Hotel The Royal Plaza

The Royal Plaza targets both business travelers and tourists, and many of the guests here are in India on group tours. From the outside, the hotel looks grand, with tall, off-white towers of rooms. The lobby is elaborate, with rust and off-white checkerboard-style marble floors, huge marble columns, Renaissance-style statues in nooks, gold detailing on the wooden reception desks and wrought-iron railings, crystal sconces, and matching chandeliers suspended from frescoed ceilings covered with clouds and cherubs, like in a Renaissance cathedral. However, many travelers might find this over-the-top opulence more garish and gaudy than anything else, and a seating area with a mix of floral upholstered chairs, black-leather pincushion sofas, and navy and green tables marbled to look like lapis and malachite just makes the area look busy, especially given that the walls are an industrial white tile more commonly found at indoor swimming pools than in palaces. A similar decor scheme can be found in the hallways, too, though other common areas -- such as Lutyen's, the 24-hour coffeeshop/restaurant, has more subtle decor, with lots of wood and light marble. 

Those seeking more a more modern option in this price range will have to either sacrifice the central location or find more room in the budget. Shangri-La's Eros Hotel next door is much nicer but also much more expensive. The nearby Park New Delhi is closer to Connaught Place, more modern, and more expensive -- not as pricey as the Shangri-La. 

The Royal Plaza is located in the heart of the historic central neighborhood of Lutyen's Delhi (named for the British architect who designed it). The hotel is directly south of popular shopping and dining area Connaught Place (a 20-minute walk or five-minute drive away) and a 15-minute walk northwest of India Gate. There are plenty of metro stations in the immediate area. Patel Chowk is a seven-minute walk away, while Janpath takes 12 minutes to reach on foot and Central Secretariat takes 15 minutes.

It's 12 minutes on foot to Jantar Mantar, a collection of ancient astronomical instruments, while getting to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi's best-known Sikh temple, takes about 18 minutes on foot. It's a five-minute drive to Delhi Golf Club and a seven-minute drive to Humayan's Tomb, one of the city's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The sprawling Lodhi Gardens, full of Lodhi-era tombs and meandering paths, is a four-minute drive away. 

Old Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi's bustling market area -- Chandni Chowk -- are both about 20 minutes away by car, while it's an eight-minute drive to New Delhi Railway Station. South Delhi attractions such as the Lotus Temple and the Qutub Minar also take about 20 minutes by car to reach, but the journey can be much longer depending on traffic. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is about half an hour away by car without traffic, but can take significantly longer during peak hours.

The Hotel Royal Plaza offers two types of rooms: Standard Rooms, which clock in at only around 230 square feet (21 square meters), and Maharaja Suites, which run closer to 450 square feet and have bedrooms with king-size beds separated from living areas by glass partitions. Both room types come with flat-screen TVs, electronic safes, tea- and coffee-making facilities, and minibars. Irons and ironing boards, slippers, and hairdryers are also provided.

 Standard Rooms have either a king-size bed or two twins, and have generally more subdued decor, with two-toned wood floors, matching wooden desks, nightstands, and headboards, and plain bedding made more bold by multihued striped runners and matching cushions. The Maharaja Suites are contrastingly blingy, with gold painted headboards and curtains that seem to have been inspired by the taste of Louis XIII, as well as gold-framed reproductions of European paintings, including gigantic framed ceiling prints. While rooms have tiled bathrooms with marble countertops and walk-in showers, bathrooms in the Suites are unsurprisingly gaudy, with shower/tub combos (some with whirlpool jets), agate-patterned marble walls and wooden toilet seats. Note that there have been complaints of maintenance issues and noise between rooms. 

Perhaps the Royal Plaza's biggest draw is its rooftop Sky Lounge Bar & Grill, which features panoramic views of the city from funky sofas and chairs, some of which are illuminated after dark. Other drinking and dining options include Lutyen's, a 24-hour coffeeshop restaurant that serves a variety of cuisine types, a Tea Lounge that also serves pastries, a bar -- Onyx -- with a variety of spirits and wines, and Jasmine, which serves Chinese food at lunch and dinner.

The fitness center here is pleasant and bright, with modern cardio equipment and free weights. There's also a spa offering Ayurvedic massages and treatments as well as a lagoon-style outdoor pool flanked by lounge chairs, though it's a bit small. Business facilities include five function rooms for meetings and banquets of various sizes. While there is hotel-wide Wi-Fi, it costs extra (guests only get an hour free per day).