glass walls and ceilings. However, the modern equipment is limited and the gym only has three cardio machines. As an aquatic fitness alternative (or a stylish place to unwind in Delhi's frequently brutal heat), the pool is long and flanked by tall hedgerows, and its length makes it ideal for swimming laps, There's also a boutique selling high-end apparel and handicrafts. The Dusit Devarana is a popular wedding venue, and there's both indoor and outdoor event space available to rent. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's plenty of on-site parking available.