Samode Haveli

The reviews tend to be consistent. The facilities tend to be very good (exceptions follow), the food is very good (examples follow) -- and the service "wanting" at best. The facility overall is great -- courtyard, rooftop terrace, restaurant, pool. Our room was in the older section so there was no television as advertised (not a big deal but still...) and the outlets wonky (sometimes worked, sometimes not) with no USB/C connections. The light switch was outside the room. Sometimes the light on the stairs to the room did not work. The food in the dining room was very good. The food at the pool was also very good (two different salads each day). But the service. The service. Registration and the walk to the room were fine with our luggage schlepped up two flights of stairs. The "porter" (turned out to be the front desk clerk) accepted a gratuity. On inspecting the room we learned that the hotel requested that no tips be given to individuals but rather an overall amount left at the end of the stay. Many staff were inattentive and "sombre". Overall, they seemed very unhappy with their work, the place and their lot in life. A few room attendants smiled and a waiter or two but they were the noticeable exceptions. Even when service was attentive the staff were sombre. Few smiles. Few exchanges. The pool area serving staff were particularly slow and unpleasant. They are hardly doing me a favour. Odd since this is a continual complaint about the hotel and rather easily fixed with some training and supervision (and better hiring). Perhaps we suffered from coming from the Leela in Udaipur where staff were so welcoming and friendly at every turn. The comparison is stark. The Samode Haveli just needs better management, hiring for attitude and staff training.

The Samode Haveli is an exquisite hotel and I cannot recommend it highly enough. We have now stayed at 7 hotels in India and it’s the best so far. From the welcome drink to loading the bags as we left, the staff were superb. Our suite was well appointed with a comfortable living room, great king sized bed and oversized bathroom with separate tub and shower as well as two sinks. And little things were thought out. This is the only hotel so far that has a luggage rack for two suitcases., a convenience for couple each with their own suitcase. We ate dinner both nights in the restaurant and it was excellent with service to match. Well presented and with a good wine list if you are so inclined. Breakfast, included in our rate, offered both a buffet and eggs and pancakes cooked to order. And complimentary cappuccinos or lattes as well. We used the laundry service and it was returned as promised—in by 10, back by evening. It wasn’t cheap—more than in smaller cities—but worth it to us on a long trip. We loved the hotel and the staff, and were pleased that tips, other than optional service charge at dinner, were discouraged in favor of a tip box shared by all staff.

We prefer to stay in heritage properties when in India. The service at this hotel was not good. When we arrived, the doorman called the front desk to alert him. Unfortunately we stood in the courtyard wondering where to check in as there was no one around. Finally we found the correct doorway. The gentleman who checked us in was neither warm or welcoming. The balcony was lovely, the room lacked charm. Unless you enjoy looking at photos of piles of dead tigers. The bed wasn’t comfortable. No plugs or usb outlets next to the bed. Being a heritage property is no excuse. The mattress which lived next to our elevator for three days? Unimpressed. Will definitely return to the Johri next time.

This is a lovely property. There were many things we liked. Our room was very spacious and well decorated/maintained, housekeeping excellent. The pool area is beautiful. The main restaurant served the best food we ate in India, with excellent and attentive service. It is also set in a courtyard which is pleasant by day and absolutely stunning by evening. There are a couple of things we felt needed attention: - Service at the main restaurant was excellent, but at the courtyard bar and poolside service was often extremely slow with one or two staff members who seemed to be having a consistently bad day. It seems pointless to me to have a wine list when most of what we asked for seemed to be unavailable. - It could be quite difficult to get a restaurant table in the evening, I suspect given the quality of the restaurant and setting there are outside guests, but feel there should be some priority for those staying in the hotel. It is a beautiful property and I would happily stay again.

This is one of the nicest hotels I've stayed at for the overall ambience and experience. I can't recommend it highly enough. Yes, the rooms can be lacking a bit in daylight, and the service in the restaurant was a little slow, but we had an excellent time here. On arrival, Pushpen gave us a guided tour of the hotel before showing us to our room. This was really useful. It gave us our bearings, but also highlighted that the hotel has its very own stepwell and temple behind the restaurant bar area that we could have easily missed. Another place that should not be missed is the rooftop bar, which serves complimentary tea and coffee in the late afternoon. Enjoying this, listening to the call to prayer for the local mosques, and watching the kites flying over the rooftops of Jaipur at sunset was an amazing experience. We spent a couple of afternoons at the beautiful pool, which was so relaxing after the heat of the morning sightseeing expeditions. The restaurant food for both breakfast and a la carte dinner was fantastic. I'd also like to mention the shop, Maharani Textiles and Arts, just outside the hotel. My husband had an excellent made-to-measure shirt completed in 3 hours, and I bought some block printed items that Jaipur is famous for. The owner was very pleasant, the shop was beautifully air conditioned and the prices seemed reasonable. We stayed for 3 nights at Samode Haveli. I wish it had been longer!!!