Camellia Hotel, Puri

The lawn outside and the spotless rooms were highlights, and the decor is lovely throughout Camellia Hotel, Puri. The place looks beautiful inside and out, with each corner thoughtfully designed. The location is perfect, too. We felt genuinely cared for by the warm, courteous, professional staff. Service was prompt, the food was excellent, and the whole stay felt effortlessly luxurious. Comfort, beauty, and hospitality come together so well here. We’ll definitely return and would wholeheartedly recommend it as a getaway. Thank you, team Camellia!

The pool was clean and well maintained, and the staff made me feel welcome with warm, professional service. I also really enjoyed the in-house restaurant, especially the fresh local seafood and delicious complimentary breakfast. Camellia Hotel & Resort gave me a peaceful break from the crowded market areas, while still being close enough for an easy visit to the Jagannath Temple. My balcony had breathtaking, unobstructed views of the Bay of Bengal. The beachfront location on New Marine Drive Road made it easy to wake up to that view. I’d highly recommend this place to anyone visiting Puri.

The rooms feel cramped and are in poor condition, with a bad view. The window was very dirty, and the TV had no signal at first, though they did fix it. There was sand all over the room, so after I asked, an employee came to clean. He wiped away one or two grains, then wouldn’t give me the broom when I asked so I could do it properly. The geyser leaks, the drinking glasses and mini fridge weren’t clean, and the shower is confusing to use. The pool water looked cloudy and not very clean, though I was happy they gave us a frog for company. The hotel people provide a nice view and water at the pool for the nearby monkeys and pegions, apparently not for us. There are cat employees around the pool for adult supervision, two stars for the cat employees’ service. Sometimes they don’t give you a fork with the papad, either. They’ve changed the menu a little because of the gas shortage, but honestly there isn’t much difference. The AC seemed to want to become a fridge, but couldn’t quite manage it, and the remote stops working once the AC turns on. There are much better places to stay that are actually worth the money.

The staff were helpful and courteous, and I liked the Chinese and North Indian options. Bengali food was very disappointing, though, and didn’t taste authentic. The hotel arranged a Puja Purohit for Jagannath Temple, but that service felt highly unprofessional and irresponsible. For the price, the stay was pretty average. The interiors seemed old and poorly maintained, the commode had obvious yellow stains, and insects filled the room at night. Our ground-floor room had no view at all: the window was blocked and wouldn’t open properly. The MakeMyTrip listing didn’t mention this, which felt misleading. The hotel seems overpriced mainly because it’s by the beach, and I wouldn’t recommend staying here.