Hotel Ocean by FabHotel

The rooms were clean and quiet, which were the best parts of our two-day stay near our engagement venue. We've stayed at Fab Hotels before and found their rooms clean and cosy, and our time at FabHotel Ocean in Mohali was decent too. A couple of things took away from the stay: the lift wasn't working, and there was an odd smell in our room that seemed to come from moisture in the walls. Also, the front desk didn't mention that breakfast was included in our booking. We were charged for one day after ordering past 10 am. Management should address that.

The room I had wasn't airy and didn't have windows, though I can't say whether the other rooms are the same. That's the only reason I'd take off a star. Hotel Ocean is a business hotel in Mohali's industrial area. The property was neat and decent, and my room had a comfortable bed, air conditioning, a study table, closets and a chair, covering most of the basics. There's no bar. I arrived late in the evening, but from what I saw, it could work for different kinds of stays.

The bed was a real surprise for the price. It was about a foot thick on a good frame, and I slept very well. The blankets and duvet covers could use ironing, though, and someone shouldn't have asked me to heat tea in the kettle. Even so, Treebo, I hope to see you again. I came from Jalandhar to Mohali looking for a business hotel, and Treebo showed up on Google. It looked like a chain, but the low price made me doubt it. I even called customer care to ask about cleanliness before booking online, which felt a bit embarrassing once I arrived. The location isn't prime, with street vendors and food stalls around, and many customers leaving rubbish outside the bins. Inside, I was pleasantly surprised. The staff were courteous and seemed to know their jobs, even without a manager hovering over them. Their work looked well organized, and the clean, pressed T-shirt uniforms added to that impression. Check-in was quick. There was the usual government visitor form and ID copy, plus a pad the staff used for bookings behind the scenes. I liked their attitude right away. The rate was about what I'd pay for three pints at Bombay airport, so I expected less and thought I might upgrade if the room disappointed me. I always check the bathroom first, and felt silly for asking about cleanliness. It was well above average, with separate wet and dry areas and spotless toilets. The restaurant was good too. Two well-mannered kitchen staff worked behind a glass wall where customers could see them. Maybe that encourages cleaner work. There's also a pool table in the middle, which took me back to backpacking hostel days. The price felt like a hostel's private room, while the facilities were those of a cleaner, higher-end hotel. I'd recommend it to my mum, who's very particular about hygiene. I also looked at the higher-end room. It was a suite with a separate hosting area and dining table, all clean and neatly arranged. I hope the hotel keeps the place in this condition for the price, and that I'm still happy when I come back in a few months.

The rooms are roomy, clean and neat, with a cosy mattress and fresh linen. I did spot a few small cockroaches, so the rooms need pest treatment. Otherwise, it's a good hotel with basic facilities at a fair price.