John’s Homestay — Hotel in Jammu and Kashmir

Would definitely not recommend this place unless you are in desperate need of a room under budget.

I see most of the reviews being positive and I was wondering if its me who’s the problem but no, here are a few points that I experienced during my stay that I would like to highlight .

I booked the private double room.

Firstly, the location seems to be in an isolated area, where commute is rather difficult(specially in winters). You would have to walk for a kilometre or 2 just to find a store or something to eat.

Secondly, the rooms were spacious and nice but unfortunately there was no heating in the room - the room was ICE COLD! All we had was an electric blanket (which caused an electric spark, while we were sleeping) There were frequent power cuts, though there were generators, we were prohibited by the owners to use the electric blanket on the generator, and if we did, there was a caution that, if u dont plug it when the electricity is back, the fuse mig hot blow up and you will have to pay 20,000! We were absolutely clueless on how all of it works! The onus was on us to take care of their electrical appliances.

The power would go during any time of the day or night and we would just stay up freezing because there was nothing to keep us warm. Even the geyser wouldnt work. Charging ports would slow down the charging and wouldn’t work at times.

There was a heater but they said they will charge 200 per day which was okay but then they said that it might burst and cause a fire so we were only allowed to use it for an hour.

VIP treatment is given to foreigners it seems.

The family seems sweet yet a bit rude at times, we asked for hot water to drink (which John uncle said was accessible through out our stay) and his wife would question us why do you need hot water and would make faces and would slam the door on us.

We also asked for a dry towel, which they provide for free, but suddenly they started asking for 50rs to use a towel! Didnt get the purpose for asking money for a towel.

The room and bathroom slippers provided werent helpful at all and would not help you from the ice cold floor.

The owner also provides cab services for touring around Kashmir but beware as the prices might be high and be sure to negotiate.

Overall, it was a below average experience, there’s a lot of things that they could work on apart from the location bit as its beyond their control. But the rest, they...

I stayed at John's Homestay (well more like a hostel than a homestay! Maybe they could change the name to attract more backpackers) for over a week. It is the best and cleanist hostel I have stayed in during my whole time in S. Asia. It was way better than the Hosteller I stayed at in Rishikesh. The dorm is newly made, so all the beds and sheets etc are in good condition, mattresses are very comfy, not too hard, not too soft. Ali cleans the bathroom and hostel room regularly (though maybe under the beds could also be cleaned), the bathroom was always very clean. The beds have curtains so you can have privacy, individual lights, fans and plug sockets for charging too. It's family run and independent which is nice too. It was nice to have the garden to sit in, though it does get very hot in the sun - could use some more trees to provide shade. Food is available to order at a very reasonable rate. I ate veg curry and rice regularly. Unfortunately I did fall sick (I think from the food as it is the only place I ate). I can't say for 100% and this shouldn't cause guests not to stay here, but it is maybe a note for them to upgrade their kitchen hygeine knowledge, e.g. by fully drying plates/bowls before serving food in them to remove contaminated tap water; taking care not to cross contaminate vegetarian food with meat; not reheating food but always cooking fresh etc. Overall I am very happy with my stay here, would stay again and can recommend to...

If you’re ever planning a trip to Srinagar, John’s Home Stay is an absolute gem that I highly recommend for families. Our stay there was nothing short of amazing, and much of the credit goes to the incredible hospitality of John Uncle and his son, Ali.

From the moment we arrived, John Uncle’s warm and welcoming demeanor made us feel right at home. He went above and beyond to ensure our stay was comfortable and stress-free.

Ali, his son, is equally amazing. He’s also an expert when it comes to planning tours across Jammu & Kashmir. He took the time to help us craft an itinerary that balanced famous spots with hidden gems, ensuring we could experience the true essence of the region on our next trip and the current one was on a no plan basis. He also provides a bike rental service (a great way to explore Srinagar and beyond!).

Their genuine care and effort in making our trip memorable stood out throughout. From thoughtful recommendations on must-visit places to helping us with logistics, they truly made us feel like family. If you’re considering visiting J&K, staying at John’s Home Stay will make your journey even more special.

Amazing Hosts Very afforfable rates Clean neat and Spacious rooms Supporting with Reliable cars rentals Full time hot water supply and heated beds Break fast on demand - Good Tasty and in Budget. The beautify and friendly...