Just Ah! Hospitality

I like this chain of budget hotels.

Travel for sport or work, has always been a part of my life and with so much travel, you end up staying in many, many hotel rooms.

Bangalore was my home for 13 years as a swimmer, and I continue to visit the city even now, to coach national and state level swimmers.

I've stayed at JüSTa hotels in Bangalore twice over the last year, and always returned rested and satisfied. Their central location, clean rooms, delicious meals and provision of essential facilities like laundry, fitness centres and free WiFi along with efficient personal service, check off all the must-haves for an excellent budget brand.

On my first visit, I got a special welcome from the
Hospitality and Brand team - Ms. Shwetha Desai and Mr. Karthik Sheshadri.

The JüSTa property, located on MG Road, the vibrant and lively heart of the city, has a lovely, spacious penthouse that is surprisingly quiet considering its location, making it my personal favourite. Room interiors are styled by fashion designer Deepika Govind, and the hand-picked Burma teak furniture and contemporary Indian art creates a unique home-like ambience in each room.

My personal favourite room from JüSTa M. G. Road.

Mr. Shyam and Mr. Rakesh from the hospitality team
taking time out to making my golf trip the nicest

My timings are unusual. Swim workshops often begin as early at 6 am, or my stay might end with a very early round of golf at the Prestige Golfshire, near the airport. The staff at JüSTa have always been kind enough to accommodate my odd timings by putting together delicious breakfasts at these unearthly hours, and ensuring a smooth check out.

Breakfast at 5 am, Chef Kiran and Raju are always the sweetest!!!!

JüSTa is also engaged in several other activities that have caught my interest! Through their "Go Green" initiative, the brand has made several efforts to protect and preserve the environment. From installing solar water heating systems to ensuring procurement of products through organic fair trade and that have been produced without child labour, the hotels definitely show a social and environment consciousness that has my vote. 

I've now stayed with this chain thrice and I intend to do so again once again this month.

You can connect with them on the following handles:

www.justahotels.com or visit their Facebook and Twitter pages well.

The Luxe List - St. Regis

Sumptuous silence in constant chaos, for me it's the ultimate luxury. Changes in technology create 24x7 connectivity, and its subsequent impact on lifestyles has created a shift in culture and communication, and a deep interest in less tangible forms of luxury, such as the longing for space and time.

The St Regis, Mumbai - A beautiful view of the city from the Grand Deluxe Room

The St. Regis, Mumbai, is one of my favourite getaways in the city, because its an oasis of calm in the midst of Mumbai's usual pandemonium.  Its very central location makes it easily accessible from Bandra to Nariman Point, a big plus when you want to catch a breather in-between business demands that need you to criss-cross the city. Plush, well appointed rooms that are complemented by very pretty views of the Mahalaxmi race course cascading into the Arabian sea beyond, inspire a sense of calm that makes you momentarily forget the mad traffic you negotiated just before you walked into the hotel's plush 9th floor lobby.

The bar at St. Regis

Here are 5 of my recommendations for you to get your slice of me-time at this newest address for luxury in the city:

1. Treat tired muscles to one of the many signature treatments of the hotel's Iridium Spa, an idyllic sanctuary to rejuvenate and rebalance the mind and body
2. Relax with a cup of the finest beverages at #AfternoonTea, one of the hotel's classic rituals that takes place every evening at The Drawing Room
3. Get your endorphins to kick in with a workout at their state of the art gym or with a relaxing dip in their outdoor pool 
4. De-stress with some shopping at the Palladium Mall below which features the best in brands from Brooks Brothers and Zegna to Gucci, Burberry and Boss
5. Explore the hotel's gorgeous Art Tour that has the soon-becoming iconic #MumbaiMural as its piece d'resistance 

The amazing #MumbaiMural at St. Regis

I haven't got around yet to trying the hotel’s award-winning cuisine. But being the Parsi foodie that I am, I certainly will, and you can watch this space for more on that!