New Delhi, India

The Colonel’s Retreat is a beautiful boutique hotel in the Defence Colony area of New Delhi.  We stayed there when we first arrived in India and loved it so much that we returned at the end of our trip!

The hotel is in a particularly lovely part of New Delhi.  Leafy and peaceful, it is in a residential area with a market and a choice of restaurants within easy access.   Yet still within easy access of the rest of the city.

Service is wonderful, with guests made to feel part of the family.   In our case, this was taken to its fullest as a last minute panic to  book led to me actually booking the wrong month!  Three of our nights were fortunately still available but on the fourth we were invited to stay with the owners in their own home and treated with the utmost kindness and warmth.   Arun and Suman, the owners of the hotel,  go out of their way to make sure everyone’s needs are tended to and are very interesting company.   Arun is actually the oldest son of the hotel’s namesake colonel, a talented sportsman who saw action in the 1948 war with Pakistan.  Both are well travelled themselves and constantly strive to ensure standards at the hotel are of an international quality.

Food is similarly great, with my children still talking about the banana bread that they were served for breakfast!

The hotel has four bedrooms, all individually and elegantly decorated.  There are many lovely touches that add an air of luxury and the whole atmosphere is restful and soothing.  There is a lovely communal area where one can relax, eat or talk to the other guests.

We loved every second of our time at the Colonel’s Retreat and would wholeheartedly recommend it.

General accessibility information

Entrance into the hotel is via two steps, a landing area and two more steps.  This would be easy to navigate with a portable ramp and the owners are planning on having one made to facilitate entry.

There is then a lift into the hotel, where all  bedrooms and communal areas are completely level and accessible.  There is plenty of room to manoeuvre for wheelchair users and staff are keen to help should any further assistance be needed.

Unfortunately the rooftop terrace is not accessible for wheelchair users as it is accessed by steps.   There is, however, a lovely dining area downstairs which is still a first rate alternative.

The hotel does not actively promote itself as accessible, however it is definitely worth strong consideration if you are planning a trip to New Delhi.  The owners are very receptive to doing everything they can to ensure it works for everyone, so prior communication is likely to prove very positive.