Agra, North & Central India, India

The Trident’s only a five-minute taxi ride away from the Taj Mahal and a perennial favourite, with a reputation for efficiency and attention to detail. Extensive use of Fatehpur Sikri sandstone, offset by cream-painted walls, lend a touch of Mughal style to the building, whose interiors are modern and minimalist. The pleasantly furnished rooms all face a central landscaped courtyard-garden featuring a large swimming pool, where you can dine in the evenings to a backtrack of babbling fountains.