Looking for a mid-range hotel near Sudder Street/Park Street

Flamingo24

hallo,
my wife and I are planning to stay in kolkata in the mid of december for at least two nigths. can anybody recommand a nice mid-range hotel in the chowringhee area? should be clean and not too noisy, rooms with windows. a roof-terrace with restaurant would be nice as well, but not a must...
thanks for any suggestion.
werner

atala

The Fairlawn could be your choice, if you do not mind something a little old fashioned.

http://www.fairlawnhotel.com/

Otherwise there is a shortage of hotels in the mid-range class in Kolkata. You should book this well ahead, though, since it is often full.

Aiexile

I have used the Astoria in Sudder Street, definitely mid-range. A bit more pricewise is the Lytton. Either is suitable.

lucyl

Or the Lytton.I stayed in a very comfie suite. a bit westernised . Best potato Bondas in town

Thoughtcrimes

According to the Astoria staff, they currently have no rooms left for December 2007, however November is still available. Yet this conflicts with two travel agencies emails I've recieved - Sam-San Travels and Savion Travel Services. Each has responded to my inquiries that they do have rooms at the Astoria, but for hight rates. The going rate for a double at the Astoria is 1200-1250 + 10% LT. Both travel agencies are charging $45.00 USD which is approx 1800 rs. This leads me to believe that the Astoria reserves some rooms for travel agencies at higher prices. Btw, Sam-San Travel advertise the regular rate of 1250 rs(and even a cheaper standard room rate that the hotels website neglects to mention), but when you recieve the details of your pre-paid booking by email, the offered rates have suddenly jumped up to $45.00....maybe they don't realize American tourists know how to convert dollars into rupees? ANyway, to me it just seemed like a deceptive way to do business...

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cool blue

Spooky! I am sitting in an internet shop in Sudder street so feel able to reply!!

I have stayed in both Lytton and Fairlawn and i would say it depends on what your preference is and pricewise as they are both very different.

Fairlawn is an experience in itself - pretty whacky and a very personal feel to the place, full of ornaments, pictures and a colonial style. Breakfast is great if you want a change, and most seem to opt for full board (I don't - i prefer to have the freedom and flexibility) I think the price is very reasonable (around 2500) for what you get. the staff sometimes feel a bit over attentive and i think it could be a little oppressive if you prefer privacy and anonymity.

Lytton is nice - comfortable but much more expensive (I think we paid around 3600 a year ago) and far less personal. The style is nice though, staff efficient, usual restaurant facilities. My personal comment is that it is quite anonymous - but that depends on what you are looking for.

I opt for Fairlawn when i am Calcutta as it is that bit different, the staff remember me, and I just feel that bit more secure, especially if i am travelling on my own. But these are my personal opinions......

enjoy

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Feisty Blue Gecko
http://feistybluegecko.blogspot.com/

cool blue

PS - I also spotted the Hilson and the Shilton Hotels in Sudder street while i was walking this morning - not sure if they are aspiring to be part of the Hilton chain

wonderwomanusa

I stayed at the Astoria in 1989 and would not have recommended it to anybody. I had a wonderfully large room -- but it was dusty and had mice.

atala

True... but really awful places. Places that give a bad name to the area

unclelach

Early this year I hoped to stay at the old "Great Eastern"(not in Sudder Street) but found on arrival that the place was being totally rebuilt within the old facade.

I continued on to Sudder Street and found a passable room at the Hotel Super at the fire station end of the street.

Does anybody know when the Great Eastern will reopen?

Brisso

[QUOTE This leads me to believe that the Astoria reserves some rooms for travel agencies at higher prices.

I doubt they reserve rooms for travel agents. Much more likely you are being quoted a tariff that includes a massive commission.

robotvoice

News flash: travel agencies are in it for the money!

ok, sorry for the sarcasm, just seems to go with out saying that the middle man is goint to make a buck or two. You are paying for the convenience, no?

Thoughtcrimes

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Umm "Robotvoice," you may wish to to re-read my post again. The deceptive part I was referring to was in advertizing far lower rates (which included taxes) on their site in rupees while then emailing back to the customer actual rates in dollars that didn't add up by a long shot. Here is the direct link of the quote that I provided (tariff info at bottom of the page)
http://hotels.samsantravels.com/plac...oria_hotel.htm

and the direct quote of the email I recieved:

Sam-San Travels (RES) to me
show details Nov 1 (4 days ago) Reply



Dear Sir:

We are in receipt of your mail & thank you for your requisition.

We hereby confirm your booking for 1 ac room for 2 adults for 8 nights checking in on......at Hotel Astoria, at Kolkata on EP basis.

(EP= European plan ie room only, CP= Continental Plan ie Room with breakfast MAP= Modified American Plan ie Room with breakfast, & lunch OR dinner , AP=American PLan ie Room with all meals)

Please remit USD 360 as per the calculation
USD 45 per couple per night x 8 nights = USD 360
Total: USD 360

Guess it's time to change my signature again