Hotel reviews for hotels where we

have stayed while touring India

Novotel Mumbai Juhu Beach

Address: Balraj Sahani Marg, Juhu Beach, Mumbai, My wife and I stayed at this hotel for 7 nights in January 2023. Situated along the picturesque Juhu Beach with captivating views of the Arabian Sea, this hotel offers guests direct access to the beach from the rear of the property. Its central location provides convenient proximity to various facilities, while the Metro Station is just 3 km away. Notably, this area is renowned for its Bollywood studios, including the famous Prithvi Theater, where we had the pleasure of witnessing Naseeruddin Shah's captivating performance during our visit. The hotel boasts excellent amenities that greatly enhance the overall experience. The staff members are remarkably polite and attentive, ensuring that our seven-night stay was nothing short of delightful. One standout individual is the hotel's esteemed master chef, fondly referred to as "JP," who personally ensured that our dining experiences were always pleasant. We even have a photo of him, which is included in this review. The rooms were immaculate, and our spacious 17th- floor accommodation afforded us breathtaking views of the beach. What truly enhanced our stay was the unparalleled convenience of accessing the beach within a minute's walk from the hotel, regardless of the time of day. This feature allowed us to relish the beach atmosphere throughout our entire stay. There is a cool cab taxi (blue air conditioned cabs) station just outside the hotel. We were able to negotiate a full day cab rate with one of the taxi drivers who owned his taxi for Rupees 2000/- per day (about $25 per day) regardless of distance or time. During the day our friendly and may I say reliable taxi driver were available to us from 8 am till we returned to the hotel around 8 or 9 pm every day.

Manor Backwater Resort, KUMARAKOM

(Manor Backwater Resort) Cheepunkal

Kumarakom

During our visit to Kumarakom, we had the pleasure of staying at the Manor Backwater Resort. Located in Cheepunkal, this resort offered a serene and tranquil environment for our stay. Unlike many tourists who choose to stay on houseboats, we preferred the comfort and cleanliness of a hotel room. Additionally, we desired better washroom facilities, which the resort provided. The Manor Backwater Resort offered two types of rooms: garden-facing and river-side. Opting for the latter, we were delighted by the picturesque view of the river. Although the resort was not a luxurious five- star establishment, the rooms were spacious, clean, and comfortable. What made our experience even more enjoyable was the fact that the resort was not overcrowded. While there are numerous options available for backwater tours in Kumarakom, we decided to request a private boat through the hotel management. They were incredibly accommodating and arranged a private boat tour for us. This backwater excursion became one of the highlights of our visit, allowing us to immerse ourselves in the beauty of the surroundings. It's worth noting that the Internet connection at the resort was not very reliable during our stay. However, we hope that improvements have been made since then, ensuring a better online experience for future guests. Reviews for other hotels in India that we have stayed in will be posted soon. The hotels include: 1. Courtyard by Marriott Hyderabad 2. Winds desert camp, Jaisalmer 3. Anurag Villa, Jaipur