Raffles Udaipur — Hotel in Rajasthan

Raffles Singapore is a historic luxury hotel at 1 Beach Road, in Singapore. It was established by Armenian hoteliers, the Sarkies Brothers, in 1887. The hotel was named after British statesman Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles, the founder of modern Singapore.

It is the flagship property of Raffles Hotels & Resorts, and is managed by AccorHotels after Accor acquired FRHI Hotels & Resorts. The hotel is owned by Qatar-based, government-owned Katara Hospitality.

History Raffles Hotel Singapore started as a privately owned beach house built in the early 1830s. It first became Emerson's Hotel when Dr. Charles Emerson leased the building in 1878. Upon his death in 1883, the hotel closed, and the Raffles Institution stepped in to use the building as a boarding house until Dr. Emerson's lease expired in September 1887.

Almost immediately after the first lease expired, the Sarkies Brothers leased the property from Syed Mohamed Alsagoff, its owner, with the intention of turning it into a high-end hotel. A few months later, on 1 December 1887, the ten-room Raffles Hotel opened. Its proximity to the beach and its reputation for high standards in services and accommodations made the hotel popular with wealthy clientele.

Within the hotel's first decade, three new buildings were added on to the original beach house. First, a pair of two-story wings were completed in 1890, each containing 22 guest suites. Soon afterward, the Sarkies Brothers leased a neighboring building at No. 3 Beach Road, renovated it, and in 1894, the Palm Court Wing was completed. The new additions brought the hotel's total guest rooms to 75.

A few years later, a new main building was constructed on the site of the original beach house. Designed by architect Regent Alfred John Bidwell of Swan and Maclaren, it was completed in 1899. The new main building offered numerous state-of-the-art (for the time) features, including powered ceiling fans and electric lights. In fact, the Raffles Hotel was the first hotel in the region to have electric lights.

The hotel continued to expand over the years with the addition of wings, a veranda, a ballroom, a bar and billiards room, as well as other buildings and rooms.

In 1902, a tiger that had escaped from a nearby circus was shot in a storage place under the Bar & Billiards room, which was originally constructed at an elevation.

The Great Depression spelled trouble for Raffles Hotel and, in 1931, the Sarkies Brothers declared bankruptcy. In 1933, the financial troubles were resolved, and a public company called Raffles Hotel Ltd. was established, taking over from the Sarkies.

Upon the start of the Japanese occupation of Singapore on 15 February 1942, it is said that the Japanese soldiers encountered the guests in Raffles Hotel dancing one final waltz. Meanwhile, staff buried the hotel silver—including the silver beef trolley—in the Palm Court.

During World War II, Raffles Hotel was renamed Syonan Ryokan (昭南旅館, shōnan ryokan), incorporating Syonan ("Light of the South"), the Japanese name for occupied Singapore, and ryokan, the name for a traditional Japanese inn. The hotel was reclaimed in 1945 during Operation Tiderace by the British Navy. Stanley Redington raised the British Naval Jack on top of the Raffles Hotel.

In 1987, a century after it first opened, Austrian writer and researcher Andreas Augustin discovered the long lost original drawings of Raffles Hotel, hidden in a Singaporean archive. That year these drawings were published for the first time in the book The Raffles Treasury. Raffles Hotel was declared a National Monument by the Singapore...

Coming from Europe (Scandinavia), this was our first trip to India. In total, we stayed in three different 5-star hotels, which sets the benchmark for this review. We stayed at the Raffles as my good friend got married here. We extended our stay at the Raffles Udaipur for two more nights, as we did not want to switch hotels before flying back to Europe.

The PROS The rooms are clean and spacious and the property is well maintained. The hotel has an indo-western interior design and is an attractive wedding venue for Indians that go for a “royal wedding theme” (as my good friend did 😊). Immersing into an environment that the Indian eye beholds as beautiful, is kind of an interesting experience as well. I was very happy with the cuisine, offering a wide range of indian, asian and western food choices. The service staff was in general very considered and friendly. Coming from Europe it can feel a bit over the top, but staff was never intrusive or indiscrete We were upgraded from a room to a suite for our prolonged stay of two nights. I assume because we travelled off-season and we were the only guests from the wedding who stayed a bit longer. This truly was a nice surprise!

The CONS I wish I could leave an overall positive review but upon check-out, there were two major mishaps, which are simply not acceptable for a 5-star hotel and kind of ruined the experience and left me with the feeling, as if there was an attempt of dishonesty:

Firstly, upon arrival and via e-mail we negotiated a favourable rate for our stay after the wedding. This was not reflected in the bill we got, but we were all of a sudden charged with a higher rate and we had to do the explaining. I understand that there was room for “misunderstandings” as special rates were also negotiated as part of the wedding deal. However, we directly aligned via e-Mail and also addressed the topic once more during our stay to ensure a smooth check-out.

Secondly, the restaurant charged us for a wine bottle that was 50% more expensive than the one I ordered. Given that I can drink good wine at a reasonable prices at home everyday, I certainly did not order one of the most expensive bottles on the restaurant’s menu.

Given other experiences during our whole India trip and the general bargaining culture, such “mistakes” may be acceptable and best practice at a bazaar or smaller shops, but highly suspicious and simply not acceptable at a 5-star hotel with a reputation that is in general very good. It creates a lack of trust and any generosity and appreciation I have felt for the service I otherwise experienced, is pretty much compromised and not an option anymore. Fortunately, we resolved the “mistakes” and could settle the bill properly with the staff.

A bit of bargaining and double-checking every (hotel)bill may be a common practice amongst Indians, but I don’t want to have to do this if I check into such a nice hotel. I may not speak for all travellers from Europe/Scandinavia, but in general, agreements are being honoured and a certain amount of trust towards the person you attain a service from is being given upfront. If Raffles Udaipur would like to attract international tourists then such mistakes must be an exception to the norm. Otherwise the hotel can not be recommended to western travellers.

Other than that I am happy that my friend had a beautiful wedding at the Raffles Udaipur and I recognise that keeping up with the demands of a wedding is a truly demanding task for hotel staff who in general were very accommodating and helpful...

Heartfelt Appreciation for an Unforgettable Event Experience at Hotel Raffles Udaipur

I am writing to express my deepest appreciation for the exceptional services provided by your esteemed establishment during our recent 25th Anniversary celebration. Our experience at Hotel Raffles Udaipur was nothing short of extraordinary, and we are immensely grateful for the unforgettable memories you helped create.

First and foremost, I must mention the majestic views that served as the backdrop for our special day. The picturesque beauty of Udaipur, combined with the stunning location of your hotel, truly left us and our guests spellbound. The breathtaking landscapes and serene ambiance added an ethereal touch to our guest Anniversary festivities.

The culinary experience at Hotel Raffles Udaipur was simply outstanding. The food served throughout the entire event was beyond delicious, and the presentation was impeccable. Our guests were raving about the delectable menu and the wide variety of dishes that catered to everyone's taste. The culinary team, led by Chef Rawat, deserves a standing ovation for their remarkable skills and ability to create gastronomic masterpieces.

Another aspect that deserves commendation is the exemplary housekeeping services provided by your diligent staff. The cleanliness and tidiness of the rooms, as well as the overall hotel premises, were consistently maintained to the highest standards. The attention to detail and efficiency exhibited by the housekeeping team contributed to a comfortable and enjoyable stay for all our guests.

The true gem of Hotel Raffles Udaipur lies in the impeccable hospitality offered by your entire team. From the moment we arrived until the day of our departure, we were greeted with warmth and sincerity. The staff members went above and beyond to ensure that every need and request was promptly met. Their professionalism, dedication, and friendliness left a lasting impression on us and all our guests.

I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Abhishek, Ajay, Sahil, Max, Shivam, Reshu, and the entire team for their tireless efforts and exceptional service. Their unwavering commitment to creating a memorable experience for us and our guests is commendable. It is evident that each member of your team takes great pride in their work, and their passion shines through in every interaction.

Our guest Anniversary celebration at Hotel Raffles Udaipur was a dream come true, thanks to the collective efforts of your staff. The entire experience surpassed our expectations in every possible way. We are truly grateful for the warm hospitality, attention to detail, and the genuine care with which our special day was handled.

Please extend our sincerest appreciation to everyone involved, from the management to the support staff, for their hard work and dedication. We would highly recommend Hotel Raffles Udaipur to anyone looking for an exceptional wedding venue or an unforgettable stay in Udaipur.

Once again, thank you for creating a magical experience that will be etched in our hearts forever. We look forward to returning to Hotel Raffles Udaipur for future celebrations and reliving the fond memories we have created.

With warm regards, Rishi...