When I travel through Asia, I am usually roughing it to a degree. I have a tradition that on my very last night, I splurge on a really nice hotel. I wanted to be close to the airport and in a place I didn’t feel that I would have to leave while I was there. The Leila Palace ticked both of those boxes. Delhi can be an assault on the senses and I needed to find a respite from the relentless beeping. Here is a 10 second clip of my taxi ride to the hotel which is enough to induce a full on panic attack.
I checked into the Leila Palace and my jaw dropped to the floor. It was simply the most opulent hotel I had ever set foot inside of. The staff welcomed me by draping a garland of exotic flowers around my neck.
In the 90 degree weather, I had almost forgotten that it was Christmas so it was fun to see all of the decorations and a huge Christmas tree in the lobby. There was even a gingerbread house filled with candy that was guarded by two wooden nutcrackers.
I checked into my room and the best way to describe it would be “tastefully indulgent.” It was so nice, but not gaudy at all. I loved the lighting system, which you could control from a remote. I mean, who doesn’t need under bed lighting? The marble bathroom was huge and had a tv in the bathtub.
I had made an appointment at the spa for a massage and that was just as incredible. I was just so happy to have survived the trip, I wanted to celebrate. A woman led me down a dimly lit corridor to my treatment room, which was clean and cozy. It was hands down the best massage I had ever had in my lifetime.
Back in my room, I ordered room service and watched tv for the first time in weeks. I was so happy to just lounge around and do nothing after all of the hours of traveling. I didn’t leave the hotel once!
The next morning, I just wandered around the palace. I loved how there were bright fresh flowers everywhere you turned, filling the hallways with their fragrance. I walked up to the rooftop to see the infinity pool and could barely hear the madness of Delhi far below.
I would highly recommend adding the Leila Palace to your bucket list. For the price of a nice hotel in America, you can live like royalty for a night. There is a saying- When in Rome… well, when in India, you stay in a palace.
