Higher-End Hotel, Losar, McLeod Ganj

tacita

hi all,

five months' advance booking and i still struck out for chonor house in mc leod ganj for losar week. they could accommodate me only for the last 2 nights of my stay, after the main new year's festivities are over.

i did, however, manage to secure a reservation at pema thang guesthouse for the entire week, and maybe that'll be fine for my needs (see below).

nevertheless, i thought i'd cast the net for other suggestions...

the most important criterion is relative warmth. i don't think i warmed up for the entire duration of my stay last february in sikkim. a tiny space heater does little good in a cavernous room, so perhaps i sabotage myself by seeking a higher-end hotel that may have mostly larger rooms. i don't need space, i need heat! i'd sleep in a closet if i had to in order to get warm. for the same reason, i desperately want a goodly supply of hot water. even there, i found some bathrooms so large and cold relative to a small stream of hot water that even a nominal "hot shower" seemed only to further reduce my core body temperature! disrobing in what feels like walk-in freezer is, for always-cold me, almost unbearable.

in a perfect world, in addition to heat, i'd also have a room view and a roof terrace. (well, it can't hurt to ask.) and in a still more perfect world, i'd be centrally located, near taxis and restaurants. i'll be traveling alone, so don't want to be isolated from other travelers.

budget around $50. more or less is ok, so long as i can be warm. i don't need luxury, just enough heat enough to sustain human life.

i haven't been able to find a web addy for the tibet hotel, but it looks like another potentially good option. anyone know/find it?

lastly, as to views, many hotel listings describe "valley views"--are they the most desirable? i'd have thought mountain views to be more so, or is that not so from MG?

one final note--i am deaf, so noise is definitely not an issue.

thanks in advance.

__________________
Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing. ~Helen Keller

tacita

chonor house said they could arrange a reservation for me at the surya hotel and then move me to their hotel for the last 2 days of my stay. i found two brief references to surya here on IM, but no particulars. googling around, i found more info and photos, but no actual reviews. it looks to be a somewhat soulless place, perhaps catering more to business travelers. has anyone stayed there?

Styler

Hi,

I have stayed at Surya Hotel. It's an upmarket hotel with Marble floors, and good rooms and clean toilets. I am sure you'll get adequate heating and warm water there. But you're right when you say it's a soulless kind of place. Not the kind of place where you will be able to interact with fellow travellers. I stayed there for 2 days because the Librarary of Tibetan Works and Archives (LTWA) had booked me there. I was on a business visit to set up their Servers etc. After 2 Days i moved to Pemathang, and found it really nice. Pemathang, Bhagsu and Chinor are all opposite each other at the end of the road. Surya is about 50 mtrs before on the same road.
To summarize, if you are looking for Artificial Heating and Clean rooms and Warm Water, then Surya will be good for you. If you look for warmth in company then i would recommend Pemathang, Chonor and Bhagsu.
But whereever you stay do remember to visit the restaurant in Pemathang. It is the best Vegetarian Continental Restaurant i have ever dined out at.

Feel free ask any more questions.

Styler.

tacita

i found a review of the surya hotel and it was just dreadful, describing it as "brash", among other things that made "soulless" sound complimentary by comparison.

i secured "plan B" reservations at both pemathang and the annex hotel and will make a final decision closer to february.

folks here admonished me to "book early" for losar--and they weren't kidding!