Trident; Clothing Optional
Beautiful, modern, exquisitely staffed, perhaps too minimalist
07.03.2019 - 11.03.2019 88 °F
The Trident, BKC, Bandra-Kurla; Mumbai’s choice for nudists. Or, Mumbai's choice for those who travel without an extra change of clothes.
This ten story, 412-room, 24-suite hotel is contemporary to a fault. The bathroom/toilet has glass walls separating it from the bedroom. A motorized sheer curtain shields it on one side and the glass is frosted on the other side.
However, this is of little value when, in the middle of the night, a seventy-something guest needs to use the facilities without bathing his sleeping companion in light.
There is not a single drawer for unpacked storage of clothing other than a couple of painfully shallow sliders—and they are mostly filled with hotel items. The closet offers about 18 inches of hanging space. The two of us are spending five nights here needing space for three complex Indian wardrobes along with our regular western clothing. Needless to say, it all doesn’t fit.
When asked, the staff said they would promptly send up a clothes rack. The rack is very short so, to hang longer garments on it, one must place the rack atop a table. That solution, however, allows long garments only on the very ends of the rack. It’s hard to explain; suffice to say there is no space in our room for clothes. When staying here, it is recommended to bring no clothes.
The staff at the Trident is the most gracious, accommodating, polite and solicitous group I have ever encountered in any hotel anywhere in the world. The waiter for our first-morning breakfast greeted me as “Mr. Paul” (traditional in a large part of our planet for an older gentleman such as myself)—and remarked that he was dedicated to making us comfortable for our extended stay here. He was not a manager—he was a waiter. "Please, how is your stay?" he asked. I, with a smile, commented that I had no place to hang all my wedding clothes.
Three days later, this appeared outside our door. It was his doing; nobody else at the hotel knew of our lack of hanging space. Remember; he's a dining room waiter. It took three days, but still... Check in for our room was handled...in the room. That's a first.
I would love to know how training works here because I’ll tell you this: Wow.
As an American, I am accustomed to tipping. In our room, there is a table tent on display: “Should you wish to leave gratuities for staff, please place the gratuities in a sealed envelope and leave the envelope at the Front Desk. We do not encourage gratuities to individual members of the staff.”
Rates here start at 12,000 rupees per night, breakfast included. That translates to just a tiny bit over $170.00 US. Our club room with breakfast and complimentary airport transportation can be had for $217.00 per night.
Beginning on Friday, March 8, every room and suite, all 436 of them, is reserved for guests at this wedding. The ceremony itself is held a short walk from the Trident’s front door at Jio World Centre, Bandra Kurla Complex. We can see it out our tenth floor window (which is, unfortunately, cracked).
On the adjacent side, we can also see the U.S. Consulate where visa applicants line up. It's not the only lineup visible out our window; pigeons love to queue up along the window ledges. But, I shouldn't have shown you that. I'm not supposed to take photographs out the window. I didn't know that until after I had already taken them. Last, especially for the wedding, there is this special room service menu. A note accompanied it: "Dear Guest, Greetings of the day! We trust you are having a comfortable stay with us. Please be apprised that your room, taxes, buffet breakfast, spa, selected in-room food and beverage, laundry and sightseeing will be taken care of by the organizer. Any incidentals over and above would be on a direct payment basis. Warm regards, Team Front Desk." Our hosts have provided us with a car and driver which we have used but not as much as the driver would have liked. Our host Aashish has been accommodating in every way making certain that we're perfectly served; it is clear that we are his charges for this event. I've seen wedding parties take over hotels but not at this level. I am told that the Ambani family owns this property. They make the guest feel as if he or she owns it. My praise vastly exceeds my critical observations.
PS: Namaste, over and over and over. It is used both for salutation and valediction. Namaste is usually spoken with a slight bow and hands pressed together, palms touching and fingers pointing upwards, thumbs close to the chest. This gesture is called Añjali Mudrā or Pranamasana. In Hinduism, it means "I bow to the divine in you". And we bow to you, Trident Bandra Kurla. Nicely done.
