This review first appeared on TripAdvisor but this blog has more photos and a little more detail. TripAdvisor informed me last week that i'm in their Top 5% reviewers from Mumbai so am quite pleased!
Obviously i try to tell it like it is - following a fellow blogger & foodies advice - if its a tiny family-run place be somewhat lenient and if its a huge brand, dont!
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| View from our villa sit-out ( gushing stream cant be seen) |
This is an amazing property with a lot of potential.
I’d been wanting to visit it for a while but the high rates had put me off.
Finally, on a recent weekend, with visiting cousins in tow, we checked in.
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| One of the viillas |
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| View of four poster bed from the expansive sit-out |
The hardware is amazing – great villas, just one or
two adjacent buildings by themselves so a lot of natural forested expanse
between villas. Dry inside and not damp either despite the incessant rain.
My cousin’s family booked a King Spa Pool Villa and
we booked a King Delux Valley Villa.
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| The outdoor shower |
Our villa was luxurious in terms of space:
The bedroom had a 42” TV with all the channels that
we could want. The doors opened onto a large sized covered sit-out/balcony. It
had a day bed for lounging and a small dining table with chairs.
We enjoyed our morning & afternoon tea/coffee
sitting there looking out at the greenery, the misty hills beyond and even
better – the sounds of a busy stream gushing, birdsong including the call of
peacocks!
The bathroom consisted of separate WC, twin sinks,
huge shower and bathing unit (as big as my bedroom at home) and a huge outdoor
shower space enclosed by bamboo for privacy.
The property has some 60 odd villas in 300 acres of
space. An extensive spa complex which includes hydrotherapy and has a lovely
outdoor spa pool. A Yoga cave where my cousin did an hour-long session.
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| Enroute to Spa complex |
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| Spa pool |
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| Spa complex surroundings - nature at its best |
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| Spa Complex |
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| Pool view |
Guests don’t have to walk if they don’t want to –
call “Magic” from your room a golf cart/buggy arrives to take you to your destination!
On checking in, guests are given a map of the property so you get a perspective
of the scale of the Hilton Shillim Estate.
Great room service – fast despite the distance from
the kitchen
The swimming pool – infinity of course
The big let down was the food – very disappointing:
The lunch and dinner buffet were completely
unacceptable. Vegetarian salads only, an un-appetising looking selection
offering only 2 non-veg dishes per meal, tired un-appealing dessert spread. Not
upto Hilton standards! Even hotels like Ekaant Lavasa, The Retreat Malad and
Radisson Blu Alibaug – all at one-third the Hilton rate (if not less), offer
better food!!
The breakfast was at Hilton standard offering smoked salmon, hams, pancakes,
luxury fruit preserves in addition to the standard fare but it just didn’t make
up for the 2 below average meals.
We expressed our disappointment -t the chef sent us a chili chicken for dinner
- complimentary. Later on, we were offered a special meal but as we were about
to check it we couldn’t partake of it!
Activities & Amenities
Apart from yoga in The Cave (how cool),
extensive spa treatments, there is horse riding, an activity centre with TT and
lots of kiddie activities including a soft play area. Cycles available too!
Swimming – in a glorious infinity pool at the
top of a hill overlooking the next hill. The pool bar was also nice – we swam
despite the rain and enjoyed it
To start soon is pottery and other interesting
activities
Many of the other F&B outlets aren’t fully
operational as yet
We booked our chauffeur for the boarding and
lodging package so knew he was fine (Rs 1500/++ per day all meals)
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| Horse-riding |
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| cycling |
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| Swimming |
Distance
It took us a good 3.5 hour drive and part of the
road from Bushy Dam to the Club Mahindra turnoff was awful
Recommended:
Go if you love to be in natural surroundings
while enjoying the luxe life!
Don’t book the all meal package yet – take a
package inclusive of breakfast and eat
lunch and dinner ala carte
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