The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

I can’t do justice to the Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra. It is beyond a hotel when visiting the Taj Mahal, and must be experienced. This was a visit with my family, both of whom had not visited the Taj Mahal before, and my dream was to return to the Oberoi Amarvilas after 15 years to experience this hotel and the Taj Mahal with them. The welcome and check-in starts the sense of being made to feel special, sitting in a comfortable area with a wonderful view of the Taj Mahal. During the check-in, Rooms Division Manager Mr Arpan Rawal spent time welcoming me back after 15 years (although cheekily I did ask if he had been here all those years back). It was such a warm welcome and another example of the exemplary service I recall, more so to be as I remembered. Mr Arpan took photos of us on a terrace with views of the Taj Mahal in the background. Mr Arpan also arranged for a fourth floor room with a direct balcony view of the Taj Mahal. There was a flower petal arrangement of ‘Welcome Back’ in our room. It kept feeling so special. After lunch, we took the complimentary buggy ride to the Taj Mahal. Fortunately, the concierge warned me that my full camera rig with gimbal wouldn’t be allowed, so I quickly dropped that in our room. After we finished our amazing visit to the Taj Mahal (despite the rain, and having an umbrella from the hotel helped), the buggy was waiting to take us back. There were activities arranged for younger guests, including mocktail making with a wonderful description of concepts around mixing flavours, a treasure hunt, kite flying and tree planting. Our daughter enjoyed all of them, especially the mocktail making class in the bar (while us parents enjoyed a cocktail). Service by all was flawless, with a level of teamwork unmatched, seamless, efficient and effective in being guest-focused. When we had an issue with our wine choice, seemingly not tasting as we expected for the grape variety, the sommelier attended to us and offered several alternatives until we found the wine we preferred. On our second evening, the bartender/mixologist gave our daughter a mocktail he was experimenting with. Another example of that personable, first-class service. The restaurants catered to special requests based on their menus. Here, service again was excellent, staff working effectively as a team. One of the many positive aspects I recall from 15 years ago was the approach to ‘tipping’. Rather than individually giving tips to staff, the hotel operates a voluntary, collated gratuity shared amongst all staff at the end of the stay. A beautiful recognition that all staff, whether serving directly or behind the scenes, contribute to our experience. I enjoyed highlighting this to Mr Kelvin Lee, Front Office Manager at check-out, as it resonated with my own learning in the area of Quality, inspired by Dr W Edwards Deming. I will write a blog article about this in coming weeks. The team presented me with two printed photos of my family and I in presentation cards, the photos taken by Mr Arpan when we arrived two days earlier. Yet another touch that goes beyond the superb service from all staff. For me, any visit to the Taj Mahal must include a stay at the Oberoi Amarvilas.

Hotel location is awesome. The team at the hotel provided a very personalised check in process, the rooms were good and comfortable. the staff at the hotel was very courteous and always smiling.

Stayed for 2 nights in Agra with my daughter. The hotel has perfect views of the Taj Mahal and the grounds/pool of the hotel are lovely to enjoy. The staff go out of their way to make sure your stay is wonderful.

Just WOW, where do we even begin… From the moment we arrived at The Oberoi in Agra, we were made to feel completely at home. The staff were honestly some of the kindest and most professional people we’ve ever come across. Nothing was too much trouble and they all went out of their way to make sure we were looked after. We were celebrating a special anniversary and the little touches throughout our stay made it feel truly unforgettable. The room was beautifully decorated, and we were given some thoughtful gifts that really meant a lot to us. There was even live music during dinner and breakfast. The musician was brilliant, and we couldn’t believe he remembered us and played some of the songs we’d enjoyed earlier in the trip – including the Harry Potter theme, which really made us smile. Everything from the warm welcome to the lovely send-off felt personal and genuine. The trip to the Taj Mahal was also spot on – comfy car, right on time, and with someone there to guide us through it all without any hassle. Yes, it’s a luxury hotel, but honestly, it was worth every penny. We both said, hand on heart, this is the best hotel we’ve ever stayed in. It’s not just the place itself, it’s the people who work there and the way they treat you that makes it so special. We’ve come away with memories we’ll treasure forever and we’re already dreaming of going back one day.

Epitome of luxury, hospitality and care.Personal attention to each guest. Very child friendly.Ideal for a relaxing getaway.