Taj Santacruz

Taj Santacruz looks chic and luxurious even from the outside, with blue reflective glass windows and high carved screens at the base of its face. Inside, the ambience is no less chic, with an immense lobby featuring inlaid marble floors and a huge cluster of crystal chandeliers that seemingly drip from the ceiling. The lobby leads out to a massive atrium area featuring a huge tree motif at one end, plus plenty of seating. Rooms are situated in hallways around the atrium, and protected from noise by thick glass walls. The hotel gets a mix of guests that includes transit passengers looking for somewhere near the airport to spend the night, as well as conferences and business groups. 

This hotel is located right in front of the domestic terminal of Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. Distances to area attractions from this hotel vary largely depending on traffic (which can be pretty severe). The closest area for dining and nightlife is Juhu Beach, about a 15-minute drive away. The Gateway of India -- where boats ferry travelers out to the Hindu and Buddhist ruins at Elephanta Island -- is about 45 minutes to an hour away. The iconic Indo-Saracenic railway station -- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus -- is 25 minutes from the hotel by car. Getting to popular Chowpatty Beach takes about as long, again depending on how heavy traffic happens to be.

This hotel offers 279 rooms across a variety of categories. Most rooms measure 580-square-feet/54-square-meters (apart from the snug, entry-level Luxury Tranquility units, which are only 44-square-meters/480-square-feet). Suites start at 800-square-feet/74-square-meters and run the gamut up to the enormous 5200-square-foot/483-square-meter Presidential Suite. Decor is sleek and modern, with hardwood floors and brightly hued sofas and matching bed throws in warm autumnal shades, paired with sleek dark-finish end and coffee tables and large area rugs with geometrical patterns. All rooms have bench windows topped with cushions and etched-glass accent walls. Rooms have pool or runway views. 

All rooms and suites have -- at a minimum -- 40-inch-flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, iHome clock radios, and irons/ironing boards. Taj Club Rooms add access to the Taj Club Lounge and one-way airport transfers. Bathrooms are ultramodern and snazzy, with etched-glass doors separating water closets and large walk-in showers from the main marble-clad areas along with huge, sleek soaking tubs and big marble double vanities complete with backlit mirrors, magnifying mirrors, a good selection of toiletries, and bathrobes.

The Taj Santacruz offers tons of great amenities, particularly for an airport property. Dining options here are plentiful, with cuisine from around the world. The main Tiqri restaurant serves all three meals with breakfast (included), daily lunch buffets, and dinner buffets from Thursday to Saturday. Tiqri also has an evening bar and lounge with food and cocktails. China Inc offers Chinese fare at lunch and dinner, while Rivea serves French and Italian dinners in an upscale setting (think: huge chandeliers and ample use of silver in the decor). Room service is available around the clock.

The property is also home to a branch of the Taj brand's signature, Jiva Spa, which offers all sorts of beauty and wellness treatments and massages in a quiet setting. There's also a huge fitness center with steam and sauna rooms, plus cardio equipment along with weight-training machines worthy of a proper gym. 

The gorgeous outdoor pool has a mosaic bottom and a few hydromassage fountain features, but lounge chairs are limited. For business travelers, there are two main meeting/event spaces: The Grand Ballroom for up to 650 guests and a smaller banquet hall -- The Imperial Room -- which can seat up to 300. Wi-Fi is free throughout the hotel and there's plenty of free on-site parking available. 

The Taj Club Lounge on the sixth floor offers free breakfast and afternoon cocktails and canapes, plus business facilities for those staying in Club Rooms.