Taj Tirupati

The only bad part of my stay was a confusing car charge on checkout day. I'd asked for a car to take us to a temple 45 minutes away and then to the airport. After checkout, I was told the car was included on the final statement, and we settled the bill. We left with all our luggage in the hotel's car. On the way back from the temple, just 15 minutes from the airport, we were told the airport transfer hadn't been billed and would cost an extra 3500 rupees. The airport was on the route from the temple to the hotel, about 10 km closer than going back to the hotel. I raised the issue because we were already heading straight to the airport with all our luggage in the car, and the total distance was shorter. Staff still insisted on the additional charge and billed ₹3,500 on top of the ₹5,800 already paid for the car. It felt like a bait-and-switch and fell short of the service I expect from a hotel of this caliber. My concern was the principle, not the extra cost itself. Before that, I mostly had a wonderful stay. The room was spacious and comfortable, staff were attentive and very friendly, and the food was delicious. Taj Tirupati was a great place to stay during our trip, after other Taj stays on this trip at Taj Mahal Palace Mumbai and Taj Coromandel Chennai.

As always, we had a wonderful stay at Taj Tirupathi. The staff were very friendly, the rooms spotless and comfortable, and the food was good. Dhanush at the front office was cordial and made an effort to provide good service. Restaurant service could be quicker. Waits were long even when it wasn't busy, and we waited 45 min for a cup of tea. Since this is a temple town, Taj should consider 24 h checkout, especially with the long waits at Tirumala. We checked in at 10 pm and hoped to leave at 5 pm the next day, but after much reluctance were only allowed until 3 pm. For NRI darshan, that's inadequate when the queue itself takes 4-5 h starting at 11 am, which is why we had checked in as late as 10 pm the night before. I'm an Innercircle member and stay frequently at Taj for weeks together, so I was surprised the 5 pm checkout wasn't honored. Other Taj properties, e,g. Delhi, Rishikesh, Haridwar, do a better job of tailoring things to Innercircle members.

Suggestions for improvement: more cupboard space, better shower seating, support handles near the commode for seniors, and shaving mirrors. The property was serene and well maintained, with clean, comfortable rooms and hospitality that felt like a luxury experience. The South Indian restaurant served a fantastic dinner, authentic, flavourful and memorable. The local staff were responsive, attentive and respectful. The Tata HR culture and training showed in their high standard of service. Personal attention from the team made a real difference. General Manager Amit, Operations Head Anil, and F&B Manager Raj were visibly present on the floor, leading their teams and helping everything run smoothly across guest touchpoints. I had a truly memorable stay on 11th Feb.

The buffet was delicious and had a good spread, and breakfast was tasty with plenty of variety. Everything at Southern Spice was amazing, with excellent food quality and taste. Aparna and Swagata were courteous, attentive, and added a personal touch that made us feel welcome. I had a wonderful, delightful stay. Special thanks to Ms. Sabeen, Ms. Sheetal, and Mr. Dhanush for their warm hospitality and support throughout. They were helpful, polite, and always ready to assist, making our experience comfortable and memorable.