Hotel Maurya

I paid 1000rs online for a deluxe room that didn't feel worth even 400. They promised hot water from 5am to 9am, but there was none for a shower. The sheets and mattress were very dirty, with lots of stains, and I got the feeling the sheets hadn't been changed in quite a while. There was no blanket, TV, or lift, and I spent a sleepless night. It's a very old hotel with overhyped rates. If hygiene matters to you, this is a big no.

Staff were helpful when it came to arranging private buses, which seemed to earn them a kickback, but they didn't offer information about public buses. For 1000 INR plus tax, it was poor value. The first rooms I was shown were filthy and clearly hadn't been cleaned. Despite booking ahead, the only clean room available cost more, and even there the sheets were stained, dirty, and unchanged. At least I didn't get bed bugs.

We planned on three nights and stayed for five. The staff made us feel very welcome, and our spacious, comfortable deluxe double on the top floor had two balconies. It was well located and good value for a three-star hotel. It was also cleaner than most places of a similar standard where we'd stayed in India. Wi-Fi only worked in the public areas.

They insisted that I pay before seeing the room, then charged me 1120 for one with a broken door latch, a nonworking flush, and a very unclean bathroom. There wasn't even bottled water, and the bedspreads hadn't been changed. They said hot water would be available from 5 to 8, but it wasn't working. The staff also didn't seem coordinated with each other. If negative stars were possible, that's what I'd give this hotel.