Heart of India Day 21

We arrived for a two day stay at this older and distinguished hotel. Going through hotel security was a new experience but we know of the bombings in the past. The hotel front desk staff was welcoming and friendly. Housekeeping was excellent and took great care of our room.

The room was very spacious and the internet worked well without hesitation that we found in other parts of India.

The beds were very comfortable and had a selection of pillows to one's taste. Non-opening window overlooked inner courtyard.

The bathroomn had a good shower and quite spacious. The bathroom fixtures were old and quite worn. We had sewer gas from floor drain.

Breakfast buffet was generous - good variety of hot and cold dishes and super beverage selection.

It is located in a safe area of the city with beautiful and well kept gardens.

We had trip laundry done and it was efficient, timely and very well done in less than 8 hours.

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The hotel is in a remote location as to the city. There are almost no restaurants other than the hotel.

Staff was super and accomodating. As we are travel writers we needed two chairs and they brought us extra chair.

Overall the hotel and room was quite clean but the window and outside sill was covered with bird poop.

Our room:

Our two beds were great. The shower was super and water flowed well - came with a tub.

Internet was functional.

Door did not close correctly and had to be forced to lock.

Toilet was dirty and not well maintained.

Sink drain was not clean and did not drain quickly.

Wait staff at breakfast very accomodating

Laundry super and had same day service with no extra charge.

On our second stay we were in the 2nd Floor

A/C was poor to almost not working.

Internet was very weak.

Beds were awful - sagged in middle almost like it had been used for 10 years and not rotated.

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We were the first to arrive - relatively quiet as there were only two groups with total number of 35.

Very close to fair and city.

Good layout.

Tents were spacious but their layout was poor.

Tents were adequate - hot during the day 89 and cool at night 56.

Fans with only one speed - high

Sheets looked to have been used many years. Stains!

Walkways of grass matts in the sand.

Meals were good Indian style.

Coffee was excellent.

Wait staff was attentive.

Towels to clean our hands when we returned.

Music shows at dinner.

Hot? water only three times daily and 2 hours each.

Power off during day

Beds were adequate.

Bathrooms were awful - no better than outhouse.

Sink and showers were minimal and not well set up - water on the floor from leaks.

One had to hold the sprayer to wash. No spray head to fully rinse.

Off all the tent camps we have stayed around the world, AAGMAN needs to see how the camps are run in Africa - those are really top notch.

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From far away the hotel looks like India in the golden years. As we approached it through bumpy and dusty road, the image was still there. Then we walked in and WOW, the architecture, the pools, the walkways - the whole facility was beautiful. Reception was manned by one person and if busy one stood in line.

We were taken to our room and it was expansive, entrance area, two very large single beds, padded ledge that we never used ran the length of the room, good work area, nicely appointed bathroom, and dressing area. Outside visibility was limited with frosted windows.

All who worked there were welcoming and gracious. Music was played in the different courtyards giving the visitor a time and place feeling.

The dining room was open with many tables for individuals and groups. A chef was always present to help with any need one might have. Food was tasty but not as vast and varied as one would have thought in such a place. With large groups eating in the same area it can be a bit disconcerting with all the different dialects trying to get the supremacy of volume.

The hotel is very close to the Ranthambhore National Park and this makes getting there and back less of a challenge with Indian drivers and their horns, walkers, cattle, water buffalo, dogs, etc one finds on the road. The road is paved once we leave the hotel long dusty drive and in 5 minutes one enters the park.

They provided an evening video for guests to understand the life and disposition fo the tigers that are protected in the national park. We also had an late afternoon trip to the Ranthambhore Fort that sits above the National Park.

We really enjoyed our stay and experience even though we did not see any tigers in our two expeditions into the NP.

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RECEPTION:

As we arrived we were offered Coke welcome drinks - nice touch.

As we arrived into the evening we saw that the passageways were not well lit and difficult to go from one area to another.

As they put us way on the outside, we had to search for our room.

Reception and Manager never smiled and did not appear to respect guests.

ROOM:

As we were upgraded(?) the room was very spacious but was very hot and did not begin to really cool down until after midnight.

There were bugs on the floor and flying in the room.

BEDS:

Single mattress beds and both of our beds had torn sheets.

BATHROOMS:

Hot water only until 10:00 in the evening and as we arrive just at 9 PM we had to shower quickly to have any hot water.

Toilet paper roller was broken.

INTERNET:

Public WiFi only in reception, paid Internet in rooms.

WiFi was very slow and cost 200 rupees for each device.

Difficult to log in, had to go back to the office for help on Mac and iPad.

BREAKFAST:

Very inferior breakfast and selections were not varied and plentiful.

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RECEPTION & OVERALL:

Took quite some time to register and check in.

Several groups arrived at the same time.

Very modern with huge area around the hotel.

Very upscale

Beautiful lilies in lobby.

Laundry done well but very expensive.

ROOM:

Room arrangement was good.

Our upgraded room was so spacious and well appointed.

The A/C worked extremely well as did the two overhead fans.

BEDS:

Were larger than we had in other hotels in India.

Comfortable and extra pillows

BATHROOMS:

Well laid out and all worked well

INTERNET:

Internet kept logging us out and we had to go to the lobby several times to get it straightened out.

Once this was cleared it worked well.

BREAKFAST:

As there were many (at least 5) large groups trying to get coffee and eat at the same time, the staff could not keep up.

The line for the coffee machine was very long and when a person broke it, the manager had to run it for the rest of the morning.

On the second day the process was better but many fewer people.

The food was varied and well laid out. Replenishing was a problem as the staff was limited.

Clean tables were also limited.

The hotel needs to get a second coffee machine and larger staff when they have so many groups.

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RECEPTION:

Nice initial appearance and reception with a helpful staff.

ROOM:

Little disappointed with the room - appeared to be outdated and not well maintained.

There was a strange smell in the room as we entered. Musty?

BEDS:

Appeared to be a little old and sagged in areas. Sheets were in their last use or should have been.

BATHROOMS:

Shower leaked and flooded floor, we mentioned it to the staff and it was not corrected during our stay.

Water was all over the bathroom floor and we had to clean it up even to enter and use the sink and toilet.

Toilet seat thin plastic.

The whole bathroom area needs serious renovations.

INTERNET:

Was off and on while we were there for two days.

When on it worked well but we had to manipulate our computer and log in to get it online.

BREAKFAST:

Breakfast better than we had in most of our 19 day stay in India

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RECEPTION:

Outside appearance is bad - no grounds, tight drive, all pictures show overhead view of the hotel.

Extremely attentive and helpful

Solved problems immediately.

On the second day we had a "manager" knock on our door and accuse us of not using Radisson key on the switch.

I pulled it out and showed it to him and he said it was not valid, taking it away from my hands.

I asked him why it worked and he repeated, it was not a Radisson key. He was belligerent, would not accept that it was one from the hotel and walked off.

This was the most disrespectful hotel person we dealt with in India during our 19 days. Unfortunately, we did not get his name.

ROOM:

The first room we were given smelled of sewer gas. When we went to Reception, the manager took another key and moved us to another room immediately.

We had fruit and cookies in the room. View was to construction across the way.

BEDS:

Nice, spacious with good pillows.

BATHROOMS:

Had problem with shower, hair dryer, and warm (not hot) water.

When we mentioned it they corrected all immediately

INTERNET:

Problem with more than one devise using the Wi-Fi system

BREAKFAST:

Good breakfast with variety.

When there are several groups at breakfast it is free for all as they have only one egg and pancake station.

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Great hotel very close to the airport

Super rooms

Super dinner buffet - great variety but some was spicy.

4 elevators - fast.

Great bathroom situation

Shower did not drain

Apple computers had problems longing in - everyone had to go to the front dest.

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Day 13 - Saturday, April 22, 2022 - Depart for U.S.

The hotel prepared a box breakfast for us as we had to be in the lobby way before the breakfast room was open.

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