Zostel Coorg, Madikeri — Hotel in Karnataka

During my recent stay at Zostel, I had an overall mixed experience that led me to give it a 3-star rating. While there were several positive aspects that I appreciated, there were also some areas where improvements could be made. In this detailed write-up, I will outline both the positive and negative aspects that influenced my rating.

Positive Aspects:

Friendly Staff: The staff at Zostel were incredibly friendly and welcoming. They greeted me with warmth and provided helpful information about the surrounding area and local attractions. Their positive attitude and willingness to assist made me feel comfortable during my stay.

Cleanliness: The hostel was generally well-maintained and clean. The common areas, including the lounge and kitchen, were regularly tidied up, and the bathrooms were kept reasonably clean. I appreciated the effort put into ensuring a hygienic environment.

Convenient Location: Zostel's location was convenient, situated in a central area close to public transportation and popular landmarks. This made it easy for me to explore the city and access various amenities nearby. The proximity to local attractions was a definite plus.

Areas for Improvement:

Noise Levels: Unfortunately, the noise levels at Zostel were quite high, particularly during the night. The thin walls and lack of soundproofing contributed to disturbances that affected my sleep quality. It would be beneficial if the management took steps to address this issue, such as adding soundproofing measures or implementing quiet hours.

Room Comfort: While the hostel provided the basics, the overall comfort level of the rooms could be improved. The beds were somewhat uncomfortable, and the bedding seemed worn out. Upgrading the mattresses and providing more comfortable pillows and blankets would greatly enhance the sleeping experience for guests.

Limited Amenities: I found the amenities at Zostel to be somewhat limited. For instance, there were no individual lockers in the dorm rooms to securely store personal belongings. This lack of security made me feel a bit uneasy during my stay. Additionally, having more power outlets available in the common areas and dorm rooms would be beneficial for guests who needed to charge their electronic devices.

Conclusion: In conclusion, my stay at Zostel was a mixed experience that led me to give it a 3-star rating. The friendly staff and cleanliness were positive aspects that I appreciated. However, the issues with noise levels, room comfort, and limited amenities were areas where improvements could be made. By addressing these concerns, Zostel could enhance the overall guest experience and potentially earn higher ratings...

Stayed there for a night - we had booked 2 rooms. One in the main building, and other in a villa across the street. ||Not a pleasant experience at all. ||The private balcony, is not really private. This is a part of a house converted into a hotel. The "private" balcony leads to the out side of the house. ||The room in the basement - can get quite claustrophobhic.|| ||||In both the rooms - the fans were super noisy. Will ensure you do not get a peaceful sleep on a warm day or in the event that you need to close the windows due to generator noise all night long. ||||The night we stayed there --- at about 10.00pm there was a power failure - they started the generator for backup - it was crazy loud and went on for the whole night and the following morning util our checkout. So loud that we just could not sleep. Asked the owner of the property to look into it -- maybe put the generator in an enclosed area to reduce the sound level. I doubt that will happen anytime soon. ||||The bathroom in one of the room was all wet when we checked in (late in the evening) and the reason given was super lame - they had reflooring done the week before :-). Even the "only" shelf in the bathroom is broken and resting on a single screw. ||The sheets / bathroom linen seemed decent but we avoided it looking at the room condition. ||||The food prepared was quite good and reasable. The manager and caretaker were helpful when it came to food and helping with queries. ||||Getting there is a challenge and needs some off-roading to do. The last 1.5km is in a horrible condition. So if you have a small hatch, then avoid this place. Also, there are no sign boards - the owner expects them to get within a few months. You have to rely on whatsapp live location sharing and manager, Nandan's help for this. ||||Overall, except the food (nothing out of the ordinary but simple and tasted well) there is nothing much to look forward to. Given the COVID conditions still looming aroud, this place can be avoided. They need to ensure the cleanliness is maintained. ||||Worst still -- the manager of the hotel smokes right outside your room. Saw that for the first time and was shocked. ||Definitely stay far far away...

They are money hungry and unethical I had booked paying 100% advance and agreed on 3 adult stay in a villa

Checked in, stayed, at the time of check out they asked for extra person charge of rs 1200 I asked them that I had spoken to the owner already, to this the owner said okay give 100 rs less... They were adamant and made us pay the extra person charge. I argued why they didn't tell this at the time of check-in - no answer. I argued that they didn't even provide extra mattress for the extra person that they are charging me for - they said you'd have gotten it had you asked for it but you have to pay the amount now.

On top of it I had reached there at 11 am but check in was given at 3 pm. They were "sorry" as the already occupied guest had gone out with the keys. We Cooperated, attended out meetings on the staircase of the forest. Still, they were pretty mean to us while checking out.

The location is way too much in the forest where if you want to have outside food you'd have to go 9km towards the city. One does not have any option but to avail their inhouse services which, btw, are charged exorbitantly. 300 per head for meal (very basic meal of 2 vegetables chapati and rice). They asked rs 700 for lighting up the bonfire! :D

On top of it, we paid all the ridiculous charges they'd asked for. And when we asked for the bill we were provided bill only for the stay amount. For their in house services (which amounted 3k for 2 day stay for us) they didn't provide a bill. After a long argument, they emailed a ms word printed table that had the amount and the details. No stamp or anything.

Also, given the price level they don't maintain the place as well. All the games are broken. Water is chargeable. Last 2km drive to the zostel is a nightmare.

Avoid ! One can get much cheaper options within the city, and even in the forest also.

P.S. I travelled mid Jun...