Ali Heritage Hotel

The food was good, especially the Chinese dishes, and the hotel and restaurant staff were professional. I had a very good experience and would recommend staying here.

The waiter was excellent at communicating, and I really enjoyed the marinated Mexican steak from the restaurant, a 10/10. The hotel lobby was pleasant and the staff were courteous, but the stay had several problems. They add service charges to the total bill, so keep that in mind. There was no iron, which meant we had to hurry to a nearby market to get clothes pressed. The bathroom leaked, the Muslim shower didn't work, and there was no hot water from the taps. Our room had no view, though a limited number of rooms overlook the main road. Breakfast was awful: the eggs were rotten and the parathas were so bad that we literally vomited. They need to improve the breakfast and basic room and bathroom amenities.

We paid Rs. 5000 per night for three days at the newly constructed Ali Heritage Hotel, which felt like a very reasonable rate. The first-floor lounge and garden have pleasant seating and give the place a distinctive feel. Its location in Swat is convenient if you have transport. I had a nice stay, with a couple of drawbacks: there is no wheelchair ramp at the entrance and no lift.

The staff were always smiling, helpful, and ready to give directions. Mr. Saeed, the GM, and the owner were both down to earth and cheerful. The rates are reasonable, the hotel is clean and secure, and it has a family atmosphere, sightseeing and views, plus the Marinate restaurant. I booked two nights and extended for one more. I also visited Kalam and Bahrain, and went to Malam Jaba while staying there. The hotel has hot and cold water and an inverter system for hot and cold weather. I highly recommend it. The best.