Umaid Mahal, Jaipur

It is another Heritage hotel from the family of Rathores- an old ancestral Rajputs of Rajasthan. The outlook of the hotel is charming. The rooms are fine in decor, with Rajputana interiors. The rooms are most comfortable. Washrooms are clean with separate shower areas. All rooms are conditioned and occupied with safe and mini bars. Sorry no tea/coffee makers in any room. You can order room service for tea at a hefty rate.

Best Experience: The rooms are neat and clean

Worst Experience: Sorry, no tea/coffee maker in any room.

Honestly, after visiting the website of the property, one’s expectations of getting good service and hospitality, which Rajasthan is famous for, are raised. However, the actual position is far from it and the saying “appearances are deceptive” fits this place very aptly. The location is in a residential area, with of course no views from the balcony that they boast of………except of the clothesline/ terraces/ walls of the neighbouring houses. The lack of basic hospitality and the careless lackadaisical attitude of the staff members, including the General Manager, was utterly shocking and disgusting. I am sure that Government hotels would be far superior in service, and that too for a more reasonable price. I hope that Umaid Mahal pulls up its socks real tight, sooner than later, in order to justify the tariff that they are charging and to be truly classified as a ‘heritage property’. It is disappointing to note that lately, our selection of hotels based on the reviews posted on HolidayIQ have been very unpleasant. Earlier in the month of May this year, when we were in Bangalore, we stayed in ‘The Elite’, but the experience was appalling. In the past, I have been religiously relying on this website for my travels. However, with these two back-to-back unpleasant experiences, my reliability on the website for future travels is very doubtful.

Best Experience: None that I can recount, but felt good that there was warm running water in the bathrooms !

Worst Experience: Starting with check-in, the front desk was not at all prompt when we arrived at the hotel. The staff at the front desk was busy talking on the phone, while we waited. The General Manager was roaming around in his casuals and disappeared on seeing us, instead of insisting on the front desk to take care of the guests. Sadly, there was no one to guide us weary travelers to the room, after a long day journey. It was only when we strongly impressed on the front desk that a waiter came to show us our rooms. What was more surprising was that when we requested the front desk to meet with the person who we had been in touch with for our bookings and who made online confirmations to us, we were told that no one by that name exists in that hotel. There is no facility of tea-coffee maker in the room. When we requested about 11pm for some tea to be served in our rooms, the front desk turned down the request since the kitchen was not functional, and would only be opened at 7am the next day. There is no provision for serving bed tea as well – nothing before the buffet breakfast. Breakfast : Since we had planned to leave early the following day, we requested for an early breakfast. Shockingly, we were told that there shall be no staff in the kitchen before 7am, the appointed time for the breakfast. And in case we insist for an early breakfast, the guard will serve us, who presumably was not a trained kitchen staff. Without any choice, we delayed our departure from Jaipur accordingly. Unfortunately, the breakfast was not at all worth the wait. It was a shoddy one………….totally cold, and on asking as to why is it being served cold, came a shocker of a reply……it is too early in the morning to serve a hot meal.