Vivanta Surajkund, NCR

Fair trip, bathing water questionable. But don't mind staying again

It’s actually a turn of fate that is leading me to write this kind of a review. I was going to give this place a 5 star review until a phone call disturbed my spa session at their extraordinary JIVA. I can’t give beyond 2.5 now. First the good things: 1. The newly renovated Paranda serves very good Punjabi food. 2. JIVA spa here is the best I’ve been to in India especially because the therapist (Lha) knew what she was doing. Give her a raise! 3. Stunning view from both my rooms. 4. Gurleen at reception is FABULOUS and the check in process was smooth. She also accommodated my requests. 5. It’s a GREAT hotel all in all. BUT 1. After checking out from one of the rooms (other one was occupied by teen daughter and her 2 friends. This was birthday staycation cum party), I had to go for my spa session. All bills were settled. The caller from reception asks me to come over because “we swiped your card for X amount when you checked out but money didn’t come to us. We need to see the proof.” 2. When My daughter and her friends checked out (I was still in the spa) she was told the same. Fortunately, she had my handbag with my cards AND the CC receipt I had saved. I usually never ask for the customer copy but I’m SO GLAD THAT I DID THIS TIME. 3. Now, nowhere in the world will you ask to give a proof for the payment already made and embarrass your patron. The reception staff did it TWICE. 4. When I raised it at the time of leaving the hotel, not even a sincere apology was extended. Only, “we’ll try to figure out why this was done”. 5. Minor irritants that I could have ignored but am unwilling to do so now: there was absolutely NOTHING in the minibar. Not even a can of soda. Heck, I had to call the room service to get the glasses. No fruit/snack/nuts/cookies. Yes, sometimes people like a quick munch—especially to take medicines—and can’t wait for room service. Yes, we can happily pay for minibar contents. 6. The fridge in my room wasn’t working. When I checked out, I took the Coke can that I ordered last night ***** to the poolside while I awaited my spa appointment. The beverage was warm and I requested for ice. I was asked if the can was bought in-house before they provided service. Whoa! If you are reading this, Taj Surajkund guys, please check my room service bill. 7. And this takes the cake—on the drive back home the girls (14, 15 and 16) told me that someone knocked at their door multiple times during the night. When they looked through the magic eye, they saw an eye staring back. They got scared as hell but didn’t wake me up because they know I sleep early. Each time the knock happened, they’d get into a huddle and clutch a glass bottle each in case a break-in happened. They were scared to call the reception because they probably didn’t want nuisance on a hard-earned pajama afterparty. Maybe it was a badly behaved guest who was pulling this prank…they thought. Again, I could have let this slide but not now…this is not what one expects in India’s oldest hotel chains. So, what was supposed to be a fun, relaxing, and uplifting staycation turned into something of a bitter aftertaste. And after having spent A LOT OF MONEY for just one night staycation, I am forced to leave this review here.