Vihang Vihar Resort — Hotel in Maharashtra

Vihang Vihar was a stay which gave us mixed feelings. Let’s take it one by one. First, the location. It is around an hour or so away from the highway. The property is located right on the beach, so one gets to stroll on the beach as soon as you step out of their back gate. Its actually the point where the vaitarna river meets the sea. We had booked the ‘premium’ Glass house. This house is quite pretty to look at, but be sure you ask which side you are booking. They have split the house into two parts separated by a door, and each side has a mezzanine where there are beds, along with the ground floor which also has beds. Bathrooms are on the ground floor. However, the pond facing side is too small and congested, whereas the pool facing one is a lot more comfortable. We had booked for ‘two’ rooms, turned out to be the same house with a partition. Good for us though, we travelled as a family. Here I have to point out that there is no real boundary between others visiting and you living in the house, since people can stroll around and even sit on the house steps outside the door or lean on to the ‘glass walls’ to peep inside. There are curtains indoors, but there is no sense of real privacy honestly. Then we realised that their “DJ area” is literally just outside the glass house. When they started mic testing for the DJ night that evening, the sound was just too loud. We werent even aware of any such “DJ” events and were taken aback by how close to the house the noisy area was. When I called the front desk, I was surprised by their attitude! When I asked them “is this how loud this DJ thing is going to be?” I was told, “This is a resort, there WILL be DJ.” When I said we have a toddler and senior citizens in our group, we hope this wont go till late, I was told, “We have senior citizens asking us for DJs, this is the way it is.” I was shocked by these answers! They mean to say, you come here and then it’s your fault if you were looking for a peaceful evening. Never heard these kind of answers. I was told it will end by 1030 at night, which thankfully it did. The crowd of course lingered on for a while longer.....just right outside our glass walls as we tried to get some sleep inside. Second issue: They advertise as “krishi paryatan” and “agro tourism”. Unfortunately, there was nothing much to see or experience at all. We have been to other agro tourism places and this pales in comparison. Looks like their Pool Djs and DJ nights are their main draw. Third issue...There is a small pavillion with some geese, which you can go and see. There we encountered a heavily drunk guy who tried to strike a conversation with us. Looked like he was a caretaker there. This was surely another red flag. Fourth issue....They give these pre-wedding photo shoot packages, which means these people will crowd up places for their shoots. Not just that, the worst part? While we headed for lunch at their common meals area, we noticed this photo shoot couple creeping up to our glass house and literally entering it!!! The guy opened the door and went inside already!! Thankfully we saw this and I raised an alarm, to which I was told him him and his photographers, that “he didn’t know the room was taken”!! What utter nonsense!! Pls make sure you double check the locks here, coz you never know which one of the over enthu visitors might barge in. Now coming to the good part of the stay....The food! Fantastic food served. They have buffets for all meals which are covered in your cost price. Good variety of veg and non veg (though breakfast was underwhelming). But the pick of the lot was the ala carte bombil and prawns fry we had ordered in the room. Never had better bombil fry! Do try. Their service is nice and efficient, and the staff is cooperative in that sense (except for the guy who gave me the load of nonsensne from the front desk on the DJ night situation). Their attractions are their Toy Train which takes you around the property and the paddle boats. Both were fun. In fact we all enjoyed the train rides, so simple yet so enjoyable, taking you back to childhood days. So pro-tips to keep in mind while going here....1) Take your own vehicle, its just too far away from the nearest railway station 2) Do NOT expect a serene and quiet outing, it’ll be a DJ thing all day, right from their pool side to later outside the glass house in the evening 3) There is not much of agro tourism, go visit only if you are into pool shenanigans, and loud music 4) Give their a la carte menu a shot, some lovely food served! 5) if possible, ask for the “Square glass house” since that one looks a bit further down, and not bang in the centre of...

Overall, it is nice place but much scope of improvement in all aspects, need strong management and maintainance.||Boating, beach, toy train - main activities. Nothing else much. No indoor kids area. ||They didn't have intercom / telephone inside room, network issue in room, only way to contact front desk/ housekeeping via phone call via wifi. And 80-90% time phone is busy or they don't receive. ||Room : 3/5|We stayed in super delux room (probably only one such room in resort) . We stayed Lake facing and another couple with us in front side of room. ||Lake facing room is too small and congested. Upper floor room need grills over both side of stairs to avoid accidental fall of kids. And balcony in Lake facing room isn't of much use due to ++ insects , we didn't even sit for a min there. Bad odour also in Lake facing room due to stagnant water. |Wall corners were also dirty, not cleaned properly and had spiders. ||Bathroom shower area has no separate partition/curtain even so water will be spilled in entire bathroom and no floor Matt inside.||Toiletries : 2.5/5||They didn't provide tooth paste and only one dental kit having only tooth brush. Called multiple times in morning but no one picked up, msged on WhatsApp too but no one reverted. ||Internet : Good thing they provided smart tv with wifi but unfortunately our room wifi wasn't connected in tv but working in mobile while front room wifi was connected to tv. No one came to check or resolve tv wifi connection issue.||Service & Hospitality: 2/5 (3.5/5 in restaurant)||No hospitality .||To ask for housekeeping or anything, need to call from mobile and no intercom available and call is usually busy. They provide house keeping only two times in 24 hrs as per their telephonic conversation but after request, they told they will send but that too take 1.5+ hours after call. ||Restaurant: ||Open restaurant. Old routine chair tables.|Many mosquito and ants.|I saw ant over idli as well |I suggest to keep close indoor space for lunch dinner.||Food variety : 3.5/5|Taste : 4/5||Food was homely, chapati was also available. ||Swimming pool : 3.5/5||No shower area, no towel poolside. |2 water slides were there |Rain dance is also there pool side . In pool also one area with rain showers but they didn't start it while we were there. ||Beach : Not actual beach as water nearby only during high tide . But it was good to walk there and spend some time. Could place chair and tables just near entry of beach. ||Boating was average, poorly maintained boats and ++ mosquitos. Wear full pant to avoid mosquito bite ||Suggestion to keep indoor restaurant , flowing water to control mosquito , indoor kids play area and cleaning & maintainance of rooms, boating and available amenities and keep extended time for activities instead just 3-6pm. And dinner start time earlier 8pm instead 9pm and keep...

Overall, it is nice place but much scope of improvement in all aspects, need strong management and maintainance.

Boating, beach, toy train - main activities. Nothing else much. No indoor kids area.

They didn't have intercom / telephone inside room, network issue in room, only way to contact front desk/ housekeeping via phone call via wifi. And 80-90% time phone is busy or they don't receive.

Room : 3/5 We stayed in super delux room (probably only one such room in resort) . We stayed Lake facing and another couple with us in front side of room.

Lake facing room is too small and congested. Upper floor room need grills over both side of stairs to avoid accidental fall of kids. And balcony in Lake facing room isn't of much use due to ++ insects , we didn't even sit for a min there. Bad odour also in Lake facing room due to stagnant water. Wall corners were also dirty, not cleaned properly and had spiders.

Bathroom shower area has no separate partition/curtain even so water will be spilled in entire bathroom and no floor Matt inside.

Toiletries : 2.5/5

They didn't provide tooth paste and only one dental kit having only tooth brush. Called multiple times in morning but no one picked up, msged on WhatsApp too but no one reverted.

Internet : Good thing they provided smart tv with wifi but unfortunately our room wifi wasn't connected in tv but working in mobile while front room wifi was connected to tv. No one came to check or resolve tv wifi connection issue.

Service & Hospitality: 2/5 (3.5/5 in restaurant)

No hospitality .

To ask for housekeeping or anything, need to call from mobile and no intercom available and call is usually busy. They provide house keeping only two times in 24 hrs as per their telephonic conversation but after request, they told they will send but that too take 1.5+ hours after call.

Restaurant:

Open restaurant. Old routine chair tables. Many mosquito and ants. I saw ant over idli as well I suggest to keep close indoor space for lunch dinner.

Food variety : 3.5/5 Taste : 4/5

Food was homely, chapati was also available.

Swimming pool : 3.5/5

No shower area, no towel poolside. 2 water slides were there Rain dance is also there pool side . In pool also one area with rain showers but they didn't start it while we were there.

Beach : Not actual beach as water nearby only during high tide . But it was good to walk there and spend some time. Could place chair and tables just near entry of beach.

Boating was average, poorly maintained boats and ++ mosquitos. Wear full pant to avoid mosquito bite

Suggestion to keep indoor restaurant , flowing water to control mosquito , indoor kids play area and cleaning & maintainance of rooms, boating and available amenities and keep extended time for activities instead just 3-6pm. And dinner start time earlier 8pm instead 9pm and keep...