The Garuda Express Hotel

The location is very convenient and the staff are polite, but my three-day stay at The Garuda in Thrissur needed much more attention to detail. My suite and presidential suite both had good views and comfortable beds, though they looked tired and needed cleaning. Housekeeping didn’t clean or tidy either room during my stay. One room cost more, but otherwise there wasn’t much difference between them. I also couldn’t get hot water for a shower at all. The top-floor lounge was dark, dingy, and unclean, even with no other guests there. Ordering from its menu was difficult because the only staff member was looking at his phone and didn’t notice five guests had arrived. Then hardly anything on the menu was available. Breakfast from 8 to 10 was hit and miss. On a good day there was a good variety, but at 8:10 on the second day some items were missing because the kitchen was running late. By 9:10 on the third day, hardly anything was left. It’s a good hotel, but these details keep it from being a great one.

Mr. Rahul was especially helpful and responsive throughout our stay. His professional, guest-focused approach made a real difference. The staff were courteous, accommodating, and willing to go the extra mile, so we had a wonderful stay at Garuda Hotel, Thrissur. I highly recommend it for the hospitality and service.

The food was decent, breakfast was acceptable, parking was ample, and the hotel has good function halls. But those positives couldn’t make up for the room, upkeep, and service. The Garuda Hotel’s central location is its only real advantage, and the five-star claim on Google doesn’t match the experience. At most, it felt like a two- or three-star property. Our room was very small for the price, had no windows, and felt dark and closed in. The lighting was poor, and the see-through toilet and bath setup was badly thought out. Even the bathroom doors were glass, which made it uncomfortable. Maintenance and basic service were lacking too. The toothpaste in the dental kit looked used, with the tube already half empty. We had to ask more than once for toilet mats. The TV setup looked precarious, with the set-top box sitting on a crooked television as if it could fall. If management wants to claim a five-star standard, the rooms, service, maintenance, and guest experience need serious work.

The location is the big plus: it’s within 500 m-1 km of the railway station, bus stand, Vadukkunathan Temple, and several other Thrissur temples, and cabs and autos are easy to find. Rooms are decent, but the stay doesn’t feel like a five-star property, or arguably even a three-star one, in service and maintenance. I wouldn’t pay more than ₹2,500. Guests can’t control the temperature of the centrally controlled AC. It wasn’t working when I arrived and took 3-4 complaints to fix. With the preset temperature, blankets felt unnecessary 😂. Housekeeping was weak too. Linens weren’t changed after previous guests unless we insisted, even late at night, and towels and doormats came only on request. Cleanliness was average and needed follow-up. Breakfast is served from 8 to 10, but at 8 it was only partly ready, with idly and upma available ☹️. Individual staff were courteous, though there seemed to be a shortage in labour management. I wouldn’t recommend it for quality-conscious guests, perfectionists, or business travellers. I saw one guest leave early. Haraprasad R (Booking done by MMT)