Radisson Lucknow City Center

The breakfast buffet, served until 10 a.m., had a lavish range of dishes from different parts of India, and it came with the room rate. I spent some of the most precious days of my life at Radisson Hotel, so it has a special place in my heart. For a stay in the City of Nawabs, Lucknow, it’s among the most luxurious yet affordable options. The amenities, security and hospitality all surpassed what I expected, although the room I was promised wasn’t the one I received after check-in. There’s also a rooftop pool, an ultra-modern gym, a massage and spa studio, and more. Highly recommended.

The toilet was still dirty and smelled strongly of urine, and instead of sorting it out, staff gave us an empty air freshener spray bottle to deal with it ourselves. We also had no bathroom floor mat or towel. The carpets in the lobby and room were dusty and dirty, and the extra bed looked filthy and unusable, as if it had come from the garbage. The staff member who brought it kept talking on his phone and was intimidating and unprofessional when we asked about the room. We raised these problems six times, and also went to reception once separately, but nothing was properly done. The condition of this Radisson property and the service were completely unacceptable. I expect management to explain what happened and take appropriate action.

The main frustration was getting through to the hotel. I called several times the day before, the morning I arrived, and a day earlier to discuss check-in, but no one answered. The receptionist later said there had been a technical error, though the phones seemed to work when I tried them. I stayed at the Radisson for one day and appreciated being given early check-in to fit my early flight, despite the difficulty reaching them beforehand. The location is in a premium area, with major sights nearby. Breakfast was ₹682 including GST, a fair price for decent quality and variety, even if the spread wasn’t especially lavish. It’s a good-value option for a short stay, and better phone responsiveness would make the experience five-star.

Our rooms still hadn’t been serviced by 3:30 p.m., despite asking housekeeping repeatedly from 8 a.m. The breakfast was limited and tasteless, and items were often unavailable or still being made. At the pool there were no towels or shower gel, and no attendant to help. This was especially frustrating after the front desk had promised at check-in to upgrade one of our four rooms to a suite the next day, since we were traveling with two guests aged 70 and five children aged 2-14. The next day we were told all suites were sold out again. There were no welcome drinks, and the staff weren’t welcoming or even smiling. The bathrooms had visible fungus, and the hotel’s upkeep and maintenance were extremely poor and rundown. Even after our complaints, nobody came to speak with us in person. This has been far below acceptable hospitality, with unhygienic conditions, poor service, and a commitment that wasn’t honored.