Punta Mita Plus... - Imanta Resorts

options are either inside the casual dining room or
out on the terrace. Inside, you can hear the echoes
in the distance of a local woman who makes
camp down the hallway each morning to string
marigolds and sing traditional Indian songs. On
the terrace, you can hear the sound of birds and
just the slightest buzz of automobile horns stuck
in Delhi traffic. We preferred the dining room. At
lunch and dinner, The Aman offers a nice selection
of Indian and Thai dishes and the restaurant by
the pool serves quick bites and drinks.
As an urban resort, the recreational options
on property are impressive. The gym here is
absolutely stunning—so much so that we found
ourselves pausing a few times during our workout
to admire the equipment. The enthusiastic and
friendly training staff, many of whom are former
professional athletes, were quick to remind us to
keep going. There is also a beautiful outdoor pool,
a Pilates studio, three tennis courts, and three
squash courts. Since this is an Aman, of course the
spa is quite a sight, though we were disappointed
that some of the facilities were not yet operational
during our visit even a year after opening. There is
also a Kim Robinson salon with 10 private styling
rooms, 5 private shampoo rooms, and a suite
for couples and friends. The property felt quite
under-populated during our visit, so we can’t
imagine that they need this much room to do hair.
But perhaps we might be underestimating the
long-term draw of Robinson’s signature “dry cut.”
In general, we quite liked our stay at Aman
New Delhi. It may be because the property had
changed general managers already in its first
year of opening, but we did observe that the
service was just a bit off and not quite up to the
cohesive standard one expects from Aman. This
was particularly true at reception, where we were
given wrong information once about a car we
had booked and spent much longer checking out
than we would have preferred. Everyone seems
like they want to help, but that they just don’t
know exactly how. For those who need clockwork
service standards, the Oberoi may be a better
choice for the time being. However, for the more
adventurous or patient set who seek a true urban
resort with the best and most spacious standard
accommodations in town, look no further
Do’s and Don’ts
Do consider the benefits of arriving in off-peak
hours. You will end up paying for an extra night,
but you will avoid a painfully slow traffic jam.
Do think about skipping the Delhi sights and
enjoying the hotel instead. Between the spa, the
pool, the gym, and the courts, you could really
spend an entire day or two within the property
walls without getting bored.
Do double-check any arrangements you make
with the concierge. One misunderstanding during
our stay left us with a lot of unwanted downtime.
Don’t think you need an upgrade unless you’re
traveling with a family or entourage. You will likely
find that the entry level Aman Room already feels
like an upgrade, especially compared to the other
top tier standard rooms in town.
Don’t gawk at the tent city across the street.
Yes, there are people sleeping and cooking with
open flames on the sidewalk just across from the
property. No, you don’t need to objectify them by
staring or taking photographs.
Don’t miss the woman who sings and strings
marigolds in the hallway in the mornings. Her
presence really adds to the atmosphere of starting
your day here, and reminded us that this property
may belong in the Amanresorts portfolio after all.
Aman New Delhi
New Delhi, India
General Manager: Henry Gray
amannewdelhi.com
18 ARareWorld. October 2010 Aman New Delhi