**Escape to Luxury: Delhi's Hidden Gem Hotel International Inn**
Escape to Luxury or Just Overhyped? My Rollercoaster Ride at International Inn, Delhi
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from a stay at Delhi's supposedly "Hidden Gem," the International Inn. And let me tell you, it was a ride. More of a rickety, slightly-unpredictable auto-rickshaw ride, actually, but with a surprisingly plush interior sometimes. Let's break this down, shall we? Because frankly, I need to unpack this experience, and writing it down is the only way I can process it.
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- Title: International Inn Delhi Review: Luxury? Meh, More Like a Complex Cocktail of Awesome and Awkward
- Keywords: International Inn Delhi, Delhi hotels, luxury hotels Delhi, accessible hotel Delhi, wheelchair accessible Delhi, spa Delhi, fine dining Delhi, best hotel Delhi, spa & sauna delhi, delhi restaurants, international cuisine delhi, fitness center delhi, swimming pool delhi, wifi delhi, accessible rooms delhi
- Meta Description: A brutally honest review of International Inn in Delhi! I dove headfirst into the "luxury" and came up sputtering, but with some seriously good memories (and a few gripes). Find out if this 'hidden gem' is worth your time (and money!)
First Impressions & The Accessibility Saga:
Okay, so first things first - Accessibility. This is HUGE for me. I'm not in a wheelchair, but I'm traveling with my elderly aunt, so it's a must. The website promised "Facilities for disabled guests," which, naturally, filled me with hope. The elevator made the initial climb a breeze, which was a definite win. But the actual accessible room? Well, let's just say it sort of met the mark. Wider doorways? Check. Grab bars in the bathroom? Check. But the placement of the light switches…let's just say my aunt needed a step-ladder to reach them. Sigh. The Wheelchair accessible areas were okay, not perfect. I had to navigate some tricky terrain in the gardens, but the staff were super helpful and immediately jumped in to assist. Which gets me to the next point: Staff! Mostly, they were lovely. Eager to please, attentive (sometimes too attentive, if I'm being honest), and genuinely seemed to care. Though there was this one time, I asked for a late checkout, and the response was a bit…cold. But I digress.
(Rambling time!)
I’m picturing myself trying to get into that lobby again. The doorman really did work hard to let us in. He greeted us with a lot of enthusiasm! I mean, you could tell that the hotel really tried, but really. They really could do with more practice. I mean, how accessible is something if its just… barely there?
Inside the Fortress: Rooms and Amenities (And the Odd Surprise)
Our room itself was a mixed bag. Air conditioning roared like a Boeing 747, but at least it worked! The bed? Oh, god, the bed. Glorious, ridiculously comfortable, extra long. I could've happily lived there. Bathrobes and slippers were a nice touch, and I definitely took advantage of the complimentary tea and coffee/tea maker. The mini bar was ridiculously overpriced, but hey, that's hotel life! The non-smoking room smelled a bit of…well, a previous smoker. Not ideal, but it wasn't a deal-breaker.
The Internet access – wireless (thank heavens for the Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!) was surprisingly reliable. However, the Internet access – LAN was nowhere to be found. Just a dangling cable, laughing at my hopes. I was grateful for the desk and the laptop workspace, which allowed me to get some work done. The safe box was a smart addition.
And now, for the Things to do, ways to relax . The hotel boasted a Fitness center, which I peeked into, and it seemed reasonably well-equipped. I, personally, preferred the Swimming pool [outdoor], which had a lovely Pool with view. I spent a blissful hour just bobbing around, staring at the sky. Dreamy. I did not visit the Spa, the Sauna, or the Steamroom, but they were all there, beckoning, promising relaxation I apparently didn't have time for. I'm kicking myself now.
The Food (A Gastronomic Adventure, Sometimes Good, Sometimes Questionable):
Alright, let's talk food. The restaurants were…a mixed bag. The Asian breakfast was amazing. Seriously, the best dim sum I've had in ages. The Breakfast [buffet] was a feast, but the juice… let's just say it tasted like it had been sitting out for a week. The buffet in restaurant was a sight to behold!. The restaurant was very busy, though.
The A la carte in restaurant was surprisingly good. And I have to give a shout-out to the Coffee shop - great for a quick pick-me-up. They even had that thing I love, Desserts in restaurant! International cuisine in restaurant, was so-so. The Western cuisine in restaurant was much better. I skipped soup in restaurant and salad in restaurant. The Vegetarian restaurant was excellent!
Drinks, drinking, and snacking:
I did however spend a lot of time at the Poolside bar, where the Happy hour was legit. The cocktails were strong, the atmosphere was chill, and it was the perfect place to unwind after a busy day. I definitely ordered a Bottle of water and I recommend the Snack bar for a quick bite. Sometimes the room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver.
Dining, drinking, and snacking in more detail!:
The Asian cuisine in restaurant was good. The western cuisine in restaurant was okay. The breakfast service was prompt. However, the alternative meal arrangement was less than perfect. This time was my fault, as I had requested a meal for my aunt, that was a bit complicated. The kitchen staff tried their best. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was great!
Cleanliness and Safety (or, "Are We Safe?"):
This is the big one, right? Especially after… gestures vaguely at the world. I was very pleased with the Hand sanitizer readily available and the overall impression of cleanliness. The Daily disinfection in common areas was clear. They seemed to take it seriously. There were signs of anti-viral cleaning products, and the staff were all wearing masks. The staff trained in safety protocol was a plus. Room sanitization opt-out available? Not that I saw. The safe dining setup was apparent, and I was happy to see Individually-wrapped food options.
The Security [24-hour] and CCTV in common areas gave me a sense of ease, to a point. It was good to see the Smoke alarms and Fire extinguisher, too. However, the check-in/out [express] was not exactly fast. They seem to be making an effort, though. I appreciated the Cashless payment service they offered.
(More Rambling!)
I suppose they tried. Really, they did. But the "luxury" feeling felt a bit… manufactured. It wasn’t always there, and sometimes I felt like I was playing a game of “spot the sanitizing wipe.” I was thankful for the Individual-wrapped food options, though!
Services and Conveniences (the Good, the Bad, and the "Meh"):
There was a lot to unpack here. First, credit to the staff for providing the Concierge service. They were helpful in arranging a Taxi service. The Doorman would help you with the Luggage storage. The Laundry service was great, the Ironing service less so (my shirt came back looking like it had been put through a paper shredder). The Dry cleaning was prompt. They provided an Invoice provided, that was easy to follow.
The hotel offered a Car park [free of charge] and even a Car power charging station! The Currency exchange was useful, but I'd advise doing your own research into rates. I did like that they had a Gift/souvenir shop. I didn't need the Facilities for disabled guests, aside from my aunt, but am glad they were there, at least in some form. The Elevator was great. The air conditioning in public area worked great on my arrival, but the air conditioning in the rooms was a bit lacking. The Daily housekeeping was impeccable. The Essential condiments, were…fine.
However, certain aspects felt a little… dated. The Business facilities were not impressive. I did not use the Meetings/banquet facilities. The Outdoor venue for special events looked like a pretty place. The indoor venue for special events did not impress me. There was an option for the Food delivery, but I did not use it. The **Xerox/
Escape to Paradise: Residence Sol Garden Istra Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my chaotic adventure at the Hotel International Inn by Star Group in… well, Delhi and NCR, India. Prepare for a whirlwind of dust, deliciousness, and the occasional existential crisis fueled by far too much chai.
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Delhi Discombobulation
- 10:00 AM (ish): Landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Jet lag? Oh, honey, that's an understatement. More like "utterly discombobulated and pretty sure I just saw a talking pigeon bargaining for a samosa." The immigration line was a thing. Hours. I swear, I aged a decade. But hey, the air conditioning was a welcome respite from the blast furnace of Delhi.
- 12:00 PM: Pre-booked taxi to the hotel. The drive? Let's just say, I feel like I've been initiated into a secret society only accessible by navigating the daily chaos of Delhi traffic. Honking. Swerving. Cows. Rickshaws that look like they're held together with hope and duct tape. My emotional reaction? A mixture of terror, awe, and a growing suspicion that my life insurance policy needed a review.
- 1:30 PM: Arrived at the Hotel International Inn. The lobby was… well, it was a lobby. Pleasant enough, I guess. Check-in was surprisingly painless. The guy at the counter had a charming, slightly weary smile that suggested he'd seen it all (and probably had). The room? Small. Uncomplicated. Cleanish. Perfect. I needed a sanctuary from the city. A safe harbour. A place to re-calibrate my internal gyroscope.
- 2:00 PM: Ordered room service. Chicken Tikka Masala. Because, duh. It was… glorious. The rich, creamy, spicy symphony of flavour was exactly what my traumatized taste buds craved. I ate it ALL. No regrets.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Attempted a nap. Failed miserably due to the aforementioned jet lag and the constant cacophony of the city. (Seriously, Delhi, is there a "honk-free hour"? Asking for a friend… me). Instead, I stared out the window, marveling at the kaleidoscope of activity below. Watched a man struggle with a massive stack of brightly coloured saris on his head… and then fall flat on his face. Only in Delhi, folks. Only in Delhi.
- 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Ventured out into the immediate vicinity. Found a chai stall. Ordered chai. Drank chai. Fell in love with chai. This is important. This is the beginning of a beautiful (and caffeinated) friendship. The chai wallah was an old guy with a twinkle in his eye and hands that had clearly seen a lifetime of brewing. He told me, in broken English, "Chai fix everything." He was absolutely right.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. Actually, not bad! Way better than I anticipated. Butter chicken, of course. Some sort of naan bread (that I still can't pronounce correctly, but who cares?). And a cold Kingfisher beer. Officially starting to feel like a human again.
- 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Stared at the ceiling. Wondering if I could handle another day in this glorious madness. Answer: Probably.
- 10:00 PM: Bedtime. Hopeful for sleep. Wish me luck.
Day 2: Old Delhi Daze and the Spice Route Symphony (and the Great Food Coma)
- 8:00 AM: Wake up to sun beaming through the window, determined to push through the jet lag fog.
- 8:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel – underwhelming, but the fresh fruit was a lifesaver.
- 9:30 AM: The Great Plan: Head to Old Delhi. I decide to go for the rickshaw. Oh, GOD, the rickshaw. I wasn’t prepared. It's chaotic. In a good way. I swear, my driver was a magician, weaving us through the throng of humanity on two wheels and a prayer only.
- 10:30 AM: Arrived in Old Delhi. The air is thick with scents I haven't even identified yet. Spice. Incense. Something vaguely floral? It's a sensory overload, but in the best possible way.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Chandni Chowk. The food stalls. The shopping. The sheer, unadulterated bustle. It's overwhelming. I buy a scarf, eat some paratha (amazing!), and navigate a crowd that feels like an ocean.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: The REAL reason I'm here: The food tour. I'm talking about the food tour! This is the best part of the day. And for days. We bounce around the city eating everything we can get our grubby little hands on. We eat Dahi Bhalla in the streets, and it's like a party in my mouth. We sip lassi, creamy and cool. We go on to try more, the spice from the shops a delicious and welcome change. I eat so much that I fear I might need to get a whole new wardrobe.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Head back to the hotel. We stop by the chai wallah one more time for a cuppa. I feel like this is my new favourite person.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Coma. Food coma. A deep, happy hole I fall into and relish.
- 6:00 PM: We have to take a walk. My stomach is still full.
- 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner at a different place. I try a place near the hotel to get a new experience. It's not as good as the food tour, but it's still good. I feel satisfied.
- 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: I drink more chai. I'm addicted. I'm probably going to start trying to smuggle it back home.
- 10:00 PM: Sleep. Peace.
Day 3: The Red Fort Revelations and Akshardham's Allure (and a Brief Encounter with a Monkey)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Fruit. More Fruit.
- 9:45 AM: Visit the Red Fort. It's impressive. Massive. The history seeps from the walls and into your very soul. A testament to a bygone era. I wander around, trying to imagine the lives lived within those walls. It’s humbling.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Exploring New Delhi. Drive around. The architecture is stunning. I feel smaller, but it's okay.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a local restaurant. I try a new dish, and it's not the best. But hey, you can't win them all, right?
- 3:00 PM: Akshardham Temple. Prepare to have your mind blown. The sheer scale of the place is mind-boggling. The intricate carvings. The peace. The serenity. It's a different Delhi here. An oasis of calm in the urban sprawl. But you can't bring a camera or phone inside, so no documentation.
- 5:00 PM: Back at the hotel. And I finally have a chance to catch up on my phone. And there's a monkey on my balcony. Just chilling there. I'm a little freaked out. I close the door.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Still working on getting over the monkey.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: I order food to my room.
- 9:00 PM: Sleep or at least, attempted sleep. The monkey is still on my mind.
- 10:00 PM: Decide to go to bed.
Day 4 and Beyond: The Embrace of Delhi
- Day 4: Exploring. Shop, eat more, explore more. Learn that Delhi is the real deal. Some of the things are hard, but I appreciate it.
- Departure: Heading back home. I'm both exhausted and exhilarated. I will miss Delhi. I will miss the chaos, the colours, the chai. I will miss the people - their warmth, their resilience, their unending generosity.
The Unfinished Itinerary:
The reality is, this is just a slice. Delhi is a giant, messy, beautiful cake. It's impossible to experience everything in a few days. I'm leaving with a suitcase full of memories, a slightly expanded waistline, and a longing to return.
Some things that are still left to discover:
- Humayun's Tomb: Did not make it.
- India Gate: Missed it.
- Cooking Classes: I wish I had taken one.
Escape to Luxury: Delhi's Hidden Gem - International Inn - FAQs (and My Two Cents!)
1. Okay, spill the tea. Is this "Hidden Gem" hype real? Is the International Inn actually *nice*?
Alright, look. I went in expecting… well, frankly, another Delhi hotel that promises the moon and delivers a dusty chandelier and a leaky faucet. I've seen it all, done it all, and cringed while doing it all. But the International Inn? Yeah, it's a *step up*. Is it the Ritz? God, no. But it's a solid, comfortable, and dare I say… *pleasant* experience. The lobby is actually kind of… stylish? And, unlike that other place, the air conditioning actually *works*. That's a HUGE win in Delhi's sweltering heat.
I remember checking in, after what felt like a 12-hour flight, and the guy at the front desk? genuinely friendly! Not the vacant, "have a nice day, sir" type. He was actually chatty, asked about my trip, even gave me a quick tip about a nearby street food stall. That little bit of genuine human interaction, after travelling, made a huge difference. Little things like that really do go a long way!
2. What's the actual *room* situation like? Don't leave out the dirty details.
Okay, okay, the rooms. They're… good. Spacious. Clean. And, blessedly, not smelling of mildew. I have some serious mold-related anxieties. So this was a massive relief. The bed? Comfortable enough to make me consider not getting up. Like, actually, considering it. The bathroom was definitely up to par. I am picky, and I used the shower. The hot water was reliable, too. HUGE bonus points. I could always count on a hot shower when I wanted one.
But, and there is a but, right? There's always a 'but'. The decor *could* be a bit more current, modern. It's not exactly "minimalist chic". Let's just say, it's "functional elegance with a hint of beige". And the view from my window? Let's just say, it wasn’t overlooking the Taj Mahal. It overlooked… a street. A busy, noisy Delhi street. But, honestly, you're in Delhi! What did I expect? Still, close the windows, and the noise wasn't that bad.
3. The Food! Is the food worth the gamble? Hotel food can be a disaster.
Oh, the food. Okay, so here's my philosophy: always manage expectations with hotel restaurants. Don't go in expecting Michelin-star dining. That's just setting yourself up for disappointment. But the International Inn's restaurant? Surprisingly, pretty damn good. Especially the breakfast buffet. Seriously, it was a LIFE-SAVER. After a long journey, the eggs were cooked perfectly, the parathas were hot and fluffy, and the dosas were… well, okay, they were a little too cold, but that's Delhi! It's a small price to pay for the sheer volume of choices.
I ordered room service once, too, just to avoid going out, I think, and it arrived faster than I anticipated. The butter chicken was surprisingly delicious. I really wasn’t expecting it to be that good. Okay, I’ll admit it, I ordered it again the next night. Don't judge me, I am on vacation and the food was great.
4. Location, location, location! Is it actually *convenient*?
Ah, the crux of the matter. Delhi traffic is… an experience. The International Inn is well-located, I have to give it that. It's not smack-bang in the middle of *everything*, which is a good thing, in my opinion. You get a bit of peace. But it's close enough to the major attractions that you're not stuck in a car for hours on end. I mean, it will still take time to get anywhere! But it's relatively easy to reach the key sights. And, bonus, there are some really nice cafes and little shops within walking distance. Actually, this is one of its strongest points.
But here's a confession! One night, I got slightly lost. I mean, *really* lost. I was wandering around, in a state of mild panic, when a local, a kind woman with the most beautiful smile, helped me find my way back. And that, my friends, is the Delhi experience - getting lost, a little overwhelmed, and then being completely taken in by the kindness of strangers. So, yes, it's convenient. But it also gives you the opportunity to wander off the beaten path, get a little lost, and experience the real Delhi. It's a win-win, right?
5. What about the staff? Are they helpful or just another cog in the hospitality machine?
Okay, this is where the International Inn really shines. The staff? Phenomenal. Really. Every single person I encountered was friendly, helpful, and genuinely seemed to care about making your stay a good one. I mean, I've stayed in places where it's like pulling teeth to get a smile. Here? Smiles galore! They really went above and beyond.
I had a minor issue with my Wi-Fi (first world problems, I know). But within minutes of reporting it, someone was in my room, fixing it. Prompt! Efficient! And with a genuine apology. Seriously impressive. And they didn't just fix the Wi-Fi; they made sure *I* was okay – offered me a cold drink, a comfortable chair. That kind of attention to detail makes a huge difference. It's those little extra efforts that elevate the experience.
6. Any major downsides or things that annoyed you? Honesty is appreciated!
Okay, full disclosure time. Here's the stuff that wasn't *perfect*. The soundproofing, not top-notch. If you're a light sleeper, you might want to request a room on a higher floor, away from the street. Sometimes, and I mean *sometimes*, the elevator felt a little… slow. And the gym? Let's just say, it's functional. The equipment is aging.
Also, the pool. I didn't use it. I'm not a huge pool person. But it *looked* clean, from a distance. But I found the internet to be a bit unreliable sometimes. I just wanted to watch Netflix to relax. Luckily, the TV worked! But, frankly, these are pretty minor quibbles.
7. Overall, would you recommend the International Inn? Give me the verdict!
Okay, the bottom line. YES. Absolutely, unequivocally, YES. For the price, the location, and the genuinely lovely staff, the International Inn is a winner. It's not mind-blowing luxury. But itBook Hotels Now
