Hotel Bhairon Vilas

“Could be amazing”

Crazy cool place with a charming owner. The buildings are old and magnificent. The grounds have seating areas, tables and fire pits scattered around. There are sculptures and antiques everywhere. Much is a little run down but they were busy repainting chairs and tables, sweeping, etc. and it's pa... more

Crazy cool place with a charming owner. The buildings are old and magnificent. The grounds have seating areas, tables and fire pits scattered around. There are sculptures and antiques everywhere. Much is a little run down but they were busy repainting chairs and tables, sweeping, etc. and it's part of the charm. Room 102 was a stunning room filled with antiques and odds and ends. They provided us with a space heater (it was quite chilly during our visit), a hot water kettle and tons of tea and Nescafe. The bathroom was huge and split; toilet and sink on one side, shower on the other. Very hot water and good water pressure. You have to walk up three steps to then climb down into the bathtub to shower. Very beautiful room, but it could definitely be cleaner. Even after we asked that the room be cleaned halfway through our visit, while the bed was made, it was still dirty (thick layer of dust on the bedside table, dust and hair on floor, etc.). I wondered if part of the reason was because all the staff we saw were men and I'm under the impression that house keeping is a traditionally female job in India. Breakfast was simple but good: tea, Nescafe, cold cereal, toast, butter, jam, bananas, sapota, plain yogurt and they'll make you a yummy, simple cheese or masala omelet. We had dinner there one night (only offered occasionally) but the food was unexceptional. One thing that was not great was the difficulty we had getting information - different staff people gave us different answers. We were told breakfast started at 8 am, but the door was locked and we were then told it was at 8:30am. We were told dinner was at 8 pm but then asked to return at 8:30 pm. At 8:30 pm we returned to be told to go sit by the fire, order a drink, and they'd come tell us when dinner was ready. However, there was a group of friends using every seat around the fire... didn't feel very welcoming, and we never could figure out if there was a bar. We ended up going back to our room and returning for at 9 pm. We were given all sorts of different prices for tuk tuks and getting additional toilet paper and water seemed to throw the staff into disarray. I had the impression that perhaps the place was more geared towards groups, as it seems the small groups that we saw were getting the attention they needed (and drinks!). This place could be amazing with a little more attention to cleanliness and better communication with staff. Even a little card at the front desk or in the rooms indicating meal times or if the "bar" would be open, would be helpful.

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“Great room, middling service”

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Overall, I can give this hotel an unambivalent recommendation, but with some caveats: Room: best things first. We stayed in 102 (the bright red and yellow deluxe room), and it was amazing; every bit as quirky, spacious, beautiful and character... more

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. Overall, I can give this hotel an unambivalent recommendation, but with some caveats: Room: best things first. We stayed in 102 (the bright red and yellow deluxe room), and it was amazing; every bit as quirky, spacious, beautiful and characterful as the pictures. I love rooms with a historical feel, and this one delivered in spades. In addition to the quirk factor, there were ample electrical outlets, and the shower had adequate water pressure and plenty of (very) hot water. Grounds: it's a lovely heritage property, beautifully decorated with historical pictures and artefacts. It's a bit dilapidated, but that's part of the appeal.  Staff/service: here is where things went downhill. My standards are not all that exacting, but this place is not, to put it mildly, a well-oiled machine. Communication about our reservation was unclear and often required multiple emails. During our stay, there were lots of staff around, some more earnest and helpful than others, but communication was very difficult, in part due to the language barrier and in part due to a lack of basic knowledge. When is breakfast? Anyone's guess. Is the restaurant open for dinner? Again, this is unclear. Can we have more water, toilet paper, etc.? Both were eventually provided, but the request seemed to unduly flummox the staff. In addition, the front desk is manned  inconsistently, necessitating a lot of hunting around for people who may or may not be equipped to answer your question. On the upside, most staff were gracious, and when we arrived very early they let us eat breakfast for free and made our room available well before check-in. In addition, Harsh, the owner, was very friendly, attentive and easy to communicate with. Location: the surrounding area is gritty and chaotic. I expected that, and actually rather enjoyed it, but be aware that cows, garbage, honking scooters, etc. are everywhere. Very little English is spoken, and I attracted a fair amount of attention as a White man walking around on my own. For me, this was not at all a negative, but be aware before you book.  Food: breakfast was basic but more than adequate: eggs, toast, jam, butter, fruit, the ubiquitous Nescafe, etc. Dinner was made available one night and was simply atrocious. Nearby restaurants are few and far between: Jeeman's, a five-minute walk away, makes a fine thali and offers takeout. Overall, an interesting and memorable stay in a fantastic property that could be a great overall establishment with a little more attention to customer service.

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