Hotel Sainiwas

Good value for a short stay, but I wouldn't recommend it for a longer one. The hotel is basic and sits right by the toll gates, which makes its location useful. There wasn't much to say about the service. Best to focus on your trip, leave your belongings in the room, lock up, and head out to the nearby spots. The person who showed us to the room sprayed so much air freshener that it gave us a headache. I honestly found the amount kind of funny. Our Non A/C room was okay, but cleanliness needs attention. Bugs were easy to spot, and there was growth in the corners on the chipped plaster walls, so I wouldn't stay for long.

From the outside, the hotel looks stunning, and the lobby feels both luxurious and welcoming. I walked around and had a look at some dining areas, which all seemed top-notch and very well maintained. Even just from watching them, the staff came across as professional and attentive.

We paid ₹5500 for 2 rooms at Hotel Sai Niwas, Lonavala, for 4 people, 3 boys and 1 girl, a friend's colleague. We told them we'd be 30 minutes late, then arrived about 1 hour late, but the rooms still weren't ready. We waited over 30 minutes. We got Room 102 and Room 111 on the 1st floor, opposite each other. Both rooms were small, and one was even smaller. The lighting was dull, the colors weren't appealing, and there was no open sitting area. The washrooms were bright orange, dusty, and had rust on the taps. Hot water didn't work in either room, morning or night. One window had no grill and a broken lock, which made us feel unsafe at night, as if someone could break in. The old AC took over 1.5 hours to cool even a little. The TV wasn't smart and only had a basic plan of local channels, so we couldn't connect our phones or use YouTube. For the price, that was disappointing. There were no complimentary water bottles. At checkout we were charged ₹20 or ₹30 per bottle, though I don't remember the exact amount. Food options were very limited, and the Wi-Fi was the only thing that worked properly. They advertise a pool, but it's only for villa guests, not regular room bookings. This wasn't clearly explained on booking platforms or by hotel staff, which felt misleading. The rooms had no natural view, and being close to a toll plaza meant constant traffic noise day and night. The receptionist told us Hotel Om Palace next door is owned by the same person. Overall, the service was poor and unprofessional. This was one of our worst hotel stays in Lonavala: the rooms were unclean, facilities below average, safety was a concern, and it wasn't worth the price. We don't recommend Hotel Sai Niwas. Look for a better rated, more transparent place if you're staying in Lonavala.

A wonderful, low budget family hotel near the toll plaza, with all services available. The staff and management were so good, and Mr Ankit and Abhishek were helpful.