Vivanta Thiruvananthapuram — Attraction in Kerala

Dear Mr Rana||I am writing to formally share my recent experience during my stay at your property, which unfortunately did not meet the expectations typically associated with the Taj group, and left me quite disappointed.||My reservation was made through Mr. Aashik Joseph under a corporate booking arrangement. The original plan offered was at a tariff of ₹6,250 plus taxes, inclusive of breakfast and one major meal for two adults. This was applicable for the first phase of my stay from 2nd to 5th April, during which I checked in on the 2nd at approximately 4:00 PM. Please note, no meals were availed on the first day due to the late check-in.||Subsequently, I had another booking from 6th to 9th April for two rooms, this time for single occupancy. Upon check-in, I specifically requested a revision of the tariff considering the change in occupancy. I was informed by the front desk that it would be taken up with Mr. Aashik, who was unavailable at the time due to the late hour. On that basis, I signed the check-in documents at the existing tariff, trusting that the fare would be reviewed internally later.||On 9th April, I checked out of one room before 12 PM. The second room (occupied by me) remained as I had stepped out for client meetings and was scheduled to stay another night. However, around 2 PM, I encountered an urgent situation requiring immediate travel to Ahmedabad. I promptly informed Mr. Aashik via call and text about this change and requested that I be allowed to check out later, as my luggage was still in the room and I was stuck in meetings. I received a response from him acknowledging this, and I have the SMS record for reference.||Despite this, I was repeatedly contacted by the hotel reception and asked to vacate the room. I again requested time due to my circumstances and impending travel. Unfortunately, the hotel staff showed little understanding or flexibility. Upon returning to the hotel later in the day, I was reminded multiple times about the delayed check-out and was told I would be charged for the additional day.||As this was a corporate travel arrangement subject to reimbursement, such unplanned charges (especially for an additional day not utilized in full) could jeopardize the entire claim. Moreover, I was scheduled to stay in Ahmedabad the same night, and claiming two nights would not be acceptable per policy. I again requested that the fare be reviewed, especially since the second phase was for single occupancy, not double, but no consideration was given. Instead, I was told to speak with Mr. Aashik—who, at the time, was on leave and not available. Unfortunately, when I tried to explain this situation to him over text, I received an unempathetic and indifferent response.||I also inquired whether I could speak with another staff member in Mr. Aashik’s absence, but that too was denied. Furthermore, I was charged for a late check-out at 5:00 PM, even though I was not present in the room and had clearly communicated my intention and efforts to vacate earlier. My luggage remained in the room only because I was caught up in unavoidable meetings and travel arrangements.||Additionally, I was charged separately for a khichdi and vegetable salad that I ordered to my room, despite being on a MAP plan. While I understand that the plan included buffet meals in the restaurant, I agreed to in-room dining as the restaurant was heavily crowded one morning. After waiting for over 10 minutes, I was informed by the staff that I could opt for limited in-room options. I was fine with this arrangement, as a flexible guest—but I believe the same flexibility should also be extended by the hotel. If the hotel insists on charging for late check-outs as per policy, then similarly, on 2nd April, when we reached the hotel only at around 3:30 AM on 3rd April, the dinner from the MAP plan was practically missed. Logically, the plan should then have been considered as “with breakfast only.” To add to this, on 3rd April, we were denied lunch at the restaurant on the grounds that the MAP meal was for the 2nd. The restaurant manager, Mr. Sudeer/Sudeep, abruptly stopped interacting with us from that point onwards.||Mr. Rana, we are middle-class individuals who genuinely cherish the Taj experience. It’s something we look forward to, and we do our best to spend judiciously—whether for personal or corporate travel. We may not have lavish travel budgets, but we do track our expenses carefully. That is why experiences like this are disheartening, especially from a brand we admire.||I am writing this in detail as I had wished to speak with you directly on the day of check-out, but unfortunately, the reception staff did not allow me to connect with you. The entire narrative also created unnecessary chaos at the time of departure—I was held up at the front desk trying to get a separate bill for the late check-out charge, and as a result, I almost missed my flight. This added a great deal of stress to an already difficult day.||||Thank you for your time and...

I recently had the unfortunate experience of staying at Vivanta Trivandrum for a day, and the original booking was made from the 11th to the 15th of July, to celebrate my first wedding anniversary. I had made the booking well in advance and had high hopes for a memorable stay. However, my experience at this hotel was nothing short of disappointing.

Upon arrival, we were not greeted with the promised welcome drink or airport pickup, which was already a letdown. We checked in and were assigned a suite room, as per our reservation made through the hotel staff member named Nitin. The only positive aspect of our stay was that the hotel staff had arranged a cake for our anniversary, which we appreciated.

However, things quickly went downhill from there. The biggest issue was the bathroom, which was connected to the bedroom. To my dismay, the bathroom had an unbearable stench. We immediately complained to the hotel staff in the middle of the night, and someone was sent to check the issue. Their solution was to increase the speed of the exhaust fan, which did not resolve the problem. Due to the close proximity of the bathroom to the bedroom and the persistent stink, I couldn't sleep the entire night. It was a truly unpleasant experience.

The next morning, we requested a room change or expressed our intention to check out of the hotel. To our surprise, we were informed that no rooms were available. It was evident that the hotel's maintenance was lacking, as they couldn't provide an alternative solution to address the problem. Eventually, they offered to move us to the 6th floor, but it felt like a mere token gesture as we suspected that the situation would be the same.

Frustrated with the poor maintenance and lack of consideration from the hotel management, we decided to pack our bags and leave. During the checkout process, the front desk staff, Akhil, handled our departure without offering any apologies for the inconvenience we had endured. This lack of acknowledgment further added to our dissatisfaction.

We decided to have breakfast at the hotel's restaurant before leaving. Unfortunately, the food quality was subpar and did not meet the expected standards. Moreover, the staff displayed a nonchalant attitude, showing a lack of care and attentiveness.

The only exception was one staff member named Sagar, who was helpful in the restaurant. However, the rest of the hotel staff and management left much to be desired.

It was a nightmare due to a stinky bathroom. We requested to change to another suite room, but the staff claimed there were none available, contradicting our reservation. However, when we mentioned checking out, suddenly the presidential suite we originally requested became magically available. This inconsistency and lack of transparency shattered our trust in the hotel management.

In light of this terrible experience, I strongly advise against staying at Vivanta Trivandrum. The hotel failed to live up to its promises and lacked proper maintenance. The disparity between the hotel's online portrayal and the actual experience was significant. Thankfully, we made the decision to move to the Hyatt Regency Trivandrum, which turned out to be a much better choice.

Overall, it was an experience marred by unavailability, dishonesty, and a lack of professionalism. I strongly discourage staying at Vivanta Trivandrum.The worst experience I have encountered in a hotel, and I cannot recommend it to anyone seeking a pleasant and...

Taj Vivanta, Thiruvananthapuram, is a brand-new address of the Taj group of hotels launched just a few months back. It carries around the spirit of Tajness, the epitome of hospitality. A five-star hotel's standard amenities and some added dimensions could be witnessed when one stays here. A well-groomed team under the seasoned leadership of the General Manager, Mr Rana works well-knit to empty your pockets. The food is created to pander to your palates, and here you could order dishes out of the menu, particularly while you partake in the breakfast, lunch or dinner buffets since the buffet spread is not wide due to the raging Covid. Covid has put a spanner in the wheels of booze too, but you can buy and have it inside your room. Pristine swimming pool at the top floor facing the sky beckons you but is not operational due to the pandemic. I hope the bar will be thrown open once the pandemic eases. The gym is equipped with brand new equipment, and you will find a seasoned trainer in MrArumugham, who will help you stretch your muscles. Notable among the staff are the boys Dathan and Sagar, Prasobh, Priyanka, Jomilin and Merlin. Mr Nazim, the operational manager, prances around brimming with energy and is at your disposal in one call. Be it anything, you will not elicit a no from him, and all the employees are trained in the art of pampering. Ritesh Nair, the sous chef, will cook up dishes well-tuned to your gastronomic system, helping you add a few more pounds of flesh. This property has a special place for senior citizen-Chair-car, ramp and exceptional food.

The F&B Manager Mr.Sudheer is here to transport you on a spiritual journey by taking you to the well-known Shri Padmanabha Swamy temple with the added benefit of special darshanams and prasadams because of you being a guest of the Taj. Encounter the panoramic view of the city on the 8th floor. Another inviting factor is the proximity to multiple tourist locations. You wish to go to a beach resort; it is pretty nearby. If you love backwater experience or house boating, it is just 10 km away and Taj Vivanta undertakes to organize the tour. If hill station is your weakness, you could go to the cloud hugging scenic place called Ponmudi, just an hour's drive away. If you are a religious freak, there are several famous temples adjacent to the locality. What's more, all these and more are available for the price of a song. On the food front, you could explore Greek salads or grilled vegetables. At the same time, fish -lovers can kiss meen pollichathu, and a vegetarian can veer around vendakaya mappas, gobi manjurian, kaya kadala ulathu and a core non-veg can demand nadan kozhi curry. Indulge in igniting! Top it with Poli submerged in semiya Payasam, a melting pot on the...