Review: Holiday Inn Express Delhi Airport Terminal 3 (Airside Convenience)

Laughed out loud at "especially since my balance of IHG points never seems to go down." My wife and I have 2 IHG credit cards each for the 4 free nights. Sometimes we tack on a points night or two or need to spend top off points for our stays. I'm pretty sure we haven't paid cash for an IHG hotel in about 10 years and we still have 300K points. We stay at IHG 4-8 nights/year and wonder how we still have points.

I understand not wanting to clear immigration or if don't have visa, but there's million times better hotels in the adjacent aerocity with hotels including jw marriott and Andaz delhi. The Andaz is bookable on hyatt prive, recently had a crazy deal where room rate on prive was about $125 and included the prive perks of $100 food credit for dinner and breakfast for 2, on top of which we were upgraded for free to a big suite! The food and breakfast credits exceeded the cost of the room

I'll second the Andaz at the Aerocity - it's very nice. But Holiday Inn Express clearly the right move.

Not sure I'd go through the whole e-visa process just to transit (no visa on arrival for most countries - they'll have to change that if they really want to become a global transit hub). Even with an e-visa, clearing immigration can take a good 30-60 minutes. Even worse is getting back through security which is not the most orderly process. Just getting into the airport itself can be a bit of a hassle.

There is a transit hotel landside as well in T3 that I've stayed at, also run by encalm. Not amazing, but it exists, and can book it for a few hours (email to book in advance).

It really comes down to the visa; I’ve stayed at both the JW and Andaz in Aerocity, and both are fine, especially if have a longer layover like 10+ hours. But, if you have like 6-8 hours, I’d stay in transit, if possible, avoid visa, and stay at the Holiday Inn, just lounges. The masala dosas at the Encalm Prive lounge are dope!

I will be doing a 19 hr layover at Delh in April (JFK-WAW-DEL on Lot in J Class then a separate flt on SQ to SIN) and decided to get the E-Visa, stay at the Andaz Aero City, and even booked a 4 hr escorted tour of New Delhi. Due to landing at 3am and the subsequent flight at 10pm we had to book 2 nts at the Andaz. Luckily it's only 8K pts/nt so a 2 nt stay at the Andaz would be ieas than 1 nt at the HIE.

They are very good dosas! Best part of that lounge for sure.

For 6 hours, I'd much rather hang out and take nap in a chair in the encalm prive lounge than holiday inn experience (had very bad experience at similar one by kolkata airport in india)

1990 (and his multiple names) really has no life. Makes Tim look sane. Pathetic.

You can get much cheaper rates if you contact the hotel directly and book an hourly block instead of the nightly rate listed on the IHG website. For example, I have paid INR 8839 (just under $100) for 10 hours, including breakfast.

Given a choice, I will try to remain inside the building at Delhi airport because the Air Quality Index is absolutely horrendous when you step outside even for a few minutes. I had a 2 hour connection in Delhi last month and I was literally trying to forget the taste of the air there for the rest of the day.

Ben, you really are pushing your luck this week. Three articles about India gives the ignorant bigots too much scope for their scorn.

It is refreshing to read only positive posts thus far on this thread, thank you all.

“it felt like the check-in process took an eternity”

“Within around 10 minutes I had a key to my room”

Oh dear.

That pricing is outrageous.

$230.

For a Holiday Inn.

Express.

In India...

Luke, are you referring to those paid 'extra reclining chairs' (with the privacy hood) in the back of Encalm, or just the regular chairs there?

Sean M., yeah, it's really sad, because it didn't used to be that bad; reminds me of Beijing a decade ago. We really need to do a better job of getting pollution under control. Some blame burning of crops, coal, etc. Whatever it is, it's unhealthy. You can even see a haze inside, sometimes. Our lungs are filtering this stuff. We all pay a price, regardless of wealth, too. The billionaires breathe the same air. Can't be good for aircraft engines either.

Instead of impersonating me or others, consider using fun aliases if you want to refer to me. Otherwise, you're just confusing people. (From the original.)

Ordinarily I wouldn't pay for this but as @Sean M said, the smog/AQI in Delhi has hit 500+ recently, where even being outside for 5 minutes will leave you with searing pain. So avoiding having to exit the terminal is a huge amenity

Nice tip Sean, thanks! Always appreciate your insight and details on this blog.

It is easy to avoid the trolls 1990, login and gain status …. is that not what all U.S. airline passengers are supposed to be getting …. Status?

Avoiding India altogether seems to be the bigger amenity

Julia, your command of the English language is pitiful darlink …. do return to your second grade class …. Xxxx

I have a Delhi layover on the way to Bhutan. Has anyone stayed at the Hyatt that's attached to the Andaz? It's about the same price but you get an apartment vs. a room. Unfortunately, point redemptions aren't available that night so having to pay $200.

I have noted this to the various 1990's many times. Alas.