A bathroom for contortionists (and a nice hotel too!)

Not too long back, I spent a night at the Kempinski Ambience Hotel in Delhi. This is a relatively new property (about a year and a half old), which replaces the Leela Kempinski that used to exist at the Ambience Mall in Gurgaon (right next to the tolls). Which also meant that virtually nobody knew about the hotel.

Why did I pick this hotel? It was a last minute decision to travel the previous night, instead of the next morning. All other hotels under the Rs 6k per night bracket were in Gurgaon (my favourite Doubletree and Hilton Garden Inn). And I found an offer for 30% off on a Rs 8k room, effectively pricing this room out at Rs 5,600, including breakfast (all rooms and fare types come with breakfast) and high-speed internet, which wasn't a bad deal at all. Plus this is a GHA hotel, so I managed some benefits too.

There's a very sparsely populated reception on the ground floor. Turns out, that they have banquets on the ground, first and second floors. So there's another reception on the third floor, where I was taken once I showed them my booking confirmation.

The decor and furnishings are a bit confusing, but give out a good feeling of luxury.

While I was waiting to be checked in, I took a little stroll around the place. There was a rather empty executive lounge, for suite and Black level guests in the GHA program. But they don't serve alcohol there, and (therefore?) the place was empty.

Next door is Dilli32, the local cuisine speciality restaurant, named for the city and postal code where the hotel belongs.

Then there are automatic doors that lead outside, from where one has to walk to the adjacent tower to get to the coffee shop.

I did that the next morning for breakfast, but managed this picture of the mall next door.

I came back to the reception area, and was immediately taken to my room by one of the guest service staff.

I was hoping they wouldn't disappoint with the room, and they didn't.

The room itself was rather standard, but I immensely liked the fact that they noted my request for extra pillows (there were two more in the closet!)

Half of the bathroom wall was transparent, as you can see.

Oh, and this was my welcome snack! A tasting plate - if you'll allow me to call it that - of butter cookies coated with sugar, peanut candy (two varieties - one coated with rose petals, the other with chocolate), four large chocolate squares, and a dragon-fruit tart.

I then took a couple of pictures of the room

And the bathroom.

Note the door to the shower area. It opens inwards only, and gets very close to the inside wall. So you've got to twist yourself to get inside to the shower area. Really. I wish I had a video to prove it, but entering this bath area should not be tried if you've aren't as flexible as a Russian gymnast.

Anyway, it was late, and I ordered some room service from Dilli32, for dinner. Food was great, though when the time came for clearing away the stuff, the waiter dropped a lot of the gravy on the floor. It took another 10 minutes to get the whole mess cleared up. No pictures, I don't want my readers to lose their lunch!

Next morning, breakfast was at the coffee shop. Lots of seating, and quite a large spread - North Indian, South Indian, Continental, Asian, fruit, breads, exclusive juice counter with a ton of varieties, what have you!

Overall, a great hotel and good facilities. Barring, of course, the bathroom fit for contortionists! And I think I got a great deal on the rates. The prices now are close to Rs 12k a night.

[Update - March 2014]

• What's good: GHA benefits and amenities, attention to detail, comfortable rooms
• What could be better: location (not much can be done about it now, eh?), a closer location for breakfast perhaps