Our expectations were very high, since the hotel was associated with the name "cidade". Unfortunately it failed to live up to its reputation. Tariff wise we got a decent deal with a discount of 30% and breakfast thrown in for free.
The rooms facing the pool are better and the room was airy, brightly lit and large. There was no fridge or mini bar in the room. We also got a view of the sea from the room but believe me, the sea is no big deal. It is completely rocky and when we went for a walk along it, the beach seems to have dirty grey colored sand. Not like the beaches along the Ratnagiri coast!!.
The biggest disappointment with the hotel was the bathroom. Dark and dingy. They had propped up the mirror with wooden frames which were not only poorly applied but were unpolished. Same was true of the side window. The paint was peeling off the walls and the ceiling. As far the fittings were concerned they were long past their prime. the gold on the fittings has long since worn off. The basin was completely cracked up. The bath tub looked so unused that we didnt dare fill it with water for a nice soak. (In any case the plug and its chain were all disjointed and broken.)
You had to learn to use the hand shower below a particular heigh, because if you raise it any further the pipe slips off and you are left with the "shower in your hand" and the water flowing somewhere around your legs from the pipe which has slipped off.
As far as the toilet seat was concerned it gives an instant cure for any diarrhea. One look at it and you will decide to postpone the idea. the plastic seat is raised up and lowered down with an almighty snap - makes you wonder if you have broken it - but you cant break a broken seat can you?
The breakfast which was complimentary was a la carte since there were very few guests to justify a buffet. The dosas were excellent and so were the idlis (though they were made from rava, they were quite soft.). The chatni and sambar were quite bad. Never order puri bhaji - the cook does not know anything about bhaji. He served a oilly gravy with a few pieces of potato floating in it. If they can improve on the chatni and sambar then the south indian stuff is good - stick to it. It is definitely a hotel for the business traveller but it needs to live up to its name. Wake up Cidade, spend some money and time on the upkeep and decor!!!