Howard Park Plaza International Hotel Agra
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Fatehabad Road Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India, 562-233-1870
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Travel Blogs by Travelers Who Stayed at the Howard Park Plaza International Hotel Agra
Hello everyone! Once again it's time for one of my amazing updates! (Beware this one is uber long and jam packed!!) Unlike my other e-mails that have said things like "breathtaking" or "life-changing", this country was all those things and more. India was nothing like I would have ever imagined. Most of the students on this ship will tell you it has changed their lives forever to see the untouchables on the street in contrast to the magnificent structure of the Taj Mahal, but it wasn't just l...
Chennai, India emilyschwartz
New Delhi to Agra About 200km mostly along toll roads which are reasonable the traffic is horrendous - especially with tourist buses. It still took 4 and a half hours. We have a driver for the next 10 days or so and a fairly large ( by Indian standards) pseudo 4 wheel drive TaTA - which looks a bit like a Toyota Land Cruiser. Really comfortable with heaps of room. It also means that we can securely leave our bags in the vehicle. Our driver is called "Bapu". He speaks English ok, but has littl...
New Delhi, India indiaelliotts
ACTUAL: We arrived late the night before, so this morning we got up super early and went to see the Taj Mahal at "sunrise" (cloudy and misty compared to brighter). We had a local guide join us. There was already a line at 6:30 am and each of us were given a bottle of water along with our entrance fee. Water is crucial here to drink. The Taj Mahal is amazing to view. Quite possibly the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. I could have spent all day there, truly, but we were given a short tim...
Agra, Uttar Pradesh, India jessica.maybar
We left Delhi to go to see the Taj Mahal, Agra. New Delhi train station was a job to get through in itself. Because Agra is such a tourist trap there were alot of beggars and scammers ready and waiting at the train station. We got lucky with our rickshaw driver who doubled as our tour guide for the afternoon. We visited the Old Red Fort, Baby Taj and viewed the Taj Mahal from the "backside of the river". There we met three young boys who were selling camel rides (we didn't do the camel ride b...
Agra, India paulandlin
We left Jaipur ridiculously early, at 4.45am, to drive to Agra - even that was an hour later than weīd agreed due to our driver oversleeping, how cross was Rob? The idea was to avoid long delays on the roads due to the Holi festivities and apparently the very real possibility having to dish out cash to drunken revellers to avoid being pelted with coloured powder. Itīs Trick or Treat for grown-ups. Once in Agra, after a much needed regenerative nap we went onto the roof of our hotel to get our...
Agra, India samuelkeys
Vernsīs brush with mortality meant that the proposed sunrise trip to the Taj Mahal had to be postponed. Instead, Rob and Cameron took in a whistle-stop tour of the Agra Fort, Itimad-ud-Daulah (the Baby Taj) and the Emperor Akbarīs Mausoleum which is also home to assorted deer, birds and monkeys - only one of which tried to eat Cameronīs biscuit. Having missed the early morning excursion we were able to set off before the crowds and so also missed the hawkers - not a replica Taj Mahal in sight...
Agra, India samuelkeys
Historical Traveler Reviews of Howard Park Plaza International Hotel Agra
Great Hotel
Howard Park is an oasis in city of chaos.
However I was pleasantly surprised. I did have a large clean room, with a good sized bathroom. Some fresh paint would have made a difference. The corridors were clean and I did not come across any unpleasant smelling carpets as mentioned in other reviews.
The breakfast provided was excellent, mainly buffet style with a good selection of cereals and cooked foods, a chef is on hand to cook eggs as you like them. But I would make the most of it, as the meals at other times are pretty awful, though good food in Agra does appear to be in short supply.
The hotel is a tall building compared to its surroundings, so even though I was facing onto the school at the back and not the road at the front, it was still very noisy at times.
The facilities are limited, the top floor viewing terrace is normally locked, you have to go to the front desk to get the security guard to escort you round and the views are not great due to the fog and smog, a major problem in this city. The swimming pool is small, but appears well maintained, but is closed after 8pm.
The service in the bar is slow, to point of nearly not happening, better to go to the restaurant for any refreshments, where the staff are very helpful.
While the hotel lobby is indeed an oasis of calm, as soon as you step outside the hotel you are confronted with the people and poverty of Agra. Everybody is trying to sell you something, either different means of transport or various souvenirs. The hawkers will follow you constantly, we were advised by a local tour manager not to respond or engage with them, as even saying 'no' means you will possibly buy from them!
Besides, Agra is not a city you can walk around easily, as there are few pavements to walk on and I was told it was not safe to do so after dark.
Good value for the money
The restaraunt food was quite good. The free buffet breakfast has a variety of items. We ordered a-la-carte for dinner, and enjoyed what we got.
As for the hotel lobby - it was clean enough. What I didn't like was the passage ways to the rooms - they were carpeted, and had that old carpet smell. Wisely though, rooms are not carpeted, so the rooms themselves smelled good, and clean.
Beware of the front desk staff though. We had pre-paid for 2 rooms, and when we got there, they informed us that they only had one room available due to over-booking. They proceeded to check us into a suite, and offered to set up 3 cots in the living area. I said that would be fine, as long as they refunded us the amount for one room. (REFUND is an unknown word in India). They said that was not possible, since we were being given an upgraded room. My arguement was that 3 members were being given cots to sleep on - not proper beds, for which I had paid. They still refused, at which point I pulled out the "Let me speak to your manage right away" card. Since I am of indian descent, they probably realized at that point that I was not actually from India, and miraculously found 2 free rooms (??). This experience left a bitter taste, and immediately let me know that that the staff is not to be trusted. Sad, because other than this, our experience was a good one.
Disappointing for the Price
Avoid it like the plague
The Taj Mahal is magnificent and well worth a trip to Agra. We will return their some day but never return to this hotel and would advise anyone who has a booking there to try to change it. The hotels we stayed in in Jaipur and Delhi were superb. I do not think I am unrealistic about what to expect in India. This hotel in in my top three bad hotels anywhere in the world.
Oasis in the middle of madness
Pros
- Very clean, large bedrooms
- Professional, english-speaking staff
- I could not go to the swimming pool or the gym because they are closed in the evening. The swimming pool seemed very nice
- I expected a horrible modern hotel block. In fact it is modern, it is a block, but it is reassuringly clean and safe as Agra is very poor and quite intimidating
Cons:
- My room was still noisy as it faced the main road
- The travel desk was less than helpful. Every time we asked them questions, they desperately tried to sell us a taxi tour. They lied about trains and said they were unsafe, unclean and our trip would take 7 hours (when in fact it takes 3!). Not particularly ethical.
- Food is served as a buffet. Not a highlight of the hotel though.
Good Value
A beauty !
Haven from the Agra-phobia!
This hotel is within walking distance (or a very cheap rickshaw) to the Taj Mahal, (our room even had a view of it). Itīs clean and quiet, and after a few weeks travelling round Rajastan, the room and bathroom were a very pleasant surprise compared to a few weīd been to. The staff were very helpful in answering any questions we had. The restaurant is also fine. Like anywhere in India, to get 5-star luxury youīll need to pay for it, but this hotel was excellent value.
People do complain of Agra-phobia while visiting this city. Itīs worth going only for a night or two - see the Fort in the evening and the Taj early the next day. Make sure that your rickshaw driver does not try to take you to a craft-shop (unless you want to!) on the way to where you really want to go.
Good Choice!
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