Amar Yatri Niwas Hotel, Agra

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From the map in my guidebook I thought that this hotel might be in the middle of a bustling commercial area, but actually it's more like a bubble on the side of a highway. There really isn't much of interest within walking distance, but there always seemed to be plenty of tuk-tuks available right outside. The lobby of this hotel is unpretentious, dark and calm. Internet access, which is offered through an aging computer in a room off the lobby, was not working the day I was there. The lift is quite small but I never had to wait very long. All the desk clerks and other hotel staff were friendly and helpful, including the porter who smiled and pointed me in the direction of my room when I emerged, disoriented, from the stairway. The guest room was a surprise: brightly lit, modern, and tastefully furnished. All the light switches and outlets worked, the bathroom sparkled, the bed was comfortable, and the powerful aircon was a welcome relief. Breakfast was served in a muggy, windowless, interior room. The staff were reluctant to turn on the floor-standing AC unit -- probably they were cold enough already -- but they did offer to turn it on when they saw I was uncomfortable. This hotel has no swimming pool, but the Amar Hotel, its big brother 100 meters along the road, allows non-guests to access their lovely outdoor pool for a fee, and Amar Yatri Niwas guests are offered a discount. The facility does not seem to be heavily used in the winter: On this occasion I was the only one there. In summary, my room at this hotel was the nicest of the hotel rooms I rented on my short visit to India. I was disappointed in the immediate area, but as I had hired a car it made no difference. For a medium priced room it was a very good value, and I would have no hesitation in recommending this property to others.