Disclaimer: I am writing this review from my personal experience. But I think those who stayed in Sinclairs Darjeeling would share the same view.
I and my wife checked in at about 5 PM on 10/12/09 after a long train journey from Kolkata to Darjeeling. The first thing in my mind was to take a good shower with warm water. But to my surprise water from the hot-water tap was ice-chilling. I called up the room service and they assured me within 10 minutes hot water will start coming from the tap as it takes time for the geyser to start working.
I waited for 1 hour but in vain. Finally I asked the room service for a bucket of warm water. The only problem in bathing with a bucket of warm water was that even after paying Rs3420/ day for this room I was not provided with 24 hour hot water. I mean in a hill station where temperatures are down below 5 one of the most essential thing is 24 hour running hot water. I could have stayed at hotels that charged me Rs900/day and provide warm waters in buckets when you need it.
But at Rs3420/day I expected hot water 24 hour a day.
The problem wasn’t resolved that day and the manager asked me to change the room as there was some problem with the geyser connected with that room. I was too tired to change the room that day and decided to do it the next day. Next day after changing the room I faced the same problem and they had to provide hot water in buckets again.
Well even after repeated complaints they were unable to rectify the problem and I was forced to ask for hot water everyday I needed to bathe.
It took at least 3-4 calls from my side to reach the reception desk . The desk was as lazy as it could be, including their manager.
The food charges were exorbitant to say the least for average quality food like that. Even the clothes on tables weren’t changed and were dotted with leftover food. It came as no surprise to me to see cockroaches on the table.
It was an average room with wooden flooring, but it was impossible to walk on the floor without slippers. They should use carpet in the floor, even in cheap hotels use carpets in Darjeeling. Above all they didn’t provided any slipper.
I wouldn’t recommend anyone to go for Sinclairs Darjeeling. I don’t know about other Sinclair group of hotels but I won’t make the mistake of choosing any other Sinclairs hotel in future.