The Lodhi – A Member of the Leading Hotels of the World

Overall a very poor experience and nothing like a 5 star hotel should be, unless you don’t have experience with 5 star hotels. The room we booked (signature terrace) was in a section of the hotel where renovation was clearly happening. It was 19:00 when we checked in and could hear loud hammering and the room reeked of paint and construction chemicals. We asked to be moved and they just put us in a room directly below where we had the same hammering and smell. We asked to just be in a different section of this very large hotel, but they just moved us once again one room directly below. We finally gave up from being so exhausted and having dinner reservations. We took a shower, and the shower drain was clogged and water leaked out onto the floor. When we came back, the bathroom smelled like raw sewage. We finally had enough and insisted we be moved to a different section of the hotel and they finally did, but to a much smaller room than we booked with no tub. We stayed there because it was quiet and didn’t smell like paint and sewage. The front desk reception is completely clueless about hospitality. It was completely inappropriate they checked us into a room in that condition, refused to come up with a solution, and then moved us to a downgraded room, because we didn’t want to hear construction late at night and have sewage come through the shower. They were rude about the situation and did not care at all. This is what I would expect at a $10 a night hostel, not a hotel that claims to be a 5 star luxury experience. On top of that, the day we checked out we didn’t have a flight until the evening, and they said they could hold our bags for the day in storage. After leaving for 5+ hours, we see our bags outside by the entrance. They had been left there all day outside, and I was told it was just a “miscommunication” between staff. I don’t know how no one would notice this, but that’s little the staff cares and how untrained they are. Overall, it was a very stressful stay. I had also stayed at the nearby Oberoi at the start of my trip and had a much better experience. Don’t bother with the Lodhi.

The people of the Lodhi were wonderful, welcoming, and concerned about the welfare of their guests. The room was among the cleanest hotel rooms I have ever been in, the amenities wonderful. The breakfast buffet allowed for just about every taste imaginable and the scrambled eggs I requested were cooked to perfection. I suffered from motion sickness and the doctor recommended chicken broth - the kitchen prepared the clearest, purest, and most flavorful soup to my room and helped me settle my stomach. They aren't afraid of special requests. I hated leaving the Lodhi as it made us feel so comfortable.

Wow! We hosted friends & family at the Lodhi in October & November of this year at the Lodhi. Our needs were constantly changing. The hotel worked extensively with us to make sure everything went smoothly. It was like having a fabulous concierge for reservations. Faheem Zafar & his front office team were superb. Lodhi is by far the best urban hotel in India. We have stayed here for more than 15 years. The rooms are huge, the food is excellent & Abhimanyu’s team is awesome.