Crowne Plaza Hotel New Delhi Okhla by IHG

The breakfast buffet had an impressive range, and the restaurant food was delicious. My room was spacious, spotlessly clean, and had all the modern amenities I needed. The check-in was seamless, with a welcoming and professional team. Crowne Plaza Okhla is well placed for business in South Delhi’s corporate hub. A fantastic stay from start to finish, and I’ll choose it again.

The location isn’t great, unless you need to be in that area, in which case this hotel is a good option. The room was huge, with large windows facing green space, and I loved the spacious bathroom. They also left a very nice welcome gift.

I spent three nights here on a business trip in a King-size room on a higher floor, paying almost 35k a night. For that price, the stay felt closer to a three star hotel than a five star one. The room upkeep was poor: a light near the entrance fell off, the safe needed resetting, the desk chair didn’t work, and the bed seemed to have been cleaned badly. A small splinter poked my leg. When I asked for two or three bandaids, I got one; after asking for two more, I was told they’d have to check, and they never brought any, even after I followed up. It was frustrating to hear that over a Rs. 2 bandaid at a place charging 35k a night. The decorative pillows had white spots, so I didn’t use them, and the iron was missing when I arrived, so I had to call for one. Room service was better than average, though there was room to improve and the In-room Dining menu was limited. Someone from Chaobella restaurant kindly called, sent over the menu, and arranged delivery to my room. In one case, the IRD staff were careless about the bill. I had placed a hold on my card at check-in, but they said I needed to pay directly and sent a card machine. I had to insist they check with the front desk before the issue was sorted. The spa was a bright spot: hygienic and well maintained, with a good massage from the therapist at a reasonable price. If the room rate were closer to that of a three star hotel, I’d say go for it. At five star prices, I don’t think the experience justifies the label or cost.

My husband and I enjoyed a wonderful dinner buffet. Ganesh Singh Dhoni was patient, welcoming, and especially attentive to what we needed. His hospitality was admirable.