We chose the Shanti Home on the basis that it looked good on the website, it's proximity to the airport and the friendliness of Pooja in our email correspondence. In the event, the hotel is about 30-45 minutes from the airport (my mistake rather than any misleading information from the hotel) but in every other respect the hotel exceeded our hopes and expectations. Everyone was was welcoming and helpful - from the moment we arrived and received an enjoyable soft drink followed shortly after by cups of masala chai - while the bedroom was spacious, clean and beautifully decorated, indeed throughout the hotel there is an interesting mix of old Indian objects d'arts, photographs and modern paintings. The rooftop restaurant was superb, offering a limited range of tandoori dishes that were excellent while the beer was cheap.

Everyone was willing to help but we certainly did not feel that there was any underlying reason for the care shown other than a genuine desire to please us. There is a central tipping box so no one should feel pressured into tipping individuals.

Some people have commented about the hotel's location. It is near a busy road but traffic noise did not disturb us at night. As far as sight-seeing is concerned, Delhi is large and its sights dispersed so it is not possible to see the major landmarks without some travelling. As a consequence, we would not judge the Shanti Home's location to be a negative.

Finally, I would recommend using the hotel's pick-up/transfer arrangements - although they are more expensive than the pre-paid taxis at the airport, you avoid the problem of trying to explain to the non-English speaking drivers where you want to go and the journeys are shorter as the Shanti drivers do not have to stop frequently to ask police and locals in which part of Janakpuri the hotel is located.

We had a short stopover here on the night before our departure back to the UK. But this was much better than an airport hotel....the place is nicely and quirkily furnished....we were staying in the amusingly titled "Oh Calcutta!" bedroom (the rooms are themed). Our stay was short, as we had to depart to the airport early in the morning, but the highlight was the excellent rooftop tandoor restaurant...cooked before your very eyes! The bed was rather hard, and it is worth having earplugs as the environs are noisy.

Our arrival at Shanti Home was warm and welcoming, especially after a long day of travel. However, before booking this place, there are a few things you should know.

Firstly, the location is terrible. It is a good 35-45 minutes on the metro to get to Connaught Place. The walk to the metro station is another 10 minutes, and through some pretty bustling and busy streets (both vehicles and people). I found this to be a massive inconvenience and if I had known this were the case, would have stayed somewhere closer.

The rooms are nice, however there is no TV in them. I know this isn't really a huge deal, but it is nice to unwind at the end of the day by watching some TV as I head to bed. The only TV is located in a communal lounge room on level 2.

The rooftop restaurant food is tasty, however fairly limited and quite pricey considering Indian prices. The rooftop itself is nice and the waiters are very attentive.

I'm not sure if this was just India itself, but the staff seemed to be trying almost too hard to service your every needs in the hope you would tip them. I'm not sure if this was just me, but the way the staff came across, although helpful and attentive, seemed to have an underlying motive.

The only other negative was the cost of the rooms per night. I think the prices are a little high considering the above mentioned factors.

Overall, I would not stay here again and would not recommend it to the traveller wanting to explore the sights of Delhi with minimal fuss. The distance outside of the main areas of Delhi was far too much of an inconvenience for me.

This was a fantastic boutique hotel that is beautifully decorated and maintained. The staff were extremely helpful and friendly and we were even escorted to the nearby metro station over a terrifying main road! It has a stunning rooftop restaurant and bar serving fantastic food (almost as good as food from best restaurant in Delhi). The only downside is its distance from Connaught Place and Old Delhi (30-40 minutes minimum by taxi or metro) but otherwise would highly recommend.