The Taj Mahal Palace

Step into the foyer and you’ll instantly feel like a celebrity: silk carpets run underfoot, chandeliers dangle from the ceiling and the paintings, artworks and ever-changing floral displays are magnificent. The dozen or so restaurants serve only the best-of-the-best from different corners of the world and breakfast is worthy of a few added kilos, especially the Indian specialities that are whipped up by white-hatted chefs in glass-walled kitchens. The swimming pool is heavenly and there are plenty of pink loungers for reclining or tables for drinks and nibbles, and the Jiva Spa is the flagship of the entire Taj group – let us say no more...

The hotel has a whopping 550 rooms and suites spread across two buildings, the Palace and the Tower. Palace rooms are classically beautiful with heavy damask drapes, plush carpets and a good dose of heritage. All are positioned around the staircase, a wrought-iron masterpiece topped with a beautiful cupola and worthy of a glance even if you’re not staying. In the Tower, the rooms are contemporary and cool, and the enormous windows have stunning views across the harbour. Across the board, all the mod-cons you could ever wish for are present and the bathrooms are like mini-spas – peaceful, sparkly and incredibly indulgent.

There’s lots to do, see and eat in Mumbai and plenty of tours can be organised through the hotel. Enjoy an early morning walking tour of the city starting at the renowned fish market at dawn, and eat at The Table restaurant, a lesson in mouth-watering farm-to-table cuisine, Indian style. At the hotel, the shopping centre is home to some beautiful clothing boutiques and the city’s largest English bookshop, both worthy of a flash of plastic. And if you’re feeling very flush, book the hotel’s yacht and cruise around the fascinating Elephanta Caves in the lap of luxury.