Best Party Hotels in India

The Acron Waterfront Resort is a three-and-a-half-pearl vacation resort with 29 rooms and a gigantic infinity pool. It's located on the Baga River, but it's a 10-minute walk to the beach. Rooms here are modern and homey, and come with furnished patios or balconies and large bathrooms. Amenities include an excellent restaurant with breakfast served late, a small but well-equipped gym, a spa, and hot tub. River boat trips also depart from the hotel's jetty.  While it's a great property overall, the Wi-Fi is slow (unless you pay for an upgrade), and its lack of direct beach access might be a deterrent. Travelers may want to also consider the Baia Do So, which sits right where the river meets the sea. 

This luxury hotel from the Four Seasons chain offers an alluring set of features, including an attractive outdoor pool, a rooftop lounge with nightly DJ sets, and two on-site restaurants serving Asian and Italian fare. There's also a full spa, as well as a modern fitness center and free yoga classes. The 202 guest rooms are fairly simple decor-wise, and some guests find them tired and not up to par with Four Seasons standards. Nevertheless, they come equipped with plenty of modern comforts, including flat-screen TVs, DVD players, minibars, and free Wi-Fi. The marble bathrooms have both soaking tubs and walk-in rainfall showers.  For more stylish luxury rooms, check out the The St. Regis Mumbai or the InterContinental Marine Drive.

The five-pearl St. Regis Mumbai sits next to Mumbai's high end shopping malls, High Street Phoenix Mall and the Palladium Mall, and is known as one of the most luxurious hotels in the city. The 395 rooms have sophisticated decor with flat-screen TVs, kettles, minibars, and city views. Free personal butler service in all rooms is a nice touch and some suites have soaking whirlpool tubs in front of large windows. With wonderful on-site amenities ranging from a rooftop pool, spa, seven restaurants, and a nightclub, it’s hard to go wrong with the St. Regis. As a business hotel though, it’s quite busy with crowded elevators, sometimes slow restaurant service, and an occasional cold atmosphere. Travelers who want sea views and a closer location to the main attractions might consider the InterContinental Marine Drive.

The Raintree Hotel - Anna Salai is a four-pearl property, centrally located near Chennai's bustling T. Nagar district. Lots of backlighting and fresh furnishings fill its 16 stories, and city views are spectacular from a rooftop bar, restaurant, and pool. The 230 spacious rooms have a sophisticated, albeit generic, look, as well as minibars, kettles, and irons. However, soundproofing isn't great here. Five restaurants and bars offer well-regarded and varied dining, and wellness facilities include a modern gym, salon, and spa. The sleek vibe and excellent location draw leisure, business and wedding party guests, and solid event spaces cater to the latter. Better insulated from noise, The Clarion Chennai Hotel is a quieter alternative.

The Lalit New Delhi is a 461-room luxury hotel that attracts business travelers and tourists alike, thanks largely to its myriad facilities and excellent Connaught Place location. Rooms here are spacious and luxurious, and while the sleek, businesslike interiors lack any real wow factor, the large marble bathrooms -- many with deep soaking tubs -- are impressive. Features abound here and include multiple meeting rooms, an excellent luxury spa, a gym with high-tech equipment, and multiple restaurants serving cuisine from around the world. The hotel is also home to Kitty Su, arguably the capital's swankiest night club. Travelers looking for something with a bit more historic ambience and less of a party scene may want to compare rates at the historic Imperial Hotel nearby. 

The three-and-a-half-pearl Whispering Palms Beach Resort is a family-friendly property set a five-minute walk from Candolim Beach, with all-inclusive plans optional. There are enough activities and music to make sure both adults and kids are never bored, and most guests hang around the freeform pool with a kiddy section. The 106 contemporary, albeit simple, rooms have minibars, flat-screen TVs, and private balconies or terraces. On the downside, the pool can get noisy and sunbeds are grabbed early. A buffet restaurant, Indian specialty eatery, and a lounge are some of the dining options. An animation team offers activities and beach trips for adults, and a kids' club has lots for little ones to keep busy. A small spa offers treatments and a gym has old equipment. For a calmer property, consider the nearby Seashell Beach Suites.

The Vivanta by Taj - Ambassador is a three-and-a-half-pearl hotel with 88 rooms located in Central Delhi, right next to the upscale shops and restaurants at Khan Market. Rooms are bright and mostly modern, with big bathrooms, though those facing the hotel's interior can get noisy when events are taking place and free Wi-Fi works poorly. The hotel's restaurants are popular with guests and locals alike; the 24-hour Yellow Brick Road is particularly well-liked and serves a huge breakfast buffet. While there is a small fitness center, there's no pool; the pool at the nearby Taj Mahal Hotel is free for Vivanta guests. Travelers looking for an on-site pool should compare rates at the much larger ITC Maurya, which has great restaurants and a similar style. 

One of the best-known hotels in Delhi's backpacker enclave, Pahargaj, the Hotel Hari Piorko is a solid budget option with 39 rooms. It's not as run-down and lackluster as many of the area's other budget digs, and all the rooms are neat and well-maintained; many have extras not common to Paharganj hotels such as flat-screen TVs and mini-fridges. Hotel features are limited but include daily housekeeping, a rooftop restaurant, and free Wi-FI. Travelers looking for similarly priced properties but who want to avoid the backpacker scene may want to consider staying at one of the budget properties in West Delhi's hectic Karol Bagh neighborhood, such as Wood Castle or Hotel Amax Inn.

Hard Rock Hotel Goa is a fun music-themed four-pearl hotel located on a quiet back road near the main Calangute market and a 15-minute walk from the beach. The 135 rooms and suites here feature contemporary decor and huge walk-in showers, but they can be noisy and the windows don't open. Platinum Rock Suites come with loaner Fender guitars. Amenities include a fitness center open early until late, a lovely outdoor pool with an adjacent kids' pool, plus 24-hour room service and free breakfast. Music lovers may appreciate the regular DJ and rock band performances in the hotel bar and lobby, but early-to-bed types might not, as soundproofing here is subpar. Travelers looking for a higher-end property closer to the beach should consider the sea-facing Park Calangute Goa instead -- but rates are higher.

The Park New Delhi is a contemporary four-pearl hotel located at the southern edge of Central Delhi's Connaught Place, within a short walk of plenty of bars, restaurants, shops, and attractions. The overall vibe is contemporary, though the common areas are overall better looking than the 220 rooms, all of which include lovely marble bathrooms featuring big walk-in showers, though decor is somewhat underwhelming in most. The hotel is home to trendy bars, a great restaurant, and a popular pool area that hosts regular daytime pool parties in summer months. There's also an upmarket spa, a modern fitness center, and three event spaces for meetings and parties. Travelers wanting something a bit more quintessentially Indian may prefer to stay at the slightly more luxe Taj Palace instead. 

The Astor Hotel is a smart, three-and-a-half-pearl property that sits in the heart of Kolkata, within a 10-minute walk of Park Street. It's a historic building with a good set of restaurants and bars, including a well-received kebab restaurant and a nightclub bustling with locals and tourists alike. The rooftop cafe/bar is also a popular haunt with a laid-back feel. The 34 rooms have a modern style that contrasts with the colonial look elsewhere in the hotel, though the large Suites are full of traditional touches like beautifully carved four-poster beds. This property lacks leisure facilities and an elevator, and its location draws lots of business travelers. Guests willing to sacrifice the traditional finish could opt for The Park Kolkata instead, which has a pool and spa. 

The Hotel Shelton is a 35-room mid-range hotel with extremely competitive rates for its category. All rooms have air-conditioning and flat-screen TVs, but they lack coffee- and tea-making facilities (though thermoses are provided) and have basic wet-room-style bathrooms (albeit with rainfall showerheads). However, light sleepers should bring ear plugs as noise from the busy street below can be a problem. On-site features include a 24-hour rooftop restaurant with a pool table and room service, free Wi-Fi, and tour booking service through the front desk. Travelers may also want to consider the Hotel Hari Piorko just a few doors down, which offers similarly priced rooms, many with their own live aquariums. 

The O Hotel is a four-pearl boutique hotel stretching from the main road in Candolim down to the beach. The 75 rooms and suites are dark and run small, but are nonetheless elegant with contemporary decor and balconies in most. Features include multiple restaurants and bars, plus a tiny gym and an infinity pool, but the biggest selling point is direct access to the beach. While The O is not exactly a business hotel, there is a banquet hall available for weddings and private events along with free Wi-Fi and plenty of secure on-site parking. Those looking for more event space might want to also consider the nearby Fortune Acron Regina, which has more extensive conference facilities; however, it's not on the beach.

Hotel Travellers Inn's excellent location in South Mumbai's Ballard Estate neighborhood makes it a great option for backpackers and other budget travelers who want to stay in the heart of things but don't have the means to drop a small fortune at one of the snazzier area properties. There are 20 rooms here (including two dorms); some units have air-conditioning and even rainfall showers, but overall they are bare-bones. Facilities are limited to free hotel-wide Wi-Fi, a super simple breakfast, and free on-site parking, though given that the vast majority of those who stay here are international backpackers, the internet gets more use than the parking. Budget travelers looking for something a bit nicer may want to consider the nearby, two-and-a-half-pearl Residency Hotel for free breakfast and contemporary rooms.

The mid-range, 50-room Hotel Diplomat has a great location in the waterfront Colaba neighborhood, across the street from the iconic Taj Mahal Palace hotel. Two popular restaurants occupy the ground floor, which can be a draw for guests and locals alike, but are also the cause of consistent late night disturbances for those trying to sleep in street-facing rooms. Other units face a drab interior wall, and many have dated bathrooms. A free breakfast buffet is included, there are two large banquet rooms, and Wi-Fi is free throughout. Compare rates at the quieter three-pearl Hotel Suba Palace for rooms with more modern bathrooms.