Hotel Harry's 1: Your Select Citywalk Paradise Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the chaotic, glorious, and sometimes-a-little-bit-meh world of Hotel Harry's 1: Your Select Citywalk Paradise Awaits! This ain't your stiff, corporate brochure review. I'm here to give you the real tea, the kind that spills all over the counter and stains, just like life itself.
First Impressions & Accessibility: A Mixed Bag, Naturally
Right off the bat, finding this "paradise" felt like a treasure hunt. You know, the kind where you're sweating, muttering under your breath, and questioning all your life choices? Okay, maybe not that dramatic, but the Citywalk location is definitely… well, let's say it's select. You will need to know your way around, and my GPS definitely had a giggle or two at my expense.
Accessibility? Alright, listen up, because this is where things get a little… complicated. Hotel Harry's says they have facilities for disabled guests. (Facilities for disabled guests) I saw an elevator. But the devil, as they say, is in the details. I can't personally vouch for how truly accessible everything is. I'd recommend contacting them directly and being very specific about your needs. Don't be shy! Demand those answers!
The Wi-Fi & Internet Tango: Free…ish?
Okay, let's talk internet. Because, let's be real, if you can't post that dreamy Instagram story, did you even go on vacation? (Internet access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas) The good news: they've got the Wi-Fi. And it is free in the rooms. The bad news (and this is a HUGE pet peeve of mine): The Wi-Fi signal in my room fluctuated more than my mood swings after missing my morning coffee. Okay, I'm being slightly dramatic. But seriously, it wasn't the most reliable. You can also pay for LAN, but who even uses LAN anymore? The Wi-Fi in the public areas seemed slightly better. But hey, maybe they have the kind of Wi-Fi made for chatting in the lobby, I didn't try it out, I'd rather be a little disconnected in my room!
Keeping it Clean (or At Least Trying): The Sanitization Situation
Blessedly, cleanliness is a high priority, especially these days. (Cleanliness and safety, Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, 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, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment) They're trying. You know, like, the trying that seems to make a difference and lets you actually enjoy yourself? I got that vibe. Hand sanitizer was everywhere, and the staff seemed genuinely committed to keeping things shipshape. They even offer a room sanitization opt-out, which is a nice touch if you're environmentally conscious.
The "Things to Do" & "Ways to Relax" Extravaganza! (Or, the Spa Dreams)
Alright, this is where it gets interesting—or, well, potentially overwhelming. Hotel Harry's sings the spa song. (Things to do, ways to relax, Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]) I'm talking a gym, a pool with a view, a sauna, and a spa. My internal dialogue went something like this: *"Ooh, a pool! *Must* get a body wrap. Wait, is there a foot bath?! Do I even know what a foot bath is? This is too much. I need a nap."* Honestly, it's almost too much! I mean, who actually uses all of that when they're away?
The pool? A must. I sat there, sipping a cocktail and watching the world go by, and it was pure bliss. And… yeah, I tried the sauna. Turns out, I'm not a huge sauna person. But hey, at least I can say I tried it.
Food, Glorious Food (and Coffee, Please!)
Food is life, right? Hotel Harry's gets this. (Dining, drinking, and snacking, A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant) They have a buffet, restaurants, a coffee shop, and even room service. The breakfast buffet was… well, it was there. It had the usual suspects: eggs, bacon, pastries. The coffee, however, was weak. Seriously, my caffeine-addicted heart almost broke. Thank god for the in-room coffee maker! (More on that later.)
The bars are a vibe. I remember spending a happy hour, probably had too many cocktails while talking to the randoms. But it was fun, and that's what matters!
The Rooms: Your Own Little Sanctuary (Maybe)
Alright, let's get down to brass tacks: the rooms. (Available in all rooms, Additional toilet, Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, 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 access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens) My room had a comfy bed (important!), a mini-bar (always dangerous for me), and a decent view. It even had slippers, which, let me tell you, is a small luxury that can make all the difference. The coffee maker was a lifesaver. The blackout curtains were a godsend. The only small issue, and yes, they are a little tiny, sometimes I could hear the neighbor's TV late at night. But hey, it's a hotel, not a hermitage.
Services & Conveniences: The Perks and the Quirks
Hotel Harry's offers a decent range of services. (Services and conveniences, 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, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center) They have a concierge, daily housekeeping, and laundry service. I made my fair share of laundry to do. The doorman was friendly, and always had a smile on his face.
For the Kids… and the Grown-Ups Who Don’t Want Them Around
I didn't travel with kids, but Hotel Harry’s has resources, which is great! (For the kids, Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal)
Getting Around: Navigating the City (and Beyond)
Airport transfer is available. (Getting around, Airport transfer, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking) This can be a lifesaver, considering the location. They also have parking available, which is a huge plus. But be prepared to embrace the city's transport and its unpredictability!
The Verdict: To Stay or Not to Stay?
Hotel Harry's 1: Your Select Citywalk Paradise Awaits! is a mixed bag. Its amenities are impressive, the staff is friendly, and the pool is a definite highlight. However, accessibility could be better (check with them!) and the Wi-Fi situation is a little… sketchy. It's not perfect, but it's got its own charm. This hotel is for people who want to
Indonesian Paradise: Your Private Pool Villa Awaits (L132)
SPOT ON! Hotel Harry's: My Delhi Diary (aka, Surviving the Madness)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this is not your textbook itinerary. This is the raw, unfiltered truth of a Delhi adventure, starting, inevitably, at the gloriously… average… SPOT ON Hotel Harry's near Select Citywalk Mall. Don't judge me, it was budget-friendly, okay? And hey, it got the job done.
Day 1: Arrival & Holy Cow! (Literally)
- 6:00 AM: Landed at Indira Gandhi International Airport. Jet lag? Oh, you betcha. Felt like I’d been shoved through a particularly nasty time warp. The air, though… it hits you like a brick of spicy curry, a potent mix of exhaust fumes and something vaguely floral. Delightful.
- 7:00 AM - 8:00 AM: Pre-booked a taxi. Smooth, efficient, and then… BAM! Traffic. Welcome to Delhi, where the roads are less "paths" and more "free-for-all gladiatorial arenas." The taxi driver, a jovial fellow named Raj, kept honking like it was an Olympic sport. He also regaled me with tales of Bollywood and the mystical properties of cardamom tea.
- 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM: Checked into SPOT ON Hotel Harry's. It's… functional. The room? Well, let's just say the "city view" was mostly the back of another building. The AC kinda worked. The bed? Slightly lumpy but hey, it was clean-ish. Found a rogue cockroach in the bathroom. My reaction? A dramatic shriek that probably woke up half the hotel. Swatted it with a slipper. Welcome to the party, inner survivalist!
- 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM: Attempted to shower. The water pressure was pathetic. Barely a trickle. Washed my hair with a bottled water and dried it with the small towel, making it still kind of wet.
- 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel "restaurant" (aka a lukewarm buffet). The paratha was greasy, the coffee tasted like dishwater, and the idli was… well, let's just say it bore a striking resemblance to a damp sponge. My optimism took a serious hit.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Decided to brave Select Citywalk Mall. Wow. Just wow. It's a Westerner's wet dream. Every high-end brands, from Gucci to Zara, and more. I browsed and felt so out of place, I wandered in aimlessly because I was intimidated by the sheer opulence of it all. The air conditioning made it feel like a frozen tundra though. I ran and ran in circles to warm up.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch at the mall. Found a surprisingly good, cheap Indian Restaurant. I had the best chicken tikka masala I’ve ever tasted, the naan was perfect, and a side of raita, that was so good I almost licked the plate.
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Attempted to explore the surrounding area on foot. This is where things got REAL. Delhi is a sensory overload. The smells – incense, sewage, frying food, and something indefinably… Delhi – are intense. The noise – constant honking, street vendors yelling, the chattering of a million people – is deafening. I got hopelessly lost within five minutes, but I saw a stray cow wandering down the street. And right then, I understood. This isn't about perfection; it's about embracing the chaos.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Collapsed back at the hotel, utterly exhausted. Sat on the bed, staring at the (still slightly gross) bathroom, and thought, "What have I gotten myself into?"
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Ordered room service. The chicken biryani? Surprisingly good. The hotel wifi? Infuriatingly slow. I spent half an hour attempting to upload a photo to Instagram, gave up, and just stared out the window at the… yeah, the back of another building.
- 8:00 PM: Sleep. Because, honestly, I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Day 2: Old Delhi, Spice Markets & Bellyaches (maybe)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. The same lukewarm buffet, but this time with a slightly more hardened resolve. Found a weird, green, gelatinous substance that I dared not try.
- 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM: Hired an auto-rickshaw (because I'm apparently a masochist). VENTURED into Old Delhi. Buckle up for this one, folks. It's… something else. Crowds EVERYWHERE. The smells – a pungent mix of spices, garbage, and something slightly questionable. The noise – the constant hum of bartering, the shouts of vendors, the blare of music. I felt like I was in a living, breathing, glorious, overwhelming, and potentially deadly pinball machine. Visited Chandni Chowk – the spice market. My eyes watered, my nose tingled, and I bought enough cardamom and chili powder to feed a small army. It was an experience, that's for sure.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Street food lunch. My stomach and I had a serious conversation about my previous choices, but I was here, and I was going to eat every delicious, cheap thing I could. Found a little stall with some amazing samosas. They were fried to perfection, and the chutney was like liquid fire. Totally worth the risk. Ate until I thought I might explode.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Explored the Red Fort and Jama Masjid. The heat was brutal, and the crowds massive. I got separated from my group for a terrifying 10 minutes, and I spent the entirety of my time there staring to find them.
- 5:00 PM: Back to the hotel. The AC felt like a godsend. Took a long, cold, shower. Again.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM Called room service. The same chicken biryani. Again.
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Felt a rumble in my belly. "Oh no," I thought. "Is this it?" I prayed to the Gods of Digestive Systems for mercy.
- 8:00 PM: Sleep, and cross my fingers and hope that I will be okay.
Day 3: Monuments & Miseries (and maybe a little bit of beauty)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Still okay.
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Attempted to see the Humayun’s Tomb and Qutub Minar. The tomb was beautiful, the architecture stunning, but the sheer number of selfie-stick-wielding tourists made it hard to fully appreciate. Qutub Minar was immense, and I was reminded that people can build wonders.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch at a cafe with a slightly more Western vibe. I think I needed a break from the sensory overload. Had a very good sandwich.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Hauled myself back to the hotel.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Spent the afternoon doing absolutely nothing, which was necessary. The sheer exhaustion of Delhi had finally caught up with me. Stared out the window, reflecting on my decision to come here in the first place.
- 6:00 PM - 7:00 PM: Ordered more room service.
- 7:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Watched TV, which featured a Bollywood movie. I didn’t understand a word, but I found it strangely hypnotic.
- 8:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 4: The Grand Finale (aka, Getting the Heck Out)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Actually, the hotel managed to redeem itself with a decent omelet. Baby steps.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Last-minute souvenir shopping at the mall. Because apparently, I hadn't had enough sensory overload.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Headed to the airport.
- 1:00 PM: Departed Delhi.
Final Thoughts:
Delhi is a whirlwind. It's chaotic, overwhelming, frustrating, and occasionally terrifying. But it's also vibrant, fascinating, and utterly unforgettable. Did I love it? Honestly, I'm not sure. Did I survive? Absolutely. Would I go back? Yep. Maybe next time I'll try to find a slightly better hotel. Maybe.
Escape to Paradise: 30 Steps to Your Malaysian Infinity Pool Sunset Dream
1. Okay, spill the tea. What's the *real* vibe at Hotel Harry's? Is it all Instagram-worthy perfection, or...?
Oh honey, bless your heart if you think it's all filtered sunshine. Don't get me wrong, the pictures? Gorgeous. The reality? A slightly more… *lived-in* experience. Think “chic, slightly rumpled traveler.” My first impression? The lobby was, like, *crowded*. They call it a "buzz," I call it a potential location for a minor panic attack. And that wallpaper? In the photos, swoon-worthy. In person... it made me think I'd accidentally wandered into a vintage clothing store. (Which, honestly, isn't a bad thing.)
2. Let's talk rooms. Are they actually as stylish as they look online? And is there enough space for a human?
Okay, the style? Absolutely. The rooms are definitely well-designed. I'll give them that. The pillows? Heavenly. I swear I could have stayed in bed for a week just cuddling one of those fluffy things. Space, though? That's where things get... intimate. Let's just say if you like personal space, book a suite. My single room felt a *tad* like a fancy shoebox. It wasn't bad, it just wasn't built for a solo traveler with, ahem, *a lot* of luggage. Packing light? You're golden. Me? I was practically living out of my suitcase.
3. The location, Select Citywalk. Is it as convenient as they claim? Are you *really* walking distance from everything?
Convenient? Yes. Walking distance to *everything*? Um, let's rephrase that. "Walking distance" is a relative term. Technically, you *can* stroll to the mall. Is it a leisurely, picturesque stroll? No. It’s more of a "dodging-traffic-and-sweating-profusely" kind of walk. And if you're planning on exploring further afield, get ready to Uber. But hey, the Select Citywalk itself? Right at the doorstep, so you can get your retail therapy fix, and the food? Oh sweet lord, the food. Worth the walk, for sure.
4. Breakfast. Tell me about the breakfast. Is it worth the extra cost? 'Cause, sometimes I just want a piece of toast...
Breakfast? Alright, prepare yourself. This is a bit of a saga. The pictures? Glorious buffet spreads. Freshly baked croissants, glistening fruit, the works. And it *is* good. Really good. But... the first morning? Chaos. Absolute, glorious, chaotic *breakfast* chaos. A line longer than a particularly dramatic movie premiere. Scrambling for tables. People bumping into each other wielding plates piled high with deliciousness. It's like a buffet battle royale, except everyone's armed with a croissant. I almost lost my temper. Almost. But then, I tasted that perfectly fried egg, and all was forgiven. Worth the extra cost? Mmm, yes. But go early. Or bring patience. Or, you know, both.
5. The staff. Are they helpful, attentive, or… well, are they actually *there* when you need them?
Okay, this is where I have to give them serious props. The staff? They are *amazing*. Seriously. I had a teeny tiny issue with my air conditioning (yes, I'm a delicate flower), and within minutes, a lovely person was there, apologizing profusely and fixing it. They actually *cared*. They were friendly, they remembered my name, and they genuinely seemed to want to make my stay pleasant. I will say, though, during the aforementioned breakfast scrum, they seemed a little... stretched. But honestly, given the sheer volume of people, they handled it like absolute pros. Give those people a raise, stat!
6. Let's get REAL. What's the biggest flaw of Hotel Harry's? What REALLY bugged you?
Okay, this is where I unleash a tiny, tiny (but persistent) annoyance. The Wi-Fi. It was... spotty. Not consistently terrible, mind you. But just enough to make you want to throw your laptop out of the window when you're trying to work. I mean, seriously? In this day and age? Come on, Hotel Harry's! Get the Wi-Fi sorted! I ended up tethering to my phone more often than I'd like, which, you know, chewed through my data like a kid on a sugar rush. That and the occasional, slightly-too-loud music in the common areas at night. But look, I'm nitpicking. Wi-Fi issues aside, it wasn’t a dealbreaker.
7. Okay, the biggest question: Would you go back? Is it worth it?
Okay, deep breath. Yes. Absolutely. Despite the minor Wi-Fi drama, and the slight feeling of being in a stylish shoebox (although, I got used to it), and the breakfast buffet battle, yes. The style, the staff, the location... they all outweighed the negatives. It's not perfect. But it's got character. It's got charm. It's an experience. And honestly? I'm already thinking of booking a suite. But maybe I'll bring a portable Wi-Fi router. Just in case.
