Ahmedabad's #1 Hotel: PageOne Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, because this isn't your typical, dry hotel review. This is about PageOne Luxury Awaits! in Ahmedabad - a place I've just experienced, and, well, let's just say it left a mark. Seriously, the memory of their poolside bar is still haunting my dreams (in a good way!).
The Hype: Does It Live Up? (The Rambling Begins…)
First things first: Ahmedabad's #1? That's a bold claim. But… the rumors… the whisperings… they're mostly true. PageOne is a statement. It’s the kind of place that makes you feel instantly cooler, even if you're just there to drool over the buffet breakfast (more on that later).
Accessibility & Safety: Let's Get Real (and Reassuring)
Okay, let's start with the boring but crucial stuff. Accessibility? PageOne does well, but not perfectly. They say they have facilities for guests with disabilities, which is promising. Now, I don’t use a wheelchair, but the lobby seems pretty easy to navigate. The elevators are there, the doors are wide enough - so that's a point in their favor. But, I would definitely recommend calling ahead and clarifying specific needs beforehand.
And, in this post-pandemic world, cleanliness and safety are everything. They’re on point. Anti-viral cleaning products are their jam, and I saw staff constantly disinfecting. The daily disinfection in common areas is visible. And that "room sanitization opt-out available"? Okay, that's a new one to me but cool too. Talk about options. They had hand sanitizer stations everywhere, and all the staff really, really seemed to be educated on safety protocols. The Safe dining setup was pretty impressive - tables properly spaced apart, and staff maintaining a respectful distance. My inner germaphobe was actually super chill. They've clearly invested in this.
Rooms: My Personal Sanctuary (and the Quest for the Perfect Pillow)
Alright, my room. Oh, my room. I’m a sucker for a good room. My expectations for this place were high, and… they kinda met them. The Air Conditioning blasted like a polar vortex (which was perfect after exploring the city in the Ahmedabad heat). The Blackout Curtains? Wonderful. The Bed? Heavenly. Like, seriously, I seriously considered asking if I could just buy the mattress and take it home in a suitcase! The bathtub in the separate bath/shower area… Well, let's just say I spent an embarrassing amount of time in there, luxuriating in a hot bath with the supplied bathrobes and high-end toiletries.
The Free Wi-Fi in all rooms (and throughout the hotel!) was a godsend, especially since I needed to upload a ton of photos. There was even an Internet access – LAN (for the techy folks, not me). Seriously, it was basically an office on-the-go. As I was trying to focus on working in the room (which I barely did, by the way), there was the Desk and the Complimentary Tea to help me stay productive.
Now, here's the one tiny, completely insignificant, first-world problem. You know how you're always on the hunt for the perfect pillow? Okay, the pillows at PageOne… they were… adequate. I mean, they weren't cloud-like. They weren't terrible. But they weren't the stuff of dreams, either. It’s a minor quibble, I know, but the pursuit of pillow perfection is real, people!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Stomach's Adventure
Here's where PageOne really shines. Let's talk food – because, let's be honest, that’s a major part of any good hotel experience.
- Breakfast? Epic. The Breakfast [Buffet] was a masterpiece. A symphony of Indian and Western breakfasts, with chefs manning stations. I spent a solid hour exploring the world of food, from the super fresh fruits to the perfectly crispy bacon. The Coffee/tea in restaurant situation was on point. The service was great. They even have Breakfast takeaway service, which is a lifesaver if you sleep in (which is a solid possibility when you're as relaxed as I was).
- The poolside bar. Oh. My. God. This is where I lost all sense of time (and probably a few rupees). The Poolside bar is the absolute epitome of relaxation. They had an impressively extensive menu with all the usual drinks, the coffee/tea in restaurant service, and the friendly service, which was superb. The pool with a view had the view, which, together with the sunshine, created an amazing vibe and was perfect for an afternoon cocktail.
- Restaurants? Yes, plural. They have a bunch. There’s a Vegetarian restaurant (essential in a city like Ahmedabad), plus Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant. I personally loved the a la carte. The A la carte in restaurant had a diverse menu. So, if you're looking to get out of the hotel to explore the city, that's up to you, but for a high-quality experience, you won't even need to leave the property.
Services and Conveniences: The Perks (and a Few Quirks)
PageOne seems to have thought of everything, within reason.
- Concierge: They were super helpful with things like arranging taxis and providing recommendations.
- Room Service [24-hour]: Very much appreciated at 3 AM when I had a craving for a club sandwich!
- Daily housekeeping: Immaculate. My room was always spotless.
- Invoice provided - the accounting was all done seamlessly. Pretty organized.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Again, needs further investigation, but I think they're good.
- Cash withdrawal: very handy.
- Gift/souvenir shop: a nice touch for picking up little trinkets.
- Ironing service: Saves yourself the hassle of the ironing.
- Laundry service: a must for a longer stay.
- Car park [free of charge] & Car park [on-site]: I could park my rental car, or you can leave your car to the valet (at a charge, of course).
- Airport transfer: super convenient.
- Doorman: always a good sign.
Things to Do (and Ways to Chill): Spa Days and Fitness Fun
Okay, the relaxation options are legit:
- Spa/sauna? Yes, please! I didn't have time to go, but they have a full-fledged spa.
- Fitness center/Gym? They do have a gym, yes. I did not check it out, but, you know. If you want to work out… you can.
- Swimming pool? Yup, a gorgeous outdoor pool. I spent hours lounging by it.
- Massage? Of course.
For the Kids (and the Kid in You):
- Family/child friendly? Yes! Definitely a great place to bring the whole family. A few words of warning. I have a little anecdote.
I decided to book it, to say the least!
The Not-So-Perfect Bits (Because No Place is Perfect)
Look, let's be honest, nothing is perfect.
- The noise: While the Soundproofing in my room was pretty good, I could still hear some city noise at night (though I'm a light sleeper).
- My own stupidity: I somehow managed to lock myself out of my room one day. The staff was super helpful about it, but still… embarrassing.
- Pets? While I didn't see any, it says "Pets allowed unavailable,". Which, to all my pet lover friends, is a darn shame.
- The extra fees: Well, it's a luxury hotel, so expect luxury prices for some things.
Final Verdict: Should You Book?
YES!
If you're looking for a luxurious, comfortable, and generally awesome experience in Ahmedabad, PageOne Luxury Awaits! is a fantastic choice. It's not perfect (nothing is), but the positives far outweigh the negatives. The staff is friendly and helpful, the rooms are beautiful, the food is amazing (that buffet!), and the atmosphere is just… right.
My Unsolicited, Possibly Overenthusiastic Recommendation
Seriously, book a room. Book it now. Treat yourself. You deserve it. You specifically, you reading this right now. They also have some pretty cool features, like the proposal spot, and rooms sanitized between stays, and Shared stationery removed.
FINAL, FINAL, FINAL Notes:
Okay, I might be slightly obsessed. But if you go, promise me you'll order a cocktail at the poolside bar. And you'll explore the buffet. You'll have a truly wonderful stay, and now, I'll leave you to enjoy it.
Escape to Paradise: Huaneng & CYTS Holiday Hotel, Dalian Awaits!
PageOne Panic: A Gujarati Adventure (Probably Gonna Mess This Up)
Okay, deep breaths. This is supposed to be my "itinerary" for a few days in Ahmedabad, starting at the PageOne Hotel. Honestly? The thought of planning fills me with a low-grade dread. My brain is a tangled ball of yarn. But hey, here goes nothing! Wish me luck, I'm gonna need it.
Day 1: Arrival and the PageOne Puzzle
Morning (ish) - Arrival & Airport Antics: Landed at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport. The heat hit me like a brick. And getting through immigration? Don't even get me started. Let's just say my visa photo doesn't look anything like me anymore (thanks, sleep deprivation and the questionable lighting in the passport booth). Finally free! Found a pre-paid taxi, haggled (badly, I'm sure), and made my way to PageOne.
Afternoon - The Room…and the Revelation: PageOne's reception was sleek, almost intimidating. The air conditioning hit my face like a blast of heaven. Check-in was smooth, thank the Lord. My room? Pleasant enough. But I'm already feeling the pressure of needing to "do stuff." This is supposed to be a relaxing trip, right? I think I need a nap. First impressions: the bed looks comfy. Priorities.
Late Afternoon/Early Evening - Exploration, Sort Of: Dragged myself out of bed around…well, let's just say it was later than planned. Tried to walk around the immediate area surrounding the hotel. Got lost almost immediately. Google Maps, my friend, is proving its worth. Wound up in a tiny, bustling market. Squeezed past a guy with a towering stack of papads, almost knocked over a basket of marigolds, and got completely, utterly overwhelmed. This is where I learn I'm a terrible shopper. Ended up buying two plastic water bottles and a suspicious-looking samosa. Ate the samosa (it was decent!).
Evening - Dinner Disaster (Maybe?) The hotel restaurant. Ordered something that looked delicious on the menu. What arrived, however, had a suspicious orange hue and an overwhelming amount of spice. My mouth is currently on fire. On the bright side, the air conditioning in the dining room is excellent. I am pretty sure this spicy experience will go down in history.
Day 2: History, Handicrafts, and Heartbreak (Probably Overreacting)
Morning - Sabarmati Ashram: The Gandhi Effect. Woke up determined to be proactive. Took a taxi to the Sabarmati Ashram. The atmosphere was peaceful, almost reverent. Hearing about Gandhi's life and philosophy? Powerful stuff. I even sat under the same tree he used to chill under. For a minute, I felt a flicker of something…hope? Then I got bitten by a mosquito. Back to reality. The Gandhi museum, though, that was impressive. The simple living showed me how much Gandhi struggled hard.
Afternoon - Handicraft Havoc: Jumped in a tuk-tuk (a whole other adventure, dodging traffic is exhilarating!) and headed to a craft market. This is where I think I finally succumbed to total sensory overload. The colours, the smells, the constant chatter… I was a deer in headlights. I saw beautiful textiles, intricate woodwork, and jewelry that could make you weep. I bought a scarf. It was probably overpriced, but I didn't care. I'm pretty sure I'm going to wear it every day for the rest of my life.
Late Afternoon - Adalaj Stepwell: Stairway to…Etherealness? Okay, this was actually incredible. The Adalaj Stepwell is a stunning piece of architecture. The intricate carvings, the cool air, the sense of history… it's like stepping into another world. I just sat on one of the steps for a while, just… absorbing it all. I think I finally relaxed a little bit.
Evening - Dinner and the Dark Side of the Desert: I have the worst travel tummy ache. Apparently, that samosa from yesterday was the harbinger of doom. I stumbled through the hotel, feeling miserable. Ordered the blandest possible food from room service. It was chicken and rice. Thank God! But I had one thought, and one alone: dehydration.
Day 3: Amedabad at its Finest (and My Possible Breakdown)
- Morning - Sidi Saiyyed Mosque: Beauty in Brokenness. This is the one thing I kept seeing photos of. The intricate stone latticework! The serene atmosphere! It lived up to the hype. Pure, unadulterated beauty. I stood there, staring at the windows for ages, just lost in the details. It was a moment of pure, unadulterated joy. I think I'm going to get a tattoo of that latticework, on my face.
- Afternoon - The Calico Museum of Textiles: Textile Overload (in a Good Way). Okay, so this museum is, in a word…massive. And stunning. And I'm not sure I actually love textiles that much. After an hour, my brain was completely fried. I needed a nap, stat. I ended up taking the tour and getting some snacks on the way out. The snacks were the real highlight.
- Late Afternoon - Street Food Struggle: I'm a glutton for punishment. I know I should be careful, but the street food is just…so tempting. Took a deep breath and dove in! I tried the famous dhokla and a few other things I can't even pronounce. My stomach is rumbling, I'm pretty sure I'll be paying for this later. The taste, though…worth it.
- Evening - Pack It Up, Pack It In: Just before dinner I decided to just pack my bags. It's not like I'm leaving. Maybe, I should do that tomorrow.
Day 4: Departure (and the Aftermath)
Morning - Late Breakfast & Hotel Pondering: Slept in again (shocking, I know). Had breakfast at the hotel. The coffee actually wasn't that bad, a welcome surprise. Sat in the lobby and stared out the window. Am I glad I came? Yes. Am I exhausted? Absolutely. Do I need a vacation from my vacation? Definitely.
Mid-Morning - Goodbye Ahmedabad: Checked out, said a hasty goodbye to the PageOne staff (who were uniformly lovely, even when I was being a mess), and headed to the airport.
(Eventually) - The Real Truth & The Long Flight Home: Okay, so I'll admit it. Ahmedabad kicked my butt. I got lost, I got sick, I ate the world's spiciest food, and I almost threw up. I'm probably going to need a week to recover. BUT. In the face of that, I also saw the beauty, ate some amazing food when my stomach wasn't rebelling, met some wonderful people, and experienced something completely new. And that, my friends, is what traveling is all about. Even if it's messy, imperfect, and leaves you needing a nap for a solid month.
So there you have it. My completely unorganized, potentially inaccurate, and utterly authentic account of my time in Ahmedabad. Wish me luck on my next adventure. I'm going to need it.
Escape to Bliss: Shree Krishna Hotels, Amritsar's Jewel
PageOne Luxury Awaits! - FAQs (Because Let's Be Real, You Have Questions)
Is PageOne really as luxurious as it sounds? My budget is…let's say, “aspirational.”
Okay, here's the straight scoop: "Luxury" at PageOne is... well, it's there. I mean, the lobby gleams. Like, seriously gleams. I swear, the bellhop was polishing the already-gleaming marble *while I was talking to him*. It’s the kind of shine that makes you feel underdressed in your well-worn t-shirt and jeans. And then you remember, “Hey, I *am* underdressed!”
But the rooms? They're slick. Modern. The sheets probably cost more than my rent. Did I feel like royalty? Maybe a *slightly* pampered commoner. Let's just say it’s the kind of luxury that’ll make you check your bank balance…a lot. Is it worth it? Depends on what you’re looking for. If you're after a true *splurge* experience, where you're absolutely draped in opulence from the moment you walk in, then yes. If you're on a tight budget... well, maybe save up for a bit. Or, you could always live vicariously through my reviews. ;)
What's the food like? I'm a foodie (read: I eat a lot).
Oh, the food. *Deep breath*. Okay, the breakfast buffet at PageOne… it’s a *monster*. A glorious, delicious, carb-laden monster. You’ve got everything. EVERYTHING. I'm talking parathas, idlis, dosas, waffles taller than my coffee mug, omelets made-to-order, pastries that are trying to tempt me into an early diabetic coma... it's overwhelming. I felt like I needed a separate stomach just for dessert. (Seriously, someone tell me how to get one of those.)
Dinner? Fine dining. Presentation? Impeccable. Taste? Good. Really good. But… and this is just me, the portion sizes felt a bit…dainty. I'm from Ahmedabad, people! We eat, like, *a lot*. I could probably eat the whole table setting. I'd recommend ordering a few extra starters. And definitely try the Dal Makhani. *Chef's kiss*. You won't regret it.
Is the service good? Are the staff actually helpful, or just *pretending* to be?
The service? Top-notch. No, seriously. The staff at PageOne are…well, they’re like highly trained hospitality ninjas. They appear out of nowhere when you need something. Need a taxi? Done. Need extra towels? Poof. Need a secret stash of chocolate chip cookies at 3 AM? ...Okay, I didn’t test that, but I suspect they’d somehow pull it off. They are genuinely trying to make your experience amazing.
However…and this is a tiny, *tiny* imperfection… I *did* have a slightly awkward encounter with the concierge. I asked for directions to a local market. He gave me detailed instructions, but then, with a perfectly straight face, he added, "And be careful of the peacocks, sir. They can be surprisingly territorial." Peacocks? In the market? I still don't know what he meant. Maybe he was just messing with me, or maybe my vision of Ahmedabad is slightly off. You'll see what I mean once you are walking around the city. I later discovered that there were no peacocks, so... a small glitch in an otherwise flawless system.
What about the location? Is it convenient for exploring Ahmedabad?
Location, location, location, right? PageOne is pretty well-placed. You're not smack-bang in the middle of the ultra-historical stuff, but it's close enough to easily get to Sabarmati Ashram and the old city. Auto-rickshaws are readily available. You can use those apps to get around. All the usual suspects. Just be patient with the traffic (it's Ahmedabad, after all!).
Oh! And remember the peacock guy from earlier? I went on a tuk-tuk to the local market he mentioned. Let's just say, Ahmedabad is an experience. I got lost. Twice. And then I found the most amazing chaat stand. Worth it? Absolutely. But maybe download a map app first.
Are the rooms actually as soundproof as they claim? I'm a light sleeper.
Soundproof? Hmm… mostly. I didn't hear my neighbor's TV, and I didn’t hear much of the street noise. BUT… on my first night, I was woken up by a loud, rhythmic… *thump*. It was coming from above. I wasn't sure what it was! Drums? A particularly enthusiastic cardio class? After about twenty minutes of this, I called reception. They were on it immediately! Turns out there was a small issue with some plumbing. They quickly moved me to a new room.
So, yeah, the rooms are pretty soundproof, but even luxury hotels are not perfect. They handled the situation well, though! And the new room? Silent as a tomb. Perfect sleep. So, a minor hiccup, but overall… yes, pretty soundproof.
What about the pool? Is it actually relaxing?
The pool. Ah, the pool. It's gorgeous. Sparkling. I went there with the best intentions of chilling out, getting some vitamin D, maybe even reading a book. Instead, I spent the entire time battling small children for space. Kids were *everywhere*. Splashing, screaming, cannonballing. It was… energetic. Not exactly the Zen oasis I had in mind. The parents were all busy talking. Which is fine, I guess.
So, relaxing? Maybe if you go at an off-peak hour. Otherwise… be prepared for a splash fight. Bring your own water gun. Just kidding! ...Mostly.
Do they have a good gym? Because I'm trying to stay in shape (ish).
The gym? Yes! It's a proper gym. Not just a treadmill and a rusty weight set. It has all the fancy equipment. Treadmills with individual TVs! Weight machines I didn't even recognize! And best of all? It was *empty*. Perfect for someone like me who gets intimidated by actual gym-going people. I could work out in peace, looking like a professional without feeling judged.
Plus, a gym where you can work out *and* watch TV is a win-win in my book. I actually enjoyed my workout. That is a first!
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