We booked our Sikkim Darjeeling package through THRILLOPHILIA.
If there is one word I can use to describe THRILLOPHILIA - EXTREMELY PATHETIC.
The process is they ask you to chose package - standard, deluxe and luxury. We selected a deluxe package. Now we were not told that we are booking deluxe hotels and NOT rooms.
Once we paid Rs 1.01 lacs (10.1k per day), the case is transferred to what they call a POC.
This is when they share the list of hotels they have booked. Now that you have paid in full, there is nothing you can do. I immediately lodged my concern about the substandard hotels.
POC then tells how under developed Sikkim is and how we should not be expecting much comfort. This is the first red flag that customers should understand. We didn’t sadly. We were told, there is no electricity, no geysers etc etc. Fact is that Sikkim is not at all that. A beautiful place with electricity, geysers and everything even in the shitty places they made us stay.
I was then told by the POC that you chose a deluxe hotel, not the room. So you will get a standard room in a deluxe hotel. That’s like saying I want to stay in the servant quarter of a Hyatt hotel. This is ridiculous.
I categorically said that we need room with windows as we are claustrophobic and have health issues.
From the day one, they made us stay in sub standard accommodations. The first hotel we reached in Gangtok, the reception says that we have been instructed to give you a NON-window room. I had to call the POC. He gave me all the nonsense of how backward Gangtok is. These people are defaming a state without even visiting it just so that customer doesn’t have any expectations. They changed my hotel to a similar hotel with a room with window facing the main highway so all night long you can hear the traffic and the trucks etc.
Next we go to Lachen. This is a village in North Sikkim. The hotel room did have window and was a new room with polish smell. But was ok. As mentioned to the POC, We were not expecting luxury but certainly a decent accommodation. Similarly in Lachung, we got a room with window. And the trip was fine.
I messaged the POC about my next stop Pelling and Darjeeling as I am as skeptical about these hotels.
The day we were to reach Darjeeling, was our anniversary and the entire trip was planned around it. So I messaged him the same to ensure a good room.
When I reach Pelling, the same instruction was given to the reception for a non-window room. The room had a window but a wall in front of the window. The hotel manager gave us a front room with windows so thanks to him it was fine.
The driver here kept on taking out faults in the itinerary which they made for us so he could sell us his options. He managed to fool us and took us to 2 stupid locations and charged us for the same.
Now while we were on our way to Darjeeling, the POC wished me Anniversary. Sweet of him but if he doesn’t do his job right, then these wishes mean nothing.
When we reached Darjeeling, this was a shock as this was by large the worst possible accommodation. The hotel just had a door which came out to train tracks. Even the car can’t be parked to remove luggage. Opposite the door of the hotel is an engine repair centre which is working from early morning to midnight and polluting. The smoke comes inside the hotel reception and the rooms. Right next to it is the train station.
We reached at 12.20 pm and were made to wait for one hour. 12 pm is the check-in time.
I spoke to the POC and I am told that Darjeeling is known for trains so please enjoy the smoke.
The next day's itinerary was such crap. They took us to a place they call as tea estate. There’s nothing but stalls and they are numbered. The cab people have settings with a particular stall where they go and park. They ask you to go and see the tea estate. And come and buy from that particular stall. The driver as always says that your itinerary is useless and doesn’t cover the main areas.
DON'T EVER PLAN TRIP WITH THEM.
