Hotel review: Metropolitan hotel Dubai (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Hotel reviews UAE

When in Dubai, I usually stay somewhere in Deira but this time I decided to make a change. I wanted to be close to Mall of the Emirates and Burj al Arab because I love those places. Metropolitan hotel Dubai had some very nice reviews and when I saw it offers rooms with the view of the iconic “sail”, I didn’t hesitate with booking even for a second.

Location

Metropolitan hotel Dubai is conveniently located on Sheikh Zayed Road, around 2 kilometers from the Jumeirah beach and around 3 from Emirates mall. You will need about 30 minutes to reach there from the airport – so if your return flight is in rush hours, that might be a challenge. Mine was on Friday morning so I had no problems with timings. Taxi from the airport will cost you around 60 AED. A great grocery store Waitrose with lots of choices is 1 km away. Metro stations are a bit far away for my taste (around 15 min walk).

 

Hotel facilities

I loved the fact that the reception desk is not directly in the lobby (it is kind of hidden behind the corner), which gives you privacy when you enter the elevators. I am warning you though: visitors of opposite gender are not allowed in Dubai hotel rooms unless you are married and you can prove it. Despite its small appearance from the outside (contrary to most of other tall hotels in Dubai), Metropolitan hotel offers surprisingly a lot from the inside: its own “traditional English pub” The Red Lion and two other restaurants, a small convenience store, Spa and Fitness center, rooftop pool and a nice hangout place for afternoon and evening drinks and shishas, open until 3 am.

Rooms

I booked a room facing Burj Al Arab, and it was fantastic. This was the first time I actually had access to a balcony in Dubai! A spacious balcony, may I add. Pitty I was there alone – it would be great to sit there in the evening sharing a bottle of wine with that view.

Bed was comfortable, lots of pillows and enough space to fight with your dreams. Bathroom is a bit small but it was enough for me. All other amenities like free toiletries, hairdryer, bathrobe etc also available. And free bottled water, tea and coffee which is practically a standard in Dubai.

Pool

The pool is located on the roof and it offers very nice views of Burj Al Arab, and also on Sheikh Zayed road. I have to mention that I never heard the street noise – maybe due to the fact that my room was facing the other side. Pool is relatively small, especially if you are there in high season forget about a good swim. Lots of sunbeds though. And a chillout bar, quite convenient.

Anda’s rate: 9 from 10

Bottom line: Metropolitan hotel Dubai is a good choice for exploring Dubai – it is strategically located in the middle of “everything”: Burj Khalifa, Burj Dubai, two biggest malls and Dubai Marina, but a bit remote for “overnight” stays if you need to be close to the airport. It is very comfortable, rooms are great, staff is very nice and helpful, so all in all I’d definitely recommend staying there.

 

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Slovenes abroad: Crt, Dubai (United Arab Emirates)

Slovenes abroad UAE

Crt is a nice, interesting and quite a mysterious guy. From someone who has been leading a very exciting life in Dubai for the past 2 years, doing things that most of us can only dream of, I would expect an explosion of bragging and showing off. But Crt is nothing like that. He works hard and he is very good at what he does. And he still loves coming home to Slovenia.

Hi Crt, we made it, finally!

Yeah, my schedule is quite busy, as you have already figured out. Today I am here, tomorrow … who knows 😊

What does that mean, what is it actually that you do in Dubai?

I work on different projects, but most of my time is dedicated to playing ice hockey with Dubai Mighty Camels and photography.

So, again one of those typical stories that Slovenia doesn’t appreciate or can’t afford great talents?

To be honest, I can’t comment on the ice hockey part because I gave up my professional career in Slovenia very early due to my study and work. I did however keep in shape and ice hockey has always been a big part of my life, also in Austria and Germany where I lived for a couple of years – so I had no problem with joining Dubai Mighty Camels. Emirates ice hockey league is quite strong, there are players here from NHL, Canadians, North Americans, and some great players from Europe as well. But as far as photography is concerned, the fact is that Slovenia is a small country with a small economy, so the fees are much lower compared to the countries I worked in. Of course, there are some bright exceptions but not nearly enough to make a decent living for everyone in this business. 

Did you choose Dubai or did Dubai choose you? Was it hard to move here?

It was kind of mutual, some projects, events and moments added up so I didn’t hesitate much. Actually, moving here was not a question but a logical step in my career. Dubai is a great city with big opportunities for the ones who are willing to work hard.

What was the hardest part with the moving?

Oh, the bureaucracy … getting visa, medical exams, insurance, all the way to getting my driving license. These things take a lot of time and money. Your home country can actually make it a bit easier for you, however Slovenia is still quite behind. Our neighbors from Austria, for example, don’t have to go through the driving license procedure, and they are lucky, trust me.

Do tell…

Well, for one thing, it takes time and money – especially if you don’t make it in the first round. Which happens a lot. And on the other hand, Dubai is a big city with a lot of traffic and one-way roads so you need some time to get used to it. However, the roads are in great shape and the speed limits are very reasonable so everything runs surprisingly smoothly.

What is it that you like the most in Dubai?

It’s hard to choose just one thing. First of all, Dubai is very “open” city, more than 80% of the people here are expats, so hired workforce. Which means a lot of cultures, nations, beliefs, opinions, knowledge from all over the world. There is no space for prejudice, we are all here to prove ourselves, and to do so we need to blend in, we need to cooperate, and constantly strive for more and better. So it is really easy to make contacts and new friendships – you don’t have to explain yourself where you come from, what kind of car you drive, how much you earn.

The other thing I admire here is safety. Dubai is one of the safest cities in the world. For one thing, the locals respect their rulers very much, and that gives the right and “pure” mentality to the people. It is only logical that others (expats) will follow and since the law here is quite strict, no one even thinks of messing around. So, it can easily happen that you forget your wallet in an open car and it will stay there for days.  

How about Slovenes in Dubai, have you met anyone here, do you hang out?

There are quite a few Slovenes here, we also have a Facebook group and I know some of them from back home. But unfortunately, I still haven’t had the time to go to any event or meeting. I suck in this, I know.

What about your friends from Slovenia, do they come here for a visit?

Well, Dubai is not something like you would say “let’s go there for a weekend” so they aren’t exactly knocking on my door 😊 You know yourself that the flight connections are not exactly ideal and besides my schedule is so unpredictable that I can hardly promise to be available for anything more than a coffee break.

So, you don’t miss Slovenia at all?

Sure I do, I miss the fresh air and clean water. I miss the mountains and our beautiful Bled. That’s why I fly home as often as I can. In the winter to do some skiing, during the summer to escape the heat… and well, you know, there is always something that needs to be taken care of, always some good reason to visit Slovenia.

Since you have mentioned the clean water… what about the quality of Dubai food in general, do you cook at home or rather eat out?

The food in Dubai is fantastic. The choice of supermarkets and restaurants is limitless, and there is quality on every corner. Even in the most common places you can get great sushi or a delicious steak. Dubai is a mix of all world cuisines and since the competition is enormous, there is no space for average quality. I do cook at home from time to time, but I really enjoy eating out – I take it as an event, not only “feeding”.

And what about the prices? I know there was a lot of fuss about the new 5% VAT, has it impacted the prices a lot?

Sure people were talking about it, this is something new, especially for the locals – they were not used to VAT before. But I didn’t get the feeling that was an issue. It depends on your income I guess. 5% is not a lot compared to European countries, however for the low paid workers from Pakistan, Bangladesh or other less developed countries it is definitely a burden.

In general, Dubai is definitely not cheap. The rents are crazy high, not to mention if you want to buy a property. The land is like gold here. That’s why a lot of people live outside of the city which reflects in heavy traffic during the rush hours. Also, the prices in stores (food, clothes, etc) and restaurants are higher compared to Slovenia. It is logical to find sky high prices in high end places, but you can also find a decent meal for 2€, like anywhere else in the world.

Well, at least oil is cheap!

That’s true, one liter of oil costs less than 50 cents, which is almost 3 times cheaper compared to Slovenia. Also the majority of cars are cheaper, not to mention the insurance and road taxes.

What do you do in your free time?

Usually we hang out on the beach or go to the cinema. It is quite an experience to see a movie here, because Dubai theaters are equipped with the latest and very impressive technology. If I have more time I also like to get out of the city – there are some very nice desert safaris, or trips to the mountains of Ras al Khaimah, one of the emirates. I miss mountains, I was born and raised surrounded by them.

A classic question for travel blog: 5 things you need to see in Dubai? And please leave the good old fashioned Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa behind.

Legoland, Miracle Garden for nature lovers, picturesque Dubai Marina, Mall of the Emirates and Ski Dubai, Madinat Jumeirah, most of the beaches … and of course seeing an ice hockey game in Dubai Mall is an attractive experience 😉

So, when is the next match, if I “happen” to be in the neighborhood? 😊

We are currently on a short break, the playoff starts in April. I think Dubai Mighty Camels has quite high chances of winning the trophy. You are more than welcome to come and see us, we can use all the support we can get! 😊

Photos: Crt Slavec (personal archive)

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Slovenci v svetu: Črt, Dubaj (Združeni arabski emirati)

Slovenski kotiček

Črt je zanimiv in simpatičen, a hkrati tudi zelo skrivnosten sogovornik. Od nekoga, ki že dve leti v Dubaju dela in doživlja stvari, ki si jih večina med nami ne more niti predstavljati, bi pričakovala, da ga bo kar razganjalo od samohvale – pa ni tako. Kljub temu, da si lahko z opravljanjem svojega poklica v Dubaju privošči mnogo več, kot če bi ostal v Sloveniji, ostaja na realnih tleh in se z veseljem vrača domov.

Živjo, Črt, pa sva se končno ujela!

Ja, res je, moj urnik je, kot si spoznala tudi sama, zelo nepredvidljiv. Danes tu, jutri tam, dobesedno 🙂

Kaj to pomeni, kaj vse počneš v Dubaju?

Razpet sem med različne projekte, največ časa pa posvetim igranju hokeja v lokalnem klubu Dubai Mighty Camels in fotografiji.

Torej še ena tistih zgodb, da velikih talentov doma ne cenimo, oziroma si jih ne moremo privoščiti?

Profesionalnemu hokeju sem se v Sloveniji zaradi študija in poklica žal odpovedal zelo zgodaj, tako da tega dela ne morem komentirati. Sem pa vseskozi vzdrževal formo in ga kasneje igral tudi v Nemčiji in Avstriji, tako da nisem imel težav z nadaljevanjem kariere v Dubaju. Emiratska liga je zelo močna, moji soigralci so bivši NHL-ovci, reprezentanti Češke in podobno. Vesel sem, da sem dobil priložnost igrati v tej ekipi, je res odlična izkušnja. Kar se tiče fotografije pa je dejstvo, da je Slovenija majhna in gospodarsko mnogo šibkejša kot države, v katerih sem do sedaj delal – posledično so tudi honorarji precej nižji. Seveda tudi pri nas obstajajo svetle izjeme, vendar je le-teh premalo, da bi lahko vsi kvalitetni fotografi dostojno zaslužili.
Si ti izbral Dubaj, ali je Dubaj izbral tebe? Je bila odločitev, da se preseliš sem dol, težka?

Bilo je obojestransko, poklopilo se je več projektov in dogodkov, tako da nisem dolgo razmišljal. Selitev v bistvu sploh ni bila vprašanje, ampak logičen korak v moji karieri. Dubaj je mesto presežkov in vedno odpira nove priložnosti.

Kaj ti je bilo pri selitvi najtežje?

Ah, birokracija – od vize, zdravniških pregledov, pa vse do pridobitve vozniškega dovoljenja. Gre za časovno in tudi finančno zelo potratne postopke. Pri tem lahko veliko pomaga tudi matična država, a Slovenija tu še precej šepa. Srbi in Avstrijci, recimo, ne rabijo opravljati vozniškega izpita in verjemi mi, da so lahko srečni.

Je sam postopek tako zapleten ali je promet tako kaotičen?

Sam postopek je predvsem časovno obremenjujoč, stane kar precej denarja – še posebej, če izpita ne narediš v prvem poskusu, kar sploh ni redkost. Dubaj je veliko mesto in posledično je v njem tudi veliko prometa, a je ta mnogo bolj tekoč kot pri nas. Kot prvo, so ceste resnično brezhibne in široke, kot drugo pa imajo zelo razumne omejitve, tudi znotraj samega mesta, zaradi česar vse lepo teče.

Kaj pa ti je v Dubaju najbolj všeč?

Težko bi izpostavil samo eno stvar. Dubaj je, za razliko od ostalih emiratov, zelo odprt, več kot 80% prebivalcev je priseljencev, torej najeta delovna sila. Kar pomeni, da gre za splet različnih kultur, znanj, prepričanj… ni prostora za predsodke, vsi smo tu, da se dokažemo, sodelujemo, nadgradimo svoje znanje iz izkušnje. Zelo lahko je navezati stike in nikomur ne rabiš razlagati, kak avto voziš, koliko zaslužiš, s kom se družiš. Druga stvar je varnost – Dubaj je eno izmed najbolj varnih mest na svetu. Že sama mentaliteta je takšna, da ljudje niti ne pomislijo, da bi kršili zakone. Domačini zelo spoštujejo svoje vladarje, saj so jim omogočili več kot dostojno življenje. Se je že zgodilo, da sem pustil avto odklenjen čez noč, notri pa denarnico, in se nisem kaj dosti sekiral.

Praviš, da ni težko navezati stikov. Kako pa je s slovensko skupnostjo v Dubaju, se družite med sabo?

Iskreno, še nisem imel časa, da bi se udeležil kakšnega srečanja, pa vem, da se dogajajo. V Dubaju je kar nekaj Slovencev, obstaja tudi Facebook skupina in nekaj jih poznam, vsaj na videz. Tu malce šepam, priznam.

Kaj pa prijatelji iz Slovenije, te kaj obiščejo?

Dubaj ni ravno »skok do Krka«, tako da nimam prav velikega povpraševanja 🙂 Povezave s Slovenijo niso ravno idealne, kot veš tudi sama, poleg tega pa je moj urnik tako pester in nestanoviten, da se težko zmenim kaj več kot za kavo ali kosilo.

Torej Slovenije čisto nič ne pogrešaš? Se pogosto vračaš domov?

Pogrešam čist zrak in čisto vodo. Pogrešam gore in Bled. Zato se tudi večkrat vrnem, če imam le čas. Pozimi »skok« na smučišča, poleti umik iz tukajšnje peklenske vročine, vmes pa še kakšne administrativne zadeve – vedno se najde razlog za obisk.

Omenjaš čisto vodo… kako je pa sicer s prehrano v Dubaju, kuhaš doma ali se prehranjuješ zunaj?

Hrana v Dubaju je fantastična. Tako izbira v supermarketih, kot v restavracijah. Tudi v običajnih restavracijah dobiš odličen suši in res kvalitetno pripravljen zrezek. Tu so kuhinje vsega sveta, konkurenca je ogromna, zato je kvaliteta res vrhunska. Čeprav tudi kdaj sam skuham in s tem res nimam težav, resnično uživam v restavracijah in to jemljem kot dogodek, ne kot »prehranjevanje«.

Greva še malo na cene. Najnovejša »pridobitev«, o kateri se veliko govori, je uvedba 5% davka, mar ne?

Govorilo se je veliko, nisem pa dobil občutka, da bi se ljudje pretirano razburjali. Odvisno, kak dohodek imaš in od kod prihajaš. Za lokalno prebivalstvo je to zagotovo nekaj novega, saj davka na dodano vrednost sploh niso poznali. Čeprav 5% ni veliko, se dvig cen vseeno pozna – predvsem za delavce iz Pakistana, Bangladeša in ostalih revnejših držav, katerih plače so tu res nizke. Pa tudi sicer Dubaj ni poceni. Najprej so tu res visoke najemnine, da o nakupu nepremičnin sploh ne govorim, saj je zemlja zelo draga. Zato veliko ljudi živi izven mesta in posledično je na cestah ogromna gneča. Tudi cene v trgovinah so višje, kot pri nas. Boljše restavracije so precej dražje. Lahko pa seveda tudi tu najdeš obrok za 2 evra, tako kot povsod po svetu.

No, je pa vsaj gorivo poceni!

Res je, liter goriva stanje manj kot 50 centov. Tudi večina avtomobilov je cenejših kot pri nas, da o stroških registracije in letnih prispevkih za ceste sploh ne govorim.

Kaj počneš ob prostem času?

Večinoma gremo na plažo ali pogledat kak dober film. V Dubaju je to posebno doživetje, saj tukajšnji kinematografi ponujajo najmodernejšo tehnologijo. Če imam malce več časa, pa grem najraje na izlet izven mesta – zelo lepi so lahko kakšni safariji v puščavi, ali pa obisk hribovja v sosednjem emiratu Ras al Khaimah. Sem pač z Gorenjske in pogrešam gore.

In še klasično vprašanje: 5 stvari, ki si jih v Dubaju moraš ogledati? Če pustiva ob strani »zlato klasiko« Burj Al Arab in Burj Khalifo.

Grem kar po vrsti: Legoland, Miracle Garden za ljubitelje narave, slikovita Dubai Marina, Mall of the Emirates s smučiščem, Madinat Jumeirah, vse plaže so zelo lepe … No, tudi ogled hokejske tekme v Dubai Mallu je svojevrstno doživetje!

Kdaj bo naslednja tekma, če bom šla »slučajno« mimo?

Trenutno imamo malce počitka, aprila pa se začne playoff.

Mislim, da ima naš klub letos kar dobre možnosti za zmago. Kar pridi, vsak navijač je dobrodošel! 😊

Fotografije: Črt Slavec, osebni arhiv

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A day visit to Burj Al Arab hotel (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)

Hotel reviews Trips & Tricks UAE

If I asked you to name 3 the most famous hotels in the world, which ones would you pick? And if I mention Dubai, what name comes to your mind first? I believe it goes without saying that even if not the tallest, the biggest or the most expensive in the world, Burj Al Arab is definitely the icon among the hotels. But is it worth paying over 100 EUR for a day visit to Burj Al Arab with an afternoon tea just to say “I’ve been there”?

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AirPod Sleeping Pod Ambassador

About me

Whether I am traveling on business or for pleasure, my biggest challenge is to find the perfect combination of the price and time to reach my final destination. Because time is money and wasted time is the most expensive. Therefore, I always carefully check the details of my connecting flights and I am ready to pay some extra money to make the layover shorter. Unfortunately, that is not always possible – either there are no alternative options or the price for the shorter transfer time is ridiculously high. So, there I am, stuck at the airport, sitting in that uncomfortable chair, drinking that awful coffee and counting the minutes that I have left until my free Wi-Fi session expires …

And then one day I meet a guy who starts talking about something that looks like an airport capsule. He shows me a photo of a private space that you can rent while waiting for your connecting flight. A space where you can enjoy limitless Wi-Fi or watch TV in a comfortable chair which even stretches into a bed so you can take a nap. A space where you are isolated from the airport noise, allowing you to fall asleep. A space which wakes you up when your flight is ready to board. A space which is called AirPod Sleeping Pod. Hell yeah, this is exactly what I need!

Somehow one thing led to another and now I am really proud to announce that I have become the Ambassador of the AirPod Sleeping Pod project. You can see my opening statement in the video below 😉 This is actually just the beginning because the project is now set to launch. There will be a lot of interesting things going on in the next few days, so make sure you follow their Facebook account and let me know how you like the idea! 😉

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Travel tips for visiting Golden Triangle in India

Asia India Trips & Tricks

Interested in visiting Golden Triangle in India by yourself and don’t know how and where to start? Here is an example of our February itinerary and some useful tips that will help you to get ready for this unique experience. If you haven’t visited India before, you need to prepare yourself for quite a rollercoaster, trust me.

HOW MANY DAYS YOU NEED FOR VISITING GOLDEN TRIANGLE

On the map it will seem like you can do the Golden Triangle within 3 days, but the reality is a bit different. First of all, the traffic in India is something beyond your imagination and you can easily spend 6 hours for just over 200 kilometers’ drive. There are a lot of agencies that offer “Daily trips from Delhi to Taj Mahal”, but that must be one hell of a ride. Not to mention the crowds you will encounter if you are not there first thing in the morning. I’d say that our 4-day (5 nights) Golden Triangle itinerary is perfect if you don’t want to spend too much time in India and rather combine your trip with visiting some other destination, like Maldives or Sri Lanka.

WHEN IS THE BEST TIME TO VISIT

In terms of the weather the best time to visit Golden Triangle is from October to mid-April, if you want to avoid the unbearable heat of the summer and the downpour of monsoon season. We were there in the beginning of February and while daily temperatures were somewhere between 22-25°C, it was quite chilly during the nights – winter temperatures can easily drop below 10°C. Unfortunately, in the winter months air pollution rises and brings the smog, especially around Delhi. So, I’d rather chose March for visiting if I were you.

HOW TO TRAVEL

You can visit the Golden Triangle either by car, bus, train or airplane. The easiest way is to hire a driver through a local agent, like we did. He was our “shadow companion” during the whole trip – he picked us up at the airport and dropped us off for the return flight. Hiring a driver in India is a good option for several reasons: the service is relatively cheap, the drivers are very reliable and even if you decide to take a local flight you still need a transport to get to all the attractions. If I had to do it all over again, I would probably consider choosing a return flight from Jaipur to Delhi (check here for local flights) however, keep in mind that in winter months the smog can interfere with flight schedules.

HOW TO PICK THE RIGHT TAVEL GUIDE AND DRIVER

The best way is to contact any tour agency in India. There are plentiful of contacts on the internet, I found mine on Tripadvisor and I was really satisfied with the service. Mr. Deepak was actually the one who suggested the itinerary for us, after I had told him that I only wanted “just to see Taj Mahal”. I am grateful that I followed his advice because it would have been a shame to miss Jaipur and Agra fort. Besides arranging the driver, Deepak also advised us to take a guide in each city and that was another good idea – without them we would probably miss more than half of the sights on our way. We arranged everything via email and if you want his contact jus drop me a line. Anyway, make sure that you ask what is included in the price: fuel and tolls, taxes for crossing the state borders, insurance, driver’s expenses (his accommodation, food etc)… and also ask if the driver speaks English. That can be quite a challenge, espeically with their funny accent 😉

OUR GOLDEN TRIANGLE ITINERARY – BY CAR

  • DELHI – AGRA (230 km): We landed in Delhi Airport on Monday at 3 am, spent what was left of the night at the hotel and continued towards Agra at 11 am. We arrived to Agra around 4 pm which was perfect to stop at Mehtab Bagh and see the Taj Mahal across the river. If you are lucky you might catch a beautiful sunset.
  • AGRA – JAIPUR (240 km): We woke up in Agra at 5 am (I shit you not) to see Taj Mahal. You will need a couple of hours to see it properly, depending on your obsession with selfies and lust for historical details. After seeing Taj Mahal, we visited Agra Fort (another hour or so for the tour) and continued our trip (around 4 hour’s drive) towards Jaipur.
  • JAIPUR – DELHI (270 km): After seeing the most iconic sites of Jaipur (Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, Amber Fort and Planetarium) which took us about 4 hours, we returned to Delhi with over 6 hours’ ride that I will never forget. The traffic there is really unbelievable.
  • 2 NIGHTS IN DELHI: We stayed in the same hotel as on the night of our arrival and spent our last day to see a piece of Delhi. Unfortunately, we got stuck in the traffic so often that we had to skip a few things but hey, that’s life.

WHERE TO STAY DURING THE TRIP

I followed my friend’s advice to book only 5-star hotels in order to avoid stomach problems (hygiene is a BIG problem in India!). However, we didn’t want to waste too much money just to spend the night in each city, so I went for the most affordable options: for Delhi I booked WelcomHotel Dwarka (relatively close to the airport but over 1 hour drive from the city center, so do your own math…), for Agra I hesitated a little about that Taj Mahal view but I am glad I didn’t pay that extra money (we wouldn’t have seen it anyway because of the smog/fog) so I picked Crystal Sarovar Premiere, and in Jaipur I booked Ramada Jaipur (let’s say it was ok for the money). I advise you to pre-book your hotels especially during high season – remember, Golden Triangle sights get crowded in seconds. And I am sure you can find some good options among 3 or 4-star hotels as well.

MEDICATION AND VACCINATION – HOW TO AVOID GETTING SICK

Honestly, I was terrified of this trip because of everything I had read and heard about hygiene standards in India. I didn’t want to risk even so much as a tiny digestion problem, especially because the best part of the trip (Maldives) was yet to come. I took Hepatitis A and B vaccinations (make sure you calculate the time you need between the intervals) because I plan to travel to Africa soon and I will need it anyway. I didn’t complicate with other vaccinations (no need for Malaria medication in this area, especially not in the dry period), but I did fill up my travel health kit with these extras: Carboline chewable tablets, soluble hydration tablets, hand sanitizers and (don’t laugh) rubber gloves. I also followed these simple rules: wash your hands all the time, drink only bottled water (I also washed my teeth with it), eat only fruits you can peel, eat only cooked or grilled food and flush everything with some whiskey from time to time. Worked for me perfectly 😉

WHAT TO WEAR IN INDIA

India is an extremely religious country so it is advised for the ladies to dress appropriately. There are no restrictions however and you will see a lot of half-naked women (mostly tourists) wandering around but if you want to avoid getting stared at, at least cover your shoulders. The most elegant way is to wear a scarf (or better yet buy one on one of the markets) and not too tight pants. If you are a solo female traveler, I advise you to follow these rules more carefully because there is a high level of violence against women in India.

AND FINALLY – TRAVEL COSTS AND FEES

  • Visa: 50$ (yes you need one, you apply online and it takes max 3 days to get it)
  • 5-star hotel: around 80$ for 2, breakfast included
  • The driver: 250$ for 4 days (plus drop off at the airport), tips included
  • Travel guides in each city: 20$, tips included
  • Dinner for 2 in 5-star hotel: 50-60$
  • Starbucks latte: 5$
  • Rickshaw ride in Delhi market (around 15 minutes): 200 rupees (3$)
  • Entrance fees: from 500 to 1000 rupees (8 to 15 $)
  • Usual tips: around 10%

If you want to save some money, follow the basic rules: bargain for the final price and try not to look like a naïve tourist, pick less expensive restaurants but be careful about what you eat, avoid “guide-recommended” places and shops (they get commission from it)… but make sure you tip your staff properly – it is quite a battle for survival down there.

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Hotel review: Crystal Sarovar Premiere (Agra, India)

Asia Hotel reviews India

I was told that when it comes to India, you should stick to 5-star hotels for several reasons: they are safe, they are clean and you don’t have to worry about getting stomach problems because of food and kitchen hygiene. Since we only had 4 days to spend on our Golden Triangle trip (and the roads in India are definitely not a joyride if you are having digestion issues) we decided not to take the risk and went for 5-star hotels during the whole trip, including Agra. I chose Crystal Sarovar Premiere hotel because of good recommendations, proximity to the grand Taj Mahal and a decent price, which included breakfast and free Wi-Fi.

Location

First let me say there is probably no such place like fancy location in Agra, unless you chose a direct view of Agra Fort or Taj Mahal (and pay for it properly). The photo below shows the usual situation on the streets of Agra and Crystal Sarovar Premiere is surrounded with similar “sights”. The hotel is moved a bit away from the busy street but still in the middle of nowhere – meaning that you can forget about having a decent walk around it and enjoy the views. Unless you love cows. To reach Taj Mahal or Agra fort you will need a car (I do recommend to hire a driver for your Golden Triangle route) and I suppose you don’t want to be walking over half an hour early in the morning or late in the evening especially if your GPS is not 100% working.

Rooms

The perks of being a travel blogger sometimes include free room upgrades, though I am not sure if that wouldn’t have happened anyway as the hotel was not fully booked. The staff at the reception as well as in other facilities was super friendly and I believe that was not a coincidence – you can see they try very hard to please their guests. Our room was fantastic and it came with very cozy bed, free tea & coffee, bottled water, plentiful of free toiletries, and most important: it was very clean. There was a glass window between the bed and the bathroom but since you probably don’t want to observe every move of your partner, it came with a curtain as well 😊

Food & Dining

Breakfast in the main restaurant was fantastic and we decided to have dinner in the hotel as well. Crystal Sarovar Premiere hotel has 3 different restaurants: besides the main one you can chose from Lattice (multi-cuisine) and Sky Grill on the rooftop with a very nice ambient (we even had a romantic live music) and most importantly – fantastic food and great choice of wine. Have to warn you though, such dinners do not come cheap in India at all. You need to add taxes to the prices shown in the price list, so in the end a dinner for two (just soup and main course) costs around 50€.

Other facilities

We only stayed at Crystal Sarovar Premiere for one night, so we didn’t use any facilities apart from the Sky Grill, but the hotel has fitness and a nice rooftop pool (unfortunately we only saw it in the evening) from where you can actually see Taj Mahal – but only if you are really lucky with clear skies, which is kind of rare in Agra I guess. Wi-Fi worked well and we didn’t have any complaints during our stay at all.

Anda’s rate: 9 from 10

Bottom line: Crystal Sarovar Premiere hotel is a very good choice for travelers who want to stay in Agra for one night and have their transport taken care of. The hotel has everything you need and the prices are very decent for 5-star hotel standards. If you are not picky about the location and prefer a good service to “walking distance” to one of the 7th world wonder, I definitely recommend staying here.

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