The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur

To, The Team at Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur My name is Shauryaveer Doshi, and I stayed in Rooms 104 and 102 from 3rd August to 6th August 2025. I loved the taste of the food you provided—it was absolutely delicious. Some of my favourites were doughnuts, fresh fruits, Chole Bhature, brownies, dosa, chia pudding, besan chilla, lapsi, banana walnut cake, aloo paratha, and pancakes. The kids’ menu was fantastic! The pool was amazing—clean, hygienic, and so much fun. I especially enjoyed having a private pool right outside our room. Whenever we requested something, like a swimming tube, it was given to us immediately. All the spaces in the property are surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna. The atmosphere is open, serene, and very refreshing. I enjoyed the Jungle Gym and the garden the most. The Game Zone was also one of my favourites, especially because of the board games—I liked playing carrom the most. I would like to sincerely appreciate your hospitality for: 1. Providing newspaper packages in the mornings. 2. The warmth of every staff member. 3. Welcoming us with flower petals. 4. Immaculate housekeeping services. 5. Welcoming us into our rooms with sweets and tarts. 6. The best hospitality I have ever experienced in my life. You truly are the kindest hotel in the world! Warm regards, Shauryaveer Doshi (8 years old) Vaibhav Doshi

Udaivillas is the best hotel in India. Everything is perfect - the location, rooms, ambience, landscaping, gardens, artifacts, service. Truly a 7 stars experience. There are regular 5-star hotels, then there’s the next level -Oberoi Hotels at 7 stars. And above that, there’s The Oberoi Udaivilas. We went for our wedding anniversary and the hotel made it very special.

Raffles Udaipur vs Oberoi Udaivilas – My Back-to-Back Stay Experience (Raffles – 8th Aug | Oberoi – 9th Aug) I stayed at both luxury hotels in Udaipur on consecutive nights, giving me the perfect opportunity to compare them in every aspect — from location and views to service, dining, and incident handling. ⸻ 📍 Location & Setting • Raffles Udaipur – Located on a private island, accessible only by boat (about a 20-minute journey from the main block to the new block). Seclusion and unmatched uninterrupted lake views make it the clear winner here. Being an hour from the city adds to the retreat feel, but limits easy access to Udaipur’s attractions. ★★★★★ • Oberoi Udaivilas – Closer to the city, with regal lawns and charming palace-style ambience. While beautiful, the Pichola lake view isn’t as dramatic as Raffles’ island setting. ★★★★☆ ⸻ 🏛 Architecture & Interiors • Raffles Udaipur – A newer 5-star resort in Udaipur with brilliant modern architecture, blending luxury with contemporary elegance. The main block is stunning, and the lake-facing rooms make for an unforgettable luxury stay. ★★★★★ • Oberoi Udaivilas – Iconic palace-style hotel with intricate detailing and peacocks roaming the lawns. Rich in heritage charm, but doesn’t have the same “fresh” feel as Raffles. ★★★☆☆ ⸻ 🛏 Rooms • Raffles – Spacious, luxurious rooms with large bathtubs, modern amenities, and spectacular lake views. Initially booked the new block on the mainland for ₹24,000 + taxes, but it felt disconnected from the main island. Had to upgrade to a main block room at ₹32,000 + taxes for the views and convenience. ★★★★★ • Oberoi – Well-maintained with good detailing, but nothing extraordinary in size or uniqueness for a luxury Udaipur hotel. Bathtub felt small for me personally. Surprised to find no double blinds in either of the two rooms I stayed in. ★★★☆☆ ⸻ 🤝 Service & Hospitality • Raffles – Professional but lacked warmth. Incident: As an FHRAI member, I was entitled to a discount, but due to a technical issue, it wasn’t applied. The Duty Manager (lady) did not handle the matter well — no proactive resolution or genuine apology. ★☆☆☆☆ • Oberoi – Majority of the staff were warm, cooperative, and genuinely hospitable. One check-in staff member seemed impatient, but the rest made up for it. Special Mentions: • GM Mr. Mohit personally addressed my concerns at checkout, without interrupting my stay, showing humility and sincere care — a true example of Oberoi’s world-class hospitality. • The team noticed we were checking out and thoughtfully sent us a box of freshly cut fruits for our onward journey. • At check-in, we had brought some lunch from Raffles. The Oberoi chef noticed and quietly sent complimentary home-style rotis to go with it. This small but heartfelt gesture made our first meal in the room warm and complete — high appreciation for the chef’s thoughtfulness. These little touches reinforced why Oberoi’s service reputation is unmatched. ★★★★☆ These small gestures from the Oberoi team made me rate them 3 star instead of the 2 star. ⸻ ⚠ Issues & Handling • Raffles – FHRAI discount issue not handled well; noticeable pigeon infestation near the main restaurant / all day dining — shocking for a luxury Udaipur resort at this price point. No other major in-room issues. • Oberoi – Initial room had a strong paint/varnish smell; air purifier blew dust before improving air quality. The team quickly moved me to a new room. At meals, a minor dislike in one dish led to 4–5 staff members approaching me — while well-intentioned, only 1–2 were genuinely engaged; the rest felt repetitive. This over-handling also happened at Oberoi New Delhi. ⸻ 🍽 Dining • Raffles – Presentation good, but flavours didn’t match the fine dining experience expected at a luxury property. ★★☆☆☆ • Oberoi – Dinner at the lakeside restaurant (Indian & multi-cuisine) was better than Raffles, but still not on par with Oberoi New Delhi’s award-winning dining. ★★★★☆ ⸻ 💆 Spa, Gym & Wellness • Raffles – Sauna, steam, spa, and gym operational but nowhere near an ultra-luxury spa standard. ★★☆☆☆ • Oberoi – Sauna, steam, spa, and gym all under maintenance during my stay. ★☆☆☆☆ ⸻ ✨ Unique Highlights • Raffles – Island exclusivity, panoramic lake views, and fresh, modern luxury. ★★★★★ • Oberoi – Royal ambience, majestic architecture, and peacocks freely roaming the gardens — the quintessential luxury Indian palace hotel feel. ★★★★☆ ⸻ 💰 Cost of Stay • Raffles – ₹40,000 • Oberoi – ₹30000 ⸻ 💡 Suggestions for Oberoi Udaivilas 1. Avoid artificial fragrances and harsh chemicals in pest control and landscaping — switch to organic, eco-friendly options. 2. Implement a farm-to-table organic program for vegetables, fruits, and herbs to elevate the dining experience. 3. Limit guest concern follow-ups to 1–2 skilled staff to avoid repetitive interactions. ⸻ 💡 Suggestions for Raffles Udaipur 1. Address service warmth and personal engagement — guests paying premium rates at a luxury Udaipur resort expect more than transactional professionalism. 2. Resolve operational issues like the FHRAI discount application swiftly, with proactive follow-up and sincere communication. 3. Improve hygiene standards around dining areas — pigeon and rodent presence is unacceptable for a luxury property. 4. Enhance wellness facilities to match uber-luxury spa expectations. 5. Raffles has immense potential, but until it reaches the Oberoi standard of hospitality, there is no saving grace — no matter how beautiful the setting. ⸻ 🏆 Verdict – Winner: Oberoi Udaivilas While Raffles excels in location, lake views, and room freshness, Oberoi wins this round for service culture, warmth, and genuine hospitality. The entire team — from GM Mohit to the chef and the thoughtful service staff — made my stay memorable with small yet meaningful gestures. At almost ₹10,000 less than Raffles, Oberoi provided a more satisfying and personal luxury hotel experience. Until Raffles learns the Oberoi way of hospitality, my choice remains Oberoi Udaivilas.

Our stay at Oberoi was very relaxing and peaceful..Bliss attended us very nicely and it felt like home..Aamna also helped our way through she was really sweet…

It’s not the newest of the lot in Udaipur …but the team has kept it that way…not letting the guards down at any point… The well kept outdoor greens, the interiors - where marble has to always sparkle was up to mark. Chef remembers what a particular guest likes and make improvisations and recheck. A young chef named Rajdeep made sure to click us even though it was busy breakfast time. So all in all, the service level eleveates the hotel many levels up. So happy to see that it has remained the same as earlier and sometimes…same as earlier is better than …what’s new!