The Park Plaza – Bangalore one of the loveliest hotels I have been in.

Did you know that you can save a lot of money if you book your hotel online direct instead of going through a travel agent? As much as 50%? I discovered this when I had to visit Bangalore recently and decided to do my own booking. Since I did not have the advice of an agent to depend on I was going solely by what I read on trip advisor. We all know that some of the stuff on Tripadvisor is false and that has been posted by fake users. So when I started reading raving reviews about the Park Street Plaza Bangalore at first I thought it was too good to be true. Yes, a sixth sense told me that I should stay at this hotel. If not that I would regret my decision. I have always trusted my gut instinct – sometimes not 100% - and mad the reservation for my stay with great trepidation.

But almost immediately I got this sense of comfort that I had made the right decision when the girl at the reception who had answered my call about organizing a hotel car to pick me up at the airport called me back asking for more details within minutes after I had spoken to her.  These guys must be really empowered if the management has an IDD line at the disposal of those who are at the front office; I thought to myself. And this feeling became even stronger when I stepped out of the airport to be greeted by two very smart and kind people who were extremely efficient and courteous in the way they handled themselves..

And once I stepped into the hotel lobby a great sense of relief washed over me as I realized I had been absolutely right to follow my gut instinct.

Chill out music and this amazingly cool ambience greeted me. For a few moments I thought I had stepped into one of this ultra hip and chic hotels one finds in Europe. The kind of hotel that is featured in TV programs and publications talking about the coolest  hotels in the world. that are featured in coffee table books with titles similar to ”the Coolest hotels in the world”

It looks so lovely It was modern and comfortable yet minimalistic and very tastefully decorated. It seemed that all the spaces of this hotel has been designed by someone with impeccable taste.

My room was extremely comfortable and even though it was a standard size room, the clever use of mirrors and glass and the way everything had been placed made it feel absolutely spacious and luxurious. I am always on the lookout to point out something which was wrong or which I did not find pleasing but there was nothing I could find wrong every thing about my room was perfect. Kudos to the interior designer who had done this project it seems he has put in a lot of thought and effort to get things absolutely right.

It was the little things that made the biggest difference. Like the TV remote being placed in a little leather case with the channels neatly marked making it so easy to access and flip. The fact that even the data cable  was neatly concealed in a little container. Even the chair by the desk was so comfortable just like the bed. The bed side alarm clock which was really nice and visible from all corners of the room. Decent sized mugs with the hot water kettle. And even a decent wine glass. And most importantly power sockets within easy reach. These were something’s which were lacking in some of the other more reputed places I had stayed in. And made my stay that much more comfortable.

The toilet was lovely too and the amenities which were on offer such as shampoo, shower gel and lotion were of great quality. I loved the fact that one wall of the toilet was glass and a motorized curtain was available if you needed your privacy.

I tried the dinner buffet and breakfast buffet at the restaurant. I found the food delicious and the spread good.

Even the gym was great the equipment was of excellent quality. And it was a pleasure to work out in it. It was nice touch to see apples laid on offer along with the towels and bottles of water for clients to use.

But what I loved most about the hotel was the staff. They were so friendly, well groomed and so full of energy flashing smiles as they went about their work. Polite and courteous always offering to help enthusiastically. One could see that these offers were extended willingly from the heart and not as if they have been ordered to do so by a higher power. It just made the entire hotel pulse with a different vibe which one could feel and enjoy.

But the icing on the cake was the price I had to pay for all this. It was roughly 100 dollars a night which was peanuts for a 5 star experience of this nature. In fact I would have been willing to pay double. Sadly I did not know what a treat I was in for and I had cut short my trip to one night instead of two. Well as they say one should learn from one’s mistake and the next time I go to Bangalore I know where I am going to stay and I will make sure that I will stay an extra night just to luxuriate in the comforts of the Park Plaza hotel Bengaluru.

And to those of who are interested YES my review of the hotel on tripadvisor was as glowing and wonderful as the others. Guess some other poor soul will be in the same quandary as I was.