Poor
Deepak
(Bengaluru, India)
Trip to Shimla, Manali
(Written on 23 Apr, 2025)
What's Not Good: Totally mismanaged and unprofessional handling by the tour operator. Totally unsatisfactory.
This review is written to benefit those who are planning to take tour operator’s s (Read More)ervices for their upcoming vacation tour. Read it fully and carefully.
We were on 9 nights, 10 Days Himachal tour in April. Our itinerary was finalized by Himalayan Holidays arranged by Ms. Mohini. Such kind of long holiday tours are enjoyed only if stay is comfortable and if all the destination places are covered comfortably. So, Hotels and Conveyance are the two most important part of the tour and we always hope that the tour operators will provide these two to make our tour enjoyable.
Hotels: We finalized the hotels as follows as per the itinerary:
Duration 9 Nights 10 Days
Hotels Category - Premium 2
Chandigarh (1 Night) Hotel Royal Park Chandigarh
Shimla (1 Night) Hotel Royal Regency Shimla
Manali (3 Nights) Hotel Village Venue Manali
Dalhousie (2 Nights) Hotel Comfort Court Dalhousie
Dharamshala (2 Night) Hotel The Crown Dharamshala
The text from What’s App chat is given hereunder:
12/01/2025, 20:59 - Himalayan Holidays: Central heated rooms with balcony
12/01/2025, 21:12 - Himalayan Holidays: Premium 2 Category
13/01/2025, 11:29 - Himalayan Holidays: Super Deluxe Room with Balcony
13/01/2025, 11:32 - Himalayan Holidays: Luxury Room with Balcony
14/01/2025, 11:37 - Himalayan Holidays: luxury rooms will be provided everywhere
Comments:
Leave aside Central Heated Rooms no ac rooms were provided at Shimla and Dalhousi. Manali hotel ac was having technical glitch. Separate feedback has been given for each individual hotel. Hotels were good (Except Manali) but the rooms provided were ordinary. No toiletries like dental kit, shaving kit, hair dryer etc were provided in hotels except Chandigarh. These do not come under Luxury hotel rooms? Manali hotel did not even provide soaps. Dharamshala hotel was 15-16 km away from all the tourist spots. I was told “how does it matter? You are provided with vehicle”. But what about convenience, time etc? Not only that, the driver refused to take the car twice near the spot.
Conveyance:
As promised a Swift Desire was provided. But no ac at hill stations. The driver was totally disinterested in the tour. Many places he did not take us at all. E.g. at Shimla he did not take even one spot out of the spots as below.
Shimla Local Sightseeing :
• Mall Road • The Ridge Madan • Christen Church • Wood Market • Gaiety Theatre • Scandal Point • Kali Wari Temple • Jakhoo Temple
He did not stop at Atal Tunnel also. Took us to Sissu Lake saying that we can cover Atal tunnel spot while returning. But he did not stop while returning even our insisting.
At Dharamshala driver refused to visit near Mcleodganj market where he took us once. But other spots, which were only nearby the market, he refused. We had to take ropeway for the market and he waited at the ropeway down. Same he did at Shimla too.
General Comments:
The tour was completely mismanaged. The glimpse we could get on the first day itself when at Chandigarh the driver took us to a hotel where our rooms were not booked at all. Services at hotel rooms and of the car driver were totally unsatisfactory. None of the hotel provided with hotel bills saying that the same will be shared with the tour operators. Fine. But the operator also did not share with the bill. Why? Where the money has gone. Is it unaccounted? Ms. Mohini always contacted only when she required some payment to be made. Never she enquired about the tour. About Manali hotel when we informed, she texted on WhatsApp that she will talk. Then she said she would send someone. But nothing was done.
So, for the tourists, they must be particular about rooms (AC), Car(AC) and if services are not provided then what.