OYO 1636 Hotel Rahat Regency

The location was peaceful, about a 15-minute walk from Mall Road. But I wouldn't recommend this place for a family vacation. There were rats in our room in the middle of the night, and there was no pest control. The food was horrible. They had no vegetarian options ready, and after we asked several times they made something bland. There was no water in the washroom; we asked repeatedly to have it fixed, but nothing was done. No Wi-Fi or TV, either, and the property is isolated with network issues. It doesn't even have basic Wi-Fi installed. It's an old property, the rooms aren't spacious, and there are barely any plug points. One staff boy was good and ran around trying to make things work, but he had little authority. It might suit travelers who want to drink and chill, though it costs more than other places nearby. We also went to Dharamshala, Naddi, and Manali, where the rooms, service, and food were much better at nearly half the tariff.

The staff were lovely and helped with whatever we needed, even arranging our laundry. Our rooms were spacious and had good facilities, and the food was good. We spent three nights here and had a great time. The Mall Road, Shimla's main stretch for restaurants, cafes, and shops, is just a short walk away.

I've stayed in hotels across many cities, and this room was the worst experience I've had. I was travelling with my parents, so I didn't change rooms, though I felt like beating them.

The food was good, the service was great, and the rooms were pretty. We had a comfortable stay and would visit again.