With the majority of our vacations, we attempt to get pictures of the hotels, their restaurants, and public spaces. We know that these are things of importance to people who are not only considering a Gate 1 Travel tour with the same itinerary but to travelers in general.
Trident Hotels
Planning for this trip was no exception to that rule. We actually signed up for Trident Hotels rewards program Trident Privilege in anticipation of using facilities like the spas and possibly some other hotel restaurants. Our travel packages actually included stays at Trident Agra, Trident Udaipur, and the Trident Nariman Point Hotel in Mumbai.
However, as the trip progressed we realized that with the very full travel schedule, as well as some facilities like spas and gyms being closed to minimize possible COVID 19 transmission, we spent a lot of time chilling out in our room and catching up on news back home.
We found ourselves taking fewer and fewer hotel pictures, however, the properties were all beautiful, well cared for, and the restaurants where we had breakfast and a few group meals were very good.
Trident Agra
The hotel is simple but beautiful, the lobby was modern and opened into a lounge and the hotels only restaurant. We had breakfast and one dinner in the restaurant, and the staff was attentive, and the buffet had a nice mix of western and Indian food items.
The hotel itself was laid out around a courtyard with outdoor seating, a pool and a large garden to the back, hotel rooms were found along the long building to either side.
One evening the hotel had a local puppeteer doing a show and selling puppets, as well as a local henna artist. She was very fast and did beautiful designs in about fifteen minutes for a few hundred rupees.
Convenient and Centrally Located
The Trident Agra was located a short drive from both the Taj Mahal and the local facility, where we learned more about the art of marble inlay. We found it within walking distance of several local restaurants including a McDonalds, where one of our travel partners headed for a shake and to see the Indian menu.
Chuck and I took a recommendation from our tour manager to check out Golden Street Restaurant located behind the hotel property. Leaving the hotel required walking out through a security gate and heading around the corner and down a few blocks.
Fortunately, after just a short walk on the side of the main street, we turned onto a very wide, mostly pedestrian roadway. Off to one side of the street was a huge “I HEART Agra” sign that seemed to be quite a selfie destination for Indian travelers.
We arrived at a nearly empty restaurant and we seated right away. The servers were warm and friendly and a majority spoke English. The interior is fairly modern with long tables, high back leather chairs, and large illuminated images of India, especially of the Taj Mahal.
The menu had a nice mix of Veg and non-veg foods, as well as a nice list of non-Indian dishes. It also appeared that they had a buffet but we were looking for just a light lunch. Chuck had Dal Tadka, a spicy lentil dish (180 Rupees), Plain Naan (50 Rupees), a side of Steamed Rice (180 Rupees), and a Chocolate Milkshake (120Rupees). Yes, the steamed rice was more than the milkshake and the same as the entrée, go figure.
I had the Chicken Saagwala, boneless chicken in a spinach sauce, (480 Rupees). Yes, I ALWAYS seem to pick the more expensive entrée. I also had an order of Garlic Naan (80 Rupees), and a Diet Coke (90 Rupees). All together for lunch on our own, we were at $17.84 including tax and service charge. Much less than at home for the same dishes.
We enjoyed it so much that we went back for dinner with two travel friends who were looking for some non-spicy, non-Indian food – they raved about the Chow Mein and the Spaghetti Bolognaise.
Overall, our stay in Agra and the Trident Agra was very nice, we just wish the circumstances were different and that we had time to enjoy the facilities.
