Saltstayz Select - Malcha & Chankyapuri

The location was the only real advantage for our embassy visit, and being the only hotel nearby is why I gave it one star. The stay didn’t justify the ₹9,000+ per night price. The basic rooms feel comparable to a ₹3k–₹4k property, so charging three times that seems unreasonable. The towels and napkins were damp, and toiletries like a dental kit and moisturizer weren’t provided. The hotel is on the 1st floor, up narrow, steep stairs, with no lift, which is hard with heavy luggage or elderly family members. The “reception” is just one desk and a chair. With only 7 rooms, I expected more privacy, but the walls are paper-thin and we could clearly hear a neighbor’s TV. Stay here only if you absolutely need to be next to the embassy; otherwise, a 3-star hotel elsewhere costs half as much.

The worst part of my stay at Saltstayz Select - Malcha & Chankyapuri was finding my bag, which held my laptop, on the bed with its zips open after I’d left it in a closed cupboard. I was away for a Visa interview. Nothing was missing, perhaps because my laptop, earbuds, and phone are easy to trace, but someone going through my belongings was terrifying. Management denied anyone had entered, refused to show me the CCTV footage, and promised to email it later, which never happened. The room stank when I arrived, and a plastic bottle from the previous guest was still there, so it clearly hadn’t been cleaned properly. Mosquitoes filled the room and made it impossible to rest. The washroom’s “dry area” had no drainage, so even a drop of spilled water left it wet and messy throughout the stay. I had to ask for a toothbrush and toothpaste. The body wash dispenser was empty, so I stepped out mid-shower to request a refill. A staff member came in wearing filthy shoes and filled it with a very cheap, low-quality liquid. There wasn’t even a proper signboard; I walked around the building twice with my luggage before finding the narrow, hidden staircase to the entrance. This was an overpriced, unhygienic and unsafe stay for my belongings. The place doesn’t meet basic standards for hygiene, service, or security. A truly pathetic experience from start to finish.

A huge rat was under the bed and ran out while I was getting ready to sleep. It scared my wife so badly she couldn’t sleep properly all night. I was angry about the maintenance, and there was no landline to call reception. I went to tell them, but nobody was there. With no other option, I checked the whole room, shut the door, blocked the gap underneath with a towel, and put my trolley against it. I tried to take pictures, but the rat ran off in seconds. I asked the staff to check CCTV from 8 pm to 8.15 pm, when it should have been visible, but the receptionist said he couldn’t access the footage. We were still anxious about sleeping. The AC leaked heavily overnight, leaving water near the door and washroom by morning. There was dust everywhere, so I couldn’t use the glasses to drink water. The rooms also smelled because there are no windows for air circulation. I booked because it was supposedly walking distance from the US embassy, but it was the worst stay of my life. Our interview was rescheduled, so we had to stay three more days in Delhi; I checked out immediately and moved to another hotel. Don’t trust the reviews. If you still choose this place, book pay-at-hotel, inspect the rooms, then decide.

Hotel Salt Stayz was neat and clean, and very close to the US embassy. Udit Sharma arranged food and transportation for me with personalized service. His help was excellent and commendable, and all the staff were polite. I had a very good, comfortable stay.