With a view of the Taj Mahal from your bed, your family is sure to remember this once-in-a-lifetime stay.
Often highlighted as one of the best hotels in the world, The Oberoi Amarvilas is the height of luxury. It’s unrivaled location – just over 650 yards from the iconic Taj Mahal – affords all guests uninterrupted views of this world wonder… from their rooms! No other hotel in Agra can claim that.
Given that, you may find the entrance to The Oberoi Amarvilas a bit underwhelming. You’re greeted by a sharply dressed attendant wearing a flowing turban and then escorted through a Mughal-style courtyard and into a cavernous lobby. But you’ll begin to feel more at home once you sit down in a peacock blue-walled lounge for check-in. Here you’ll likely meet general manager Abhishek Panshikar and immediately be impressed by his attention to detail. Oh, did I mention that you’ll have a view of the Taj Mahal in the distance?
But I’ll tell you up front: this showstopping splendor doesn’t come cheap. In fact, it’s the biggest splurge that we’ve ever allowed our family, making it truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Keep reading as I’m not quite ready to tell you how much…
Accommodations at The Oberoi Amarvilas
It’s worth repeating… at The Oberoi Amarvilas, you’ll have a view of the Taj Mahal from your very own room. The room décor is more country cottage that palatial palace. The beds are covered with pastel-colored quilts, and the hardwood floors are carpeted with handwoven, Mughal-designed rugs. A vase with two red roses sits on the desk next to the floor-to-ceiling windows. You can choose from six room categories; the more expensive rooms have balconies.
KidTripster Tip: If you have a balcony, watch for peacocks in the far lawn or on the other side of the hedge that separates the hotel property from a protected park. Peacock blue plays a prominent role in the décor of the hotel, including the blue bathrooms.
KidTrispter Tip: Be careful about leaving your balcony door open, as monkeys could climb in. Really.
Every room has butler service; push a button and a turban-wearing gentleman arrives to assist with nearly anything. In the evening, he delivers cookies in a glass jar. For kids, the hotel monograms small travel pillows with each child’s name. It’s these small touches, plus, of course, the view and unparalleled location next to the Taj Mahal that makes paying the rate a little easier to take. Online rates during low season for a premier room start at around $376/night; all rooms come with complimentary WiFi for up to four devices. During high season, that same room is priced at $623/night.
KidTripster Tip: Look online for special deals and breakfast add-ons.
KidTripster Tip: When planning a trip to India, be mindful of the taxes. Hotel taxes are 28%; food taxes are 18%. It can really add up.
The Oberoi Amarvilas will only accommodate a maximum of two adults and two children (8 and under) or one child (age 9-12) in a single room. If you have two children (ages 9-12), the additional room will be charged at 50% of the full rate. If you’re traveling with two teenagers, the additional room is full price.
Activities at The Oberoi Amarvilas
Of course, a palatial hotel like The Oberoi Amarvilas is going to have a palatial pool. Smartly designed, you can either enjoy this 80-foot pool under cover from the hot, Indian sun or in the open air. The cascading steps and water features that lead to the indigo-colored pool make it the focal point of the property. There’s a well-equipped gym located in the Oberoi Spa, which offers nail and skin treatments, massages, specialty baths, and Ayurvedic-inspired rituals.
But what I love about Oberoi hotels are the specialty experiences offered, just for kids! Do you have kids who are addicted to Food Network? Sign them up for a fun, cooking class with the hotel’s chefs. Your junior chef will bake delicious cookies or iced cupcakes or cook traditional Indian dishes in a tandoor clay oven. There’s also a Little Bartender experience, where kids learn how to mix non-alcoholic cocktails with the hotel’s mixologists. Both sessions are free; inquire at the front desk for details.
Activities in Agra
Clearly, you’ve traveled to Agra to see the most extravagant monument ever built for love. Emperor Shah Jahan constructed the Taj Mahal in memory of his wife, Mumtaz Mahal, who died in childbirth in 1631. For detailed information on how best to visit the Taj Mahal, including the ticketing process, click here. For tips of capturing one of the most photographed sites in all the world, click here.
The hotel provides a complimentary, round-trip transfer to the East Gate via golf cart. You can buy your tickets at the hotel on the morning of our Taj visit; no advance tickets are available. You can also hire a guide through the hotel. Ticket cost: Youth (15 & under) Free; Adult around $17. Guide cost: around $27.
KidTripster Tip: While your guide may know all the best photo locations, don’t count on him for taking stellar family pictures. Take plenty of family photos yourself, even if that means that you’re not in them. Also, check your camera settings when the guide returns your camera. Our guide inadvertently changed a setting. I didn’t catch in until more than halfway through the tour; half of our photos were completely unuseable.
KidTripster Tip: If your guide offers to take you to a workshop to see how artisans do precious gem work like their ancestors who worked during the Taj Mahal’s construction, don’t go. It’s really just a ploy to get you to buy gem-encrusted marble work. While the 5-minute demonstration is interesting, the 20-minute high-pressure pitch to buy is very uncomfortable.
Don’t spend more than one night in Agra. The other sites – Agra Fort and the religious site, Fatehpur Sikri, aren’t worth a visit, especially with kids. If you’re splurging on The Oberoi Amarvilas, make the most of it! Plus, after a morning at the Taj, your kids probably won’t have another monument in them. Let’s be honest, you probably won’t either.
Dining options at The Oberoi Amarvilas
Guests choosing to dine at The Oberoi Amarvilas can select between two restaurants. Bellevue serves breakfast; it’s part buffet and part made-to-order menu items, like waffles, omelettes, and eggs Benedict. It’s also open for lunch and dinner.
Esphahan is open for two dinner seating (6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m.) and offers Indian cuisine and live, traditional music. Children must be age 9 and above; men must wear pants, no shorts. The staff is very attentive and good at making suggestions to fit your spice level. For dessert, you’ll find chocolate cinnamon ice cream on the menu along with Indian favorites. (In general, chocolate desserts aren’t on a typical Indian menu, much to my disappointment.)
KidTripster Tip: If you enjoy a particular dish, the chef likely will share his recipe with you. Just ask!
Getting to Agra
From Delhi, you can take a train or hired car to Agra. It’s about a four-hour drive.
KidTripster Tip: Leave Delhi in the morning as early as possible to beat the crush of morning traffic. I’d recommend no later than 8 a.m.
Heading to Jaipur? Read our review of The Oberoi Rajvilas.
Heading to Delhi? Read our review of The Leela Palace.
This writer received a discounted stay for the purpose of this review. However, all opinions expressed are solely her own.
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