Hotel Pearl Palace

Hotel Pearl Palace is a family-run budget hotel in the Hathroi Fort area, off Ajmer Road on Hari Kishan Somani Marg. Run by its proprietors, Mr and Mrs Singh, it describes itself as a top budget hotel and says it is ranked by guidebooks and websites among the best budget hotels in the world.

The hotel's strongest point is its practical service. Wifi is free for guests, the front desk is open 24 hours, there is in-house laundry and a large lift, and the hotel offers free pick-ups from the railway station or bus stand between 08:00 and 23:00, a real help when arriving in an unfamiliar city. There is also a 360-degree virtual tour on the hotel website to help you choose before booking.

Food and drink are unusually good for a budget property. The Peacock restaurant, open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, serves Rajasthani dishes with plenty of vegetarian options alongside international food, with views across the city, and the same team runs the Native Cocktail Room, a popular speakeasy-style bar, in the building. That means you can enjoy a quality cocktail and dinner without leaving the hotel.

The hotel can arrange half-day and full-day sightseeing tours with an English-speaking guide in a vintage 1942 military jeep, covering Amber Fort, Hawa Mahal, Jal Mahal, City Palace and the Monkey Temple at Galta. On site, a silver shop, an arts and crafts store and Inde Rooh, a boutique selling block-printed clothing made in Jaipur on fair-trade principles, are handy for shopping. Note that the hotel does not accept local unmarried couples when one or both guests hold local identification.

Reservations can be made by landline, by mobile on +91 94142 36323 or by email, and the website lists the guest rooms and offers a virtual tour.

Pearl Palace suits budget travellers, solo visitors, backpackers and families who want good value and helpful staff. Book directly with the hotel for the best information about room types, and reserve early for the busy winter season. The old city is a short auto-rickshaw ride away, and the hotel team can help arrange taxis for trips to Amber and further afield. A sister property is also run by the same owners.