Hotel Pichola

I’d recommend this as a safe, clean budget option for couples new to Pune who need somewhere to stay for a few days. I’m married myself, and know how hard it can be for couples to find an affordable hotel. It’s right beside the highway, there’s plenty of space in front, and it’s easy to find autos there. I usually stay here when I come to Pune to meet my wife. The people are good, the ambiance is nice, and it feels safe for couples and families. They serve breakfast and dinner for an extra charge, but no lunch. There’s hot and cold water and towels, and they’ll clean the room daily if you wish. The rooms, especially the bedsheets, are clean, though they look a little old. They don’t seem to take care of the toilet taps, though. The double-bed AC rooms cost Rs 1870 and the Non-Ac ones cost Rs 1500. I think the rates are a bit high for middle class people like us. In my view, Non-AC rooms should be around Rs 1000 and Ac rooms around Rs 1500. I suggest insisting on a proper bill for your stay.

We stayed here in September - 2012. It’s easy to reach: taxi and auto operators know the place, and local public transport buses are available. Food joints are about 700-800 m away. They don’t have a restaurant, but food can be delivered to your room on a pay and use basis. They serve some sandwich as complimentary breakfast, and there are coffee and tea dispensers in the lounge. The hot water service was good, and the rooms were good, but a bit shabby and not well maintained. The toilets need to be better. The owners don’t seem to be promoting the place as much as they could. It’s manageable for the tariff, but not a great place.

The staff are helpful and the rooms are clean. There’s no restaurant, though, just tea and coffee.

It was horrible. There’s no food service, and you can’t even get tea or coffee at night.