Muscatel Fairmont – 100 Mts from Mall Road

The owner is a good man, and the staff are helpful, but they’re still fixing things that should already be in place. Clean, washed towels, bed, and blankets are about all you can count on. I thought even 1800 was too much except for the location, since you can get the same kind of room for less elsewhere in Darjeeling. This place badly needs renovation: broken taps, scratched bathroom doors, stained walls that look dirty rather than vintage, no hair dryer or toothpaste readily in the room, and no reception staff for an early checkout. There’s no security, just CCTV, so the place is bhagwan bharose. The restaurant looks like a government college canteen. I asked at check-in if there was an upgraded room. They said no, but MMT showed availability, and they told me this was the upgraded room. I can’t imagine what the standard room would be like. For tour packages, the front desk said she’d pass my number to car guys to coordinate. Honestly, security for viceroy coordinates packages better, even though it isn’t his job. Hospitality lacks big time. The place could be better, but nobody seems interested in fixing it. If you come to Darjeeling with hopes for a good stay, this isn’t the place for you.

The rooms are clean, though some need work because of damp issues. Room service boy Sampanna Chhetri and housekeeping lady Annapurna were the most helpful people here. They always served us with a big smile and were really, really helpful. In the kitchen, Sukrani and Nisha were awesome and made us feel at home, with whatever we wanted to eat available. One last thing, the lady at reception should be groomed properly, and the way she talks needs to change.

It’s a nice, cozy hotel for the price, with the market nearby, which is what makes it appealing. The facilities are good, and the staff were very cooperative, so we enjoyed our stay. It has gotten old, though. At check-in we couldn’t get a taxi to Mall Road and had to haul all our luggage there.

The peaceful, comfortable atmosphere made for a wonderful stay. My room was spacious, clean, and well maintained, with all the amenities in good condition. The staff were polite and helpful throughout. Sukhrani deserves a special mention for her warm manner and attentive service. Highly recommended for comfort and excellent hospitality.