India (Frommer's, 4th Edition) (59 page)

Juhu Tara Rd., Juhu Beach, Mumbai 400 099.
022/6693-3000.
Fax 022/6693-3100. 355 units. The hotel operates a “Rate of the Day” policy, so the following ranges are indicative: Rs 16,500–Rs 23,500 deluxe double; Rs 16,500–Rs 25,000 executive ocean double; Rs 18,000–Rs 30,000 executive premium double; Rs 24,000–Rs 90,000 suites. Executive room and suite rates include breakfast, transfers, and executive lounge access. AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities:
4 restaurants, cafe, bar, nightclub; free airport transfers (for executive rooms and suites); babysitting; concierge; executive level floors; heath club and spa; outdoor pool and children’s pool; room service. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, Internet (Rs 500/hr.; Rs 1,000/day), minibar.

Taj Lands End
When it comes to location, the name says it all—far away from predictably tourist-centered Colaba, this hotel enjoys a lovely seaside setting at the southern tip of one of Mumbai’s hippest suburbs where some of Bollywood’s biggest names reside and thousands of cool young things come out to play on weekends and after dark. Each and every guest room (all handsomely renovated and supplied with such useful amenities as mobile phones, with air time) affords views of the Arabian Sea through a haze of palm trees—choose one facing the new Bandra-Worli sea link bridge. If you don’t mind the extra expense, opt for one on the smart new upper-level Club floor rooms, definitely the best in the house, with extra-swish services. While the vast lobby is often buzzing with business deals going down, a short uphill walk takes you to one of the city’s three “miracle hotspots”—Mount Mary church, especially enchanting after dark.

Land’s End, Bandstand, Bandra (West), Mumbai 400 050.
022/6668-1234.
Fax 022/6699-4488.
www.tajhotels.com
. [email protected]. 493 units. Rs 22,500 deluxe sea view double; Rs 24,500 luxury sea view double; Rs 26,500 Taj Club; Rs 50,000 executive suite; Rs 75,000 luxury suite; Rs 135,000 grand luxury suite; Rs 250,000 presidential suite. Club rates include breakfast, cocktail hour, high tea, and one-way airport transfer. Daily discounts available. AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities:
4 restaurants, lounge bar, pool bar; airport transfers (Rs 1,000); Club floors with butler service, private lounge, and express check-in and -out; concierge; health club and spa; outdoor pool and children’s pool; room service. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, minibar, Wi-Fi (Rs 300/hr.; Rs 600/day).

Moderate

For more midrange options, try the newly expanded
Hotel Sea Princess
(Juhu Tara Rd.;
022/2661-1111
or 020/2646-9500;
www.seaprincess.com
), where you should request a sea-facing deluxe luxury room (book online for the best rates); they’ve been recently overhauled, but the views through the bay windows (although you may need to first move the armchairs out the way) are still the prime attraction. Also recommended (and on Juhu beach) is
Citizen Hotel
(
022/6693-2525;
www.citizenhotelmumbai.com
), which has small rooms (with tiled floors and fresh, if over-the-top, decor) and closet-size bathrooms, but the deluxe sea-facing units (Rs 8,500 double) have great views from large windows overlooking the Arabian Sea.

Juhu Residency Boutique Hotel
From the outside it looks a bit like a sealed-off bunker (dark glass prevents you from seeing in), but once inside you discover a sweet little hotel (with a faintly Egyptian theme), welcoming staff, and very slick rooms (with a great big bed, pair of armchairs, plasma TV, and a modern look with local accents). All that’s lacking (besides a pool) is the possibility of sea views—it’s set 1 block back from the beach—which may defeat the very purpose of staying in Juhu. Still, you can enjoy the breeze while chilling at the rooftop bar and restaurant, from where you look out over a fascinating urban jungle, studded with huge palm trees and alive with horn-honking motorists. Things here are relaxed, and the comfortable rooms come with such thoughtful touches as having a copy of the latest
Time Out Mumbai
next to your bed.

148B Juhu Tara Rd., Juhu, Mumbai 400049.
022/6783-4949.
Fax 022/6783-4950.
www.juhuresidency.com
. [email protected]. 18 units, all with shower only. Rs 5,000 executive double; Rs 7,500 premium double. Rs 1,200 extra bed. Rates include breakfast. AE, DC, MC, V.
Amenities:
2 restaurant; 2 bars; free airport transfers; room service. In room: A/C, TV, hair dryer, minibar (in premium rooms), Wi-Fi (free).

Novotel Juhu Beach Mumbai
At press time this was arguably the best-value hotel in Mumbai, but you’ll need to act quick, because the good rates are part of the introductory offer following its July 2009 launch. The decaying former Holiday Inn has been transformed beyond recognition into a bright, modern leisure complex with direct beach access—greatly enhanced by the resort-style arrangement of pool, terrace loungers, restaurants, and one swinging bar (with live jazz and substantially lower markups on drinks than other hotels)—that makes it feel a lot more like a vacation spot than the snobbish Marriott, and with far superior service to the annoying Sun-n-Sand. Rooms are plush, with carpets and a sleek modern look that’s nevertheless restrained (with a single piece of art), so you’re not going to end up wasting too much time in here; they also all have some kind of sea view (you’ll need to choose an “Ocean Room”—currently at no extra cost—or a suite for a direct sea view). Breakfast is a great buffet spread that includes Maharashtrian sparkling wine.