Taj Mahal - Agra - hotels near by

[Sundayagain27]

We are heading to India in February
We have booked all our accomodation for Delhi and Jaipur but we’re struggling with finding nice/ quality good location accomodation in Agra where plan on being for 2 nights. Plan is to travel from Delhi arrive afternoon see sunset at Taj then next morning early start and sunrise at Taj then other site seeing that day before heading to Jaipur the next day. Wondering if we just have 1 night and leave Agra after seeing sunrise or are there other things to spend time seeing in Agra? Post Jaipur we’re heading to Goa where we’ve been previously to flop in the sun! So this is the action packed bit.
any help welcome 🙏

The Taj Mahal is amazing, it’s worth the trip and is definitely one of my all time travel highlights. The fort is great too, defo see that afterwards. Agra was horrible, a complete dump, don’t spend any longer than you need to there apart from the two sites. Caveat that it was 14 years ago that I went and I was on a tight budget, so you might be able to find a nice hotel if there is one, but I wouldn’t bother wandering around Agra if it’s still the same as when I went.

Oberon Agravillas is superb - overlooks the Taj. They used to get access to Taj an hour before everyone else as well. Lovely swimming pool as well

https://www.tajhotels.com/en-in/hotels/taj-agra

This hotel is lovely and has a fab infinity pool on the roof, with a view of the Taj Mahal. We arrived in Agra on the train from Delhi in the afternoon, swam at the hotel, went to the Taj the following morning followed by the Agra Fort (just got Tuk Tuks from the hotel and then on to the fort, you can book the Taj and fort tickets online). After the Taj we headed back to the hotel to swim and enjoy some drinks. We left on the train the next morning. Whilst you’re in Jaipur do the leopard safari, it’s brilliant.

Stayed at grand mercure. Was perfectly fine and near Taj Mahal

We stayed at the Grand Mercure. It was the only hotel on our India trip where more than half of the guests were westerners, because every westerner goes to the Taj Mahal but Agra is otherwise not an especially touristy city for Indians. There is a rooftop pool from where you can see the Taj Mahal lit up after sunset.

We skipped the hotel buffet and went to Zahid Biryani next door, which was excellent. As a friend of mine said, the food won't make you sick in India, but the water will - we ate in local places most of the time and were fine.

I second the Oberoi Amarvilas recommendation. I think it’s one of the nicest hotels I have ever stayed in.

Third the oberoi

it was also one of the nicest hotels I have ever ever stayed in - pure, unadulterated luxury like from a movie

it is a shame because Agra itself is full of poverty

I must also add my vote for the Oberoi.

Yes to the The Oberoi Amarvilas

Yes to Oberoi

It depends what you mean by nice- we stayed at the Coral Court Homestay. It was clean, friendly and the breakfast was generous.

We visited the baby taj and Agra fort too.

Last year it was £40 pn including breakfast so may not be what you’re looking for vs Oberoi. It was an easy and safe walk to the Taj to meet our guide at sunrise (I travelled with my mum so 2 women).

Depends on budget but another vote for Amarvilas. Open the curtains and it’s right there — incredible

The Oberoi every time! Amazing hotels - a wonderful experience in themselves.

Budget? Oberoi is expensive. The Trident is good, not as opulent, but still a 5*, just better priced.

In terms of other sights, there iare plenty of other things to see: the “baby Taj” and Agra Fort, and Akbar’s tomb a little further out. You could also visit Fatehpur Sikri instead of those (it’s around an hour’s drive from Agra). As others have said the city itself is not pleasant but you will just drive from one site to another. You could consider hiring a driver and guide. I personally avoid the autorickshaws (tuktuks) for safety reasons, especially now that Uber is available everywhere in India.

We stayed at a home stay which was lovely. You could have a cooking lesson with the host in the evening and then all the guests ate together in the evening. My DC (young teens) did the cooking class and we enjoyed the dinner with fellow travellers - French, Australian etc. we had a driver to collect us the next day. I can’t remember the name but can find out, if this appeals.

I’ll say yes to the Oberoi too.