Hotel Gautam Lonavala – Food & Stay Review

Hotel Gautam Lonavala is a Rajasthani-themed palace resort located near the Lonavala bus stand. I discovered this resort from Instagram reels, where several vloggers highlighted the Udaipur vibes that one can experience at this hotel in Lonavala. Where they accurate in their claim of royal charm?  Well, here’s my unbiased review.

Hotel Gautam Lonavala – First impressions

What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you see this picture?

OMG! What a beauty… It feels just like Udaipur or some royal palace of Rajasthan. Yes, these thoughts clouded my mind too and hence, I decided to celebrate my birthday with my entire family, booking three rooms, at this resort.

Conveniently situated near the Lonavala market and bus stand, our initial excitement slightly waned as we parked our car outside. The exterior didn’t quite match the beauty as seen in the reels. Nevertheless, we entered the resort and the check in was smooth. Having made a partial payment online, we were asked for our ID proofs, and we settled the remaining payment during the check-in. Swiftly, one room was assigned, and the hotel staff escorted our luggage to our designated room.

As soon as we crossed the reception area, it felt blissful. Thankfully, the interior lived up to the descriptions shared in the reels. It felt dreamy, almost surreal. The resort is indeed beautiful and exudes a royal charm.

Hotel Gautam Lonavala – Most Instagram worthy hotel in Lonavala

Hotel Gautam Lonavala is undeniably the most Instagrammable hotel I have ever visited in Lonavala. The photos you click here can deceive anyone that you are in some exotic location in Rajasthan. But that was it. Beyond the Instagram worthy pictures, there was nothing to explore here. Let me honestly share what I liked and disliked about the resort.

What I liked about my stay

1. The royal architecture (of course, it’s something to fall in love with).
2. The room was decent (small but cozy!)
3. The presence of a swimming pool (at least there was some activity for kids).
4. Breakfast buffet (pure veg but good quality).

What I disliked about my stay

1. Small property (not well-maintained). What you see in this picture is pretty much the resort. The photos might deceive you to believe it is something royal, but the property is not that well-maintained.
2. The rooms had an unpleasant odour. Even after leaving the windows and doors open for a few minutes, the dampness on the walls and carpet, caused by the rain, persisted.
3. The check-in was scheduled for 1 pm, but still it took them an hour to prepare the other two rooms that we had booked.
4. There was no phone service available. Among the three rooms assigned to us, only one had a functional landline phone. Imagine, knocking on the next door every time to ask for any kind of room service.
5. The swimming pool was not clean. Despite requesting the staff to clean it, no steps were taken.
6. The marble stairs that led to the room became slippery due to the rain. Considering we had kids and a senior citizen with us, navigating those stairs felt somewhat risky.
7. I found Gautam Lonavala tariff, approximately Rs. 8,000 per night for two people including breakfast, to be a bit on the higher side. Especially considering the limited amenities available, the cost seems high as compared to many other resorts in Lonavala that offers a wide range of amenities and a big breakfast buffet spread.
8. There was no indoor gaming room or designated gaming zone, nor was there a garden on the premises. The only available play area was rather small and featured a few slides. These slides were also rendered unusable due to the rainy conditions. So, the kids in our group were rather bored at the resort.

Final words

Hotel Gautam Lonavala offers a picturesque resort experience that allows you to enjoy the maharaja vibes close to your city, if you are from Mumbai and Pune. For couples, it is a good stay option for a relaxing getaway to indulge in the royal atmosphere, click pictures, and make reels (that’s what most people were doing here!). However, for families with children, it might not be the most suitable choice. The hotel should consider investing in a game room to make it more suitable for kids, thus enhancing the overall family experience.

For Hotel Gautam Lonavala Booking, you can call on the contact number: 91670 91770. The Hotel Gautam Lonavala tariff typically ranges from Rs. 7,000 to 8,000 per night for two people, and this rate includes breakfast. These are all the details you require to proceed with your booking.

If you have been to this resort, do share your comments. If you have any queries, do ask in the comments.