Hotels in India come in all shapes and forms, from the dire, to the fantastic and it is'nt always dependant on what you pay!!
You can get a hellhole for 1200rps or a delightful, simple room with views to die for, with warm friendly staff for 100rps and all other equations within that range.
In short it can be a bit of a lucky dip.
Here are a few pointers that might help, but remember the most important thing about a hotel room is that YOU like it, so look for some where that you feel comfortable and you,ve cracked it. We dont mention hotel names or prices on this site as there are many better sources out there that cover these in detail instead we try to give you a basic idea of what to look for in a room.The following are the things we generally check when considering a room, although we have been known to overlook some things just because the place was friendly or had a great view we suggest you do the same. If you make a mistake you can always move!
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A HOTEL ROOM?
1. Does the door have a decent lock both inside and out ?
2. Do the lights, fan, waterheater work ( have fun trying to work out what all the buttons do on the switch board to be found in every Indian hotel room !)
3. Are the sheets reasonably clean or do they really need changing?
4. Does the Hotel have a curfew ? this is not common in India, but you do come across it.
5. Is there somewhere to sit in the sun and read book /get some fresh air e.g. a rooftop/balcony or garden?
6. Do they do a minimal brekkie e.g. puri baji eggs toast tea ? important for those early morning departures!!
SECURITY!!!
In eleven years of travelling in India we have never had anything stolen from a hotel room, still it,s always wise to be careful here are a few do's and don'ts! 1. Lock your door at night whilst sleeping..
2. If you don't have shower/toilet facilities in your room be sure to lock your room door whilst using the communal shower/toilet.
3. Close windows when your out of your room. Many people have had things stolen by thieves "fishing" for their stuff through the bars on the windows!!
4. Don't leave anything you can't afford to lose in a strange hotel room.
5. Use your own padlock wherever possible
6. Beware of monkeys, they don't know what they are stealing but it might be your new camera again, keep the windows closed when you go out!!
SERVICES
Most hotels in India whether cheap or expensive offer a whole range of services, here's what you can expect to find at an average hotel.
LaundryTourist info /booking
Wake up calls
Taxi service
In addition to this some hotels offer such things as :
Internet ( from 10rps -70rps per hour )
Money changing
Food
Airport pick up
Baggage storage
Library
As well as their advertised services a friendly hotel "wallah" will provide you with invaluable local info, where you can buy an Enfield, sell your Minolta, buy some smokables, good restaurants!! all the local gossip and if your really lucky a home cooked meal prepared by his good wife MMMmmm.Treat these people right and you've got a valuable source of help / info.
