Criteria for choosing the Best Hotel in Shimla:
1. Location : Whether you would like to stay on the buzzing promenade of the Mall Road – with historic British monuments just a stone’s throw away, dotted with shops and restaurants and cafes or you choose to stay far away from the city in the lap of nature undisturbed by anything around you – is a personal preference. It is usually seen that tourists prefer staying on the car free Mall Road to enjoy best of both worlds – as they can easily head out for picturesque nature walks as well as venture out to the Mall, both with equal ease. Properties on the Mall Road are the most central and considered to be premium as they in the heart of the town.
2. Parking: Most good hotels have a parking facility in Shimla. It is on site for hotels away from the Mall and at a close by public car park for Hotels located bang on the main Mall Road, since this main promenade is car free for ease of tourists. The parking is just about 100-200m from these Hotels and porters are available for luggage and guests have an option to walk up to the Mall or take the common public lift or their hotel’s own private elevator. Do check on these points before booking your hotel to understand what assistance the hotel provides in the same.
3. View from Rooms: You go to the hills for those breathtaking mountain views so this criteria couldnt be more important. Do check what view you will be able to see from your room as waking up to majestic hills, lush greenery and free flowing breeze can certainly make your day. Then there are some who like to see something buzzing and alive while on vacation. So Mall Road hotels also offer a view of the Mall from some rooms – where you can see the lifeline of town and the activity through the day.
4. Dining Options : On a holiday, good meals can be a make or break for whether you remember this holiday fondly or not! And so, do not compromise. Check whether your hotel is around restaurants or has restaurants and in room dining of its own and do check its breakfast menu too. For instance, Hotel Willow Banks on the Mall Road Shimla is literally the best Hotel in Shimla in this regard as its offers its guests such amazing variety which is absolutely unparalleled. In the hotel premises itself, there are four F&B eateries – a fine dining and buffet restaurant that serves Indian and Oriental food and is known for candle light dinners: Eighteen71 cookhouse and Bar ; a terrace cafe with splendid views offering world cuisine in cafe style platters : Cafe Simla Times ; a rooftop lounge for adults only serving herbal hookah SkyBar – Cocktails and Shisha ; and lastly a brewery and pub thats open till midnight with special DJ nights every night : Shimla Brewing Company. And the cherry on the cake is the freshly brewed beer available across all these eateries – made in house. Wheat, Lager, Dark and Apple Cider are the top fresh beers available here. Along with this there is room service available from 8.30am till 11.30pm for you to dine in the comfort of your room if you are too tired to step out.
5. Things to do : When in Shimla you have umpteen options of things to do in and around town. Book yourself at the best hotel in Shimla and then venture out for quiet nature walks, trekking or rafting or adventure sports as a group if you are keen for the same, else sight seeing and see jewels like the historic Hanuman temple perched atop a hill, the highest golf course and cricket field in the country or drive along the countryside to see apple orchards and get a chance to pick or at least buy farm fresh Himachali apples. The entire walk along the Mall is a heritage walk if you care to take the right tourist guide along or search google and read up about monuments that come your way. Also, if you are staying in a hotel on the Mall Road in Shimla – all markets and shops will be easily accessible for you – namely stores on the Mall, the shopping market for Shimla locals (Lower Bazaar), wooden handicraft market Lakkar Bazaar and the Tibetan Market for some exquisite finds. And then of course, your hotel would offer some facilities for your relaxation and entertainment too. For instance, Hotel Willow Banks offers its guests options of a unisex spa run by professional therapists offering Balinese, Swedish and Ayurvedic massage therapies & even India’s largest grooming chain unisex Jawed Habib hair and beauty – so you can look and feel beautiful inside and out. This along with a travel desk for all your sight seeing and ticket bookings that can even help to arrange rental bikes, heritage walks and adventure tours. Along with this, an in house bakery for any occasion cakes and options for decor – simple room decor to lavish proposal setups that are sure to win your heart. Be sure to pick the Best hotel in Shimla as it can really create a magical experience for you to remember!
6. Service and other Must Haves : In a hill station, do check on all the mandatory services like 24 hours hot water, stable internet connection, security, reception support round the day and most importantly read reviews of the service level as it is the team at a hotel that really makes your experience special. At Hotel Willow Banks – all the categories of rooms are well appointed and provide modern facilities and services.
All in all, it is sufficient to say that this sought after hill station has some amazing and premium resorts loaded with modern luxury amenities. Some hotels are pocket friendly while some are premium and classy and we hope this information will help you find your ideal – Best Hotel in Shimla. Whether you are taking a trip to Shimla with your friends or family, pamper yourself at the Best Hotel in Shimla and enjoy your time at this Queen of Hills.
