Radisson Blu Marina Connaught Place

Though the Radisson Blu Marina is primarily a business hotel, this 90-room property also attracts its fair share of tourists, owing largely to its central Delhi location. The exterior of the hotel blends in with its surroundings in Connaught Place -- an off-white neo-Georgian circle modeled after the Royal Crescent in Bath, England. Inside, the lobby is contrastingly modern, with white and gray marble floors and a few red velour '60s-revival chairs in faux-leather and plush velour. A warmer take on this design scheme is found in Fifty9, the hotel's buffet restaurant, but with the addition of light-wood cabinetry and black marble buffet stations. The Connaught Bar is darker still, with black fake-leather stools and benches, big red sofas with plush black throw cushions, and lots of black veiny marble on the walls, floors, and tables. The privately owned Great Kabab Factory has its own separate decor theme, including yellow solar-style glass lamps, blue-glass lanterns suspended from the ceiling, and bas relief-inspired wall sculptures. All in all, the modern decor makes this a pleasant and relatively reasonably priced choice right in the center of New Delhi's action.

The Radisson Blu Marina Hotel is located in the heart of the popular Connaught Place shopping and dining area, right on Connaught Circus and just next to the Rajiv Chowk Metro station. It's a 10-minute walk to to Jantar Mantar, a collection of ancient astronomical instruments, while getting to Gurudwara Bangla Sahib, Delhi's best-known Sikh temple, takes about five minutes by car or just under 20 minutes on foot. India Gate is around eight minutes from the hotel by car. It's a 10-minute drive to Delhi Golf Club and a 15-minute drive to Humayan's Tomb, one of the city's three UNESCO World Heritage Sites. The sprawling Lodhi Gardens, full of Lodhi-era tombs and meandering paths, is also around a 15-minute drive away. Old Delhi Railway Station and Old Delhi's bustling market area -- Chandni Chowk -- are both about 15 minutes away by car, while it's a seven-minute drive to New Delhi Railway Station. South Delhi attractions such as the Lotus Temple and the Qutub Minar also take about 25 minutes by car to reach, but the journey can be much longer depending on traffic. The Indira Gandhi International Airport is about half an hour away by car without traffic, but can take significantly longer during peak hours.

The Raddison Blu offers Superior, Deluxe, and Business Class Rooms as well as Suites. All have a contemporary, business look, with light-wood furniture and wall accents, white bedding with gray runners and a few gray and orange cushions. A few colorful and black-and-white or monochrome framed prints hang on the walls, adding a welcome bit of personality. Entry-level Superior Rooms are simple and modern, with safes, hairdryers, work desks, and flat-screen TVs. Deluxe Rooms have access to a long veranda-style balcony, though each room has a section partially portioned off by planters with tall bushes. Deluxe Rooms also add perks such as a welcome drink and free breakfast, while Business Class Room guests get free laundry and two free cocktails. Suite guests receive Club Lounge access along with free half-hour spa treatments (one per day), and free wine. Bathrooms have lots of white marble with gray veins plus large granite sinks with huge vanity mirrors, small hairdryers, and walk-in showers. In Superior and Deluxe Rooms, the showers have glass walls looking out onto the rooms, though these can be made more private by pulling down a screen.

The Radisson has reasonable amenities for a hotel of its size, though unfortunately it lacks a pool, unlike many of the other hotels in this category in central Delhi. Two on-site restaurants Fifty9 serve a buffet breakfast of Indian and Western dishes every morning, plus international and local cuisine at lunch and dinner. The Great Kabab Factory is a bit more upscale and serves a filling menu of skewers of meat and vegetarian dishes at lunch and dinner -- it's popular with locals and visitors to Delhi alike. There's also a bar -- The Connaught -- serving beer, wine, and cocktails, plus a decent selection of imported whiskeys. The fitness center is modern, with treadmills, free weights, and a resistance machine, and there's also a spa, Sohum, for massages and treatments. Other features include a business center with printer/scanners and a boardroom for up to 20 guests. Wi-Fi is also free and available throughout the hotel. The front desk offers concierge services including currency exchange, tour booking, and car rentals. One-way airport transportation included in room rates. As mentioned above, certain room categories are entitled to in-hotel perks like free spa treatments or breakfast, so check ahead with the hotel. Express laundry services can also be arranged.