GRAND SABAREES — Hotel in Madurai

Warning: Avoid This Hotel – Privacy and Safety at Risk

I stayed at this hotel from February 8th to 12th, and this was not my first visit. Previously, the management and staff were friendly and helpful, which is why I chose to return. However, this time, the experience was completely different. The staff were rude, unfriendly, and openly expected excessive tips. When we did not meet their expectations, their service deteriorated significantly.

The most alarming incident raised serious concerns about the privacy and security of the hotel. On the morning of February 10th, my husband handed our room key to the reception for cleaning, a standard procedure we had followed before. After being out from 6 AM for a pilgrimage, we returned at 11 PM, only to be told that the key card was missing. When we asked the night shift receptionist to check with the staff, he rudely raised his voice and said, “Can you see your card here? If you had given it to us, it would be here. Where else would it be?” This was completely unacceptable, especially after a long and exhausting day.

When we insisted they check the CCTV footage, the staff refused and instead responded with an even more shocking statement: “We have a master key to clean the rooms.” This was deeply disturbing. A master key should only be used in emergencies or when guests specifically request cleaning without providing their key. This response immediately made me question the safety of our belongings. If the staff have unrestricted access to all rooms, what is stopping them from entering at any time, stealing valuables, or even setting up hidden cameras?

As we searched for the missing key, my husband suggested that perhaps the cleaning staff had left it inside the room. Instead of investigating, the hotel demanded we pay 600 rupees for a replacement key and wait at reception. My husband refused, stating that we had paid for the room and should not be forced to sit outside while they sorted out their mistake. He insisted they use the master key to open the door. When we entered, the key was nowhere to be found. Ten minutes later, the staff returned with a new key card but did not mention the 600-rupee charge.

On February 12th, while checking out, the same staff member who had originally taken the key demanded 500 rupees for the “key card issue.” When confronted, he failed to provide a clear explanation. We asked if they had checked the CCTV footage to confirm we had indeed given them the card. The manager, speaking over the phone, mockingly stated that they could not check the CCTV without contacting IT and then had the audacity to say, “You’re coming from overseas, and you can’t even pay 500 rupees for the card?” This blatant attempt at extortion was infuriating. Frustrated, my husband threw the money at the reception and we left.

This hotel is a complete disgrace in terms of customer service, security, and professionalism. The way they treat guests—especially those who do not comply with their unethical demands for excessive tips—is appalling. Do not stay at this hotel if you value your privacy, safety, and basic respect. The exterior may look fine, but beneath the surface, it is nothing...

Reviews Hotel- Hotels is decent. Reviews Cab- Now this is the main review, do not take cab facility provided by the GM of the hotel i.e Mr. Wahith SK. It has been a very bad experience and i doubt the Hotel is having tie up with such a slow class travel agent i.e U2S tours and travel The Cab shown is different however on the day of journey its different - reason cab has failed Driver- Rough driving no professional and does not covers the spot - reason its rush and he can drive in heavy traffic 3.Driver sleeps in 120 KM/h speed we saved out life 3 times in Kanyakumari its was almost a close accident Driver collects the local parking toll, few other permit charges from you which was not agreed, ensure you keep all the receipts with you but you cant since the parking and permit you have to give to drive back at least take a snap of it or else Mr. Wahith will eat your head for cutting the charges driver says its his safety first he need to go home after finishing the trip hence he is driving at 120/ 130 speed on the highways on speedometer he will keep the speed low to get it capture so that even of you go and ask for speed of vehicle on record it will be 78-85 and the next second the speed will be 110 and 120. there were asthma patient with us due to over speed the BP got increase number of times and not the patient is admitted in the hospital just because of driver The driver will not stop the car on the reputed hotel for breakfast, lunch , dinner but will stop at a low to low class tent where there is no washroom for ladies and gents and the food quality is worst driver don't know the places and uses google map for each and every thing. driver is a smoker, my cab driver name was Muthu. driver will park the car very far and will ask you to walk more than 2 KM ever time.

To conclude: Have taken it separately with the Ministry of tourism Madurai, Tamil Nadu and have applied to cancel the license of the driver with immediate effect. I also requested Association of Hospitality management and tours and travels to get the close scrutiny done for U2S tours and travels for this incident. I requested the consumer forum to take Strick action against the Hotel Grand Shabreesh and U2S tours and travels for spoiling the trip and putting out life's at risk. Request all not to book any kind of CAB via this hotel and would request the GM to end the contract with U2S with immediate effect.

CC- Ministry of Tourism TamilNadu, Consumer forum, Association of Hospitality managment, RTO officer Tamil Nadu

Note: The above review are only on the CAB and its driver and hotel dont play any role in it apart from what they...

I stayed along with my family in Room no-501 at Hotel Grand Sabarees, Madurai from 21st-23rd Oct., 2023! The Hotel is very much neat and clean and most of the staff-members are cordial. But two things are extremely negative about this Hotel. First, there is no Dining Hall inside the Hotel and hence, forget lunch or dinner, you have to solely depend upon the Hotel staffs for your “complimentary breakfast’ which they will bring (as per their choice) after a prolonged period from a nearby restaurant, killing “your valuable time in the morning”. Secondly, the service in the Hotel is very bad, or, rather worst. If we ordered for anything like water or soap, they took much time to deliver the stuffs. It seems there is no coordination between the Reception staffs and the House- keeping staffs. In this age of cut-throat competition in the Hotel service industry, I have two suggestions for the Hotel Management: 1) Please ensure to keep only those staffs, who are professional/punctual and well versed in Tamil & English (knowing additional languages will be appreciated, though not mandatory); 2) Kindly be more generous and keep at least two 01 liter water bottles in every room (at par with the all-India standard) and not two half liter bottles (for that, if you want, you may slightly increase the Tariff...