This was our first trip to India and will probably be our last. We arrived in Jaipur sick from the food in our previous hotel, sick from the relentless air pollution, sick of guides who really only want to guide you to their "special shops;" if you have been to India you know what I mean. As a result, the Rambagh Palace had a lot of ill will to overcome.
They did. If I ever need a break from life, and if I can be airlifted directly to the grounds of the Rambagh Palace, I'll go, with pleasure. The converted maharajah's palace is still set in many acres of beautifully maintained gardens, which provides a significant buffer from Jaipur's exhaust fumes. The room was huge, beautiful and comfortable. It had its own shaded patio. The service and the food in every restaurant was fabulous.
The staff was classy and beyond kind. The young man who showed us to our room insisted upon giving us decongestants (from the hotel, sure, but still) and later asked how they worked. When we happened into a photo shoot in the bar, we were invited to watch and given a glass of champagne. The evening we arrived I was sleepy and sick, so I barely touched dinner. Our waiter offered to replace every dish, so I'd have a meal that suited me; I felt obliged to explain, as if to a host.
They have great shops. To our outside guide's obvious displeasure (if you want a guide, arrange it through the hotel) I stocked up at the Maharani's Benevolent Trust. It offers great value, no kickbacks to the guides and an assurance that 30% of whatever you spend goes directly to the factory workers. All the shops looked wonderful. None of the sales people were pushy.
So. On every basis that I would evaluate a hotel, this place excelled. I only wish I had tried the spa or taken the yoga class. I'm sure I would have raved about that, too.
















