Country Inn & Suites by Radisson, Delhi Saket

Set amongst shopping malls in South Delhi's Saket neighborhood, the Country Inn is a solid mid-range chain property with clean facilities, but not a lot of stand-out character. The small, pleasant marble-floored lobby features a large floral centerpiece and a rack of brochures, though there isn't much seating except for a few chairs clustered by the elevator. The only other real common areas are the narrow Mosaic restaurant, where breakfast is served, and the much larger Two Floors Up restaurant/bar with outdoor rooftop seating. Most guests here are business travelers or perhaps people wanting easy access to the nearby malls or Max Hospital, but it's not abuzz with tourists. 

The Country Inn is located in the South Delhi neighborhood of Saket, on the back side of a huge strip of shopping malls filled with name-brand shops and restaurants that are sometimes collectively referred to as Select Citywalk (the name of one of the malls). The Saket branch of the popular Max Hospital chain is just next door to the strip of malls, within a 10-minute walk of the hotel. The nearest metro station is at Malviya Nagar, a four-minute drive or autorickshaw ride away, while the Saket Metro is an eight-minute drive from the hotel. 

The hip Hauz Khas Village -- with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants -- is a 20-minute drive away. Popular shopping and dining area Connaught Place (the de facto city center) takes a minimum of 25 minutes to reach by car, as does Jantar Mantar, a collection of ancient astronomical instruments. Getting to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi's best-known Sikh temple, is also around a 25-minute drive. The UNESCO World Heritage Qutub Minar is an eight-minute drive from the hotel without traffic, and Humayan's Tomb, also a UNESCO site, takes around 20 minutes to reach. The sprawling Lodhi Gardens, full of Lodhi-era tombs and meandering paths, is a 20-minute drive away. The Lotus Temple is around a 15-minute car ride from the hotel.

Old Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi's bustling market area -- Chandni Chowk -- are both about half an hour or so away by car, while it's an hour-long metro ride or 25-minute drive to New Delhi Railway Station. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is 30 minutes away by car without traffic, but can take significantly longer during peak hours.

The Country Inn offers both entry-level Superior Rooms as well as Deluxe Rooms, the latter of which are located on the fifth and sixth floors and add perks such as free fruit platters and freshly baked cookies. Decor is of the simple, generic type typical to chain hotels, but overall the rooms are bright, with light-wood floors and matching shelving and desks. Beds (two singles or a king) are made with white linens and yellow, black, and gray-striped throws and cushions, while bland abstract or landscape art hangs above them. We did spot a bit of wear and grime on some of the furniture, like luggage racks in particular. Marble-tiled bathrooms with walk-in showers, rainfall showerheads, contemporary fixtures, and a decent amount of counter space. All rooms are air-conditioned and come with flat-screen TVs, safes, minibars, and coffee- and tea-making facilities. Accessible rooms are available on request.

The Country Inn offers the basic facilities expected of a mid-range hotel, but not much more.There's no pool, which can be disappointing for those looking to cool off in Delhi's hear. However, business facilities are fairly abundant given the hotel's size. There's a meeting room for up to 30 people, a basic business center with iMacs and PCs, and free hotel-wide Wi-Fi. There's also a small fitness center with a weight-training machine, an exercise bike, an elliptical, and a treadmill. The main restaurant, Mosaic, serves a free breakfast buffet with hot and cold Indian and international items, along a la carte lunch and dinner. There's also a Tea Lounge with pastries and coffee and a clubby restaurant, Two Floors Up, with regular DJ nights and a cocktail menu. Room service is available 24 hours a day and food generally receives positive reviews from previous guests.