Bhubaneswar's BEST Hotel? Hotel Excellency's Secrets Revealed!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the swirling, sometimes chaotic, but ultimately magnificent world of Hotel Excellency in Bhubaneswar. This isn't your dry, textbook hotel review. This is the raw, unfiltered, slightly-too-honest account of my recent stay. Let's get messy. Let's get real. Let's find out if this place truly deserves the crown of Bhubaneswar's “BEST.”
First off, the elephant in the room (or, in this case, the elephant subtly trumpeting its way to my room): Accessibility. The website promised the world, but in India, promises and reality sometimes… well, they have a distant relationship. I'm happy to report that Hotel Excellency actually delivers. Wheelchair accessible everywhere I needed to be, from the lobby to the essential areas. The whole place seems meticulously planned, not an afterthought. Elevators are a godsend, because nobody (especially me, after a long day of Odisha adventures) wants to navigate endless stairs. I even saw a Facilities for disabled guests section! Now, it wasn't perfect – finding the exact accessible restroom took a little detective work, and sometimes the ramps were a tad steeper than ideal. But, overall, a solid win.
Arrival and First Impressions – The Good, the Bad, and the Butter Chicken
Check-in was… well, Indian. Efficient, yes. But also a little… let's call it "spirited." There was a slight queue (a common reality in India, embrace it!), and a friendly, if slightly harried, concierge. He practically beamed when he saw my booking, exclaiming with a flourish, "Welcome to the Excellency! We trust your stay will be… excellent!" Sounded genuine, which is rare. Contactless check-in/out? Absolutely, on the technology front! (Though I confess to still liking a personal touch.) The lobby, however, was a sensory overload in the best way. Bright, airy, with a faint aroma of incense (a hint of the nearby temples?). And, oh, the Doorman! Dude was sharp as a tack, opening doors with a smile that could melt glaciers. I felt instantly at home.
Let's cut to the chase before my brain gives up on me: Cleanliness and Safety. Okay, I'm a bit of a germaphobe. Sue me! Thankfully, Hotel Excellency takes this seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products were deployed like benevolent ninja assassins. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. Rooms sanitized between stays? Apparently so, because I didn't detect a single trace of previous occupant residue (bonus points!). Hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE. Seriously, you could drown in the stuff. They even mentioned Hygiene certification. It's reassuring. I was, like, actually impressed. Like, really impressed.
Room Revelations: Where Comfort Meets Chaos
Alright, my room. The promised land. Let's list it all down. Air conditioning (essential in Bhubaneswar; honestly, I'd pay double for it!), Alarm clock (I hate them, but it works), Bathrobes (soft, fluffy, instant luxury), Bathroom phone (weird, but I'm not complaining), Bathtub (a savior after a day of rickshaw rides), Blackout curtains (bliss! Finally some sleep), Closet (big enough for my insane luggage), Coffee/tea maker (vital), Complimentary tea (always welcome), Daily housekeeping (efficient and friendly, they even folded my pajamas!), Desk (good for my laptop), Extra long bed (loved that), Free bottled water (a must in India), Hair dryer (essential for a woman's sanity), High floor (amazing views of the city), In-room safe box (yup!), Internet access – LAN, and Internet access – wireless (and FREE! – big points there), Interconnecting room(s) available (I don't think… but, ok!), Ironing facilities (never used), Laptop workspace (always welcome), Linens (clean and comfy), Mini bar (tempting, and I almost gave in), Mirror (the usual), Non-smoking (great), On-demand movies (I don't watch TV), Private bathroom (obviously), Reading light (a lifesaver), Refrigerator (handy for drinks and leftovers!), Satellite/cable channels (who even watches this?), Scale (terrifying), Seating area (nice for chilling), Separate shower/bathtub (luxury!), Shower (obvisouly!), Slippers (the best way to live), Smoke detector (safety first!), Socket near the bed (thank god), Sofa (very nice), Soundproofing (needed with traffic), Telephone (in case I wanted to dial), Toiletries (nice ones), Towels (clean, fluffy), Umbrella (required), Visual alarm (never used), Wake-up service (nope!), Wi-Fi [free] (love it), Window that opens (rare, and beautiful!).
Now, let's get real for a minute. The bathroom… well, it wasn't sparkling in the way a five-star resort might be. A few minor tile imperfections. Maybe a stray hair or two (nothing, ok? I don't remember…). But the hot water flowed freely, the shower pressure was decent, and the overall ambiance was… functional. A far cry from the pristine perfection of a magazine spread, yet perfectly acceptable. It definitely didn't ruin my stay, and I'm probably being way too picky. This is India, after all!
Now, my biggest problem: the internet! The website promised Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and it was listed as Internet access – wireless! And they were correct. It was fantastic. I could even Video conference with my co-workers by using a laptop workspace! Seriously, this was a major win because I do that a lot.
Food, Glorious Food (and a Few Minor Hiccups)
And now for the best part: food! Hotel Excellency has multiple restaurants; I tried almost all of them. Let's start with the good. The Asian breakfast was outstanding. The International cuisine in the restaurant was also fantastic. The vegetarian restaurant was a godsend. I could eat like a king there! The Breakfast service was a glorious experience, which was a Breakfast buffet. (I love buffets.) Dining, drinking, and snacking were also stellar! Now, for the not-so-good. The room service [24-hour] was… erratic. The food was good (eventually), but the wait times sometimes rivaled the speed of glacial erosion. Once, I waited over an hour for a sandwich, which arrived lukewarm and slightly soggy. And there really wasn't much by way of the promised Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, and Desserts in restaurant. It was a bit hit-or-miss, to be frank. The Poolside bar was a nice touch, but I wish they'd had more options for the “happy hour.”
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax)
I did zero spa visits. I was too busy. I saw them have a Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]. As for entertainment, they did have a Kids facilities! That's pretty good, I think.
Overall, Hotel Excellency is a solid choice. It's not without its flaws (the slightly dodgy room service and the occasional internet hiccup), but the positives far outweigh the negatives. The staff are lovely, the location is great, the cleanliness is above par, and the overall vibe is welcoming and comfortable.
My Verdict: If you're looking for a clean, comfortable, and convenient hotel in Bhubaneswar that makes it easy for anyone to get around, Hotel Excellency deserves a look.
My Recommendation: Book an accessible room (if you need it!), and be prepared to be patient with the room service. Otherwise, go for it. You'll likely have a great time. Here's a little something I noticed about Hotel Excellency is that the services and conveniences were available: 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, 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.
The Quirks (because no review is complete without them)
The elevator music. Oh, the elevator music. Think "easy listening" meets Indian classical. It's… an experience.
The "Do Not Disturb" sign in my room was a bit too enthusiastic. I felt like I was actively discouraging the housekeeping staff.
I almost forgot! The **Car park [free of charge],
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're venturing into the glorious, chaotic mess that is my "Hotel Excellency Bhubaneswar, India" itinerary. Forget pristine, polished travel blogs – this is the raw, unfiltered stuff. Prepare for some rambling, questionable decisions, and a whole lotta delicious food.
Day 1: Arrival & The Great Puri Jagannath Temple Debacle… (and a lot of Mango Lassi)
Morning (ish): Landed in Bhubaneswar. The airport? Surprisingly efficient. My luggage? Slightly less so. (Seriously, how did that dent get there?) Taxi to the Hotel Excellency. The drive was a blur of mopeds, cows, and the scent of something vaguely spicy and delicious. I’m already in love.
Afternoon: Check-in. Place is decent, kinda musty but charmingly so. Settle in…and immediately crave mango lassi. Found a little place down the street – heaven. Seriously, if anything happens to me, just pour mango lassi on my grave. I swear I had three. Maybe four. Who’s counting?
Late Afternoon: The Great Puri Jagannath Temple…Ah, the temple. I'd read about it, seen the pictures – majestic, spiritual…and utterly bewildering to a newbie like me. The crowds! The chanting! The sheer scale of it all! Got completely lost. Wandered around for ages, feeling like a small, bewildered ant. Made a serious miscalculation with the photo policy (turns out, photos inside are a massive NO-NO. Oops). Got a stern look and a lecture in rapid-fire Oriya from a very serious man. Lesson learned: research better. (And maybe learn a few basic Oriya phrases.)
Evening: Retreat back to the hotel, emotionally exhausted but strangely exhilarated. Dinner at Excellency's in-house restaurant. I ordered…something. I’m not quite sure what. But it involved rice, spices, and a fiery chili that brought tears to my eyes. Delicious tears.
Day 2: Caves, Temples, and a Moment of Sheer Panic (and More Food!)
Morning: Udayagiri and Khandagiri Caves! Finally, some space and quiet. (And no angry temple guardians!) The carvings were incredible. Truly, mind-blowing. I spent ages just wandering around, imagining the lives of the people who created them. Felt a profound sense of peace…until I realized I was completely alone. And the sun was starting to beat down. And, slightly panicked, I started speed walking the caves. Eventually, I found a little group of school kids, who, thankfully, gave me a ride in their car. Whew!
Afternoon: Back to Bhubaneswar and decided to check out the Lingaraj Temple…I think I would get lost outside even if I know where to go. They say it’s one of the oldest temples in the city. It’s awesome to see all the history. The architecture is truly impressive. Definitely recommended to go to.
Late Afternoon: Street food odyssey! Every alleyway, every corner – vendors with the most amazing smells. I had something that resembled a fried bread dumpling, which went down with the most incredible chilli sauce. Afterwards, my mouth felt like it was on fire, but the flavour…oh, the flavour! My stomach is a happy little dancing machine right now.
Evening: Dinner at a local restaurant. Couldn’t resist trying a thali. So. Much. Food. I swear, I think I ate enough rice to fuel a small village for a week. And of course, more mango lassi. This place is seriously dangerous for my waistline.
Day 3: The Art of the Sari & the Great Hotel Excellency Laundry Mishap
Morning: Shopping! Found a beautiful silk sari. The colours, the textures, the sheer extravagance of it all! It felt like a work of art. The shopkeeper was a charmer, guiding me through the intricacies of draping it. "You look beautiful," he said. I fell for it hook, line, and sinker.
Afternoon: The Great Hotel Excellency Laundry Mishap. Decided to have some clothes cleaned. Instructions were clear, right? White separate, delicates separate… Apparently, my definition and the hotel’s definition were, shall we say, different. Let’s just say my favourite white shirt now has a rather fetching shade of pink. (Lesson: Handwash or, you know, embrace the dye.)
Late Afternoon to Evening: Feeling a bit deflated after the laundry situation, so I decided to order room service. Tried the chicken biryani. Flavourful and definitely a pick-me-up. Spent the rest of the night planning my escape from Bhubaneswar. And of course, I'm already craving the mango lassi. I'm going to miss it.
Day 4: Departure & The Longing For More Lassi
Morning: Waking up with a feeling of sadness and excitement. Packing. Eating more food. One last, lingering look at the city. I'll probably have to catch another flight to go back there again soon.
Afternoon: Goodbye, Bhubaneswar. From the airport, I could just see the city, and the longing for mango lassi. I’m sure I’ll be back.
Final Thoughts (or, The Rambling Conclusion):
Bhubaneswar. A whirlwind of temples, delicious food, chaotic transportation, and the constant, nagging urge for more mango lassi. It wasn't perfect; far from it. There were times I was lost, overwhelmed, and slightly terrified. There were moments of pure joy and wonder. There was the laundry incident, which is still a source of both annoyance and amusement. But that, in the end, is the beauty of travel, isn’t it? The imperfections, the mishaps, the unexpected moments of connection. And the unwavering call of that sweet, sweet mango lassi. Next time, I'm buying stock.
Escape to Paradise: Yeongheungdo's 8gram Pension Awaits!
So, what IS this all about, anyway? Like, the *basics*?
Alright, alright, settle down. I'm still figuring that out too, to be honest. It's like... a constant evolution, a bubbling pot of ideas and experiences. Think of it as a giant, wriggling, adorable… something. Let's just say it's about… *gestures vaguely* …the important stuff. You know, the things that make you laugh, cry, and occasionally want to throw your phone across the room. Basically, it's my way of… *sigh* …sharing... this thing. Whatever *this* is.
Why are you even *doing* this? What's the point? (Besides driving people insane with these long answers, I mean.)
Okay, so... the "why." Honestly? It started as a way to… *clears throat* …process things. You know, the usual human stuff – existential dread, crippling self-doubt, the urgent need to eat ALL the cheese. Writing, or in this case, rambling, helps. It's like letting the crazy air out of a balloon. Sometimes the balloon deflates to nothingness, and sometimes it bursts and gets you wet, but it gives you good memories.
Plus, let's be real, I have a *ridiculous* amount of opinions. Someone had to hear them. And if that someone is you, well, welcome to the circus! Be sure to grab some popcorn, because the show never really ends.
What kind of stuff can I expect here? Or what should I expect?
Expect the unexpected. Seriously. One day we might be discussing the existential threat of squirrels (they're *sneaky*), the next, my crippling addiction to true crime podcasts. It’s like following a slightly unhinged tour guide through the inner workings of my brain. You just… never know where we'll end up. I *hope* we end up somewhere interesting though! And hopefully, not in jail, despite the true crime podcast addition.
Prepare for a healthy dose of sarcasm, random tangents, and probably… *looks around nervously*… a few typos. I'm not a professional, I'm just… me.
Okay, but what if I *strongly disagree* with something you say? (Because let's be honest, I probably will.)
Dude, bring it on! Seriously. I *thrive* on a good debate. (Okay, maybe 'thrive' is a strong word. I'm more of a slightly-nervous-but-intrigued kind of thriver.) Disagree, question, challenge me! Just try to keep it civil, yeah? I'm sensitive--at least in some instances. And by civil I mean, don't start with the insults. Please? I bruise like a peach.
What do you *not* talk about? Is there anything off-limits?
Hmm. Okay, here's the deal: I try to be generally respectful. So, you know, no hate speech, no inciting violence, that kind of thing. I'm not trying to get cancelled - I have a perfectly good avocado habit to maintain. Beyond that... pretty much anything is fair game. As long as it doesn't get *too* intensely personal. I'm still a little shy about sharing *everything*.
What's with all the… uh… *messiness*?
Oh, honey, that's not messiness, that's authenticity! Look, I'm not a polished, perfectly-manicured, robotic content creator. I'm just a human being muddling through life, just like the rest of you. And life is messy. It's chaotic. It's full of tangents and contradictions and the occasional accidental curse word. Trying to make this perfectly curated would literally make me die inside. I'm aiming for honesty, even if that means my brain is a glorious, sprawling jungle.
Okay, let's say I'm enjoying this! How can I get more like it? Are you going to keep this up?
First off, thank you! That genuinely makes me happy. I mean, someone's gotta read this stuff, right? And yes, I *intend* to keep this going. At least for a while. Unless I spontaneously combust from overthinking things (a very real possibility, honestly). The best way for me is to get feedback! Even if it is to roast me!
The best way to keep this… train wreck… on the rails, is to keep… *pauses, looks up thoughtfully* …reading! Leave comments, ask questions, start a discussion! The more you engage, the less likely I am to just… *poof* …disappear into a vortex of procrastination and Netflix. Which, let's be honest, is a very real threat.
Do you have a particular experience that led you here? Something that, like, REALLY pushed you?
Oh, that's a good one. There's always that 'one experience' isn't there? For me? Yeah, I have to go with… (deep breath)… The Great Cheese Incident of 2022. You may not understand, but let me tell you, I was *obsessed*.
It started innocently enough. I bought a wedge of parmesan. You know, the good stuff. The kind you can actually *taste*. And then… well, the cheese took over. I started small, a little grating here, a little sprinkle there. Pasta? YES. Salad? SURE. Toast? ABSOLUTELY. Soon, I needed *more*. My refrigerator became a cheese-filled wonderland. I was buying *every* type of cheese imaginable. Brie? Check. Gouda? Check. Mozarella? Cheeeeeeck.
My bank balance began its rapid descent. My doctors told me about the dangers of saturated fats. The cheese began to… *linger*. I was walking around smelling like… *gasps, clutches chest*… like a glorified cheesemonger. And then, the kicker? I found myself… *whispers*... *dreaming* about cheese. I couldn't stop *thinking* about cheese. The pressure was building... my life was, no exaggeration, *consumed* by cheese.
And then one day…it just… *stopped*. The craving dissipated. The cheese-fueled madness evaporated. I looked at all the cheese in my fridge — the sad, lonely remains of a short-lived obsession — and just felt… *empty*. I was staring at my past love, and it was like I was looking at a stranger.
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