Tara Palace was our first hotel in India and it was with some trepidation that we got off our coach in Old Delhi.

The facade was not impressive - far from it; but the warmth began as soon as we walked in the door.

The accommodation was clean and the staff could not have been more helpful. The small but friendly eating area was always open and it was a treat to wander in for our tea and toast early in the morning.

Hot water was a bit dodgy at times, but staff were always willing to help us when we got into trouble.

Drinks on the roof was also a treat. All in all, a really good quality three-star hotel.

If what you are looking for is a clean room, then you will get what you are looking for here. This can be a difficult thing to find in many hotels in Delhi. Unfortunately, it is in a really bad neighborhood. But then again, unless you want to stay in a really expensive hotel in Delhi, it is going to be in a bad neighborhood. The location is good for some of the sightseeing. It is right across from the Red Fort and very close to some of the other sights, but don't expect to be able to wander around past sundown. The key thing for us was that it was clean.

If your taxi driver insists on calling ahead to "confirm" your reservations, it is a scam. He will pretend to call and then tell you your room is double booked and try to divert you to another hotel where he gets a hefty commission. Insist on going to the hotel. Your room is still available. This is a common scam

Hotel was clean, with an impressive lobby,although the room was smallish, but had all the facilities there.
The historic places near the hotel like Red Fort, Raj Ghat, Gurudwara Sheesh Ganj and many other places of Old Delhi are at walking distance form the hotel.
Hotel staff was very friendly and supportive but the thing which was most useful for me was the internet connection the my room as I am a techie ;-) so cant live without it.
I would like to visit this hotel again soon.

This hotel was clean, however the experience of this hotel due to its location and the hotel staff was awful. This area of old delhi is massively crowded with men who stared with contemptuous disdain or who agressively hassled us for custom/tours you name it. If this is your first night in India after a long flight I'd recommend you stay in Connaught place or central Delhi. Certainly wouldn't recommend this hotel or area to a lone female - the amount of hassle and contempt you receive is not worth it and the area could well be dangerous at night.

The hotel staff directed all comments to my (male) companion, even when I asked questions; the lobby was continually filled with around 10 men who sat about and gawked at my chest. Been to India several times before with no problems, was dressed conservatively, never had this sort of intimidation in a hotel.

The hotel manager woke us up with a phone call at 7am on our first (and last) morning there demanding to know our plans for the day, then when we went out, followed us down the street agressively hawking various tours/deals. Later he told me he had to photograph me and got out a computer camera - when I asked why he became very agressive and threatening, and only backed down when my partner intervened. No other hotel during our stay in India requsted a photo of either of us.

When we ordered room service there were four visits to our room - one to deliver the food, one to take the plates away, one to get the money and another for the change and to get a tip. Annoying.

This hotel would probably be bearable after a few weeks acclimatising and developing a thick skin, but if you're going for a couple of weeks holiday I'd advise you to pick somewhere out of old delhi, and certainly not tara palace.