The Serai Bandipur

The dessert didn’t help matters. The cake was very poor quality, nowhere near what I’d expect from a resort with this reputation. We’d come to Sarai Bandipur for lunch with high expectations, but had no choice of à la carte and had to take the buffet. That could have been fine if it had been kept stocked. Most dishes were empty, and when we asked for more, staff said, “this is what we have,” and wouldn’t refill them. At ₹1200 per person, paying for food that’s missing and not replenished is unacceptable. There was no price reduction or tax adjustment, and management took no accountability. Staff seemed unconcerned and made no effort to fix it. It felt like overcharging for poor upkeep and careless service, with no value for the money. I wouldn’t recommend it for lunch. Very disappointing.

There wasn’t much to do around the resort, and being so far from the city made the isolation hard to enjoy. We got bored because the property didn’t offer enough engaging activities to make up for it. For the premium price and its luxury positioning, we expected much better service and value. Almost every basic service cost extra, prices were unreasonably high, and there were few meaningful complimentary offerings. We’d looked forward to a relaxing, memorable getaway, but Serai Bandipur fell short of its reputation and wasn’t worth what we paid. I hope management takes another look at the pricing, amenities, and ways to keep guests engaged.

The setting is good, and driving through the area you can see animals in their habitat. We visited in late Oct’25. The rooms were okay, and the food was okay too, though below what I’d expect at similarly priced places. We paid all inclusive, but the buffet was often empty. When we asked, the restaurant staff did refill it and were obliging. The booking line took over 4 minutes, so I left a message and nobody called back. I tried again an hour later; after about 3 minutes Lakshmi answered and gave me her number to communicate. She was helpful and clearly explained which documents we needed at check-in. At reception, one staff member didn’t seem to know whether someone with a non-Indian passport would have a PAN, and the resort manager there didn’t know either. We booked three rooms for two nights. One room was vacated after a day because those staying in it felt bored. We tried to use the room since we were paying for it, but it had no sheets and couldn’t be used. The people representing the property should know enough to make a guest’s stay memorable. People come to relax and pay a fair price for that. The place didn’t feel welcoming as it stands, though I hope things improve and would like to visit other Serai properties. SreeKanta was warm and engaging. Bandipur needs people like him to make stays memorable. Hospitality should feel hospitable.

We stayed in the courtyard, and it was perfect for our family of four, with lots of space. The food was exceptional, and they handled my special meal request for our 1.5-year-old baby. We loved it.