Hotel Reviews of Hidden Forest Retreat

5.67
Globetrotter, Kolkata | 30^th October 2008
Hotel Review of Hidden Forest Retreat
Comments: The overall experience was a superb one except for a few minor glitches. Being from the city, we didn't want to settle in one of those commercially-located hotels so we opted for this one after lot of research in holidayiq. I must thank HIQ, which enabled us to discover Hidden Retreat and I would surely recommend this hotel to everyone who wants a quite and peaceful stay, away from the city-lights. First things first, check out their website by googling and you will find the hosts' contact nos. Call them and book your room beforehand to avoid missing out on the experience. Once you reach Gangtok, from any of the major bus-stands (Deorali or MG Marg) it will cost you Rs 80 to 100 (depends on your bargaining) to reach Hidden Forest. Almost every taxi-driver knows this place and if they are not very sure, mention 'Sichey Busty' and it will strike an instant chord to them.
For a double-occupancy single room, the rates are Rs 1700 per night + 10% taxes.
Best Experience: 1. I guess all the rooms have an attached balcony with a couple of chairs. So just sit-back, chat, read or blankly stare and enjoy the view of the hills, clouds settling between the valleys, enjoy the fresh air all around.
2. The rooms are simple, neat, decent, wooden-floored and clean.
3. The hotel is spread over 3 acres, so you can spend a couple of hours walking around the place, enjoying the flora (orchids being the predominant ones).
4. The dine-in restaurant is superb with a great ambience. Frankly speaking I have eaten at many fancy restaurants with exorbitant prices, but the experience of dining there is worth it.
5. There is this terrace-like seating place where we spent many quiet moments together.
6. Enjoy your sleep. You will be amazed as you come across the deafening silence without any of the din that accompanies a night in the city.
7. There is a library from where you can read up a few books.
Worst Experience: I wouldn't say worst experience, but there are some issues which prevents our stay from being an outstanding one.
1. Food - The food is very expensive for a place like this. The rates seem as if you are eating at some star-hotel. For future travellers just a word of caution regarding food. For a couple, the breakfast is charged at Rs 300 and was served from 6:00 to 8:30. The breakfast items during our stay were:
(i) Corn-Flakes (Kelloggs), milk, apples and banana were served to everyone (unlimited - but of course there's a limit to how much one can have).
(ii) Besides the above, one could choose either from 'Aloo Parathas' or Bread toast slices with jam and butter. Once we tried parathas, and they were just about ok and we stuck to bread and jam-butter ever since (which anyway doesn't disappoint). We also had omelette with bread-jam-butter combo and were surprised to know that we weren't charged extra for that.
We never opted for lunch as we were always out during the day. But lunch will set one back by Rs 500 for a couple.
We had dinner every night which was served between 19:30 to 20:30 hours. Though a lot of items were served neatly but the cuisine was mostly Chinese and we found it difficult to have it every night. Being a homestay, there was no menu card as such and food was prepared as per the hosts' whims, but they do prepare some items if you request at no extra cost. Both veg and non-veg were served and the items ranged from soups, momos, chilly chicken, potato fry as starters to fried rice and desserts in the form of sweets or ice-cream. On a couple of occasions we made requests for dal, plain rice, chapatis, egg and veg curry which was duly complied with (as we were finding it difficult to have Chinese day-in and day-out).
2. Isolated location - One couldn't just get to the city and have food and come back as the location is pretty remote and it would have been pretty difficult to find a cab at odd hours. Everyday we made it a point to return to the hotel by 7 PM as we didn't want to get stranded. From MG Marg to the hotel, a taxi charges you Rs 70 to 80. Even in the morning for visiting the city, you have to come out at the main gate and wait for a shared city taxi for quite some time before you get to board one. But we didn't complain on this front as we used to walk around 15 minutes uphill and arrive at a point where taxis were easily found. The other option is informing the land-lady who would for arrange for one, though they will charge you Rs 100 for going to MG Marg. Remember that if you have an early trip, inform your host about your travel the previous night itself and she will arrange for a taxi to pick you up.
3. Travel Desk - The hotel doesn't have a formal travel desk though the hosts do have some contacts (which didn't work for us anyway). So for all your travel planning, you had to go to MG Marg.
4. Room facilities - If you are the type who believes in staying inside your room and watching TV, you will be disappointed. Very few cable channels were seen and most of them were blurred (and you definitely don't want to end up spoiling your eyes while on a holiday). The geyser used to take a long time to get warmed up. Also, the 4 days that we were there, we didn't come across a single newspaper.

6.22
sunil, Surat | 18^th September 2007
Hotel Review of Hidden Forest Retreat
no sooner you enter the resort you just do away with all your worries and u feel at home.Even if you had visited other places in sikkim and not this resort you will be missing the best place in sikkim. superb nursery.Photographers's delight.Homely staff and personal touch. Must visit. I must thank Ms. Kesang...

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5.78
tanushree, Jodhpur | 25^th February 2007
Hotel Review of Hidden Forest Retreat
great goodbye to lastyear & very warm welcome to new year...

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5.67
anuraag, Jodhpur | 19^th January 2007
Hotel Review of Hidden Forest Retreat
everything was just superb! our tiredness of travel from NJP to gangtok vanished as soon as v entered the resort....

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6.11
Bill, Bangalore | 16^th December 2006|
Hotel Review of Hidden Forest Retreat
This resort is one of the best ways to get a real feel of life in sikkim, away from the main strip which is becoming more of a tourist hub. About 2 kms away, it is a beautiful place, with an orchid nursery forming part of the resort. We had a lovely time, also because the owners are so warm and helpful....

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4.67
Manisha, Noida | 07^th May 2005
Hotel Review of Hidden Forest Retreat
An out of the way destination for most of the world...you go there expecting a different world. And mostly the environment is that, so secluded and so fresh....

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5.89
diganta, golaghat | 08^th April 2005
Hotel Review of Hidden Forest Retreat
Very good and hospitable staff with good cuisines. Everything like articles for leisure activities are made available when asked for, beautiful greeneries and mountains can be viewed from there along with the sunset. Rooms are good with all the facilities....

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