Lotus Bay View Hotel

The room and service weren’t worth what I paid, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here unless management improves its standards and transparency. I booked an Executive Balcony Room for ₹3,800, but was handed a small room at check-in and told the balcony would cost another ₹1,500. The balcony room was already booked and paid for. The TV didn’t work, there were no basic amenities, and the front desk service was poor and unprofessional.

We came to Pondicherry during festival season, when most hotels were full, so my friends and I tried this one. I’m local and was showing them around. The receptionist said locals were strictly not allowed to stay there, which felt like a baseless and unacceptable excuse. They were extremely rude and unprofessional.

The location is the only good thing about this place. The rooms are old and stained, though the sheets were fresh. You have to ask for toiletries, and there were no mats at the room entrance. There’s no parking either, so you have to drive around for a spot and carry all your luggage yourself. Instead of buckets, they give you a clothes washing tub 🤷🏻‍♀️. Rates that are normally Rs.2.5-3K can jump to Rs.6000 a night if you book right before a weekend. The concierge was bragging about how well business does on weekends. It seems people book because it’s Pondi and they can’t find somewhere else. It’s not worth it, even as a last resort. Just drive back.

The room smelled musty, the carpet had suspicious stains, and the bathroom wallpaper was peeling. The advertised luxury bedding was thin and worn. Wi-Fi didn’t work during our stay, and with the elevator out of service we had to use a poorly lit stairwell. The property needs a complete overhaul and a change in management. Check-in was slow and tedious, and the agent seemed annoyed that we were there. When we reported that the AC wasn’t working and the toilet was clogged, staff were indifferent and said someone might look at it the next day. They were dismissive and unhelpful throughout, with no basic hospitality. This was the worst hotel stay I’ve had, and the poor facilities and staff conduct made the assigned rating misleading and undeserved.