Nashik's BEST Hotel? Holiday Inn Express Indira Nagar Review!
Okay, buckle up Buttercups! Let's dive headfirst into the swirling vortex of…Holiday Inn Express Indira Nagar, Nashik! Is it the "BEST" hotel? Well, hold my chai, because we’re about to find out, warts and all. And trust me, I've got a whole lot of warts to talk about when it comes to hotels. SEO be damned; authenticity is the name of the game!
First Impressions (and a slight panic attack about the keycard)
From the get-go, accessibility is a BIG deal for me. I’m not a mobility whiz, and I’m always eyeing up those ramps and elevators. Good news! Holiday Inn Express Indira Nagar seems to have the right idea. Wheelchair accessible? Check! They've clearly thought about getting around with ease. And the elevator? Crucial. (Though, side note: the keycard reader on my floor… I swear it took me five tries to get it to work. My brain was screaming, "IS IT ME? AM I THE PROBLEM?!")
Internet: The Lifeline (or a Source of Fury, Depending on the Speed):
Okay, let's be real. In this day and age, internet access (LAN, Wi-Fi – free! – in all rooms, and Wi-Fi in public areas) is a must. I mean, I kinda need it to… you know… WORK. (And stalk people on Instagram, but shhh!) The Wi-Fi was generally solid. Not lightning-fast, like a caffeinated cheetah, but definitely functional. Enough to get my work done, and maybe stream a bad reality TV show. (Yes, I’m judging myself. Hard.)
The Rooms: Clean, Comfy, and… (Mostly) Quiet?
Alright, let's be completely honest, the rooms – especially with **air conditioning (!!) – are the key components of every guest experience. **I was happy to have a non-smoking room.
- Available in all rooms
- Alarm clock
- Bathtub
- Bathroom phone
- Bathrobes
- Blackout curtains
- Coffee/tea maker
- Complimentary tea & Water
- Daily housekeeping
- Desk
- Extra long bed
- Hair dryer
- In-room safe box
- Internet access – wireless
- Ironing facilities
- Laptop workspace
- Linens
- Mini bar
- Private bathroom
- Refrigerator
- Seating area
- Separate shower/bathtub
- Shower
- Slippers
- Smoke detector
- Sofa
- Soundproofing
- Telephone
- Toiletries
- Towels
- Wake-up service
- Wi-Fi [free]
- Window that opens.
They were pretty clean. Spotlessly so. And let’s be honest, after a long flight, a soft bed and blackout curtains are my version of heaven. The soundproofing was mostly effective, so I didn't get the impression that the neighbors were a part of my family, or that I was a part of theirs.
The Bathroom Conundrum:
Sometimes, the bathrooms in budget hotels can… be a bit sketchy. Let me tell you, this was not the case. The bathroom was clean. I can't emphasize this enough. The toiletries were standard fare, which is perfectly fine. The shower worked, the water was hot. No complaints here.
Cleanliness and Safety: My New Favorite Obsession:
Post-pandemic, sanitisation is my new religion. And Holiday Inn Express Indira Nagar seemed to take it seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products
- Daily disinfection in common areas.
- Doctor/nurse on call
- First aid kit
- Hand sanitizer, etc.
- Hygiene certification
- Individually-wrapped food options
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter
- Professional-grade sanitizing services
- Rooms sanitized between stays
- Safe dining setup
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items
- Staff trained in safety protocol
- Sterilizing equipment
Knowing that places are cleaned properly soothes even the most anxious travelers. This hotel really does the right thing.
Food, Glorious Food (and a Slight Indigestion Incident):
Let's get down to the important stuff. The food.
- A la carte in restaurant
- Asian breakfast
- Bar
- Breakfast [buffet]
- Breakfast service
- Buffet in restaurant
- Coffee/tea in restaurant
- Coffee shop
- Desserts in restaurant
- International cuisine in restaurant
- Restaurants
- Vegetarian restaurant
- Western breakfast
- Western cuisine in restaurant
The breakfast buffet was… well, it was a buffet. The usual suspects: eggs, toast (the bread was a bit dry, actually), some Indian options. The coffee was decent. Here comes the slightly embarrassing part: I might have overindulged in the pastries one morning. Let's just say my stomach and I had a very frank conversation later. But hey, that's on me.
The coffee shop had some better stuff. The restaurant offered meals. As for the bar, well, I'll admit I didn't frequent it. I was too busy trying to recover from the pastry incident.
Things to Do (or not):
Okay, here’s where things get a little… meh.
- Fitness center
- Gym/fitness
- Sauna
- Spa
- Steamroom
- Swimming pool
- Swimming pool [outdoor]
It has a fitness center. Okay. I walked past it. Didn’t go in. There’s an outdoor pool. It looked… inviting? I didn’t have my swimsuit. The spa – well, I’m not sure if there really was one. I didn't see anything resembling it. So if you’re looking for a swanky spa experience, this ain’t it.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter:
This is where Holiday Inn Express really shines.
- Air conditioning in public area
- Audio-visual equipment for special events
- Business facilities
- Cash withdrawal
- Contactless check-in/out
- Convenience store
- Currency exchange
- Daily housekeeping
- Dry cleaning
- Elevator
- Food delivery
- Gift/souvenir shop
- Invoice provided
- Ironing service
- Laundry service
- Luggage storage
- Meeting/banquet facilities
- On-site event hosting
- Projector/LED display
- Safety deposit boxes
- Smoking area
- Terrace
- Xerox/fax in business center
Cash withdrawal, concierge, daily housekeeping, luggage storage… Everything you'd expect, and really need. Plus, they provide an elevator, which is important to me. They offered daily housekeeping, an essential. I wouldn't call it "luxury," but it gets the job done.
For the Kids (and the Big Kids Who Are Still Kids at Heart):
- Babysitting service
- Family/child friendly
- Kids meal
This hotel claims to be family-friendly.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer
- Bicycle parking
- Car park [free of charge]
- Car park [on-site]
- Car power charging station
- Taxi service
- Valet parking
Car park [free of charge]? Yes, thank you! I have zero tolerance for hidden fees. The location, away from the main hustle and bustle, really appealed to me.
The Verdict: Is It the BEST Hotel in Nashik?
Okay, so… is it the “BEST” hotel in Nashik? Honestly? That depends on what you're looking for. If you want a luxurious, over-the-top spa experience with Michelin-star dining, then maybe not.
But for a clean, comfortable, and surprisingly convenient stay, with solid service, and decent Wi-Fi, it’s a solid choice. I’d stay there again, even with the keycard reader drama. I’d probably just skip the pastry section at breakfast.
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your polished, perfectly-planned travel itinerary. This is my Nashik adventure, a glorious, messy, probably slightly chaotic, and definitely opinionated account of my time at the Holiday Inn Express Nashik Indira Nagar. Get ready for a whirlwind – and pray I remember which day is which.
Day 1: Arrival and the Existential Dread of a New Hotel – (or, "Why is the AC Blowing Directly on My Face?")
14:00 - 14:30: Arrived at the hotel. The aircon… oh, the aircon. They seem to think freezing equals luxury. Immediately, I was battling a potential cold. Check-in was smooth enough, though the "welcome drink" seemed suspiciously like watered-down juice. Still, free juice is free juice, right? I swear I saw a tiny, disgruntled pigeon outside the window. We will have to give it a name later.
14:30 - 15:30: Unpacking. The eternal struggle. My suitcase is a black hole of mismatched socks and hopeful travel-sized toiletries. Found a rogue protein bar that had clearly been through a war. Decided it deserved to be eaten… maybe. The room, though small, was clean. Thank god. My first thought about the room was, "Okay, this is a place to sleep. Don't expect too much. Just sleep. And pray you don't get food poisoning."
15:30 - 16:00: Tried unsuccessfully to figure out the TV remote. Ended up resorting to shouting at it in increasingly frustrated tones. Finally gave up and decided to embrace the silence, punctuated only by the chilling blast of the air conditioner. This is the life, I thought, as I tried to warm myself up.
16:00 – 17:00: Food! Found out a delicious restaurant nearby, which was a much-needed escape from the Hotel room. I found a local spot and devoured something. I’m not saying I remember what, just the taste of authentic Indian food. The spiciness was overwhelming, but also, incredibly satisfying.
17:00 – 20:00: Back to the hotel. Showering (that's another struggle, because the water will go cold at any moment). And then sleep.
20:00 – 22:00: Sleep.
Day 2: Temples, Taxis, and Questionable Chai – (or, "Is This Line Actually Moving?")
07:00 - 08:00: Breakfast at the hotel. The buffet was… functional. The scrambled eggs looked suspiciously yellow, and the coffee tasted like disappointment. But hey, fuel is fuel. And it's free. I'm not complaining… too much.
08:00 - 09:00: Taxi hunt. Navigating the chaos of Nashik traffic is a sport, people. Found a driver who looked vaguely trustworthy. Negotiating the price was a hilarious dance of pointing, gesturing, and uttering increasingly ridiculous numbers. I’m pretty sure I overpaid, but at that point, my will to live had dwindled dramatically.
09:00 - 12:00: Visited the temples. It was… an experience. The energy was palpable, the colours vibrant, and the crowds… massive. I got bumped, jostled, and nearly lost my shoes. But somehow, it was also incredibly moving. I saw a man crying. I felt like crying. (It was probably the fumes.) I'm not a religious person, but even I felt something in those temples. I bought a prayer. I don't know what I prayed for. Hopefully, safe travels.
12:00 - 13:00: Chai break. Or, a tea break. I can't remember the exact name. The chai was good. It was hot. It was sweet. It was a tiny moment of calm in a sea of beautiful insanity. I wanted to buy another one. I'm not sure how many I drunk, I was so dehydrated.
13:00 - 15:00: Lunch. Again. My stomach has become a bottomless pit of Indian deliciousness. Found a restaurant with a view (though the view was mainly of other buildings. What could you expect), and feasted. The food was incredible—the spices, the textures, my tongue was on fire. So was my brain. Too much spice. Still, I enjoyed.
15:00 - 16:00: Nap. Needed. Exhausted.
16:00 - 19:00: Back out and about. Exploring the market. Bargaining with vendors. Buying things I definitely don't need. It was a sensory overload. The smells, the sounds, the colors… it was overwhelming. But wonderful. Found some spices, and brought them back to the hotel, and probably won't use them.
19:00 - 21:00: Dinner at the hotel. I was too tired to go out again. It was fine.
21:00 - 22:00: Early sleep.
Day 3: The Wine Tour and the "Oh My Gods!" Moment – (Or, “I Think I Drank Too Much Wine”)
08:00 - 09:00: Breakfast. Same as yesterday. Same disappointment with the coffee. Managed to get slightly happier.
09:00 - 11:00: Wine tour. Nashik is known for its wineries. And yes, I went! I was a bit skeptical, but it turned out to be…amazing. The scenery was beautiful, the wine was delicious, and the tour guide was charming. I drank more wine than I should have. I tasted red, white, and rose. I was beginning to feel the effects of the alcohol. Everything was hilarious.
11:00 - 13:00: More Wine drinking. Did I mention I drank too much wine? I did. It was glorious. We laughed, we learned, we tasted.
13:00 - 14:00: Food. Lunch at the winery!! They gave us great food to line our stomach. Much needed.
14:00 - 16:00: Back to the hotel. And I was starting to feel the effects. Nap.
16:00 - 18:00: Hotel pool. Or more like, I watched the pool. I was tired.
18:00 - 20:00: Dinner outside the hotel. Then, bed.
Day 4: Departure and the lingering scent of spices – (or, “Will I Ever Get That AC Blast Out of My System?”)
- 07:00 - 08:00: One last sad breakfast. Said goodbye to the hotel.
- 08:00 - 10:00: A taxi to the airport.
- 10:00 - 12:00: The flight home.
So, there we have it! My Nashik adventure. Messy, imperfect, and overflowing with good food, questionable decisions, and the constant, chilling presence of that blasted air conditioner. Would I recommend it? Absolutely. (Just pack a sweater.)
(P.S.: I’m still trying to get rid of the red, white, and rose wine hangover. Wish me luck!)
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Holiday Inn Express Indira Nagar, Nashik: The Lowdown (and My Brain's Ramblings)
Alright, folks, let's talk about the Holiday Inn Express in Indira Nagar, Nashik. I stayed there. I survived. And I have thoughts. Lots of thoughts.
So, is it actually any good? Like, *really* good?
Okay, deep breath. "Good" is a funny word, isn't it? It's not the Taj, that's for sure. But for the price, and considering I was in Nashik (which is a lovely place, don't get me wrong, lovely!), it was... *serviceable*. Clean sheets are always a win in my book. Let's just say it wasn't a place I'd write sonnets about, but it wasn't a disaster either. Depends on what you're looking for. If you crave luxury, look elsewhere. If you just need a bed and a decent breakfast and a hot shower after a long day of... well, being in Nashik... then yeah, it fits the bill.
What about the breakfast? Everyone raves about hotel breakfasts...
Ah, the breakfast. This is where it gets...complicated. It *was* included, which is always a plus for a budget-conscious traveler like yours truly. There was the usual spread: eggs (prepared various ways, bless their souls), some sort of Indian staples (aloo paratha was a champion! Others... less so), cereal that I'm pretty sure was the same stuff they used in the last century, and, bless the heavens, a coffee machine that, though temperamental, *did* produce caffeine-laden nectar.
Here's the thing, though. One morning, I went down, all bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for my morning fuel, and... the *egg station* was a disaster. Like, a genuine, yolk-exploding, rubbery-egg-filled disaster. The poor cook looked utterly defeated. I remember staring at the mess, and almost bursting into a laughing fit. I ended up having toast and contemplating the existential dread of processed cereal. So, yeah, hit or miss. But hey, free food, right?
The rooms... Are they… depressing hotel rooms?
Okay, look, let's be real. They're definitely hotel rooms. There's a certain... uniformity to them, you know? Beige walls, a bed that’s seen better days, a TV that might or might not work. My room was... fine. Clean. Functional. Not particularly inspiring. No breathtaking views of the vineyards I’d *assumed* would be outside my window. Just a view of… another building. But the air-conditioning worked, which is a HUGE win in Nashik, especially when the sun starts doing its fiery thing.
The bathroom, though… small, but manageable. The water pressure was decent, which, again, is a win. And the towels? Fluffy enough to dry myself without feeling like I was exfoliating with sandpaper. So, not luxury, but not squalor. Just… a room. A hotel room. Which is what you expect, right?
What about the location? Is it convenient?
Indira Nagar is… fine. It's not exactly smack-dab in the middle of all the action, but it's definitely not out in the sticks. You will need to rely on auto-rickshaws or taxis to get around, which is standard in Nashik. There were some shops and restaurants within a walking distance (that I could actually tolerate in this heat!), and a mall.
I remember trying to find a decent place to get some dinner that first night. I walked around for about half an hour, getting progressively sweatier and more hangry until, finally, I stumbled upon a small restaurant. The food? Delicious. The experience? Chaotic (in a good way). The point is, the location is *okay*. Not prime location, but you can survive.
The staff? Were they nice?
Generally, yes! The staff were friendly and helpful. Always smiling. They had a genuine warmth that's quite characteristic of Indian hospitality. I had a few minor requests (extra towels, help with the Wi-Fi – because let’s face it, hotel Wi-Fi is always a gamble), and they were dealt with promptly and politely.
There was this one incident though... I accidentally locked myself out of my room. (Yes, I know, classic). I wandered sheepishly to the front desk, mortified, and the guy behind the counter just smiled and had a new key made. No judgment, no eye-rolling – just helpfulness. That alone earned them some serious brownie points in my book.
Okay, so the Wi-Fi… how bad was it?
Oh, the Wi-Fi. *Sigh*. Okay, it was… temperamental. Let’s be kind and say that. It worked. Sometimes. Occasionally. Often, it was slower than a snail on a mission. Loading a simple webpage could take an excruciating amount of time. Forget about streaming anything. Forget about video calls. You’re better off relying on the local internet café.
I spent a good portion of my first evening desperately trying to connect to my work. I gave up eventually and went outside to breathe. I remember sitting on a bench, staring at the stars, and contemplating the beauty of the offline world. It was… oddly relaxing. So, yeah, pack your patience (and maybe a good book).
Would you stay there again?
Honestly? Probably. For the price and the location (with the caveat of the Wi-Fi), it's a decent option. It's not perfect, far from it, but it's clean, the staff are nice, and the breakfast, even with its flaws, is included. It's a perfectly acceptable place to lay your head after a long day of exploring Nashik.
However, if I ever win the lottery and suddenly have an unlimited travel budget, I’ll be booking myself into a luxury resort. But until then, the Holiday Inn Express Indira Nagar… it'll do. Maybe I'll go back. Maybe I'll learn to love the temperamental Wi-Fi. Maybe. The thought of that slightly rubbery egg station does make me pause for a moment, though...
