OYO Flagship 42393 Maitri Residency

I spent nearly two months here in bits and pieces in early 2018, mostly on weekdays, since I went home on weekends. I’d already stayed in close to half the hotels in Bhubaneswar during the eight months after moving there, and this is one of the better cheap options, even less expensive than many OYO rooms. You can rent by the month, which makes it cheaper still. The location is handy: a short walk from Tech Mahindra, in a residential area with groceries, fast food and other basic shops nearby. Most rooms have decent ventilation, but a non-AC room isn't suitable in peak summer. I sometimes slept with the door open to let the cool air through. AC rooms are a bit better. The place could be cleaner, and it needs things like geysers and hand flushes in the bathrooms. The mattresses and pillows are very old and uncomfortable. With some upgrades, it could be a pleasant stay.

The North Indian food in the restaurant downstairs is incredibly good, and that's the reason for my three stars. The rooms themselves are nothing special, with dirty walls and bedsheets. Fine for just spending a night, but otherwise an average place.

I stayed for two days and didn't like it at all, though I'm still giving it two stars. The hotel wasn't where I expected, and basic things were missing, including a phone to call reception and a geyser in the bathroom. The bed linen and pillows looked like they hadn't been cleaned, and the towel was so dirty and smelly. The rooms weren't cleaned well either, and about half the light fittings were missing.

Maitree residency was easy to find in Maitree Vihar, about 500 metres from Kalinga hospital. The rooms were clean, and the staff were polite and made sure we wouldn't be disturbed. The manager is a gentleman. It's certified by goibibo as suitable for couples, and both families and couples can book without concern.