I am currently staying at Radisson Blu Dharamshala, and this is my third visit to the property. I had stayed here approximately one year ago and again around three years ago. Both previous experiences were exceptional and left such a positive impression that I specifically chose to return once again. In fact, one of the primary reasons for revisiting Dharamshala was to enjoy the hotel itself, as there are limited sightseeing options compared to many other hill destinations.
Unfortunately, this stay has been a major disappointment.
During my earlier visits, the property had a vibrant atmosphere, live music, attentive staff, prompt service, and an overall luxury experience that justified the Radisson Blu brand. This time, however, the ambience feels significantly diminished. There was no live music even on a Saturday evening, and the overall energy and guest experience felt noticeably lacking.
The kids' play area was another disappointment. The PlayStation was not functioning, and even the television intended for movies was not working. Such basic amenities being out of service is not something one expects from a five-star hotel belonging to a reputed international hospitality chain.
Our disappointment began right from check-in. We were initially allotted a Deluxe Room that honestly felt more like a budget accommodation than a premium hotel room. It had very limited natural light, no balcony, and a poor view. Half the window overlooked part of the hotel building, while the other half faced generators and maintenance equipment. It was probably one of the least appealing rooms I have ever been offered in a Radisson property.
To their credit, the staff did respond to our request and offered another room that was somewhat better, although it was still located away from the central area of the property. What was surprising was that the location and nature of these rooms cannot be properly understood while booking online, even for guests who have stayed here previously.
The service experience was equally disappointing. We ordered a couple of drinks and a starter, and after repeated reminders to multiple staff members, the order finally arrived after approximately one hour and fifteen minutes. Even then, only the starter arrived initially, while the drinks were delayed further. Since we were hungry, we ate the starter, which unfortunately had already become cold by the time it reached our table. When the drinks eventually arrived, there was nothing left to accompany them. Such delays and lack of coordination are unacceptable for a hotel of this category.
The following day, the hotel made a thoughtful gesture by offering us a room closer to the main property and the central stage area. I genuinely appreciated this effort and viewed it as a positive attempt to improve our experience.
However, when we went to inspect the newly allotted room, we discovered that it had not been prepared after the departure of the previous guest. The room was unmade, disorganized, and clearly not ready for occupancy. Before leaving for local sightseeing, I personally informed housekeeping, the manager, and other staff members about the situation and requested that the room be prepared while we were away.
To our surprise, when we returned approximately three hours later, the room remained in exactly the same condition. The only change was that our luggage had been transferred from the previous room into the unprepared room. Everything else remained untouched.
At this stage, I am still spending my second night at the hotel and genuinely do not know where the problem lies. Is the property severely understaffed? Is there a lack of training, communication, supervision, or accountability? Or is this indicative of a broader decline in standards?
What makes this experience particularly disappointing is that Radisson Blu Dharamshala itself set very high expectations through the excellent experiences it delivered during my previous visits. Sadly, based on my current stay, the property appears to be moving in the opposite direction. I sincerely hope the management takes these concerns seriously because this hotel has the potential to be outstanding, but at present it is falling far short of the standards it once maintained.
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