Svelte Hotel and Personal Suites

Svelte Hotel and Personal Suites is a modern business hotel constricted in 2008, soon after a large strip of malls in the area -- collectively known as Select Citywalk (the name of the most prominent mall) opened their doors. The entryway to the Svelte is located behind a row of shopping malls, and guests enter a marble lobby with contemporary, plush velvet-upholstered furniture and a large soft-glass decorative piece that adds color to the business-neutral space. A similar vibe extends to the hallways, which have beige walls brightened up with colorful contemporary artwork and a busy patterned carpet. The restaurant has a modern vibe as well, brightened up by more contemporary artwork and dark-wood tables with chairs upholstered in orange crushed-velvet. This hotel generally attracts business travelers and those who appreciate the flexibility of having kitchenettes, including long-stay guests, though it's also a good choice for tourists who want to be in a more comfortable, upscale part of town and like the convenience of the nearby malls (all of which have a ton of restaurants and food courts).

The Svelte Hotel and Personal Suites 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. Plenty of sights and shops are within a reasonable drive. The UNESCO World Heritage Qutub Minar is an eight-minute drive from the hotel without traffic, while hip Hauz Khas Village -- with lots of shops, bars, and restaurants -- is a 20-minute drive away. Humayun's Tomb and the sprawling Lodhi Gardens, which is full of Lodhi-era tombs and meandering paths, are both a 20-minute drive away as well. The shops and restaurants of Connaught Place take 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 a 25-minute drive. 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 to reach during peak hours.

The Svelte offers three types of room: Executive Suites, Deluxe Suites, and Royal Suites. Decor is consistent throughout the rooms, with light-wood floors and trim, modern dark furniture. A few accent pillows are set here and there, and bright modern art pieces hang on the walls to brighten things up. All rooms feature air-conditioning, desks, coffee- and tea-making facilities, and free bottled water, as well as flat-screen TVs with satellite channels. Deluxe Suites and higher categories add kitchenettes with fridges, microwaves, stovetops, and cookware, and separate living/dining areas. Entry-level Executive Suites run around 450 square feet (42 square meters) and have one queen bed, while the considerably larger Deluxe Suites come with two king beds and around 800 square feet of space (just over 74 square meters). Royal Suites have a king bed and measure 900 square feet (84 square meters). Cribs and adjoining rooms can be arranged for families. Bathrooms are considerably larger than average, even in the Executive Suites, with long marble countertops, makeup mirrors, and walk-in showers with glass walls. Robes, slippers, and toiletries are provided. While the rooms are quiet overall, there have been multiple complaints of cleanliness and maintenance issues --  for example, we spotted lots of dirty grout in the showers during our visit. Also note that smoking rooms are available here, so it's a good idea to request a non-smoking unit when booking if the lingering smell is a bother for you.

Although most rooms at the Svelte Hotel come with kitchenettes, the property also offers on-site dining, and its restaurant is open for all meals. There's also a casual cafe and 24-hour room service. The fitness center here is modern and equipped for a basic workout with treadmills and free weights plus a cross-training machine, an elliptical, and an exercise bike. There's also a small but lovely rooftop pool with a couple of shaded lounge chair areas, and poolside service is available. Valet parking is free for hotel guests, but there's a fee for Wi-Fi. Babysitting can be arranged for a fee.