Rakabi The Fern Igatpuri, Series By Marriott

The pool was clean and well kept, and a nice spot to unwind. We also ate well throughout the stay, with delicious food and plenty of choice. For the service, comfort, and amenities, the price felt generous. The staff were wonderful and went out of their way to help. On the second day they surprised us with a room upgrade, which made the trip feel extra special. A big thumbs up and thanks to Mahesh & Abu at reception. We thoroughly enjoyed our time at Rakabi The Fern.

We stayed as a family for 3 nights and 4 days. The rooms were clean and roomy, and I liked that the bed wasn't too soft. The bathroom was spacious, and the shower had great heat and pressure. Food choice was pretty limited, and there aren't many options outside the hotel either. I also tried the hotel's spa, where I had an excellent Swedish massage. Everything felt professional and up to a high standard. Pooja did a great job. I'd rate the stay 4.5 ⭐️.

The service team were very nice, and the property itself has pleasant open areas where kids can play, plus parking. We chose it for our first visit because it had recently joined the Marriott Group under the Series by Marriott sub-brand. The food was okay, nothing memorable. The room layout was the main drawback. Across all the hotels I've stayed in, this was the first open bathroom design I'd encountered, with the hand-wash sink outside the toilet area. That may suit international travellers, but I think Indian travellers could find it awkward. Bonvoy members should also know that points or night credit may not come through: I booked 3 rooms for 1 night and received no credit. The welcome fruit platter was very stale, and the fruit had gone blackish.

The spa was the one part of our stay I really liked. I chose a deep-tissue massage, and it was very relaxing and well done. The rest didn't feel worth the price. One night's stay cost more than many five-star hotels, but the room was ordinary for that rate. Even though we booked a higher-category room, there was no separate shower, so bathing meant standing in the bathtub. In-room dining was slow and inefficient, and the food was average and short on flavour. The restaurant menu was very limited, with only non-alcoholic options listed, and its food was below average too. Breakfast was disappointing compared with other hotels we've stayed at: mainly cut fruit and an idli-dosa counter, with very few other choices. Housekeeping didn't answer calls from the room extension, so we had to call reception repeatedly for help. The pool water tasted noticeably salty, and after swimming I felt uncomfortable and concerned. Given the cost and what we got, I wouldn't recommend Rakabi Fern Hotel. It didn't offer value for money.