Trident, Gurgaon

Popular with business travelers who have work to attend to in Gurgaon, the Trident is a chic and modern hotel that combines classical Indian design elements with modern touches. In a region where hotels claiming luxury status often have frumpy, outdated interiors, the Trident is a welcome change of pace. The huge lobby has white and off-white walls and white-marble flooring, with high ceilings that dwarf the modern, contemporary furniture pieces -- namely black chairs, low reception desks, and a turquoise-and-rust-hued banquette seating. A few sparsely placed flower arrangements add splashes of color to the otherwise monochromatic space. It all has a hushed, sleek elegance to it. The grounds have an equally modern vibe, with soapstone passageways flanked by long reflecting pools broken up by the occasional mini-island featuring frangipani trees. There's also a large interior reflecting pool surrounded by golf course-style grass, plus a similar looking pool for actual swimming. Expect to see well-heeled travelers here, including plenty of domestic tourists and couples in addition to corporate guests. 

As the name implies, the Trident, Gurgaon is located in Gurgaon, a satellite city of neighboring Delhi and part of the National Capital Region (NCR). There's not a lot to see or do in Gurgaon proper, and most people stay here because they have work in the area. The only major attraction of interest beside shopping malls full of American and European brands (the enormous Ambiance Mall is right by the hotel) is an entertainment complex called "Kingdom of Dreams," where regular live music and dance performances are held daily. That said, North Indian visitors are the target audience, and most of the shows are mostly in Hindi.The hotel is about a 10-minute walk to the nearby IndusInd Bank Cyber City Metro Station, where a local loop of the Delhi metro (the "Rapid Metro") stops. From here, it's a five-minute ride to the Sikanderpur Metro Station, which takes about half an hour to reach South Delhi or an hour to reach Connaught Place, the de facto center of town. The drive can take just as long, or longer during rush hour, due to consistent traffic jams that often only ease up in the overnight hours. Indira Gandhi International Airport is about 20 minutes away by taxi, depending on traffic. 

The Trident offers a range of rooms, all of which start at a fairly roomy -- though not huge -- 309 square feet of space (29 square meters). Decor is consistent throughout units, and is done in elegant muted tones of taupe, grey, and green plus plenty of light and dark wood. There's a subtle amount of shimmer to everything, in part due to the glass-covered linen panels that serve as sharp headboards. Wall art inspired by ancient motifs brings a bit of local flavor to the mix, and furniture has silhouettes that blend colonial and classically Indian influences. Shiny chrome sconces hang in front of bedside mirrors, adding an even further dash of subtle glitz.Superior Rooms come in Garden View and Pool View configurations and have either a king or two double beds plus flat-screen TVs, DVD players, tea- and coffee-making facilities, minibars, safes, and desks, plus marble bathrooms with shower/tub combos and premium toiletries by local provider Kama Ayurveda. Deluxe Rooms have the same view options and add walk-in closets and a fair bit more space plus separate walk-in showers and soaking tubs. Executive Suites are even bigger, with separate living rooms and bedrooms plus "powder rooms" and views over the hotel's reflecting pool. The Presidential Suite is huge, with floor-to-ceiling windows, a dining table, a pantry, a private whirlpool tub, and even butler service.

The Trident offers a reasonable amount of amenities for a hotel of this size, including four meeting rooms and a boardroom with audiovisual equipment that can fit up to 200 guests. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.  There's also a heated outdoor swimming pool flanked by lounge chairs and an adjacent spa featuring a variety of treatments, from Swedish massages to authentic Ayurvedic treatments. Beauty and haircare services are also available from the salon. The hotel's fitness center is modern and excellent, with a range of weight-training and cardio equipment and 24 hour access for guests.Dining options here are plentiful, and include Cilantro, the hotel's main multi-cuisine option, which serves Italian, Mediterranean, East Asian, and Indian specialties from early morning until late at night. Saffron, is a more upscale choice and serves traditional North Indian cuisine at lunch and dinnertime, while Konomi offers Japanese food including yakitori, teriyaki, sushi, and sashimi. The Bar is right by the lobby and serves snacks and drinks from morning until night; there's also the Pool Bar which offers cocktails and light salads and sandwiches.