In March, 2020, just before the Co-vid emergency, my wife and I enjoyed our 4 day stay in a sea view room on the top floor of the Mumbai Oberoi. We ate many of our meals in the lobby restaurant and we found the service impeccable. We had a great time there, as it is well located near museums and shops. If you had a sea view room, I expect that you wouldn't have encountered the road works noise, so it's just unlucky timing, rather than anything the hotel could have dealt with. I hope you can return there again, in coming years.
@@bsrlakshkar4331 Yes, we also stayed for 2 nights at the The Oberoi Udaivilas, Udaipur, which is Oberoi's best hotel in the world. We had a very enjoyable visit there.
Construction all over Mumbai is crazy and goes on 24x7. 11 new metro lines under-construction, Coastal Road, Bandra-versova sea link, Trans harbour link, new bridges everywhere, ambitions to concretise every single road in the city, New Airport, a link from nariman point to cuffe parade (which was right out side the hotel) not to mention new 8 and 6 lane expressways towards Delhi and nagpur respectively and Bullet train work going to commence this year. Not to mention older buildings redeveloped in their 1000s, Slum rehabs. Hence its the most polluted its ever been (and clearly visible in the video). But public transport if being beefed up majorly, new busses are almost all electric of CNG. Hopefully come 2026-2028 most of these will be done and our air quality will improve. But right now everything is on steroids.
My favourite hotels in India are The Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai especially the old wings but got upgraded to the bell room and another suites during my staycation there with my partner. Another is the Wildflower Hall Shimla. Immaculate service and the hotel decos especially the pool with chandeliers. So beautiful.
The Oberoi's service quality is one of the best i've experienced, the Mumbai property's design and interiors are still really mid century, 70s - 80s decor, comforting! as it brings back memories of my childhood time stays i had with my parents during international transits. Feels like old Bang & Olufson designs :)..... but yeah!! They should give it an update!!!
You are elobarate such a good way and if you visit india so must come in udaipur Rajasthan and our rajasthani culture looks like padharo mhare desh also u can see beautiful lake and tribal culture I am also live in udaipur by the way ur video explanation is superb I like ur video and channel thnx u very so much 🥰🥰😁
I know u face some problem but next time in 2025 u will come u will see much better amenities in Mumbai also all other indian state like metro, expressway, airport, hotels, banks u can access each and everything easily and guest is our God......🙏🙏🙏 Atithi devo bhav our culture 👍👍🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🤝🙏🙏🙏🙏
I'm definitely trying out Ziya if I ever stay at the Oberoi Hotel in Mumbai! That food looks amazing, and I'm very interested in that broccoli. That usually one of the most basic and plain vegetables around, so it was very curious to hear you praise a broccoli dish so highly. I do agree with your comments about the room though, they do look rather "normal" for a 5 star luxury hotel and don't really stand out in any way.
This trip redefined broccoli for me in the same way that traveling in western China redefined mushrooms for me many years ago. One of the great joys of traveling, to me, is rediscovering an ingredient that's been near the bottom of your "things I really want to eat" list haha. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Great review. I find the Taj better in Mumbai. However, both companies are great. Thank you for your amazing work. You are truly rising to the top of travel reviewers. Cheers
Another fantastic truthful hotel report. It's a shame you was woken up by construction, like you said, one of the reasons for a hotel is for sleep. The room looked great, agree with the corporate look and cloning of rooms. It'd probably cost too much for their rooms to be individualized. I really enjoyed your video.
I don’t need the rooms to be individualized from room to room, but I just wish the hotel rooms collectively had a more elevated and specific design language- even if every room is the same. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
My go-to hotel along with the Taj! Welcome to my home city! Subscribed. Edit: The Oberoi has a special college for hotel management called the ‘OCLD’. They churn out utter brilliance year after year.
I stayed here in December 2022 and I must say it was a great feeling on the marine drive I used to go walking in the evening and explore by foot, this area is surrounded by all kinds of big banks it's the financial nerve of the city and the service was impeccable I used to have gobi paranthas everyday for breakfast at the coffee shop.
Tbh, I watch your videos because you ARE an expert. You’ve mentioned on other videos your experience in the hospitality industry. This comes through in your reviews as you talk about systems, other properties, and service. I don’t think you need to spend time talking about bias- your biases, whatever they are, are exactly why I’m here.
Ah yes sure- I am biased in that regard. I just mean I’m unbiased as related to receiving special treatment and/or compensation from the airline/hotel, which is very common in this niche of content creation. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Also, as much as it is unsophisticated, I think you should definitely try some flashy titles for your videos to gain better traction like "My first hotel experience in India- Mumbai - Hotel oberoi" , "Foreigner tries Indian 5 star hotel" or "I was blown away by this Mumbai ( name of hotel )hotel " . Maybe not the last one 😅 ..instead of the current very generic Titles. Because you can always change the titles even after uploading the videos, I think its a win-win situation if one title is not working..
2 Things I should tell you. 1) The airways food. It was a 2 hr or 2.30 hr flt? And you got a full meal. Here in the US you do not get a full meal. 2) The breakfast. Yes, Every hotel gves you an awesome breakfast. 3) but the price in Mumbai is expensive ($230 bucks per night ). But the same hotel or similar hotel in other parts of India is probably not as expensive (I don't think it is). I have stayed in Hyderabad. (The hotels there are I think $150-$200 I have stayed in Sheraton.. Your video is good. I subscribed after watching just 2 of yours.
Customer service is gold, I been to a few hotels where it is bad and wont go back and others where customer service is excellent but something else not correct I would go back agin and again.
I must say, im kind of watching all of your reviews. They're that good. Good music choice. Clean and neat information about your upcoming pland and videos in the description and in the about section of your channel. Very very nice.
I'm afraid India is ruined now by terrible air pollution. Ran into that on my last trip to Bangalore a couple of years ago. Found relief only after leaving the major metropolitan areas. They need to convert to electric vehicles as soon as possible.
Very nice kevin ji🙏 I enjoyed my staycation at the Oberoi Narimanpoint in march 2021 Very nice experience ❤hospitality is awesome nd my most Fevourite QUEENS NACKLACE view that stolen my heart❤ love this property i love to explore again
Hey I have just found one of your video which was of Delhi to Mumbai flight Experience and loved the way you gave your honest Opinion. Just after completing that video I have started watching this video. Keep doing the good work. Love from India.
I recently came across your channel on my RU-vid feed. As a British Indian, I was drawn towards your vlogs about your stay in India and I liked your way of presentation. I wish you the very best for your channel. Keep them coming 👍🏼
Great video, dropped a sub! Would love you to review one of the many high end hotels in Hong Kong or maybe a Business class (or even first class) with Cathay Pacific ;)
I’d love to be back in Hong Kong but by the time the entry restrictions were fully lifted, I had my whole year booked already- so there will definitely be some HK hotels in 2024. That said I do have 2 Cathay flights coming up this year. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Can't wait, will definitely take a look! Really hoping for Cathay's cabin crew to improve, I've flown with them for the last 15 years (Marco Polo Gold at one point) and they've always been very impressive, although my most recent flight was a bit disappointing in terms fo service, not that of a premium Asian airline but more so a European airline.
One of the best Hotel reviews, ever. Honest, insightful and professionally produced. It is no coincidence that Oberoi hotels is my preferred choice in India.
Although I loved the video as I do all of your videos, this is the first hotel I really really could not see myself spending any time… Despite the knowledge that the soft product is amazing, food is wonderful, the whole place seemed so soulless to me…. Apart from that, their whole house style seemed to look outdated and old fashioned, like Air India. I do fully applaud their customer etiquette though, it seems like something from a lost era. Looking forward to your Taj Mahal review 🤩 Thank you Kevin!
I completely understand it. This hotel is a property I'd consider if I needed to be in Mumbai, but I wouldn't necessarially go back to Mumbai just to stay there. As good as certain aspects of it are, as you said- the design leaves something to be desired (especially compared to many other Indian hotels). Thank you as always for the support 🙏
@@tfft Dear Sir, during the 1990s I worked in both The Oberoi (Bombay then - TOB) & The Oberoi Trident (it was called The Oberoi Towers in my time - TOT) as Room Service / Butlers Manager and Coffee Shop Manager, respectively. Thank you for your video. It brought back a lot of memories! So many changes now. 'Ziya' was called 'Kandahar' then, and it was here in 2008 my Restaurant Hostess from my coffee shop was shot in her arm. The "Fenix' was called 'La Brasserie'. Allow me to point out that The Oberoi was and is positioned as a business/corporate hotel, and business guests don't spend time in their rooms during the day. Maybe that is why you found it to be 'generic' & boring. All rooms look the same. But thank you once again for the blast from my past!
One question - possibly a strange question you might think but I’m curious - when you showed the TV in the guest room, why did you deliberately conceal part of the TV screen?
Worked here at the Oberoi Towers 1981 to 86...just then the New Block came up ..Personally my favourite Group...Most professional in every aspect..The cream of Hotel Management was then Oberoi Towers and the Taj... But am an Oberoi fan always...
We were on a cruise with a Mumbai stop about one year ago. Our Mumbai tour included lunch at the Oberoi - street food looked wonderful, but we wouldn't dare. I knew of the Oberoi from the terrorist attack, and was very surprised at the level of security and metal detectors entering the hotel. The restaurant had a very muted and very dramatic entrance. It was magnificent. But we were not prepared for the food. Indian cuisine is not high on my list. I will eat and enjoy it, but I don't seek it out. This was spectacular, and this time around, I AM seeking it out! I think this video has confirmed our stay at the Oberoi, and our dining spot in the city. Thank you so much for so much great information.
This does make me want to finally do India. Have chickened out 3x because of dread of it being hardcore traveling, and not leisure. Have you seen the Oberoi shoulder season deals where they offer transports to each hotel and airport as long as you stay in their hotels the entire tour?
Oberoi Hotels are more known for their service than the luxury you pay in their price. A business man will find it more appealing than a family. In their pursuit for customer service, I think they forgot to apply a tasteful decor to their hotels. One reason why they all look “generic”. I have always found Oberois as flat,boring and plain. Thanks Kevin for sharing your experience 👍
What a wonderful review of The Oberoi, a hotel which is an integral part of my life in this city. As a regular guest at the restaurants (and on one occasion, a long-stay room-guest) I find myself totally at home. The service is not just attentive and courteous: they WILL go the extra mile to fulfill any request. And they truly appreciate constructive criticism and suggestions. The food is perhaps the finest in this city: Ziya, in particular, takes Indian cuisine far beyond the typical to imaginative heights. Although the bar is a little too "loud" in its ambience, quite the opposite of the classy, understated and civilised elegance prevalent in the rest of the property. You are right in your observation that a soft renovation of the rooms is required, though they are comfortable. Coincidentally, I stayed last year in the exact same type of room you had (but on a higher floor) and am shocked to see construction happening opposite the hotel at night...directly behind a residential building! Well, that's Mumbai for you...
Yes, I agree with everything you’ve said. I live in SE Asia and am generally very tolerant of construction noise bleed but in this case I think it was the irregularity of the noise that made it a problem. Surely not Oberoi’s doing, but I’d imagine their clout would/should be enough to ensure it wasn’t happening over night. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Have stayed here multiple times, and at the Taj heritage wing, and the Mandarin Oriental in Singapore - Oberoi is a bit sterile, unlike the Taj. Mandarin is okay, not in the same league. Would not stay at either Mumbai property these days - the city’s business center of gravity has shifted and it takes forever to get to and from the airport.
The fluffy bread is called Pav and is definitely one of the lifelines of Mumbai. With so many bakeries around, you'll always find fresh Pavs anywhere you go in Mumbai and they won't be older than let's say 6 hours
Great video as always. Have never been to Oberoi or Taj in Mumbai. But I stayed for a day in Taj Delhi. It was beautiful. Also one thing I would like to add. The Ziya restaurant is pronounced "Zeeya" 😅.
Hi Kevin, fantastic video...perhaps you should look to become more of a travel writer.. Your work is definitely another category! So many vlogger constantly try to attract viewers with negative headlines...we all should remember what a privilege if is to be abke to travel the world...your report of the Taj has shown that once more...keep up the good work!
Very much appreciate that. The travel writing may come in the future, but in this field I believe the best CV I could build is the content on this channel. In a few years, we shall see if I was correct haha. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Glad the RU-vid algorithm got me here and I just subscribed- fantastic, understated, professional review. I will be checking out your other reviews. My only feedback on this review is the background music - a little too loud and dominating for me. But that could be a “me” problem 😂😂
I stayed at the Oberoi in Mauritius based on recommendations of those who had stayed at Oberoi. It was for my wife’s 50th birthday. I had booked through Amex platinum service and was told that I would be upgraded. When I arrived and was checking in I asked about the upgrade and was immediately told ghat the place was full. Later when I walked around the property there were plenty of suites available. There was a special dinner that was part of the package which never happened. When i checked out I informed the lady that I was disappointed with the stay. She just told me to write to the head office in Mumbai. At US$ 700 a night it was highly disappointing stay. I vowed never to stay at an Oberoi and since then I have always preferred to stay at Taj hotels, by far the best service I have experienced.
As stated when booking AMEX FHR upgrades are never guaranteed and are always subject to certain room category exclusions. Prior to booking you can call the property directly and ask which categories are excluded to give you a better idea of your chances of an upgrade. Better luck next time. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
Great video and insight, earned a new sub! Being a local Indian honestly seeing the Dinner menu prices my eyeball lit up! Every item is priced 5x to 10x compared to a regular Fine Dine Restaurant! I guess that's the 5-star extra tax you pay!
Mostly people here in India drink instant coffee . Tea 🍵 something most would prefer, construction you probably won't able to avoid in india ,for next 10 years probably, I'm used this .
I accept your argument about the coffee if it was consistent across the brand. But if that’s the case, why does the Oberoi in Bengaluru have an espresso machine in each room? Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
good that the Govt. of India is not the owner of this hotel. The govt. does some stupid things like still holding ownership of ashok hotels & till recently owned an airline.
Kevin,as usual, a wonderful review. One complaint though - ypu are being very miserly with your scores. 90 on 100 for Oberoi Mumbai is too low, I feel. Again, you deducted marks for location for a hotel that's near Nariman Point. The deduction of marks for outside noise is so unfair. Just checking...did you even ask for a change of room? Had you done that, they would have promptly moved you to a different part of the hotel, even if that meant giving you one or even two room upgrades. Thank you.
I think 90/100 is more than fair, in retrospect I actually would have said a point or two too high. My location scores are about more than a prestigious address. They’re about how far away are restaurants, public transport, a well equipped supermarket or mini mart, access to the airport, coffee shops, modern malls, tourist attractions, etc. As for the construction noise, I respectfully disagree. The Oberoi was well aware of the construction going on out there and still put people in rooms on that side of the hotel. As for changing rooms, the only thing I can think of that would be worse than waking up to construction noise in the middle of the night would be having to repack and being awake for an hour to change rooms. As I said in the video, it may not be the Oberoi’s fault for the construction noise, but it means it might not be the best place to choose to stay at the moment. Thanks for watching 🙏🏻
@@tfft Alright. We agree to disagree then. And that's fine. To be honest, I have been pampered silly by the Oberois, and even the Trident. So may be there is some bias there. Nothing I requested was ever too much for them. I have stayed with other hotels in India, but nothing comes close to the Oberois, and you did highlight some of it in your review. Finally, again, I must say, your honest reviews are great to watch. Keep going. All the best.
