An expensive property claiming its way forward, but which lacks character, and with loads to improve, and needs attention to details.
Being an avid traveler across the globe and very much with in India, with over half a million readers to my travel logs, I can say with authority, Ramada Alleppey is not worth your time nor money!
Detailed Impressions
1. Very responsive front office staff.
a. We were informed one day in advance to take precautions on behalf of All India Transport Strike, and were advised to travel early.
b. We arrived early in the morning, and was allotted to our rooms promptly though the check in was by noon. This gesture is highly appreciated.
c. One of us was unwell, and the front office staff helped us immediately with a few medicines from their first aid kit. Very responsive and highly appreciated.
d. We misplaced a couple of dresses, and the front office coordinated in the search for the same at laundry even though it was late in the night. A great appreciation to Mr. Sumesh for the trouble he took to help us out, and of course the timely communication of the progress.
2. Room – 1BR/Suite
a. 1BR room allotted was spacious.
b. 1BR was not properly classified. Though privacy for 2 is available, additional two beds were not ensured in the second room as elsewhere. Cannot hence qualify as a 1 BR booking.
c. The living area would never get cool with the AC provided if the private room door was kept closed!
d. Bathroom was spacious, but we had blockages in WC often leading to resentment. Was not expected from this property claiming expensive rack rates!
e. Bathrooms did not have hot water, occasional warm water was all that was available. Being summer, we did not care much. But it is expected to be there, non-negotiable.
f. Room was provided with a weighing scale, with dead battery. Poor attention to details from such a property claiming expensive rack rates!.
g. Locker in the room had drained battery making it unusable. Again poor attention to details from such a property claiming expensive rack rates!
h. Power cuts often, with considerable delay between switchover. Such outages are not necessarily suffered by guests, should enhance the changeover infrastructure to prevent resentment. 20 plus outages per day is definitely an irritant.
i. Linen provided for the extra bed was torn. Extra bed was not provided with additional pillows. Definitely attention to details is lacking, and is not expected out of this property claiming expensive rack rates!
j. Mini bar was not stocked with all items listed in the menu on check in, and on check out the same was tried to be charged on us, which we declined. This also shows there is no check in place to ensure room readyness before occupancy.
k. The first room that we were allotted were not ready. We found the bed had to be made and the toilets yet to be cleaned on check in. Not expected, but since we were allotted the rooms earlier than the check in time, this can be overlooked.
3. Restaurant
a. The dining coupons are reasonably priced
b. The spread of buffet was good. Good choices of dishes and taste.
c. Ala Carte rates are incredibly expensive for the location, and I see no reason why they should command this premium!
d. There is a confusion as to who the dining coupons should be handed over before dining at the restaurant.
e. We handed over the coupons at the counter, only to be asked multiple times by people in red dress in the restaurant. Finally had to take the red dressed guy to the counter to stop being pestered! Etiquettes have to be taught to the restaurant staff, especially the red dressed guys on how to interact with guests, and to clarify his issues at the back end at the counter!
f. Liquor was being served, though I infer the hotel has no bar license.
g. On enquiring I was told the captain decides to serve! They even had a rate card with a few choices of drinks!
h. Could see people smoking in the extension of the restaurant near the pool, with drinks. Unexpected and awkward!
4. DJ Night
a. On one of the evenings during our stay, the hotel organized a DJ Night.
b. It was held at a makeshift tent, and was very noisy. It was irritating as the loud music was entering the room even with all doors closed, robbing us of a peaceful evening.
c. Could see the DJ night had youngsters heavily drunk and puking at the entrance. Security personnel were meaningless and dumb!
d. Definitely not a place for family!
5. Swimming Pool
a. In one word – Avoid the pool.
b. The general pool rules are not enforced, and to top it they have utopian and backward looking rules which are selectively enforced based on the fancy of the security guards!
c. Swimming pool had a very backward and utopian rule never heard elsewhere – no photography at the pool premises
d. But could see the lifeguards(white dressed) guys helping others click their pictures near the pool.
e. On enquiring the same with Security, we were given a reply it’s a management decision!
f. It’s quite backward that the management considers such a rule, in such a forward thinking world. I have been to other well managed resorts in Kerala, and their existed no such rules. It clearly shows the mindset of the management!
g. There is absolutely no dress code ensured for the pool usage. Ladies in Tshirts and leggings and guys in bermudas(definitely with their undergarments on) were freely swimming in the pool. On enquiring I was categorically told they were using nylon T Shirts! How convenient! If at all there is a rule to be enforced this is one of it!
h. Taking a shower before entering the pool was not enforced. We saw people playing badminton and with sweaty bodies just jumping in the pool!
i. We even saw a kid was dipped in the toddlers pool with his nappies on. Only to be later removed and thrown around the pool beds!
j. We even saw people feeding their kids in the pool.
k. Pool was milky, and had insects and leaves floating on the water. White dressed life guards confirmed the pool is not clean!
l. The early mornings when the weather is pleasant, the swimming pool is used for training kids from the nearby areas. We saw at least some 20+ kids on the pool being trained from 8 to 10 AM.
m. It is a norm everywhere that diving is not allowed in the pool, but here it is everyone’s right!
n. Other than the noisy scenario, it is quite unfair that the hotel robs the guests off a peaceful swim in the pool by subletting it for trainings. This clearly shows the intention of the management to maximize their revenues at the cost of their guests!
o. Probably all this adds up to the rule that you should not click pictures near the pool – as the dirty crowded pool would be in public domain!
6. Security
a. These guys are thrusted with draconian rules of the pool, which they selectively enforce.
b. Mr. Jaleel who shows himself around as a security guard definitely needs training in etiquettes, and especially in soft skills not to instigate guests! Selective implementation of rules are not going to give him his respect any ways and his talks neither! It was one of the major bad taste in the mouth.
c. He kept crossing our ways purposefully in the restaurant where security has no real need to be present.
d. Anything and everything they blame it on the management! On asking who is this management, nobody turned up!
Bottom line.
An expensive property claiming its way forward, but which lacks character, and with loads to improve.
Being an avid traveler across the globe and very much with in India, with over half a million readers to my travel logs, I can say with authority, Ramada Alleppey is not worth your time nor money!