Just Superb . Review on Lake Palace, Udaipur

Myself, my wife and 2 children aged 5-8 stayed at the Lake Palace Towards the end of August 2003 for 3 days.

I?ll try to break it down in to sections to try to make it easier.

General Info / Appearance

We arrived in Udaipur after a real long drive from Jaipur, 10 12 hours! Im not sure how many routes there are into Udaipur but the one we took which takes you over some hills just before you reach the city limits of Udaipur is a must (at night anyway) the views of the city are breathtaking as you pass over the hills.

Once at the hotel so to speak there's a reception area. This is where you wait for a launch to take you across the lake to the hotel proper. This area is well kept plenty of seating, clean etc. The Hotel staff that worked there where super, courteous and very helpful. Over the few days we where staying at the hotel these chaps were superb always had smiles on there faces when they greeted you, they even fixed one of my sons toys he?d managed to break they would offer you cold towels etc to make you feel comfy etc hats of to them.

On the forecourt of this reception was parked 2 of the Rajah?s 50?s Cadillac?s super looking cars. The views of the hotel across the lake where lovely the exterior is lit with different coloured lights. The boat trip takes a few minutes and the comfort depends on the state of the weather.

Check In / Check Out

Once the boat arrives at the hotel proper it pulls up in front of a flight of steps where porters etc take your baggage up in to the lobby, which is just superb, the clerk on reception Instantly knew who we were, this task was probably easy as they were expecting us and being the only Indians who arrived on that particular boat I suppose, but it was just an example of the service levels etc of the Lake Palace. Check in itself was quick and efficient, at this point your given a card stating you are staying at the hotel, this card I learnt later gets you into places in the City Palace complex where others can?t go! You?re also given a little handbook that explains a little about the hotel services etc. We were then escorted to our room, which was a Superior Lake facing double room.

Check Out was also very quick and no fuss at all.

Room

The room was excellent the person who showed us to our room showed us where everything was and suggested that we convert the sofas in the sitting area into beds for the kids to sleep on thus saving us quite a few rupees not having to request an extra bed. The size of the room was large it had two what I would call not quite double beds but not quite singles either, that where very comfy indeed. The wardrobe etc was accessed through doors, which lead into a small room plenty of space in the wardrobes, and a safe for your valuables was there. There was a table and chairs plus armchairs. The TV was a decent size and had a satellite feed. There was a mini bar fridge with a selection of beers, miniature sprit bottles, soft drinks snacks and chocs. The bathroom was excellent a large tub and what I can honestly say the yummiest shower, the showerhead was enormous. The complimentary soaps etc, where of a very good standard and included shaving stuff as well.

The only down side to the room was the door to the bathroom. It had a glazed top half and having two mischievous boys we had to hang a towel over the door to stop they rolling about in laughter when we used the bathroom. The décor of the room was also excellent you knew you where somewhere special very far removed from the standard blandness that passes in other hotels. Controls for the AC and Ceiling fan were easy to use.

Room Service / Food / Housekeeping

The room was kept clean and tidy to a very high degree. Didn?t have any problems with room service orders arrived when they said they would and the food etc was super. They would go that bit extra for you, when we arrived we ordered an item that strictly wasnt on the menu for that time of night, after they explained that it was too late to order that particular dish we where phoned back to be informed that they could after all serve us that dish. And it tasted lovely!

Restaurants

There are two restaurants the Neel Kamal and Jharokha Had a buffet style breakfast in the Jharokha that was fine. The Jharokha faces the lake, In the morning the views from tables near the windows where nice but at night much better I would have thought the shimmering lake with a back drop of the lit up city palace would be a perfect backdrop. We had an evening meal in the Neel Kamal, which was superb if a touch expensive (for India anyway over 5000 rupees). The chef came out to ask if everything was ok and seemed to be quite interested in your reply, I say this because if been to other places where the chef would come out of the kitchen to ask if thing was ok but they have been so robotic it could have been a stuffed dummy with a tape recording playing.

There?s also live music in the restaurant traditional instruments etc just at the right noise level not to bother your but just loud enough to impart a real nice ambiance waiters where very good. Didn't use the Amrit Sagar bar but had drinks by the Lilly pond which is a picture in the evenings, rows of little lights trim the edges of the pond large comfy chairs, total relaxation.

Other Info / Facilities

The pool was on the small side and you couldn?t really have a swim in it (that depends on what you call a swim I suppose. I like to have a swim each morning for 45 to 50 mins) There is also a Gym but cant comment on that, as I didn?t use it. In the evenings there are Rajastani singers and dancers that perform on the Mewar terrace which is nice to see and a bit more entertaining than some of the dancing etc I?d seen while in Rajastan.

A good tip is to after watching form the seats that are set out, go up to the next level where the lights are and take a look from there you get lovely angles etc for photos. While up there take the opportunity to take a look at the city itself at night it?s a real sight all lit up and of course the architecture in that light is just stunning. Makes a superb backdrop for photos.

I mentioned to the staff that my youngest son birthday was the following day and asked if I could do something a bit special, they suggested a dinner on a pontoon in the lake, but the weather wasn?t looking good so I declined that idea. I ordered a cake and thought we would have it in the Neel Kamal, We got a knock on the door later that evening and a member of hotel staff said our cake was ready so we proceeded to the restaurant only to be told its on the Mewar Terrace, once we got to the terrace the cake was there plus flowers etc, As soon as my son had blown out the candles and cut the cake a barrage of fireworks were let off from a boat moored just of the Terrace what more could you ask for. It?s a memory that will live with me for ever, the total opposite of what we had done for my eldest son a few weeks before hand where we had hundreds of people attend in a big banqueting hall.

To sum up it is expensive (when compared to prices you pay elsewhere in india) but the expense is worth it. Its well kept and clean the staff are courteous and generate a genuine feeling of warmth when they greet you etc not the robotic response you tend to get in other places.