Raj Vilas Agra - Near Taj Mahal

The friendly staff were the best part of the stay. The rooms were decent for the price, with comfortable beds and decent bedding. There's a small pool, but it was just right for cooling down or keeping the kids amused when it was too hot outside. The hotel is on a quiet back street, with several good bars, restaurants, and cafes within a 10-minute walk.

Raj Vilas is set about 200-300 meters in from the main road, so it was fairly quiet around the hotel. It's a neat, well-maintained place, and the AC room was clean and comfortable. There isn't much natural light because the rooms don't have proper windows. We had some mosquitoes at first, but the staff quickly brought repellent when we told them. Breakfast and dinner were good, and the small pool was a nice extra. One thing management could address: sometimes the staff's body language made it seem like they expected a bigger tip, though tipping is optional. Even so, we had a pleasant stay, and it seems a decent choice for Agra.

The first room looked clean, but we noticed a really bad smell after checking in. There was a window, though it was screened, and the room had no ventilation. The AC and fan worked very well. At 4am the alarms went off, then the power was out for about half an hour. The next day the toilet flush broke. Staff tried to fix it quickly, but we moved to another room. The second room was much better, with a large window that opened and no smell. Unfortunately, its AC didn't work. Someone cleaned the filters, but it stayed very hot, and there was blood on the bed sheet and pillow. The staff were very friendly and attentive. The location was good, near the main road and metro station.

The staff were always polite and ready to help with a smile, and room service handled requests promptly. My room was comfortable, clean, and well maintained, with good value for money. I had a pleasant, hassle-free stay in Agra.