Concierge Tips

Concierge Tips Planning tips Packing- It is better to pack light, shorts, T-shirts, sturdy shoes, Camera (to capture the vibrant India) and most importantly Sunscreen. Leave lots of empty space in your suitcase for the shopping you are bound to do. Travel Services- Many travel agents and tour operators offer good rates on room and other travel arrangements. One failsafe way is to book your rooms yourself online on www.hyatt.com Technology- Equip yourselves with adaptors and converters for your mobile phones, laptops and other Gizmos. Electricity offered in our guest rooms is 220V. Research and guides – One of the best books or guides you can refer to is “Lonely Planet” or else you can log on to www.lonelyplanet.com or for information within Maharashtra you can refer to www.mtdcindia.com. Transport Tips Taxi and car services- Taxis are available in abundance in Mumbai. You have a choice of going in for a Yellow and Black taxi (Which is non-air-conditioned and hence, cheaper) or the air-conditioned Cool Cabs or Red FM taxi (which are quite comfortable). There are “Woman only taxi” for single lady travelers (please refer to our concierge desk for more information). Rental services- The hotel offers Toyota Camry and BMW’s along with chauffeurs for reasonable rates. Charter planes can also be hired, but are expensive and would require prior intimation. Public transportation- The local trains are the most cheap and efficient way of traveling around the city, however they are very crowded. BEST also offers good connectivity of the city by buses. Parking- Parking is available at most hotels and malls. If you have decided to go shopping, then there are some roads where you can park by the side while you go and enjoy window shopping. Airport- The hotel is just five minutes away from the Airport. Train stations- There are train stations in every suburb of the city; the main ones are the Chatrapati Shivaji terminus, Dadar and Kurla from where you can catch the outbound trains as well. Chatrapati Shivaji Terminus or Victoria Terminus (as it used to be called) is one of the major landmarks of the city.

Dining and Nightlife Tips Local hangouts- One of the popular local hangouts is the Café Coffee day on Carter Road, where you can gaze out to the beautiful seascape and enthusiastic joggers while enjoying a cup of your favorite brew. Others are the Café coffee day and Barista at Bandstand or the bhelpuri and other fast food stalls at the Juhu Chowpatty (45 minutes from the hotel) or Girguam Chowpatty (1 hr from the hotel). 24-hour dining- Glasshouse is our all day dining restaurant and is open 24hrs a day, here you can enjoy Indian kebabs and curries and some of your favorite food from back home or else you could go to the airport snack bar and marvel at a city that never sleeps. Solo/Family/Group Dining- There is something to suit every pocket in Mumbai from the humble Udupi restaurants to the pricey five star dining. We recommend Stax ( our specialty restaurant at Hyatt Regency, Mumbai) which has a beautiful ambience and even better food. Romantic dinner- For a romantic candlelit dinner for two we recommend the Zodiac Grill at the Taj Mahal in Apollo Bunder. Five star dining- There are many five star restaurants in Mumbai to choose from. The Peshawari at ITC is one of the best restaurants in Mumbai serving Northern Frontier cuisine. Bars/ lounges/nightclubs- Enigma is one of the most happening Nightclubs in the city. We also recommend the Hard Rock Café for the die-hard rock fan. Zenzi and the Velvet lounge are also worth visiting. Wineries and breweries- There are no wineries and breweries in Mumbai. The closest winery is in Nashik which is a 4-5 hours drive from Mumbai. Leisure Tips Events and activities- The Ganesh Chaturthi is one event that you should visit Mumbai for. You will find Mumbai at its cultural best at this time. Other festivals that light up Mumbai are Diwali and Christmas. Arts and entertainment- The National center for Performing Arts (NCPA) organizes a lot of theatre performances. Prithvi Theater is one more place where you can enjoy theater performances in English, Hindi and Marathi. Shopping- Mumbai is a shopper’s paradise. Best bargains can be sought at Bandra Linking Road, Bandra Hill Road and Fashion Street. If you have had enough of Mumbai’s sweltering heat you can continue your shopping at various air-conditioned malls around the city, for e.g.: Inorbit in Malad, Infinity in Lokhandwala and so on…… ………

Museums and galleries- The Prince of Wales Museum is a must-see. Other places to look for are, National Gallery of Modern Art and Jehangir Nicholson Museum of Modern Art (NCPA). Fitness & Exercise- The Fitness center at the Hotel is very well equipped and has good instructors. For those who enjoy golf the Presidency club in Chembur is just 45 mins away from the hotel. Sports and Recreation- For those who enjoy sports we have Squash and Tennis courts. On a free day you could take a trip to Lonavla (which is a couple of hour’s drive away from the city) to enjoy the beautiful nature trails for trekking and hiking there. Sightseeing-A visit to Mumbai is not complete without a visit to the Gateway of India. Same can be said for Mani Bhavan, Haji Ali, Siddivinayak temple, Marine Drive, etc. There are lots to see and do in Mumbai. Spas- The Club Prana is one of the best urban spas in the city offering a variety of massages and therapies by experienced masseurs. To enjoy an authentic ayurvedic massage you can head to Ayurwave in Malad. Services Tips Personal- You will find that all your personal grooming needs can be met at the spa in the hotel. There are various boutiques in the city that cater to all tastes from Haute Couture to comfort wear. Business and Professional- 24hrs operational Business Centre at the Hyatt Regency Mumbai can assist you with IT queries and support. For legal advice contact concierge and can assist you with contact numbers Drivers/Valets: A hotel car can be arranged driven by hotel valets to take you around within and outside the city. Emergency- We have a hotel doctor on call 24 hours a day. Also The Hiranadani, Holy Spirit and Lilavati hospitals are just 45 minutes from the hotel can be contacted in case of an emergency. Local- The closest post office is just 20 mins away on foot. The hotel concierge can help you out with any postage requirements. Culture Tips: Business Etiquette- Mumbai is India’s commercial capital. It is business culture is soon catching up. Men can wear Business Suits to a meeting or only a formal shirt with a tie

can be good enough as it is comfortable in the sweltering heat. Women generally wear a trousers or knee length skirts. A Salwar suit or a Saree(for ladies ) are also worn by most. Local Customs- As India’s Largest and most multicultural city, Mumbai is a fairly liberal place. A handshake is the most common form of greeting, but some women prefer to press their palms together in a traditional namaste greeting. When in doubt wait for the other person to extend their hand for a handshake. Tipping- Tipping in restaurants or for valet service is a normal practice however not mandatory. The amount of the tip depends of the individual (10-15% of the bill amount is generally the norm). Tradition- When visiting a temple or any other place of religious worship, remove your shoes as a mark of respect and be preferably attired in Indian Traditional Kurtas for men and sarees or salwar kameez for ladies. Contact the concierge in case of any doubts and queries.