La Montana by TGI

The rooms are spacious, clean, and about what you'd expect from a 3-star hotel, but I wouldn't stay again, even at a bargain price. The photos are deceptive, and my first impression was that the place has aged badly. Apart from the gardening, the facilities seem to have had no upkeep since opening, with many things looking forgotten. The winch shown in the picture doesn't work, even though elderly guests need it here. The location is a plus, with good views before you enter the city. Mostly it's birds and train noise you hear, though sometimes there's a loudspeaker from the valley below. Service isn't good, and they don't know how to show hospitality. When we asked for water, they gave us a 5L can instead of filled bottles. The food was okay, but we suspect dinner was reheated.

A balcony looks out over the Ketty valley, and you can see the Ooty toy train from it. The lovely views, bonfire, and quiet setting away from the bustle made this a memorable and different stay. Lovelade railway station, a UNESCO World Heritage railway station, is 2 km away and a must visit. It's easy to reach by following the Google Maps location, and there's decent parking. The architecture and open elevator are distinctive, and there's play space for kids plus indoor games for adults, including table tennis, chess, ludo, darts, and snooker. Rooms are spacious and well equipped, with a king-size bed and sofa-cum-bed. Service was great: we ordered milk for the baby and they didn't charge for it. It's not recommended for elderly people unless you take a premium room, which requires less stair use. Food could be better, as most dishes had very little salt and spice. Since it's away from the bustle, we ended up eating dinner at the hotel; it was good, but not the best. A bit more lighting could make the property more attractive, and there are no balcony lights. You can certainly book for a great, different experience, but be ready for some cardio.

We stayed in May 2024 and found the hotel pleasant and relaxing. Our spacious, clean, well-maintained room had a separate verandah on the hillside, with lovely views of the mountains and Ketti village valley below. It was amazing to watch the small train pass through the tunnel beneath the hotel hill. The bathroom was clean and hygienic, and the food and room service were good. The lawn sits on flat ground below the slope, reached by a trolley that travels up and down beside the rooms. It's quite different from other hotels, and children can enjoy the ride. Reception staff were polite and cooperative. One staff member kindly brought medicine for motion sickness on his motorcycle. The hotel can arrange airport pickup and drop-off as well as local sightseeing cars. Our driver, Mr. Azahar, was very polite and decent on our sightseeing trip and visit to Mudumalai forest reserve. The one issue was that the rooms have no windows for ventilation, and the hotel should provide proper ventilation. Still, the hospitality and location make it worth a stay.

Lovely views and an amazing stay, though the buffet food was average and could use more options. The amenities also need maintenance, so check their condition if you're planning to use things like the games.