Meluha The Fern Mumbai, Powai, Series by Marriott

The location in the heart of Powai is wonderful, with facilities nearby within walking distance, and the hotel architecture is good. I stayed at Meluha the Fern for 2 nights, and the service was wonderful too. The Fern group of hotels has recently joined the Marriott group, but there's still a lot to do before this place earns the Marriott tag. They didn't acknowledge my Marriott Gold status, mention it, or give me any of its benefits. It seems the staff still have a way to go in understanding loyalty programs in general. My room smelled musty, and also of cigarette smoke even though I'd requested a non-smoking room. I feel smoke from the air vents may be interconnected, which made the stay a bit unpleasant. They also seemed to have no sense of when to respect a guest's time or privacy. I checked in at 3 and got into bed at 4pm for some rest, then housekeeping woke me at 4:30pm to ask whether the room needed cleaning. At 5, someone called to ask if they could tell me about the banquet facilities, although I'd shown no interest in them. On Sunday morning, housekeeping woke me again at 8:30 to ask if I wanted the room cleaned. For now, they seem to have a lot to learn about operating as a "Marriott" property.

Breakfast was tasty and hygienic, and it was served on time. ZODINI ma’am from the breakfast staff was kind, helpful and welcoming. I had a very pleasant stay. Nikhil, who handles room cleaning, was polite, punctual and professional, and the room was always neat, clean and well maintained. The staff were excellent, and I'd definitely recommend the hotel for a comfortable stay.

The hotel was clean, the food was amazing, especially breakfast, and they handled every dietary request without a problem. It's central to the area, close to shopping malls, market stalls and restaurants, and about 45 minutes by rickshaw or taxi from Mumbai downtown. A good place to return to after a long day shopping. We booked Meluha on a recommendation, and we're so glad we did. From the moment we arrived, it felt like being welcomed as old friends. The doormen took care of our bags and made a lovely first impression. Monty, the General Manager, made check-in smooth, looked after our requests and arranged rooms close together for our large group. A special mention to Dilip Bhai at the door. He made sure nothing was too much trouble and even helped track down shopping deliveries by speaking with the relevant stores. There's nowhere else I'd stay on my next trip to Mumbai.

I spent a month at Meluha the Fern and had a great time. Nikhil from housekeeping, Zodini, Ahmad, Touseef and Ankit from the restaurant, Prasad from the gym staff, and Santosh on duty at the gate all made me feel at home and provided excellent service. The rooms were great, and so were the services, including breakfast, housekeeping, the gym and pool. I really enjoyed my stay.