The Grand Imperial

Despite the budget price we rather hoped we wouldn't encounter some of the issues we did. The room was frankly stunning with a good degree of opulence when we walked in. The walls were covered in padded fabric crystal glass light fittings. A private door to the swimming pool and a seating area separate from the bedroom was a great bonus. On arrival the air conditioning didn't work and it took two phone calls and hour apart to get it resolved. The bathroom had no ventilation and very quickly became a rather unpleasant place to be. This is shame as it came with a bath. The air conditioning barely cooled the room to the low 20s. This became a problem as while in the hotel we had upset stomachs and a cool room would have been welcome. We rang reception to ask for a fan but sadly none arrived. The staff were on the whole quite friendly although the bell boy was rather indiscreet in his request of a tip. The staff were friendly and helpful but some of the restaurant staff did struggle with very basic English. Also note that the Agra metro is under construction and the pile driving starts at 5am and finishes at 10pm outside the hotel. The noise may not suit everyone and I would expect this is temporary.

The worst selection of hotel or any property, the management is too rude. We went for our first anniversary celebration. We talk to the incharge/manager of restaurant. He was so into his attitude, not willing to give complete details when asked about candlelight dinner. If I talk about the porter service, they took the luggage, put it in the room, did not even guide us to the way to room. Front desk gave a room number to the portal. Porter took our luggage to the room. We were not even informed about the room number. Housekeeping manager when asked, confirm the room number and guided us to the room. When we were checking out of the room, we called the front desk. We asked for a portal to be sent, mostly porters were roaming around on the floor. No one approached in our room and took the luggage. Then we ourselves carried our luggage to the front desk or you can say reception and there I gave my feedback and the person standing on the reception was saying that he'll talk to the manager, but I am not sure what kind of management is being done. If this sort of behaviour is being followed, this property will not stand to 2 star even. Please reach out to my number which you have, this is the same email ID which I have used to book the room. Call me. I'll give you complete details. This sort of behaviour with any guest should not be accepted. If I talk about foreigner guest, they were also not happy. I had word with a few of them when we were in the swimming pool. They were also not happy with the service. If it is a off-season, for you guys, you should still manage the services in the similar or the same way if it is a off-season, that doesn't mean that the service will be degraded. I got to candlelight dinner, arrange in such a good hotel within Agra. It is also a five category Hotel. The management was so good. They were so helpful. They arranged a perfect dinner for us. According to me, this hotel is the worst selection that anyone could ever make until they are improving there management back. The only good thing I saw in this hotel was the swimming pool. It was quite neat and clean.

A really nice hotel, I was a bit skeptical about booking this place as I only tend to go for expensive five star places, but I'm glad I stayed here. It's like an old style haveli with it's own charm. The place is almost magical, and has a very homely and relaxed feel. It's more for us foreigners /NRIs seeking magical Indian charm, rather than Indians looking for Western ambience, if that makes sense. The beautiful photos you can see in the hotel's website - our room was a meter or two away from the garden (and not in some high rise tower up the lift) and one could sit there for hours gazing at the sky. We were welcomed to the hotel with flower garlands. Rooms could be locked using old style padlocks, which we found absolutely lovely and gave a nice traditional Indian touch to our experience. The only negative points I could think of is that this hotel is not in the posh part of Agra and there are not many good eating places within walking distance. Other was that the portion size in the restaurant was a bit too small. E.g. dishes served with chips had very small portion size of chips compared to what is served in Delhi or UK. But I would still think this hotel is worth it and is 100% recommended.

Very Pleasing stay.. amazing experience of hospitality. - warm welcome by reception. Very helpful by sharing local information and gave us the choice of rooms. Accommoded the request. - rooms are very spacious, clean and very well maintained. Entire property is well maintained. - food was very tasty. Restaurant experience was royal. - support staff were very prompt and courteous. Loved the stay.. we wish to comeback again. Strongly recommended.

My experience at The Grand Imperial was disappointing due to serious management failures. I booked an "Ayurvedic massage" at the hotel spa, but what I received was neither Ayurvedic nor professionally done. The oils used were low quality, left a sticky residue on my skin and hair, and caused irritation--something that should never happen in a hotel of this category. The real issue, however, lies in how the situation was handled. The staff, especially the receptionist, were kind and genuinely tried to help, but their hands were tied. The manager--who is ultimately responsible--never showed up to address the complaint or offer an explanation. Instead, I was given a token discount of 400 rupees on a 130,000 rupee bill, which felt dismissive and unprofessional. The hotel has potential: the building is charming, the rooms are comfortable, and the food and breakfast were great. But poor leadership seriously undermines the quality of service. The team does what they can, but without proper management, their efforts fall short.

The hotel is very large and has many facilities. It has a swimming pool in the center and a beautiful view of the pool. The rooms are quite large and the bathroom and toilet are large and beautiful. The breakfast has a variety of items.For us non-Indians, only cakes and omelettes were acceptable and I expected more from this hotel. Instead, the pool was very good, clean towels were provided and it was a good experience.

For the price, this feels more like a 3-star hotel--you get what you pay for.||||We had a particularly disappointing experience with the manager, who came across as smug and condescending. He gave us the wrong rooms despite our booking, and when we returned to address it, there was barely an apology.||||The hotel has a charming, old-world vibe. The heritage room (Chamber of Prince) is spacious and nicely decorated, but it's in need of some updates--especially in the bathroom and with the power sockets. Many didn't work, and both the AC and TV were difficult to operate, possibly due to old remotes or faulty wiring.||||Another major downside: noise. There's metro construction just 50 meters away, and it continues through the night, making it hard to sleep.||||I was also disappointed to find that the pillows and bed sheets were noticeably wrinkled--not ironed--which made me question whether they had even been changed.||||The pool is a positive--clean and well-kept.||||However, the restaurant was underwhelming and breakfast was also disappointing: EU10 for a very limited selection.||||All in all, this is definitely not a 4 or 5-star hotel experience.

Disappointing Experience - Not Worth the "4-Star" Label I recently stayed at Hotel Grand Imperial, which is advertised as a 4-star property, but the reality was far from it. Frankly, it lacked even the basic standards expected from a 2-star hotel. Check-in and Staff Behavior: The experience started off on a cold note. The staff at the reception seemed entirely disinterested, treating our arrival more like a formality than a warm welcome. There was no sense of hospitality, no smile, no attempt to make us feel comfortable -- just a transactional tone throughout. Room Conditions: The room was extremely disappointing. There were mosquitoes and flies inside -- something completely unacceptable for any standard of hotel, let alone a 4-star. The air conditioning wasn't working, and we had to keep calling for assistance every half an hour. Imagine being on a break and instead spending most of your time following up with hotel staff. WiFi Issues: The WiFi was non-functional during the entire stay. The staff spent over 30 minutes trying to resolve it but ultimately gave up, simply offering an apology and leaving the issue unresolved. In an age where internet access is basic infrastructure, this was both frustrating and unprofessional. Basic Amenities - Missing or Delayed: We had to wait over 90 minutes for a towel and bathrobe, and this was after four separate calls to housekeeping. There was no sense of urgency or regard for guest comfort. For something as basic as a towel, such delay is inexcusable. Check-out Timing: Another inconvenience was the 10:00 AM checkout time, which is unusually early and not guest-friendly, especially when you're already dealing with an uncomfortable stay. Final Thoughts: This hotel is overpriced for the facilities and service it offers. The quality and hospitality were nowhere near what you expect from a 4-star property. My strong suggestion to the hotel management is to stop misleading guests by advertising this property as a "4-star hotel." To fellow travelers -- you can absolutely find better options in this price range with far superior service, cleanliness, and professionalism.