Vanraj Palace

Don't trust the misleading details on booking agency websites. The receptionist would not honor our online booking price and demanded more money before letting us in. The room was the start of a terrible stay: no TV, no cleanliness, a filthy bathroom like a public toilet, no hot water or Wi-Fi, and no power backup. There is a lift, but it was kept out of service to save money. The furniture was dirty, the walls covered in dirt and cobwebs, and the fan blades had dirt hanging off them. The A/C power was disconnected to save money. There was no kettle, glassware, water jug or bottle. The linens were never washed, and the towels they brought on request were dirty and unusable. The floor was barely swept. There was no breakfast, and food ordered from outside came without plates. Only one receptionist and one caretaker were handling all 20 rooms, and they made excuses whenever we asked for anything. There were no toiletries or even a dustbin. Nothing here deserves praise. I would never recommend it. Sleeping in the railway waiting room would be better. Maybe it was a good place under the previous owner, but now it has nothing to offer.

The photos online gave a very different impression. Our room was dirty, with lots of hair in and on the bed that wasn't ours. The blanket and pillows looked old and yellow. The shower barely dripped water, spraying around the bathroom instead, and there was no separation, so the whole room got wet. No hot water, and the toilet leaked. The TV didn't work either. The rooftop view was blocked by a net, so you couldn't really use it properly. Restaurant service was very slow, even for drinks. At breakfast, our drinks came after we'd finished eating. Dinner was okay, but slow too, despite only two other people being there. The hotel was noisy at night, with staff and guests talking loudly and not closing doors quietly. We booked a Safari through the hotel and had several problems with the experience afterward. The staff offered no help.

An average budget place for a short stay. The basics are in the rooms, and the hotel can book a safari. You can sit and relax on the rooftop, but the food was average. Cleanliness and staff behaviour could be better, and our room's shower didn't work.

This was the worst hotel I've stayed in. The staff gave the most pathetic service and told me there was no reason to lock the door because nobody would open it and there was a camera. But the door had no lock. There was no restaurant or basic hotel service, and the lift wasn't working. With no luggage boy available, I had to carry my own luggage up the stairs.