There's a particular kind of London hotel that tries too hard — chandeliers where none are needed, marble that doesn't quite earn its keep. Hyatt Place London City East is not that hotel. It doesn't reach for five-star theatrics, and it doesn't need to. What it offers instead is quieter and, in its own way, more memorable: a terrace, a skyline, and a stillness that's hard to find in a city that rarely slows down.

A family vacation, an escape from the daily grind, a corporate evening or a destination wedding, Taj Ganga Kutir Resort & Spa, Raichak, on the bank of the Ganga, and easily reached from Kolkata, is ready to cater to all choices.