The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

I’ve stayed in a lot of exceptional hotels around the world, and Amarvilas genuinely sits among the very best of them. It made our Agra visit, in every sense of the word, and it made my father's birthday. The grounds and setting are simply immaculate, and just being in them is deeply relaxing. The view of the Taj Mahal (from every room, the bar, the lobby, the tea room) is nothing short of divine. There's no other hotel experience quite like it. The service is second to none, anywhere in the world. Every member of staff is clearly well trained, genuinely warm, and consistently goes out of their way to help. This is a team that has been built with real care. The food was brilliant throughout; an excellent breakfast (both the buffet and a superb à la carte selection), and two wonderful dinners at Esphahan, where the chef specially prepared galuti kebabs for us off-menu on our second night, simply because I'd mentioned they were my favourite. A few members of staff made our stay truly unforgettable, and I want to thank them by name: Koyel, at Esphahan, deserves the highest praise of all. Her warmth, thoughtfulness, and the way she shared her own story with us made a lasting impression; and she arranged a beautiful surprise birthday cake for my father on the balcony overlooking the pool, a moment we'll never forget. Riya, also at Esphahan, was equally exceptional; attentive, charming, and full of genuine warmth and confidence. She also introduced me to the restaurant's santur player, whose music left me genuinely in awe. I even had a go on the santur myself, though I suspect it may have scared off a few of Riya's other diners! Both Koyel and Riya were the absolute stars of our stay, and I have no doubt they'll go far in their careers. Thank you both, sincerely, and well done. Naman was wonderful across both breakfast and dinner service, and arranged a lovely bakery takeaway for us for our onward journey. The other Riya, at the breakfast restaurant, delighted us with stories from her childhood and her insights on the virtues of ghee in cooking. She served me a lovely aloo paratha. Cathareen at breakfast was soft-spoken but confident, and we loved hearing about Shimla from her. Kanav at the bar entertained us with stories of his motorbikes, and Kapil at the front desk was a lovely presence as we checked out. And last but certainly not least, Rohit, the General Manager, who gave us a warm, personal welcome on arrival, upgraded us to two balcony rooms, and remained attentive throughout our stay. The spa is currently being renovated, and in the meantime the hotel has cleverly converted three rooms into private spa suites so guests can still enjoy treatments, each with its own steam room, which was a lovely touch. I do hope the new spa, once complete, will include a shared steam room, jacuzzi, and sauna, since none of these currently exist elsewhere at the hotel. That would round out an already exceptional property beautifully. The only issue, and Rohit and the team are already actively looking into solutions recognising the hotel's need to coexist with the surrounding nature, is the pigeons. They're a genuine nuisance across the resort and make a real mess on the balconies. Beyond being unsightly, this also raises a genuine health hazard given how much time is spent on the balconies enjoying the view, so it's a point worth the hotel prioritising. That aside, this is a truly brilliant resort, among the very best in the world, without question. Well done Rohit and team!

Loved every bit of this place. The grounds and facilities are impeccably maintained, but more than that its the soft touch service - just exceptional! Special thanks for the coffee and snacks ready for all guests taking the sunrise Taj tour.

An absolutely insane experience from start to finish, but wonderful! Definitely the most opulent place I’ve ever stayed. The staff literally could not have been more accommodating, the spa was brilliant, and the food was wonderful - if you wanted something not on the menu then they’d do their best to give it to you anyway. It really was the most amazing place I’ve stayed, and the views and grounds are sublime. The staff themselves are the real heroes too. They went out of their way to bring us remedies when we were feeling ill, remembered every little detail about us and our preferences, and they were all so lovely and chatty whenever we got talking to them properly. I would also 100% recommend requesting a tour of the Taj and also Agra fort at the minimum, and make sure to ask specifically for Muzammil Hussain ahead of time - he’s fantastic, friendly, and really knows his stuff.

Our first impression was WOW. More than we expected from a resort. The setting was terrific, among the best in India we saw. The concierge found us a great guide, Kirshone Guppta. Knowledgeable and funny. .

If I could give this hotel 100 stars I would. This stay was a dream, rudely awoken by the regret of only booking 1 night. With views of the Taj Mahal, incredible service from staff, and luxury at every turn, you would be hard pressed to find a fault. A mid September stay meant less crowds, but still beautiful weather. Whilst the whole stay was a highlight, a few of my favourites included: - a beautiful welcome ceremony from staff with a marigold wreath - a welcome drink in the tea room, with views of the Taj Mahal - the base room being just a beautiful as any other - pillow menu - the slippers - BREAKFAST Our 5 am Taj Mahal visit included a breathtaking pink sunrise which turned into blue skies. We will be returning in the future, and will certainly look for Oberoi options wherever we go. This stay is not to be missed, but please stay more than 1 night and set aside time to enjoy the Oberoi.