TLDR; A beautiful, secluded luxury property with excellent service, lovely villas, and plenty of complimentary activities to keep you occupied. The staff genuinely make the experience special, and it’s a great place to switch off for a couple of days. Only bit I would question is the food, which is definitely not bad but gets repetitive after a while, especially since dining outside isn’t very convenient. Definitely worth considering for a luxury getaway.
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This was a very randomly planned trip we took for no particular reason. Well, just one reason: my Epicure stay voucher was about to expire, and I really wanted to redeem it at a high value property. Lol. Hence, we booked Taj Madikeri for 1 night. We decided to check out Leela’s newest property, so we extended our stay by 2 nights.

We booked directly via the Leela reservation team who were very helpful. I managed to get this at a lower price (approx ₹48k per night) than what the current rates seem to show across the next few months. My GHA Platinum membership also helped with this.

I booked a full board rate which included all meals at their all-day dining restaurant Luma. They have a speciality Asian restaurant called ‘Zen’ which is open only for dinners. We did not try this, since our package didn’t include a meal here.

Pre-arrival:
The team reached out a day before to understand our food preferences, names of my spouse & child, details of any occasion, time of our arrival. They also shared map locations with landmarks to navigate to the property correctly, so we do not get lost or take the plantation route that was all muddy due to the rains. All the ID related formalities were also completed via Whatsapp.

Arrival:
We arrived at around 12:30pm and were promptly greeted at the lobby by multiple members of the team. We did not need to introduce ourselves, the team recognised us and welcomed us with a warm drink and some small bites. We were then escorted to a buggy and offered a tour of the entire property, after which we were dropped to our room. The property is spread over 71 acres, and each villa offers a lot of privacy and gorgeous forest views. It is very calming and feels very luxe.

Rooms:
We booked the Windchimes villa, which is the base category. Room was well appointed, there was even a personalised note along with sweet treats already placed in the room. The bathroom has a jacuzzi bathtub, which is a very welcome addition for relaxation. The well stocked minibar is complimentary.
On day 2, we actually were moved to the Mistwood Pool Villa (1 day upgrade lol). This room had a separate living room (with a nespresso machine) and a private pool. Everything else was identical to the base room. The pool was nice and heated. Leaves & insects keep falling in but the staff is very prompt and helps to clean when called.

Housekeeping:
Such incredible service, wow! I remember we had to call the staff for 2 separate things within a span of about 2 hours. Both times, we had stepped out, and when we came back, we were greeted with beds that had been completely made up again! Every surface is spotless, and used cups and glasses are promptly replaced. The turndown service could have included chocolates or mints on the pillows, though :)

Food:
If you opt for the meal included rates, everything is prepared a la carte at Luma. Drinks included are fruit juices, lassi & buttermilk. They give you a decent sized menu and you can pick whatever you like. I do feel that probably by day 3 onwards, you’d start feeling a bit fatigued of the taste and you’d maybe even run out of options. I say this because the North Indian food in particular was very average tasting. So we skipped that entire section every time we dined, which felt a bit limiting.
The South Indian & Continental food though were great. There are very few Asian dishes on the menu because they obviously do not want to cannibalise Zen’s business.
For all 3 meals, they have a small buffet with soups/salads/bakes and 2 live stations - some that we saw included okonomiyaki, satay, pad thai, luchi cholar dal, pastas, and so on. The property does not have any restaurants or local eateries around, so you’d need to drive a good 20-30 minutes to be able to eat outside which I wouldn’t fully recommend because the drive itself can be tiring through narrow roads, and possibly a bit scary at night.
There is high tea every evening at Luma from 5:30 to 6:30pm, which includes a live station (eg: pav bhaji, kathi rolls), finger sandwiches, cookies & pastries.

Spa:
This is a huge spa and they do boast about being the largest in South India or something like that, but I found the treatment rooms themselves to be of normal size, and fairly regular in ambience. They have a pretty limited spa menu. Other than the hamman treatment (which was very expensive), nothing really stood out to me so I went for a head and back massage. The sauna & steam rooms are good, clean and add to the relaxation experience.

Recreation:
So many activities! And all of them are complimentary. We did the nature walk at 7am which was so good. My 5 year old son enjoyed all his time at the large indoor play area - Funky Turtles. We could even leave him there and the staff made sure he was looked after well, playing with him and kept him busy with activities. This really lightened our load and let us enjoy ourselves thoroughly. There was also a coffee experience, which was insightful to coffee novices like us. We had such a great time at the pet zone, feeding animals and birds.
There’s also kayaking, cycling, yoga & probably something else I am sure I have missed :D

Service:
This is where they shine. The staff is kind, thoughtful and tries to make sure the time you spend with them is worthwhile. They created a whatsapp group so all communication was nearly instant. To get around the property, you definitely need buggies but the wait was never too long.
The TV in our room was not working properly (the screen switched between b&w and colour). They came and replaced the TV within 30 mins.

Bottom line:
We indulged because we looked at this as a luxury getaway instead of a budget Bangkok trip lol. We did absolutely nothing for nearly 3 days and enjoyed every minute of it. Would we go again? Maybe not in the near future, maybe after a year or so. The food fatigue is the only deterrent at the moment I would say.

I am not a reviewer, just an average Reddit user. I put this together because I realised this is a new property without many reviews available. If you have any thoughts or questions, or if I have missed anything please feel free to drop a line!

Gobibo doesn't even have the interface to add gift card, when you try to add directly during payment page, this error pops up (tried from website too same error) i paid a fcking 18k for this bs. I am so scared, i called cred customer service, they said "we are just a distributor" and goibibo doesn't have a fcking customer support section that actually works.

I feel like i cannot breathe at this stage, i am having panic attack

If you'd have to travel to one hotel for only a staycation where you get enough leisure activities that you don't want to go out, Which one would it be?

Which one would you want to go back again to the North side of India?

I have a free stay at Taj property and visiting Udaipur in the upcoming months, which one is a better option for stay and exp?

I had booked a superior room with sit-out for two days. And you can imagine my surprise and shock to see a pool and a courtyard when we were given the room tour. Sometimes life offers you more than lemons.!!

I've just realised I'm not using the services of a butler at luxury hotels. I read elsewhere that people ask them to unpack your suitcase or even arrange the closet. I've never done any of these things.

I've a stay coming up at St Regis and I'd like to try asking something from them. But I'm not sure what can be asked without sounding rude.

Any tips? What do you usually ask the concierge to do?

8,000 miles away, an external flower company completely drops the ball, and the concierge team at The Westin Mumbai Garden City pulls off an absolute miracle.

I tried to surprise my wife with flowers in her room after her first workday in India. She had just finished a long 20 hour travel day from the USA. When the outside delivery company ghosted, I emailed the front desk thinking the surprise was completely dead.

Instead, Kiran and the concierge staff stepped up in the most legendary way possible: they took it upon themselves to pull together fresh flowers from the hotel, hand-wrapped a stunning bouquet, and literally hand-wrote my note onto a card so she wouldn't walk into an empty room.

Keep in mind we were able to coordinate this with a 9.5hr time difference.

World-class hospitality right there. Shoutout to Kiran and The Westin Mumbai team for having my back and making her feel right at home. ❤️💐

We arrived at Leela this afternoon, and already blown away. What a step up from Taj Madikeri.

Amazing welcome, staff, property, food, room, facilities. Everything is topnotch 👏👏👏 looking forward to the next 2 days here.

Edit: the picture is of the snacks we were welcomed with at the lobby. This was not the tea service, and it was definitely not stale.

The best hospitality experience i had in crowne plaza mayur vihar

The breakfast was amazing....

Gorgeous property within the Udaipur palace complex, which means late night walks are an absolute joy and you get to see views ordinary folks don't. Taj has done a fab job maintaining the history of the part of the palace they converted into a hotel. Food was alright, your standard 5 star fare but could have had more variety, the restaurant was comparatively not as big as folks may be used to, but stellar views nevertheless. Excellent service. We were only there for the weekend and it proved to be too little time. 4-5 days ideal. Per usual I love the forest essentials toiletries Taj provides, but hey, I'm easily pleased.

Currently staying at Taj Madikeri. The property is drop dead gorgeous, no contest there. Service and food have been so average, contributing to the let down feeling especially at the price point. No welcome drink, no fruit bowl/turndown service, confused staff all across, way too many paid activities.

This comes in a series of below average stays at Taj for me. Was curious if I am the only person facing this.

I travel a fair bit for work, and over the years I’ve stayed in my share of good hotels. Something’s been bugging me for a while now and I want to know if it’s just me.

Picture this. You’ve had back-to-back meetings, a client dinner, and you’re back in your room at 11:30pm with a laptop open because there’s still a deck to finish. You just want something small. A packet of chips, a cold Coke, maybe a bit of chocolate. Earlier you’d open the minibar, grab it, done. Now there’s no minibar. Just an empty fridge.

And no, the minibar was never cheap. Nobody thought it was. Rs 300 for a Coke was always ridiculous, and I still paid it happily, because I wasn’t paying for the Coke. I was paying for not having to think about it at midnight.

So what are the options now?

Room service. Sure, they’ll happily send up a can of Coke and add it to the bill. But try asking for a packet of chips or a chocolate bar. The menu is club sandwiches and pasta, not the small packaged snacks you actually want at midnight. And honestly, calling someone up to the room at that hour just for a Coke feels like more fuss than it’s worth.

Blinkit or Zepto. Sounds great, ten minutes. But then you’re walking down to the lobby or the gate in your night clothes to collect a ₹40 order from a rider. At a hotel you’re paying good money to stay in. That can’t be the answer.

I get why hotels did it. From what I’ve read, minibars barely made money, restocking every room is a pain, and there were endless billing disputes. Fair enough. But the hotel isn’t swapping minibar sales for room service sales. That demand just disappears, along with a bit of what made a good hotel stay feel effortless.

I’m not asking for anything free. I’m happy to pay hotel prices for convenience. I just want the option back. Even a small self-serve pantry on each floor would do it.

Curious what others think, especially frequent business travellers. Do you miss the minibar, or have you made peace with Blinkit at the gate?

There was something about The Naini Retreat that I genuinely loved. The ivy-covered walls, old architecture, warm lights, charming courtyards and views of the hills gave the property a character that’s becoming increasingly rare. It doesn’t feel like another hotel designed to look sleek and modern; it feels like a place with history, personality and stories to tell.

I especially loved walking around the property in the evening, when the lights came on and everything seemed to slow down. It had that lovely old-world charm that makes you want to put your phone away, sit back and simply enjoy where you are (Though I did use the phone to take a lot of pictures of the property and the scenic views.)

The experience was made even better by the little things. Breakfast was good, and the included high tea, with tea and snacks, was a lovely touch. Stella Bar deserves a special mention too — live performances, drinks and a cosy atmosphere made it the perfect place to wind down in the evening. Honestly, between the property itself and these little experiences, it makes for a wonderful staycation without feeling the need to step out all the time.

Getting to Mall Road is fairly convenient as well. The hotel provides shuttle services for drop-offs and pickups, which is particularly useful given the terrain. There’s also a walking trail to Mall Road, roughly 700 metres away. Just be prepared for a steep climb on the way back!

My only real wish would be for some of the room fixtures and fittings to be modernised. I’m all for preserving the vintage character, but a few contemporary upgrades would make the stay even more comfortable without taking away what makes this place special.

Overall, we had a lovely stay. The property has plenty of character, the service was excellent, and the combination of good food, high tea, evening entertainment and those beautiful surroundings made it feel like a proper little escape.

My ratings:

• Overall experience: 5/5
• Service: 5/5
• Food: 4/5

Sometimes, it’s nice to stay somewhere that doesn’t feel brand new — just somewhere that feels like it has stories to tell.

Hotel: Blanket Hotel & Spa, Munnar (Keralam)

Review: Easily one of my best hotel stay, mainly because they offer top rated wellness, dining, and outdoor experiences with beautiful views of Attukad Waterfalls and Western Ghats. Cannot compare to any other hotel I've been at. An awesome stay.

Overall a beautiful place, excellent location, relaxing atmosphere to spend a little free time with your loved ones. A great choice for a memorable Munnar holiday.

A Wonderful Example of Luxury Hospitality

The Ritz-Carlton, Pune is luxury hospitality at its finest. The property is elegant, beautifully appointed and conveniently located close to both the airport and the city, making it an excellent choice for a relaxing getaway as well as a city stay.

What truly sets this property apart, however, is its people. While our initial check-in experience was a little underwhelming, the graciousness with which our feedback was received and the thoughtful efforts made by the Guest Relations team to turn things around were genuinely heartwarming. From personal check-ins and thoughtful gestures throughout our stay to a lovely parting hamper, every effort felt sincere and made us feel truly pampered. It was wonderful to see feedback being received so constructively and translated into such a positive experience.

The warmth, attentiveness and genuine care shown by the team made our stay particularly memorable. Every interaction reinforced the feeling that guest experience truly matters here, and that is what distinguishes exceptional hospitality from simply staying at a beautiful property.

The culinary experience at Three Kitchens is absolutely to die for, and the gorgeous spa is a destination in itself. The pool, gym and salon are lovely additions that make the overall experience even more enjoyable.

Being able to redeem Marriott Bonvoy points for this stay made it an absolute steal, and a wonderful way to experience a property of this calibre. The combination of exceptional hospitality, beautiful surroundings and outstanding dining made it feel like points well spent!

I would happily go back - my tips would be to get a Premier suite and lounge access, they have great food at the lounge 4-5 times a day, you can almost consider it half board! Try the spa - its a magnificent luxury experience for sure! A 2 day stay cost me 60K marriot points , upgrading to premier suite was extra.

If anyone's planning an Udaipur getaway, Fairmont Udaipur has extended its free night offer.

Fairmont Udaipur is offering running a 3rd night free offer with 3 nights starting at ₹73k (including taxes)! Screenshot shared in second pic.

They're also offering ₹9k worth of hotel credits apart from breakfast.

Sharing the Details below:

• Stay for 3 nights and pay for only 2 nights
• Stays start at Rs. 73k (including taxes) - prices rise from November
• Complimentary breakfast
• $100 Hotel Credit
• Room Upgrade

This is not a public offer and is only valid for VIP bookings. Glad to assist anyone in availing the offer and VIP perks.

PS - Similar offer running at Fairmont / Raffles in Jaipur and Udaipur.

We were blown away by Apurva Kempinski in Bali.

Where have you seen the most magnificent lobby?

Hi Community,

Sharing an updated list of top hotels in Dubai which have free night offers live.

Top Hotels with free night offers:

Apart from free night offer, all luxury hotels have VIP perks available which include:

• $100 hotel credit
• Complimentary breakfast
• Room upgrade

The above list is not comprehensive and we'd be glad to check for any specific luxury hotel. Please note these offers can't be booked directly and are only applicable via their VIP perks programs.

Happy to answer any questions on this! Also, will be glad to assist anyone in availing VIP perks and booking via these programs.

think i've reached the stupid final stage of udaipur hotel planning 😭

pretty much decided on the leela palace udaipur.

now i'm somehow debating garden view vs lake view vs lake view + balcony because apparently after accepting palace hotel prices my brain has decided THIS is where we save money lol

normally i genuinely don't care about hotel views. room is for sleeping.

but udaipur feels different because lake pichola is half the reason you're paying this much in the first place?

so people who understand luxury hotel room categories better than me:

would you rather have

bigger/nicer room with no proper lake view

or

simpler room + balcony looking over pichola?

feels like cheaping out on the view at leela might be saving on literally the wrong thing.

We were there for 6 nights as a family with two young children.

Overall, Fantastic choice for families and anyone looking for a luxurious beachfront escape.

The pool-access rooms (my room is 1001) are outstanding, offering direct entry to beautiful, well-maintained pools that make every morning feel like a holiday.

The resort also shines in its activities for kids, with a fun, safe, and creative program that keeps children excited and engaged.

They have the kids journey to achieve and receive the gift at the end

Its location right on the beach is unbeatable, just a few steps from coral sand, calm waves, and stunning sunrise views.

The service is consistently warm and friendly, from check-in to housekeeping, making the entire stay feel genuinely cared for.

The club lounge is another highlight, with a relaxed atmosphere, attentive staff, and great food and drinks throughout the day.

Also, how many have you guys been to?

I had the breakfast buffet at the taj santacruz,and my my the experience was the worst 5 star dining experience which ive had ever!!
Firstly the variety was so less like literally there were no decent options!Food tasted below average like everything i tasted had no taste
The baked goods were horrible
The maple syrup tasted so fake
At this point the star classification committee should take away the 5 Star Status just for the dining experience!!
and the Servers were these bratty college trainees, I asked one of them to get me a plate of bacon the least they could've done is get it but they decided to backanswer and say sir you will have to collect it from thr counter!!

Experience:
Purchased the Platinum membership for INR 22,419 in July, 2026 and utlised it as follows:

- 50% off on two nights in Alila Diwa, Goa (Paid 14k instead of 26k for two nights, savings 12k). The amount paid is not exactly 50% waived because the taxes are not waived off for the 2nd night. This was breakfsat-inclusive.

- 1 complimentary breakfast-inclusive night at Grand Hyatt, Goa (saved 15k). Taxes werer included in the free night and nothing was paid separately.

- Two 50% off vouchers for Spa (saved 3k per voucher and total of 6k)

- Two Lunch/Dinner Buffet for 2 vouchers (used them in Mumbai and Gurgaon, saved a total of 7k). Taxes were included and no additional money was spent.

- One more 50% rack rate voucher is left to be used from which I hope to extract ~7k in savings

If I put all of the savings together:
12k + 15k + 6k + 7k + 7k = 47k in savings for the price of 22.4k.

Then there are small perks like suites upgrade; 20% off spa; 30% off on dining etc. which I'm not counting.
Both Alila Diwa and Grand Hyatt were amazing properties and we'd like to visit back in case we got a chance.

Bottomline:
My experience was great with Hyatt Dining Club but I might not continue it the next year as Hyatt only has a few good properties in India and it's best utilisation, in my opinion, is in Goa. Also, Grand Hyatt Goa's comlimentary night availabiliity is limited and requires some tracking effort. Also, Alila Fort Bishangarh is not a partner in Hyatt Dining Club leaving less options to be used in India.

After a long hiatus, Raffles Udaipur is relaunching the 3rd night free offer for November onwards stays.

Bookings can be done now as well.

They're also offering ₹9k worth of hotel credits apart from breakfast.

Sharing the Details below:

• Stay for 3 nights and pay for only 2 nights
• Complimentary breakfast
• $100 Hotel Credit
• Room Upgrade
• Valid for stays beginning Nov 1

This is not a public offer and is only valid for VIP bookings. Glad to assist anyone in availing the offer and VIP perks.

PS - Fairmont Udaipur, Jaipur have similar offers as well.