Vivanta Aurangabad, Maharashtra

We spent 3 nights here. Here's what I think. The Good 1. Service, overall, was excellent - whether at Latitude (their coffee shop), at the front desk, outside in the parking area, or with housekeeping. The typically-Taj sincerity in service was more evident than at some other hotels in the chain that I have recently stayed at. 2. The property, though somewhat boring in terms of the external structure (its style is ambitious, but it does not achieve what it seeks), is sprawling. The pool is large and very well maintained. The gym, though small, is sufficiently equipped. There are lots of open spaces and the lobby is quite nice to be in too. There is carrom and a dart board and a small foosball table too. 3. The food at Latitude was remarkably good (in terms of taste/ flavour, quality, recipes and everything else, really) without exception. Each meal and each dish was fantastic. A sous chef, Shri Sainath Rathod, was particularly kind and took pains to make good conversation besides good food. Ms. Vaishnavi's inexhaustible courtesy and kindness and her generally cheerful demeanour contributed positively to the experience too. 4. The spa gave me a pleasant experience and is reasonably priced. Thanks, in particular, are due to Aradhana, who seemed to know exactly what she was doing and was generally pleasant and easy to deal with. The Bad 5. The property is ageing a little and is in need of a little upkeep. You'll notice small things like discolouration on the paint in the room and even in the otherwise beautiful lobby. Our room's day curtains were stained. I must clarify that hygiene didn't was not an issue, but there was something left to be desired. Some might complain (although I decidedly will not) that an aesthetic/ design upgrade is warranted to keep up with the times. 6. There was an event on the lawns which were overlooked by our room which ran past sunset. Rather loud music with far too much bass had our room's windows rattling and shaking. That was unpleasant. 7. Many members of the staff asked for feedback/ reviews; they were careful not to ask for positive feedback/ reviews, but that is not good enough. This habit deserves strong deprecation. It completely skews the organic nature feedback/ review process. In Fine Overall, we had an extremely pleasant experience. We were very happy to stay at the hotel. The staff were some of the most courteous, kind and helpful people we have encountered, and I even felt a little sad to leave. I would absolutely recommend the hotel to anybody reading, and hope I get an opportunity to come back soon.

The stay was a dream like experience. Starting from the reception till the checkout, we felt special and secured. A perfect getaway for newly married and young couples of all ages. Clean, friendly atmosphere for families, couples who like exploring the neighbourhood