STRAND HOTEL — Hotel in Mumbai

First and foremost - all the good points:

1. The location is in the old Mumbai area of Colaba, full of old charm and heritage buildings, and the hotel is on the seaside road from Gateway to Radio Club (fairly next to radio club).

Further, the key business area of nariman point and government offices of churchgate area are a short taxi distance away.

2. The room rates are quite decent, a fair value for money, especially for this area.

3. The rooms are kept in the same design and content as they were in 1960-70 ... Lending a great nostalgic value to the staying experience. The wooden staircases (see photo) are maintained well to not feel the need to replace them, the flooring in the corridors are the same patterns and designs of the 60s... (See Photo)

4. The breakfast is simple but sumptuous.

5. The views are good but you really have to work to get them: This view (see photo) is available only if one steps onto the small balcony of the room, bends out and peers to the right through. The view from cafe is good, but again, you have to stand at the window and look past the cars (see photo) and then return to your table for breakfast.

Now some clear words of caution: *Because of the old design, there is a step between the bathroom and the room. This can be dangerous especially for older people not used to it, and needing to use the bathroom in the night. The ACs are window AC type, with a lot of noise and blow of air straight on to the bed. Old style bucket bath, not suitable for people...

I had my room booked for me by a local and the rate was arranged done months ago. When I arrived in the middle of the night the two nasty men on the desk started yelling at me (a single woman) and telling me there was no such arrangement. They wanted to charge me more than double. ||Even at the rate which was pre-arranged I’d have felt depressed by this hotel. Everything is as miserable as the men on the desk. The rooms are awful. The bed felt damp, if not wet and smelled strongly of rubber. You can barely turn around in the bathroom. ||When my friend rang the front desk their attitude changed immensely. The grumpy older gent who had really yelled at me and been hideously rude refused to talk to him and threw the receiver down in a childish display. These men act as if they own this place. Horrible!||You can hear fellow guests yelling in the hallways at night. This feels more like a half way house for middle aged men...and not even a nice one!||For my money, I’d stay at the Residency Hotel in Fort (not far from the Strand). It’s really sweet with very comfy rooms and beautifully turned out. Both are two stars but the difference is like night and day. ||Don’t ruin your trip to this dreamlike place, Mumbai, by staying...

Strand shares a building with the more luxurious (and expensive) Harbour View Hotel and the fantastic Bayview rooftop bar / restaurant. I have mixed feelings about my stay at Strand. The building has an old fashioned feel, but is kept clean and the staff are friendly and helpful. However the rooms and bathrooms urgently need a full renovation.||Although I had booked a Deluxe Room, which was supposedly refurbished, it had an old, decrepit feel, with a cracked wash basin, a safety box which didn't work, a chair with a loose arm and wifi that kept cutting out. The bed was comfy enough, with clean sheets and towels, but the pillows were poor. Although the Ac was noisy it worked well. The shower was good and hot water available.||The complimentary breakfast was poor, comprising just an omelette and 2 slices of hard toast with butter and jam. No decent coffee, juice or fruits. The Indian option may have been better.||For the price paid (over 6,000 INR per night) this was poor value, and unless the rooms and breakfast are improved, cannot be...