The Oberoi Amarvilas, Agra

Fantastic! We only stayed one night as we were visiting the Taj Mahal. A small ceremony on arrival presenting us with a tikka and garland. We were then shown to a seating area and offered welcome drinks: juice and coffees, before being shown to our rooms. They were perfect, with terraces and a spectacular view of the Taj Mahal and overlooking the very pretty and well tended grounds and fabulous terraced pool area. In the early evening there was traditional music and dancing on the terrace. The service at this hotel is outstanding, nothing is too much trouble and every member of staff greets you warmly. Breakfast is a buffet, with a menu of hot choices. Very good quality food with lots of choice. I cannot recommend this hotel highly enough. If you do go be sure to explore the gardens.

The Oberoi Amarvillas personifies sophistication style and hospitality. It is exquisitely elegant and colorful and echoes Indian culture cuisine and beauty. From the moment you arrive at this magnificent hotel you are swept away by its stunning architecture design and appearance. With the stunning views of the imposing Taj Mahal and the beautiful gardens one is taken back to a bygone era. The highlight of the hotel is the staff. Every member at every level of hospitality were exceptional. That was the highlight for us.

I’ve dreamed of staying at The Oberoi Amarvilās for years — ever since I first saw it in a Condé Nast book my late twenties, not long after we’d had our eldest son. Finally it was our time and I have to say it absolutely lived up to my expectations. From the moment we arrived, the welcome was breathtaking. The entrance lobby is stunning, and then, of course, you’re met with that view — the Taj Mahal, right there in front of you. The property is immaculate, the hospitality is warm and personal. We had dinner outside every night, and I can’t thank the team enough — especially Sreejan, Vinita and Kiran — for the incredible service. They were attentive, kind, and thoughtful in every detail, even down to bringing insect repellent to make sure we were comfortable. They really made each evening feel so personal. Chef Vibhor looked after us beautifully as vegetarians, and one evening my husband and I were lucky enough to be given a tour of the kitchen. Seeing a working kitchen of that scale was such a treat — fascinating and so memorable. By the pool, Mojiz was outstanding. He really went the extra mile for us, and the rest of the pool team were equally warm and attentive. We’d also like to mention Harsha, Satyan and Naman — their general care and presence throughout our stay didn’t go unnoticed. Our interconnecting rooms were amazing, of course perfectly clean and maintained that way during our stay. Each room had a balcony where we could look out over the beautiful grounds and of course the Taj Mahal. We even had a white chocolate Taj Mahal as a welcome treat, it was almost too good to eat, but we did convince ourselves and it was delicious! We were celebrating my husband’s 50th birthday during our time there, and the hotel went out of their way to make it special. From birthday cakes (including one with pyrotechnics!) to a private high tea in the Presidential Suite with live music — it was truly wonderful. We have so many incredible memories from our stay here that will last a lifetime. Thank you all so much!

Our second time at the Oberoi in Agra was enchanting. The Oberoi's slick, friendly and extremely attentive service was a particular highlight. The rooms were and pool were delightful and we enjoyed both restaurants very much too. Three nights were enough to see the major sights of Agra and visit Fatepur Sikri. In future I might consider a bit longer. The Taj Mahal is within walking distance of the hotel.

We went to this hotel with high expectations, given all the experiences provided on forums and travel websites by fellow travelers, and were not sure if it would meet those expectations. This place grows on you. We stayed there for 3 nights and slowly saw the charm and the hospitality with which people have been captivated. The physical location of the hotel could not have been better, wirh the Taj Mahal right in front of your eyes. In a place where temperatures soar up to 46 to 48 degrees, this is a great advantage, not to mention the sheer pleasure of seeing the Taj Mahal in front of your eyes at dawn and dusk! The hotel staff is caring for your every need and, in a lot of cases, anticipates what you will need. All the check-in formalities were done in our room, and we were recommended times to visit the sites around and lovely guides provided for our visits. We were pleasantly surprised that, by the second day, most people at the hotel would refer to us by name. A lot of the senior staff at the hotel would make it a point to stop and greet you and ensure that you are being looked after. My 6 year old daughter had a tumble when she was running around (and while she promptly forgot about it after an hour :)), during the course of the next day, atleast 6 to 7 different team members who were not even around when she fell checked up on her. On reflection, in a hotel that sees so many guests on a short-term basis and quite a few families, it is no mean feat for a system to exist for such small things to be shared amongst the staff. We happened to ask the chef for local places to eat street food in Agra, and in the next 4 hours or so, he cooked up atleast 4 different mouth-watering options (not on the menu) so that we didn't have to travel outside. We came away from this property feeling fully pampered and charmed by the Oberoi team. They managed to meet and exceed our expectations and deserve the rich accolades that are lavished on them regularly!