PRO:COMFORTABLE & NEAT, CON: OUTSIDE CAR PARKING. Review on Treebo Cartier, Marathahalli, Bangalore

I had a one night stay with family(#3) at the Deluxe room. Let me go one by one on Positives:

1. LOCATION: Situated right next to Marathahalli Bridge, accessibility can get no easier than this. Though it is just some meters away from the HAL /Airport road, we don’t get to see the traffic or hear the noise since it is slightly off the main road, which is really good. There is a supermarket next to the hotel which was very convenient for us for some small purchases. Though outside the hotel it is muddy and dusty due to the traffic and the famous "Bangalore sand dust" respectively, Inside the hotel you don’t feel anything.

   
   




2. HOTEL OUTLOOK: Felt like a typical 3 star with a broad reception hall and lots of guest sofas, just to wait till the check-in process to complete. view of all the 6 floors just by raising our head while sitting there, really was fantastic. The Hotel as such and the floors were all totally clean and gave a first impression that rooms would be clean too.

   
   




3. ROOM: As said, we took Deluxe room(booked through Yatra), and were really happy with the size. The room had a comfortable King size bed along with a tea-table and two chairs. Unlike most other hotels in this price range, there was enough walking space as the bed was placed in the corner. We had Balcony also, though there was no view(of course, if you are a civil Engineer and get excited by the large construction work going on in that area, this is the place for you). But not to demean, the Balcony made the entire room more spacey, with all that Glass doors.

   
   

Another surprise element in the room was the Dining area. There was a small dining table extension also along with one chair, single occupants can certain feel comfortable with this arrangement. Microwave           was provided and it had a kitchen sink also which was all good. But didn’t understand what to make out      of it. Cooking was not allowed, outside food was not allowed. Big question to the management - You say      outside crockery not allowed and you didn’t give /place many crockery items, why then so much of           shelves for crockery items? Even a service apartment wont have that many shelves in the kitchen area-      though it was good to have them, but seriously didn’t know what to do.

some of the other nuances where the designers of the room gave a “human thought” - a place to keep      our baggages and that too in an accessible way, a large shoe rack, a rack above the kitchen for placing      small items, reading lamp in both the sides of the bed, kettle and coffee supplements and a good      ventilation.

1. BATHROOM: something to be commended. Most of the hotels fail in bathroom maintenance. But NOT this hotel. It was pristine, with that Black(tile) and white(ceramics). The toiletries were all there and perfect - one more human touch - they had combs also, along with paste, brush, soap, shampoo, moisturisers etc.(Note: in my experience ALL complimentary toothpastes end up in “meswak” - why is it so? - just a joke).

The bathrooms are also loaded with Hair dryers and toilet papers, which gave feel that management is      really trying to make customers happy.(Note: many hotels fail only in such small things which costs them      almost nothing).

Best thing was that all toiletries were provided extra on request, almost in no-time. Promptness is the mantra and they did it extremely well.

1. BREAKFAST(complimentary). The BEST part. its available between 7.30 and 10.00 am. They served Idly, Dosa,( 2 chutneys & sambar), Pongal, cooked veggies+ steamed tomato, Corn Flakes, Bread+Butter+Jam, Watermelon & coffee/tea. Unlike some hotels where they confine us to a small space, they allowed us to sit anywhere and the restaurant is quite big. Quality was also excellent. some hotels “serve you” but here it is completely a self-service. Quite pleasing experience. Certainly a value add!

   
   




2. SERVICE: They were highly professional. Though I had a feel that except for one or two, people including the reception handling didn’t know the magic word “SMILE” and all looked as if they were “Trained NOT to smile” and “Be Professional(#$#@##$?). But apart from that, service-wise, it was absolutely comfortable and prompt.

   
   

Now for the slightly bitter part, IMPROVEMENT FEEDBACK:

1. NO - PARKING: I thought of writing this first since it was the first ever reaction I got about the Hotel. But I didn’t want to eclipse the greater “GOOD” part that I had from this hotel. But Definitely, this is a pain point in this hotel. They made me to park outside the hotel EVEN THOUGH THERE WAS A HUGE PARKING LOT AT THE BASEMENT, AND IRRITATING ENOUGH, IT WAS VACANT TOO. I asked the reception, they said, “thats only for office staff! -):, In the whole world, TREEBO IS THE ONLY HOTEL WHICH HAS A COMFORTABLE COVERED BASEMENT PARKING FOR ITS OFFICE STAFF WHILE ITS CUSTOMERS HAVE TO PARK THE CAR ON THE ROAD. Even my wife asked, “at least can we park it at night when the staff is gone” and he said “No”.(Note: I have not seen any hotel where there are so many hotel staff who have cars to park).

It gives me feeling that, that the receptionist certainly lied. Either they must be allowing parking only for “ELITE CUSTOMERS “(The management only will know the definition of “ELITE” But I was not certainly “ELITE”) or since they place is very very hot, they might be using this place for “Rental parking”. Its just my guess. But I felt ridiculous when he said “ parking is ONLY for staff!

But, Its not like street parking- They have a dedicated place outside the hotel and security is constantly watching, but why this, when they have a parking space is my question. Also accidentally, if a scratch happens in the car, the security can still ONLY “WATCH” - not prevent the damage.

Next time, I will certainly CALL THEM AND ASK THEM if inside parking is allowed, if not I will hesitate to book here. Anticipation of fear that my car(that too new) will damage is much worse than the mishap itself.

1. COMPLIMENTARY WIFI needed a very strong supplementary vitamin -):. I mean it was very very weak. you can see that connecting but after that no-guarantee. probably I was in the last room(#106) and may be its a signal issue, but to me I could never use the wifi at all.I relied on my own data card.

   
   




2. WATER LEAKAGE: Water was certainly leaking in the flush button. They knew that and thats why they kept a towel under it to absorb leakage. It was not an issue, but painful to see water being wasted.

   
   




3. HOT WATER - Late pickup: again another painful event was the time that the water takes to heat. It almost took 5 minutes and until they we are advised to keep the water open and flowing. The management should be concerned about Water conservation. That much of expense could certainly feed an entire street for one day. My suggestion: Please do needful and MARKET/ADVERTISE THAT YOU HAVE ENERGY CONSERVATION IN PLACE. Many hotels do that.

   
   




4. CONFUSING STATEMENT - “OUTSIDE FOOD NOT ENCOURAGED” . - This was not a glitch as such, but no clarity. What do you mean by “NOT ENCOURAGED”.? We ordered food through zomato and they didn’t say anything. But then what is the scope of the statement - “You don’t want customers to COOK FOOD or EAT OUTSIDE FOOD AT all, within the room? When we have taken a room no one can compel us to take food ONLY from your restaurant. I should be ordering the food from outside then. WHERE WILL I EAT? Some hotels do this for hygiene purpose, but then you have given us dining table and even kitchen sink. so why this statement- “outside food not encouraged”. As I said, they didn’t object when I ordered food from outside.

   
   

VERDICT: Overall, it was totally a great & comfortable stay with a very professional(not friendly though) staff and a very very prompt service. Room was excellent both in terms of space and in terms of facilities. Breakfast was excellent catering exactly to typical south Indian needs.

Few things that I would suggest for the visitors:

1. Ask