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Review for Ekostay Amani Villa – One-Night Stay
We stayed at Ekostay Amani Villa for one night as a group of six women, and unfortunately, our overall experience was very disappointing.
Cleanliness & Maintenance
The villa is not well maintained. The mats had a strong, unpleasant odor, and one bedroom had water leakage. Another bathroom had a missing flush tank knob, making it inconvenient to use. Cleanliness standards were clearly neglected throughout the property. Mouldy furniture covered with thick sheets with stains.
Safety & Security
The villa is located in a remote rural area with no internet access and poor mobile network coverage. The property is managed by 6–7 men, including two teenagers, which made us feel very unsafe as an all-women group. The secluded location and lack of any proper communication network added to our discomfort.
Electricity Problems
There were multiple power blackouts through the evening and night, which caused a lot of inconvenience and disturbed our sleep. The villa has no proper backup or power management system.
Swimming Pool
The pool was dirty and unfiltered. The filter wasn’t running, the water looked murky, and the floor was slippery. It was not maintained and clearly unfit for use.
Bathroom Issues
Shower pressure was extremely low and the water temperature swung between scalding hot and ice cold—making even a basic bath uncomfortable.
Food, Beverages & Hygiene
Food was a major letdown. The starters were excessively spicy, to the point where they were barely edible. The tea was poorly made, and overall, the food lacked flavor and care. What was even more concerning was the lack of basic food hygiene. Meals were being prepared in a small outhouse located right next to the pool, where the male staff was staying. There was no proper kitchen hygiene or separation between cooking and living areas, which was extremely off-putting.
🚫* NO Privacy – Major Concern*
The most troubling part of our stay was the complete lack of privacy. Male caretakers were constantly present inside the villa, washing utensils in the kitchen, rearranging crockery, and cleaning floors (even when not asked to). Despite repeated requests to leave us alone and give us space, they continued to linger. There was no separate utensil washing area, so the villa’s main kitchen was always occupied. Their presence in and around the living and pool areas was extremely intrusive and made us feel watched and uncomfortable throughout the stay.
❗ Verdict
Despite how it may look online, this property is not suitable for women travelers or families expecting privacy, cleanliness, or a safe environment. Major improvements are urgently needed in property management, staffing protocols, hygiene, and basic maintenance. Until these are addressed, we strongly do not...
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⭐⭐⭐⭐ 4/5
Review for Ekostay Amani Villa – Stayed on 17th August 2024
We had booked the villa for a one-night stay (17th August – 18th August). Since we are a group of 13 people working in real estate, we reached the property around 7:30 pm after work.
Travel & Location: The drive from Mumbai to Khopoli was absolutely fantastic in the rains, taking us just over 2 hours. Google Maps guided us well, though the final approach is a little challenging if you have a long sedan or an MUV like the Innova Crysta.
Booking & Cost: We paid ₹10,500 for the villa, though I’d recommend booking directly via the website as it gives you a ₹500 discount.
The Villa: The villa itself was fantastic. • The lawn was slightly waterlogged due to heavy rain, but the swimming pool was clean with a working filter. • Entrance is lawn-facing with a large heavy door, leading into a spacious living area, kitchen, and a bedroom with a deck. There’s also a common washroom and a service room for staff to keep essentials. • The staircase can get a little slippery in rains, and you’ll find frogs, crabs, and even a cow at the entrance in a small shelter — adding to the rustic vibe. • The first floor is a highlight: a semi-panoramic glass wall overlooking lush greenery, a living room with a carrom board and even a quirky car-shaped bed with a sink nearby. • Three numbered bedrooms on this floor were spotlessly clean, aesthetically done, and had attached bathrooms. • The kitchen was well-stocked with utensils and could easily cater to a group of 30, with gas supply available.
Staff & Safety: The caretakers are all men, which may concern some guests (especially on girls’ trips). However, they seemed safe and professional. Just communicate your boundaries clearly (e.g., not wanting them inside).
Downsides: • Ekostay’s rules & fines are quite strange. From past experience at another Ekostay property (where we were fined ₹2,000 just for using the pool on checkout day), we knew to expect this. Since the pool officially closes at 10:30 pm, we prepaid a fine of ₹3,000 to use it late into the night (till 3:30 am). So, our total came to ₹13,500. • Electricity shortages are a major issue here. At times, even water supply to first-floor bathrooms stopped, so we had to request the caretakers to turn on the generator for basic use. • The pool area directly faces the caretakers’ quarters, and clothes were hanging there, which slightly affected the overall vibe. This could be better managed.
Verdict: Despite the quirks, the villa offered a beautiful stay and was well worth the price for its space, views, and comfort. The only real letdown was the electricity problem. Overall, I’d still give it...
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Pros- beautiful mountain View from villa. Caretakers were very helpful and timely in serving meals.
Cons- The pool is small and barely 5 ft deep. The lawn needs maintenance. In monsoons it is very muddy and swampy. Constant water logging around the pool making it very slippery and difficult to walk around. The food was ok. Taste was decent but our pasta salad from morning was directly reused into white sauce pasta at night. Dal and sabzi was reused into the pav bhaji. Kolhapuri sabzi was not even spicy. There are no dustbins for the toilet paper in the washroom.
We did not find the villa worth the cost we paid. Also, biggest con for us was ekostay service. I will never book ekostay again. We had asked them to share menu over chat because it would not load on the website. They sent us wrong menu and when we later asked why a few things were not included after our payment was already done. They just refused to accept their mistake and rudely told us u will get only this much and if you want additional starters u have to pay more. Even an acceptance of their mistake would have been ok for us. This behaviour was very bad...
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