Westend Hotel

The location is a real draw: Lord’s Point, Echo Point, and Charlotte Lake are nearby, and a jungle trail starts at the resort gate. The quiet, quaint atmosphere among trees and potted plants made it easy for my family and me to relax. We’d come back for the peaceful surroundings. The hotel doesn’t have a traditional restaurant, but meals are served buffet-style or à la carte near the pool, with room service available. Staff were generally helpful and courteous. We appreciated the flexible checkout, though our room was still being cleaned after we arrived, instead of being ready at the scheduled check-in time. Cleanliness in the rooms could also be better. One night, room service knocked around 10:00 PM with water bottles after we’d gone to sleep, which caught us off guard. The indoor games need some care as well. The table tennis table was dusty, and the carrom board wasn’t very smooth. Keeping those facilities maintained or refurbished would improve things.

The resort is lush, well maintained, and equipped with badminton, table tennis, carrom, and a swimming pool. We took the full meal plan, and the breakfast, lunch, and dinner were all delicious and healthy. Its location also makes the major tourist points easy to reach. One of my best stays.

The caged exotic birds beside the dining area were upsetting to see. People come here to enjoy freedom, so why keep birds in cages? They should be released into the wild. We also had to wait for the carrom board, which families, including senior citizens, often use together after dinner. Having at least three boards would help. Some dishes were repeated within just three days. Even so, we had a relaxing late-winter stay, and the weather was pleasant. This resort grew from a colonial-era heritage bungalow, and its thoughtful design, red stone and wood construction, and landscaped greenery give it a lovely rustic feel. It’s about a 20-minute walk from the market, so the surroundings are quiet. The staff were courteous and hospitable, and we received a complimentary upgrade. There’s plenty to do, including badminton, carrom, table tennis, a swimming pool, an open gym, and DJ. The property is very well maintained, and we enjoyed our visit enough to plan to return.

The price is a little high, but the stay, food, amenities, and service made it feel worth every penny. The buffet breakfast had a generous choice, from upma and uttapam to chicken kheema and misal pav, plus a live egg counter for vegetarian and non-vegetarian guests. The in-house food was very good, and staff were warm, professional, courteous, and responsive. Westend Hotel has a resort feel, with spacious grounds, well-kept cottages, and comfortable, clean, thoughtfully arranged rooms. There’s open space for games, carrom, table tennis, badminton, a kids’ play area, and basic exercise equipment for elderly guests. The wide swimming pool was well maintained, and the dining area around it added to the atmosphere. I had a relaxing, excellent stay in Matheran, and it’s a great option for families, couples, or anyone looking to unwind.