LE MERIDIEN, IN NEW DELHI

I have always been uneasy with Le Meridien. I have been in a few and there are always details that let you down. Fortunately, my experience in Delhi was very positive. It even had a swimming pool, that is very unusual and I didn't have the chance to try it...

First of all, as in good hotels in India, you need to get through a security control. If you arrive on a taxi, private car or even, the hotel shuttle from the airport, your vehicle is inspected at the gate. You reach the entrance and your luggage and bags are scanned. At the end of the day, security should always be an issue and you should not complain about it.

Reception staff, extremely nice. I really appreciate all the information they gave me, and of course, the fact that I was given a non-smoking room and a king-size bed. (I hate little beds against the wall).

The room was quite cosy. Enough space for the bed, the worktable and the little lounge area. Bathroom was good. At least, for me. I have to say that I love showers and I am not so keen on baths... so I suppose that those looking for a bath would not be so happy. Of course, the bathroom was full of little bits and bobs usual in this type of hotels.

Two complementary bottles of water are offered, something that you appreciate as water... would probably give you tummy problems... or not. But I am not going to take the risk. Also, a bowl with fruit, also, complementary.

The bed was comfortable, although, I was a bit hot in the room. It had air-conditioned but I don't like to sleep with it. But everything, bearable.

A flat TV with zillions of channels to choose from. Of course, I appreciated the availability of TVE. Also, a few Movie channels in English.

Breakfast was offered in the ground floor, in the ONE restaurant. It is a buffet with plenty of food to chose from, from Indian, to continental and, of course, fried eggs, omelettes... are done freshly on sight. Espresso coffee had additional charge..., which I thought it was a bit mean... but of course, that is their choice. For one person, they have a long table where they sat us. It was a good chance to talk to people from different nationalities as well as local. It also gives you the chance to see how other nationalities behave.

The building was over 25 years, but it may have been refurbished recently, as you would think it was recently opened. Very modern, and an impressive look of the panoramic lifts of the inside of the hotel.

LE MERIDIEN NEW DELHI
Windsor Place
New Delhi,
India
Phone: +91 (11) 23710101

HOLIDAY INN SANDTON RIVONIA ROAD

It's a new hotel in the Sandton Area, within walking dstance from Mandela Square and just opposite a small shopping mall full with restaurants too. The hotel has pleasant staff that always asks you how you are, but they are not very good with resolving matters.Check in is at 2pm, so those arriving early in the morning (normal for European flights) have to wait until the rooms are done. In Africa, time seems to go so slow... which is no good for westerners, which it makes you crazy and impotent. Customer service seems to have disappeared. Apparently, you can ask for a reservation to have the room ready at that time, but that is something that travel agents back home may not know. In the meantime, the shopping mall opposite offers some food and drinks that make the wait more pleasant. Of course, you can also use the hotel facilities, but my principles didn't allow me.Finally, when you reach your room, I have to say the room was big, comfortable bed, big bathroom too. I missed a nice shower, though.

When you returned in the evening, the room was extremely hot. As you need to take the card off the electricity activator as you leave the room, aircon doesn’t work, so... It feels a bit uncomfortable. And I visited in September, still winter in the area, so I wonder how it will be when summertime arrives...

Breakfast is good. Cereals, fresh fruit and in syrup (that coincides with that fresh one and one cannot think other than it was the previous day's re utilised) cheese, bacon, sausages, and a cook that will make a nice omelette or fried eggs for you. Filter coffee. If you want espresso, you need to pay for it. Toast, you need to ask, because the waiters will not ask you whether you want some.

Checking out is also complicated. Slow, understaffed and the ones in charge, with little knowledge of what they need to do, as they disappear behind the door behind the counter constantly... But they are nice.

Mixed opinions about the hotel, but will give it a pass.

HOLIDAY INN SANDTON RIVONIA ROAD
123 Rivonia Road,
Sandton, 2146
SOUTHAFRICA