Uncover Guwahati's Hidden Gem: The Palacio Hotel's Luxury Awaits
Uncover Guwahati's Hidden Gem: The Palacio Hotel – Or, My Guwahati Adventure, A Messy Review
Okay, buckle up, 'cause this isn't your glossy travel blog review. This is real. We're talking about the Palacio Hotel in Guwahati, and let me tell you, it's a whole experience, a chaotic symphony of comfort, and a few… quirky moments. Let's get this messy, shall we?
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- Meta Description: A raw, honest review of the Palacio Hotel in Guwahati, India. From accessibility and luxurious spa treatments to the surprisingly delightful Asian breakfasts and the occasional hiccup, get the real scoop before you book!
(Accessibility - The First Hurdle, and How They (Mostly) Jumped It)
Right off the bat, I have to applaud the Palacio for trying. The wheelchair accessibility is a big win, and something I desperately look for. Elevators are a given, but thankfully, they had them. The facilities for disabled guests listed are promising, and I did see some efforts made with ramps. The exterior corridor was a plus; it's always easier to wheel around when you can see where you're going! This alone makes a huge difference. Bathroom, bath tub and shower were mostly good.
But, here’s where it gets real. There were a few tight corners, and let’s just say navigating the restaurants might have you performing some acrobatic maneuvers (which I'm not equipped for, mind you). Some of the doorways needed a little wider berth. I give them a solid B+ for effort. They are trying and trying is important!
(On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges - Food, Glorious Food (and Sometimes a Struggle)
Okay, so let's talk about the gut-busting bits. Food! I’m obsessed.
- Restaurants: Yes! Multiple. Asian Cuisine, International Cuisine, Vegetarian Restaurant (a must for me), and the ever-present Asian Breakfast (which I devoured daily). The A la carte in restaurant was a nice touch, and the Buffet in restaurant was a feast. The Coffee/tea in restaurant saved me every morning, because, let's be honest, I'm a crank without caffeine.
- Lounges: The Poolside bar was a real winner. Sipping a mocktail (I’m more of a juice-and-soda kinda guy) while watching the sun set over… well, Guwahati… was blissful. I did have to wrangle my way to that bar from time to time, but WORTH IT!
The Imperfection: Navigating with accessibility was slightly chaotic. It's a bit of a hike. My Verdict: A+ for food, B for accessibility within the dining areas. They can definitely do better on that front. But I came, I saw, and I ate my weight in dumplings.
(Wheelchair Accessible - The Main Event)
Pretty much covered this. The effort is there and that's worth something.
(Internet Access - The Digital Age (and My Lifeline!)
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! THANK YOU, PALACIO! Seriously, my life runs on Wi-Fi. It was reliable, and that's all that matters. Plus, if you want to connect by Internet [LAN], you have that option. Even in public there's lots of Wi-Fi in public areas.
- Internet Services: They had it. It worked. I'm happy.
(Things to Do - Leisure Time, Or, My Quest for Relaxation)
This is where The Palacio shines. I wasn't just there to eat all day (though I gave it a valiant effort). Relaxation was key, and the Palacio delivered.
- Spa, Sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath: I indulged. All of it. Okay, maybe not every single one, but a significant portion. The spa was serene, the therapists were skilled, and I emerged feeling like a new, slightly less stressed, human. The Pool with view was exactly what I needed. The Swimming pool was a daily ritual.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Full disclosure, I didn't use these much. I was too busy living my best spa life. But they were there and seemed well-equipped.
(Cleanliness and Safety - The Covid Era (and My Anxiety)
Okay, let’s get real. Traveling in a post-pandemic world is… complicated. The Palacio tried to make me feel safe.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: They were all there.
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Yes, I saw it in action!
- Hand sanitizer: Everywhere.
- Masks: Staff wore them diligently.
The Imperfection: Things are still slightly… unnerving. I'm a worrier. Even though they had the Doctor/nurse on call and a First aid kit, I still felt some lingering anxiety. But the efforts were substantial.
(Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The True Test)
- Breakfast was a daily joy, a Breakfast [buffet] and Breakfast service, it included Asian breakfast, and a very generous Western breakfast option. I basically constructed my ideal breakfast every single morning. There was also Breakfast takeaway service (ideal for early adventures).
- Restaurants, Poolside bar, Snack bar, and Room service [24-hour]. The food selection was a huge plus.
- Happy hour.
- Desserts in restaurant.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant
- Salad in restaurant
- Soup in restaurant
- A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement
The Imperfection: The variety was great, but sometimes the service could be a little slow. Patience is key. It's also worth saying, sometimes the food was a little bit bland, but, at the end of the day, you have a wealth of options.
(Services and Conveniences - The Little Things that Make a Difference)
- Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments: All the basics were covered. My room was cleaned perfectly every day (thank you, housekeepers!). The Doorman was always friendly and helpful, the Concierge always managed to accommodate me.
- Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events: If you're there for business (or a wedding, as I witnessed), they've got you covered.
- Safety deposit boxes, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace: Little perks that add value.
- Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: Business necessities, for those who need them.
(For the Kids - Family Fun! (or, My Observations about Others))
- Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal: This place is family-friendly. I saw tons of kids running around, and everyone seemed happy (except maybe the parents at 7 AM…).
(Access - Getting Around, Inside and Out)
- CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private]: Safety first.
- Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Exterior corridor: Great.
- Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailable, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: All the safety features are there.
- Getting around, Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking: Everything you need to get around Guwahati is there.
(Available in All Rooms - The Nitty Gritty)
Okay, what about the rooms? They're decent!
- Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker: Standard, comfortable.
- **Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet
Okay, buckle up buttercups! This isn’t your glossy brochure itinerary. This is real life, Hotel Palacio Guwahati, edition. Prepare for a bumpy ride… and hopefully, a good laugh.
The Hotel Palacio Guwahati: My Own Personal Chaos Theory (And a Lot of Chai)
(Day 1: Arrival & The Great Guwahati Watery Mystery)
- 1:00 PM - Landed in Guwahati, Assam. Air India, predictable chaos. Lost my noise-canceling headphones somewhere between Delhi and here. Panic level: Mild. (Okay, maybe a little more than mild. Those were GOOD headphones.) The humid air hits you like a wet dishrag the second you step off the plane. Instantly. Instantly you're a sweaty mess. Delightful. The airport is… functional. Let’s leave it at that. Found my driver (surprisingly, the pre-booked deal went off without too many snags).
- 2:30 PM - Check-in at The Palacio. Oh boy, this place… The lobby? Swanky! Gorgeous chandeliers. The whole deal. Me? Still a sweaty mess. The receptionist, bless her heart, was probably used to it. The ACTUAL room… well, it's got character. (Read: a slightly wonky air conditioner that sounds like a dying walrus.) The view? Not exactly Taj Mahal, but I'm peering out at a very green patch of land. Possibly a field. The internet? Non-existent. This is going to be fun.
- 3:00 PM - The Water Bottle Conundrum. Okay, I needed water. Badly. My throat felt like sandpaper, the air conditioner was threatening my life. Called down… and received a tiny bottle, that's probably the size of my palm. Like, really? That's it? Cue the internal dialogue: "Do I… do I ration it? Wait, no, I'm thirsty and this is what I'm paying for".
- 3:30 PM - Exploration & Initial Panic. Went for a brief orientation trip around the hotel. Saw a pool, it seemed nice, then realised…the sun was scorching. I'm not even ready for the heat. I retreat back to the room before I turn into a puddle.
- 4:00 PM - The Chai Rescue. Ordered chai from room service (amen, the staff is very lovely). Arrived, perfect! My savior. Sat on the "balcony" (more a small ledge, overlooking that greenery), and started to decompress. Started to think that maybe this won't be so bad.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner at… someplace. Forget the fancy name. The restaurant downstairs. It's busy! I ordered something… chicken. I think. The spices… they were intense. Tears. Not from sadness (mostly). From the sheer deliciousness. And maybe a little from the chili.
- 8:00 PM - The Wi-Fi Wars. Still no internt. Tried to connect. Spent the better part of an hour battling the ghost of the router. Decided to give up, go to sleep. (Spoiler alert: It was a battle I would continue to wage throughout my stay.)
- 9:30 PM - Lights Out Finally made the plunge for the night.
(Day 2: The Temple Run & Mother Nature's Mood Swings)
- 7:00 AM - Wake up, bleary-eyed. The walrus-air conditioner is still at it. God bless it! Decided to take a shower. Now, this bathroom. Has no water pressure. That's right folks -- a nice, slow shower.
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast Buffet Roulette. The buffet. Oh, the buffet. It's a glorious smorgasbord of mystery meats, rice, and things I can’t identify (but are probably fantastic). Ate about three different kinds of something. All of it was delicious, but the spice was once again… intense. Did I mention I'm still getting used to this.
- 9:00 AM - Kamakhya Temple Detour. Decided to visit the Kamakhya Temple. The road was chaotic. Rickshaws, cars, cows, goats. A beautiful mess. The temple itself… wow. The energy. The crowds. Definitely an experience. (I won’t go into too much detail, I'm not qualified.) Let’s just say it was intense. I felt a deep, primal connection to the place, even within the chaos. But afterwards, I found it too overwhelming.
- 1:00 PM - Return to the Land of the Walruses. Back at the hotel. Exhausted. In need of another chai (shocking!). The internet is still dead.
- 2:00 PM - Nap-ageddon. Slept. Deeply. The best sleep I’ve had in a decade.
- 4:00 PM - Afternoon thunderstorm. Dramatic. The sky cracked open, this beautiful downpour. Watched it from my "balcony" (still feeling a bit generous with that label).
- 5:00 PM - Attempt to actually DO something. I attempted to read a book. FAILED. I'm in Guwahati! I should be doing something! (Oh, the guilt!)
- 6:00 PM - The Pool Adventure. Finally, braved the pool. It was… refreshing. The water was a perfect temperature, and the hotel was quiet at this point. For a brief moment, I felt like I had found heaven.
- 8:00 PM - Dinner at the same place. Different dishes, Same spice. I am definitely starting to feel the burn. But it's worth it. (Probably.)
- 9:00 PM - Internet, Take Two! Spent another hour battling the router. Still no luck. Resigned to my fate.
(Day 3: The River, Reflections, and Farewell Chai)
- 7:00 AM - Wake up, walrus is still going. I'm sure I'll miss that machine.
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast (Buffet, Again). This time, I'm a professional at it.
- 9:00 AM - The Brahmaputra River. Decided to brave the weather and go for a boat ride on the Brahmaputra River. The river is HUGE. The views were gorgeous. The boat was rickety. But the light! The air! Amazing.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch and Last-Minute Souvenir Hunt. Found a local market. Chaos. Delicious chaos. Bargained for a shawl. Survived.
- 2:00 PM - The Great Packing Dilemma. Tried to pack. Realized I'd bought too many things (naturally).
- 3:00 PM - Farewell Chai & Quiet Reflections. One last chai. Sat on my "balcony." The greenery is vibrant, the sun warming. I spent a long time just being. I really experienced the calm. I’m gonna miss this. (Even the walrus-air sound).
- 5:00 PM - Check-Out. The hotel staff are incredibly lovely.
- 6:00 PM - Head to the airport, praying for a decent flight this time. Wish me luck!
Final Thoughts:
The Hotel Palacio Guwahati? Not perfect. A little rough around the edges. The internet almost drove me mad. But the staff was wonderful, the food was incredible (even if it did set my mouth on fire), and the city… Guwahati? It’s a place that sneaks up on you. It’s a place that gets under your skin and stays there. It’s a place that makes you want to come back, even if you have to fight for wi-fi.
And as for the chai? I think I'll be craving that for a long, long time.
**Jeong Moers: Germany's Hidden Hotel Gem — You HAVE to See This!**
Uncover Guwahati's Hidden Gem: The Palacio Hotel's Luxury Awaits (But Is it All Champagne and Caviar?) - A Messy FAQ
Okay, okay, The Palacio. Guwahati. Luxury, they say. But is it *real* luxury, or just, like, a really fancy Holiday Inn with a slightly better view? Spill the tea!
Alright, buckle up buttercup, because I'm about to unleash my unfiltered Palacio experience. Forget those sanitized travel blog posts, I'm giving you the *real* deal. Honestly? It's a mixed bag, like a gourmet cheese platter with a rogue cheddar square. The "luxury" is definitely *there*, but it's got… quirks. You know? Like that aunt who always wears too much perfume but still makes the best cookies?
So, yes, the lobby *screams* opulence. Marble, chandeliers that could house a small family, and staff who are – bless their souls – *trying* to be super attentive. I felt a little underdressed, a feeling I frequently have. But then, the elevator music was a choice. A *very* specific choice, like the kind of "smooth jazz" you'd expect to hear in an elevator in, oh, I don't know, 1993?
And the view! Oh, the view from my room… It was honestly breathtaking. The Brahmaputra River glittering in the sunlight… I mean, *chef's kiss*. I just sat there, staring, for a solid half hour, forgetting my phone existed. Seriously. It was that good. Then I tried to order room service and...that's where we get to the aforementioned "quirks."
Room service. Always a make-or-break, isn't it? What's the Palacio's room service game like? Did they get your order right? Did it arrive in a timely manner? Did you get the wrong order?
Room service… Ah, the ultimate test of a hotel. The Palacio? Well, let's just say it's a bit of a chaotic ballet. I ordered, very specifically, a club sandwich. And because I, the astute traveller that I am, specified "no pickles." Because you know, pickles. I hate pickles.
The food, when it eventually arrived (more on that later), was… well, it *was* a sandwich. It *was* a club sandwich. And it came with… *pickles*. Glorious, tangy, pickle-y pickles. I stared at them. I internally screamed. I briefly considered calling down and complaining, but honestly, the fatigue after my day of travelling just got to me. So I picked the damn pickles OFF. Every single one. It wasn't ideal.
The timing? Let's just say I'd finished reading a book before it arrived. It was a *good* book, mind you. But still… Maybe I was at the Palacio for too long, maybe I was lucky. The sandwich wasn’t the *best* club sandwich I’ve ever eaten (the bread was a little… stale), but the French fries were pretty damn good, which is more than I can say for some restaurants. And the staff, bless their hearts, were apologetic when they finally showed up. So the experience, in my mind, was a win. Sort of.
The Spa! Did you indulge? And if so, was it as relaxing as the brochure promised? Or was it a masseuse who kept talking?
The spa... Oh, the spa. Right, so, I *did* indulge. Because when you're "roughing it" in a supposedly luxurious hotel, you have to. The brochure promised an "oasis of tranquility," blah blah blah. And honestly? It *mostly* delivered. The massage itself was top-notch. The masseuse… bless her. She was lovely! A saint! But also, bless her, she was… chatty.
Now, I *like* people. I'm a sociable gal. But when I'm lying face-down, trying to achieve peak zen, I don't want to hear about the benefits of Ayurvedic massage in her personal experience. I just want to melt into the massage table. And it felt like she was checking up on my every single emotion! I just wanted to sleep! But still, afterwards, I felt… good. So, yes. the spa… was a win.
Also, side note: The scented towels were *amazing*. Just… utterly divine. I seriously considered stealing one. I didn't, because well, I'm not *that* type of person. But… I really, really wanted to.
About the hotel's location. Is it convenient? Is it near the things you’d want to experience in Guwahati?
Location, location, location! That age-old real estate mantra. The Palacio’s address book? A mixed verdict. It's in a relatively quiet area, which is a definite *plus* if you value sleep. The immediate area is nice, but not particularly lively. You’re not exactly stumbling out of the hotel and into a bustling market.
You'll need to rely on taxis or ride-sharing apps for getting around, which for me, was annoying. It's not like you can simply walk to the Kamakhya Temple or the State Museum. Getting to most of the main attractions takes a bit of a trip, so factor that in. The upside? It's a bit of a respite from the chaos of Guwahati. So, there's a trade-off. Convenience? Not exactly. But tranquility? Perhaps.
The Staff. Always a key ingredient in the Hotel's experience, right? How were the staff in the Palacio? Were they friendly, helpful, and attentive? Did you get the feeling that they really cared?
The Staff… ah, the heart and soul of a hotel. And at The Palacio, the staff gave me the impression that they actually did care. They *tried* really hard. They're definitely well-meaning and eager to please. I mean, if you are very particular about having your needs met, you might find yourself doing some of the work.
There were some communication hiccups—my struggles with that club sandwich being a prime example, but they were always very quick to apologize. The housekeeping staff were impeccable, always keeping the rooms spotless. The concierge was okay at best. But overall, you get the feeling that the staff genuinely want you to have a good experience. So: a decent staff! Just some minor imperfections and things that the staff needs to brush up on.
Would you recommend The Palacio? Or is it more of a "try it if you're feeling adventurous" sort of situation?
Would I recommend The Palacio? Okay, here's the brutal truth: It's not perfect. It has its quirks. The room service is… an adventure. The elevator music might make you question your life choices. The location isn't the most convenient.
But... The view is breathtaking, the spa is mostly fantastic, the staff (for all their occasional foibles) are genuinely nice people, and the overall vibe is… well, it has *character*. And sometimes, that counts for a lot. So, yes, I'd recommend it. But go in with realistic expectations. Embrace the imperfections. And whatever you do, specify "no pickles" when ordering the room service. Seriously.
And pack earplugs, just inWander Stay Spot
