Bangalore Bliss: Uncover Paradise at Collection O Ashraya!
Bangalore Bliss: Uncover Paradise at Collection O Ashraya!
Bangalore Bliss: Uncover Paradise at Collection O Ashraya! - Or Did I? (A Messy Review)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to try and unravel the tangled yarn that is Bangalore Bliss: Uncover Paradise at Collection O Ashraya! This isn't your polished, PR-approved review. This is the real deal. I booked a couple of nights, expecting… well, bliss. Did I find it? Let's spill the (maybe-sanitized) tea.
First Impressions & Getting There (Accessibility & Getting Around):
Right off the bat, the location was decent. Not smack-dab in the tourist vortex, which I appreciated. The Car park [free of charge] was a massive win. Bangalore traffic makes you want to weep, so a parking spot is gold. Airport transfer? Offered! Thank god. Getting to the hotel was a breeze (thanks to the transfer) but navigating Bangalore traffic is a whole other ball game… and not a pretty one.
Now, the Accessibility… this is where the first chink in the armor appeared. While the hotel Elevator was definitely a plus, and they Facilities for disabled guests which is GREAT. But honestly, the website was a little vague about the extent of accessibility. A bit more clarity there wouldn’t hurt.
Rooms: The Good, The Bad, and the Oh-So-Meh:
My room? Let's just say the Air conditioning was my best friend. Bangalore heat is brutal. I loved the Blackout curtains - crucial for catching some Zzz's after a day of exploring. Free Wi-Fi was a godsend! (More on that disaster later). The Coffee/tea maker was a lifesaver, too. Free bottled water? Always appreciated.
But… carpeting? Seriously? In Bangalore? Where dust seems to multiply overnight? And the linens… let's just say they weren't exactly the cloud-like experience I'd hoped for. Interconnecting rooms are available, which is a plus for families. Also, a window that opens! Ah!
The Bathroom? Functional. The Shower worked. The Toiletries… well, let's say they were… present. Not luxurious. Not terrible. Just… there. The robes and slippers were a nice touch, though. Complimentary tea in the rooms, along with the coffee/tea maker, also a big plus!
The Internet - A Saga of Frustration & Occasional Brilliance:
Okay, let’s address the Internet. On the website, it proudly proclaims Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and promises Internet access – wireless and Internet access – LAN. I needed to work, so this was make-or-break.
Firstly, the Wi-Fi was spotty. It would connect, then disconnect, then connect again. Imagine trying to video call your boss while the internet decides to take a hike. Internet [LAN]? Never found it. The Internet services were really lacking. Internet was unreliable and so very, very annoying. It was like a temperamental toddler – one minute it was working, the next it was throwing a tantrum. This was easily the most frustrating aspects of the entire stay.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - Food Glorious… Mostly!
The Breakfast [buffet] was where it got interesting. They offered Asian breakfast and Western breakfast, which was great for variety. Plenty of Coffee/tea in restaurant to keep me going (thank God, after the internet!). The Desserts in restaurant looked tempting, but I was wary.
The Restaurants themselves were decent enough. They have A la carte in restaurant which is handy for those who want something specific. The Bar seemed lively, especially during Happy hour. I loved the Poolside bar!
They had a Snack bar! A Coffee shop! It's all there!!
The Pool With A View - My One True Love:
The Swimming pool [outdoor]? That's where I found my bliss. Let me tell you, after a chaotic day in the city, sinking into that cool water was pure magic. I could stare across Bangalore to my heart's content! That feeling was worth the price of admission alone.
Relaxation Station - Spa & Fitness (Or Lack Thereof?)
Spa/sauna? They got it! Fitness center, Gym/fitness area? You betcha! Massage? Yes, provided! I was so ready to chill out in the steamroom! My mind was set. I needed a Body scrub. A Body wrap! And a Foot bath!
But alas, it was closed for "maintenance"… Again, clarity on the website about availability would have been appreciated!
Cleanliness and Safety - Sanitized or Just… Trying?
Cleanliness and safety were definitely at the forefront. The Anti-viral cleaning products and Daily disinfection in common areas were reassuring. They also had Hand sanitizer dispensers everywhere, which is a must these days, and Room sanitization opt-out available is good. They're trying, which is more than some places.
They also offer Daily housekeeping, Hot water linen and laundry washing, and Hygiene certification (though I couldn't find it publicly displayed).
Services and Conveniences - Hitting the Mark (Mostly):
24-hour service, Concierge, Elevator, Luggage storage… everything you'd expect. The Daily housekeeping was efficient. They provided an Invoice provided in case I needed one. Laundry service? Yep, they got that too. Ironing service? Excellent!
For the Kids - Family Friendly?
They described the hotel as Family/child friendly. I didn't bring any kids but they Kids facilities and Babysitting service available.
The Verdict: Uncovering Some Paradise, But Not the Whole Shebang
So, did Bangalore Bliss uncover paradise? Hmm… not entirely. The Pool with view was genuinely blissful. The Free parking was a sanity-saver. The staff were friendly and helpful, despite the hiccups.
But the patchy Wi-Fi, the inconsistent maintenance and the slightly-dated rooms kept it from a full score.
Offer Time!
Ready to Dive into a Bangalore Escape? Here’s my pitch:
Bangalore Bliss: Collection O Ashraya - Your Gateway to [Halfway] Paradise!
For a limited time, book your stay and get:
- Guaranteed Relaxation: Take a dip in the stunning outdoor pool with a view.
- Stress-Free Parking: Forget about circling the block - we've got you covered!
- Delicious Delights: Chow down on a buffet breakfast!
- Convenient Access: Stay connected with our free internet (if you can get a good connection!!!).
Book now and experience a taste of Bangalore Bliss!
(Disclaimer: Paradise may include occasional internet meltdowns. But hey, the pool is still amazing!)
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Escape to Paradise: Jacaranda Indian Ocean Beach Resort, Mombasa
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dismantle a perfectly good, predictable travel itinerary and fling the pieces around Collection O Ashraya Paradise in Bangalore. Forget the smooth, polished brochure – this is the RAW, UNFILTERED, hopefully-still-mostly-coherent version. Wish me luck, I'll need it.
THE GRAND (AND SLIGHTLY CHAOTIC) BANGALORE ADVENTURE: A Collection O Ashraya Paradise Saga
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Bangalore Buffet Bonanza (Prepare for Carb Overload)
- 9:00 AM (ish): Touchdown at Kempegowda International Airport. The plan? Hail a pre-booked taxi. The reality? Dodged aggressive taxi touts like a seasoned matador in a sari. Finally, found my guy, the guy with the slightly-too-loud Bollywood music blasting from his car. Felt like I'd entered a whole other dimension within minutes, which, honestly, is kind of Bangalore's whole vibe.
- 10:30 AM: Arrived at Collection O Ashraya Paradise. First impressions? Okay, clean enough. The obligatory "welcome drink" was… well, it was something sweet and vaguely fruity. Probably best not to think too hard about it. Checked in. The room? Let's just say it was perfectly adequate. The air conditioning felt like it was fighting a losing battle against the Bangalore humidity. Already sweating. Excellent.
- 12:00 PM: The Buffet Battle. Lunchtime! And the hotel buffet beckons. Oh, the buffet. This is where things got REAL. I'm a sucker for a decent buffet. First, there was the dosa station. Crispy, golden perfection, and I ate at least three. Then, a veritable mountain of rice dishes, curries, and… Oh god, the naan. Fluffy, warm, and demanding to be dipped in every single sauce. I may or may not have wept with pure, unadulterated joy. Afterwards, I wandered into the dessert section, ready to eat my weight in gulab jamun. I did. No regrets. The inevitable food coma hit hard. This is where I started to question past choices, such as opting for a slightly-tight pair of pants.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Forced a short nap. Bangalore traffic is insane. I swear, the locals have some sort of special talent for weaving through it. Tried to channel some of that meditative energy in an attempt to avoid a mini-meltdown. I failed. The A/C was still wheezing.
- 4:00 PM: Found some water. Hydration is important, remember? Also, I saw a particularly majestic crow outside my window. Bangalore crows are a breed apart, I swear. They look like they've seen things.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a local restaurant after the sun went down. The chaos from the morning had subsided quite a bit as the temperature had dropped a moderate 1 degree. I got the chance to try a dish called "Chicken 65". Spicy. Wonderful. Ate far too much, and I'm starting to suspect I'll be paying later.
Day 2: Temple Tours, Traffic Terrors, and Tea (Possibly Too Much Chai)
- 8:00 AM: Woke up with a crick in my neck and the faint scent of curry lingering in my nostrils. Breakfast buffet round two. Went for a lighter approach, this time. (Lies. Ate more dosa.)
- 9:00 AM: Attempt at the local temple tour, the first one being the ISKCON Temple. The traffic was a nightmare. Spent an hour inching forward in my taxi, questioning all life choices. Finally arrived, and it was beautiful. The sheer vibrant energy was overwhelming. The chanting, the incense, the people… it was a sensory overload in the best way possible. Ended up spending more time people-watching (the outfits alone were worth the price of admission) and enjoying the atmosphere than I anticipated. Took a ton of photos, probably some that I definitely shouldn't have.
- 12:00 PM: Visited another temple, this one smaller, quieter, and less crowded. It was where the guide decided to tell us a story. I only got 30% of it due to my atrocious vocabulary.
- 2:00 PM: Chai break. Oh. My. God. I had at least five cups. Bangalore chai is a religious experience. Sweet, milky, spicy perfection. Found a little stall with the most amazing samosas. More food, more bliss. I might actually turn into a giant, golden, crispy samosa myself at this rate.
- 4:00 PM: Went to the botanical garden. It was nice, though the heat was starting to get to me. The vibrant flower gardens were glorious. Sat on a bench, trying to avoid the aggressively friendly monkeys that roamed free. I am not equipped to handle monkeys.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner was at a restaurant that served some of the best seafood I had eaten in my life. The seafood dishes were amazing.
Day 3: Shopping Spree (and Complete Exhaustion)
- 9.00 AM: The last day of the hotel stay had some pretty fun things happening. I took breakfast and after that, I explored the shopping markets of Bangalore. They were incredible, filled with anything and everything. There were times I wanted to leave because I had no money left, but I was able to buy gifts for friends and family.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a very hip cafe. This place was very aesthetically pleasing. The food was okay, but the vibe was on point.
- 3:00 PM: I went back to the hotel to relax, but then I went to the pool! I swam, I sunbathed, and I was able to sleep as the sun went down.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at the rooftop bar. I ate some final Indian dishes, and I said my goodbyes to Bangalore.
The Verdict:
Collection O Ashraya Paradise? It's a place to sleep, essentially. No luxurious amenities to speak of, but it's perfectly adequate. The real experience? It's Bangalore itself. The chaos, the color, the noise, the food… it all comes together to create something truly unique. I laughed, I cried (mostly from the spice), I ate enough to feed a small village, and I wouldn't trade a single, slightly messy, sweaty second of it. Just make sure you pack your patience, your appetite, and your sense of humor. You'll need them all. And maybe a bigger pair of pants.
Final Note: Might need to hit the gym when I get home. Or just buy more pants. Probably the latter.
Bibione Paradise Found: Stunning 1-Bedroom Condo at Ippocampo!
Bangalore Bliss? Collection O Ashraya - The Honestly Messy Guide
Okay, so, is this place *actually* paradise, or is that just marketing fluff?
Paradise? Look, I'm a sucker for a good tagline, but paradise is a *big* word. Let's be real. Collection O Ashraya... it's... decent. More like a comfortable purgatory, maybe? I mean, it's clean-ish. The sheets didn't scream "I've seen things!", which is a major win in my book. The photos online are, as always, *slightly* airbrushed. Remember that glorious pool in the glossy brochure? Well, it's smaller than my bathtub. And the "lush greenery"? More like a few strategically placed potted plants. Okay, let's be honest, the "lush greenery" was a small, sad attempt, it made me laugh for how the hell they even sell it as marketing thing. However, I still enjoyed the place.
The location – is it actually convenient, or am I signing up for an epic traffic battle every day?
Location, location, location! The eternal struggle. Ashraya's... fine. It's in a part of Bangalore that *isn't* constantly choking on exhaust fumes. Which is a plus! But convenient? That depends. You'll probably want to factor in a solid hour of travel to get anywhere interesting, especially during peak hours. Forget about zipping around, it's a Bangalore traffic ballet! And I'm not a dancer. I'm more of a "huddle in the back seat, praying for a miracle" type of person. One time, I tried to get a cab, and I swear, the driver just gave up and started talking to the cow on the side of the road. My friend, I said "okay fine, I'll walk".
What's the deal with the rooms? Are they actually as nice as they look in the photos?
Okay, let's talk rooms. This is where reality starts to diverge from the Instagram filter. They ARE clean, mostly. Dust bunnies are a fact of life in India, and I saw a few, but nothing too alarming. Everything looks…new-ish, which is always a good start. I had a room on the fourth floor. The noise from the street was nonexistent but other kinds of sounds? Well, let's just say my neighbors had *enthusiastic* opinions on Bollywood music. I love Bollywood! But at 3 AM? Not so much. The walls aren't soundproof. I heard the guy next door snore. I was laughing so hard that I woke up. It's not the Four Seasons, but it's also not a cockroach-infested nightmare. Small pleasures.
Breakfast. The make-or-break question. Fill me in!
Breakfast! Ah, the morning meal. This is where Ashraya really shines or falls flat, depending on your expectations. It's included, which is a bonus. Don't expect Michelin-star quality. It's a buffet situation. You've got your idlis, your dosas, sometimes a sad, slightly soggy omelet. The coffee is, let's say...weak. Okay, it's *terrible*. Drinkable, but barely. The staff are lovely, even if they occasionally forget what you ordered (which happened to me, repeatedly). I'm a simple man, I like my coffee to be strong, and the fact that they forgot my order... It can be a gamble. One day it's fantastic, the next it's like a culinary experiment gone wrong. Mostly, it's decent enough to get you through the morning. And hey, free food beats paying for it!
Tell me about the staff. Are they helpful and friendly, or are they just going through the motions?
The staff are genuinely lovely. Seriously. They were always polite, helpful, and tried their best to make you feel welcome. They do their best, even with all the people in there. They're trying to do their best, and I think that's the best thing ever. They go the extra mile. There was an issue with my Wi-Fi (it went out at the *worst* possible moment - right in the middle of a Netflix binge, naturally). The guy at the front desk didn't just shrug and say "tough luck." He actually called the IT guy, got it fixed (eventually), and even apologized profusely. That level of service goes a long way. These people are saints, dealing with all the tourists and the general madness of Bangalore! Give them all a raise!
Okay, so, the Wi-Fi. A necessity in this day and age. How reliable is it?
Wi-Fi. The bane of my existence, and likely yours. It's...hit or miss. I had good days and bad days. Some days it was blazing fast, perfect for streaming, the other days was like I was trying to run a marathon in molasses. If you need to work, I HIGHLY recommend buying a local SIM card for your phone as a backup. Maybe download your movies and shows beforehand. If you can't connect to the internet, then you're basically going to be staring out of the window. If that happens, try to find a good book somewhere in the hotel! If they have one.
Let's talk about the pool. Is it actually usable, or is it just for decoration (like the "lush greenery")?
The pool! Ah, yes, the shimmering promise of refreshment. As I said before, smaller than my bathtub. But honestly, I actually *did* take a dip. It's clean enough, although I wouldn't spend all day there. It's a good place to escape the heat and the noise. The only issue? It's usually crowded. You might have to share it with a few other guests, which isn't ideal if you're looking for a tranquil swim. And watch out for the kids. They LOVE to splash. But hey, the water was clear and the sun was shining! I'm easily amused, what can I say?
Is there anything *really* annoying about this place? The things you wouldn't find in the glossy brochures.
Oh, yes. The annoyances! First, that darn elevator takes *forever*. You'll be waiting longer than it takes to boil an egg. The noise! Yes, the walls aren't soundproof. The location is a slight pain traffic-wise. Also, be prepared for the occasional power outage (happened only once, thankfully). And, a minor thing, the TV channels are a bit limited. Don't expect to find your favorite shows. That and the fact that my toilet got blocked. Oh yeah, and sometimes the hot water is lukewarm. Minor inconveniences, but enough to remind you that you're not in a five-star hotel. It's still good, though.
Overall, would you recommendHotel Safari
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