Escape to Paradise: Unbelievable Highland Resort Lonavala Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Unbelievable Highland Resort Lonavala Awaits! A Review - With (Probably Too Much) Honesty & a Crazy Good Offer!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because you're about to get the real deal on "Escape to Paradise: Unbelievable Highland Resort Lonavala Awaits!" – the kind of review you actually want when you're dropping some serious cash for a getaway. Forget the PR fluff; this is the messy, honest, and (hopefully) hilarious account of my recent stay. And spoiler alert: It's pretty darn good.
First Impressions & Getting There – Uh, Accessibility? Hold On…
Lonavala, eh? Yeah, the hills are calling! This place, at the end of that long winding road, promised escape. But let's be real, accessibility's the first thing I check, right? (because, yeah, I’m constantly thinking about it.).
- Accessibility: Okay, here's the deal. The website says they have facilities for disabled guests, which is promising, but I suggest double-checking everything before you book. Call them! Ask about ramp access, accessible bathrooms, and all that jazz. Because, let's be honest, “facilities” can mean ANYTHING.
- Getting Around: Free on-site parking! Yes! Always a win. They also have valet parking – because sometimes, after a long drive, even walking to the front desk feels like a marathon. Airport transfer available, too – handy if you're not up for the Mumbai traffic.
Check-in Chaos (in a good way!) - The Start of Something Special
The check-in? Smooth as silk. Contactless, even (thanks, Covid!). But the best part? They actually offered a private check-in, which meant no standing in a giant queue. This is amazing! No long waiting in a queue means more time to unwind.
My Room - Let's Talk Comfort (and My Obsession with Bathrobes)
Okay, listen, I'm a bathrobe snob. Judge me. But this place? The robes are plush. Like, seriously, a luxurious embrace after a shower kind of plush. That set the tone and made me feel instantly relaxed!
- Available in all rooms This is where the stuff your room comes with goes: Air conditioning (thank god!), alarm clock (useful, even if I ignore it), bathrobes (!!!), bathroom phone (fancy!), bathtub (yes!), blackout curtains (essential for sleep!), carpeting (not my fave aesthetic, but functional), closet (space!), coffee/tea maker (vital!), complimentary tea, daily housekeeping (perfection!), desk (for…work? Nope, let’s be honest), extra-long bed (heaven!), free bottled water (hydration is key!), hair dryer (essential), high floor (great views!), in-room safe box (always a plus), interconnecting room(s) available (for families!), internet access – LAN, internet access – wireless (yes, to both!), ironing facilities (good for the perfect outfit!), laptop workspace (see above about work), linens (lovely!), mini bar (hello, treats!), mirror (checking my selfie game!), non-smoking (yay!), on-demand movies (popcorn time!), private bathroom (duh!), reading light (for the end of the night book), refrigerator (for the snacks!), safety/security feature (always important), satellite/cable channels (options!), separate shower/bathtub, shower, slippers (another touch of luxury!), smoke detector (safety first), socket near the bed (for those late night phone charges!), sofa (comfy!), soundproofing (peace and quiet!), telephone (for room service!), toiletries (the good stuff!), towels (fluffy!), umbrella (just in case!), visual alarm (for emergencies), wake-up service (ugh), Wi-Fi [free], window that opens (fresh air!)
I spent the morning just lounging in the bathrobe, drinking coffee, and staring out the window. It was blissful.
Dining & Drinking: Food, Glorious Food (and a Side of My Overeating)
Alright, let's talk food, because honestly, that's a huge part of the hotel experience for me. And Escape to Paradise didn't disappoint.
- Restaurants, Restaurants, Restaurants: Multiple restaurants is a win! A la carte in restaurant (fancy!), Asian, international, and vegetarian options. There's a coffee shop (essential for my caffeine addiction), and even a poolside bar (hello, cocktails!).
- Buffet Bonanza: The breakfast buffet (buffet in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Western Breakfast) was INSANE in the best way. Honestly, I probably ate my weight in pastries. It was that good.
- Room Service: 24-hour room service? Yes, please! Especially when you're nursing a post-buffet food coma. I had it twice. The food? Pretty good. But the ability to order from your bed? Priceless.
- Snack Bar: Perfect for those mid-afternoon cravings.
- Happy Hour: Because, well, why not?
My honest opinion: Their food blew me away. The variety, the quality – it was a total game-changer.
Ways to Relax: Spa, Sauna, and My Attempt to Become a Zen Master (Spoiler: Failed)
Okay, so this place is a relaxation haven. They've got the works.
- Spa, Spa, Spa! Body scrub, body wrap, massage (I got one – AMAZING!), a foot bath… the whole shebang.
- Water, Anyone? A pool with a view (gorgeous!), an outdoor swimming pool (perfect for a leisurely swim), a sauna, and a steam room.
- Gym/Fitness: I went. Briefly. Mostly to feel less guilty about the buffet. Let's just say, I'm more of a "relaxing" kind of person.
- Poolside Bar: Yes! More cocktails!
Cleanliness & Safety: Feeling Secure (and Not Totally Paranoid)
Okay, let's talk Covid. Because let's be real, that's on everyone's mind.
- They took it seriously: Daily disinfection in common areas, rooms sanitized between stays, anti-viral cleaning products, hand sanitizer everywhere, staff trained in safety protocol, safe dining setup, physical distancing of at least 1 meter.
- Other Safety Stuff: CCTV everywhere, fire extinguisher, smoke alarms, security 24-hour, safe!
The Little Things (and the Big Ones): Services & Conveniences
Okay, let's sprinkle in some of the other stuff that makes a hotel stay great. These are the things I'm always looking at:
- Business facilities: If you are there for work…there are facilities like business facilities, meeting/banquet facilities, meetings, seminars, audio-visual equipment for special events, Xerox/fax available in business center.
- Conveniences: Air conditioning in public area, cash withdrawal, concierge (always helpful!), convenience store, currency exchange, daily housekeeping, doorman, dry cleaning, elevator, facilities for disabled guests, food delivery, gift/souvenir shop, indoor venue for special events, luggage storage, outdoor venue for special events, safety deposit boxes, smoking area, terrace.
- For the Kids: If I had kids, the babysitting service, family-friendly facilities, would be huge selling points.
Things to Do: Beyond the Pool (But Mostly the Pool)
Honestly, I mostly just wanted to chill, but they did offer:
- Things to Do: There are things like a shrine, and proposal spot!
The Imperfections (Because Perfection Doesn't Exist):
- Internet: Wi-Fi was pretty good, but the connection in my room was a little spotty at times.
- The Occasional Noise: While the rooms are soundproofed, you might hear some noise from the hallways during peak hours.
The Verdict and My Crazy Good Offer:
This place? Escape to Paradise: Unbelievable Highland Resort Lonavala Awaits! is AMAZING. It's a perfect blend of relaxation, great food, and just enough activity to keep you entertained. The staff is friendly, the vibe is chill, and the bathrobes… well, let’s just say I may have contemplated stealing one (but I didn't! I swear!).
My Crazy Good Offer (Because You Deserve It!)
Book your stay at Escape to Paradise: Unbelievable Highland Resort Lonavala Awaits! in the next two weeks using the code "RELAXATIONJUNKIE" and get…
- 20% off your stay.
- A complimentary spa treatment (your choice of massage or body wrap).
- A free bottle of wine upon arrival (because, why not?).
- And, best of all, a guaranteed upgrade to a room with a view.
- Plus, If you follow me on instagram and write a review for them they'll give you another free dessert!
This is a limited-time offer, so BOOK IT NOW! (Before I book it again myself!) You won't regret it. Trust me on this one.
Busan's BEST Kept Secret? Lala Vianco Hotel's Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up, buttercup, because this isn't your sanitized, perfectly-planned travel itinerary. This is Lonavala, Highland Resort style, unfiltered. And honestly? Things will go sideways.
Highland Resort Lonavala: My Chaotic Himalayan Adventure (Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Rain)
(Day 1: Arrival, Ambivalence, and a Chicken-Related Tragedy)
10:00 AM - Mumbai Chaos Departure: Alright, alright, I’m supposed to be excited. Lonavala! Fresh air! Rolling hills! My therapist insisted on a break. But the Mumbai traffic, oh god, the Mumbai traffic. Three hours to get out of the city, a symphony of honking and existential dread. I swear, I saw a cow wearing a fedora on a scooter. This is either hilarious, or I need to lay off the street food.
1:00 PM - Highland Resort Arrival (Kinda): Found it! Followed the GPS, which, naturally, led me down a dirt track that could give a camel whiplash. The resort looks…rustic. Charming, if you stretch the definition really far. The lobby is vaguely echoing, and there's a slightly manic-looking dog guarding the entrance. I suspect this is going to be a theme. Check-in was…let's say, "relaxed." They seemed to be running on "island time" despite being nowhere near an island. I'm starting to think this whole "escape" thing will involve more inner work than I anticipated.
2:00 PM - Room Revelation (Damp, to Say the Least): My room. Well, the view is spectacular – rolling hills drenched in mist. It’s straight out of a postcard. The bed, however, resembles a slightly saggy marshmallow. And the damp? Oh, the damp. It's a permanent, slightly mildewed embrace. My suitcase, already feeling the humidity, is starting to resemble a furry friend. I'm pretty sure I just saw a spider the size of my thumb. On the bright side, there's a mosquito net! I'm definitely going to need it.
3:00 PM - Lunch, and a Chicken-Related Incident: The restaurant. Decent food, but the service is… well, let's call it "enthusiastically amateur". I ordered chicken tikka masala. It was…fine. But the real show started when the waiter – a sweet, flustered kid, bless his heart – tried to clear my plate a little too early. There's a story here. He was rushing across the room and totally tripped. My plate, my dinner, my life, was about to turn into utter, chaotic, chicken masala mayhem. He went down gloriously, in a shower of gravy and shattered crockery. I wanted to laugh, I wanted to cry, I wanted to offer him therapy. I settled for tipping him extra and ordering a second helping. (He seemed genuinely mortified.)
4:00 PM - Unsuccessful Pool Attempt: The pool in the pictures looked amazing. Sparkling, inviting. In reality? Slightly cloudy, a few leaves, and a suspicious smell. Decided I'd pass. My inner germaphobe screamed "NOOOO!"
5:00 PM - Rain, Rain, Go Away (It Won't!): The monsoon is here. Proper monsoon. Sheets of rain. The sound of the rain smashing the roof is a soundtrack to my soul. I retreated to my damp room and stared out the window, contemplating life, the universe, and the sheer absurdity of it all. On the plus side, the mist is beautiful.
7:00 PM - Dinner (Take Two, Less Chicken): Avoided the waiter from Lunch. Opted for the butter naan which was amazing. The restaurant was about to be transformed by the beautiful sounds of rain which made me sleepy.
9:00 PM - Bedtime (and a Prayer for Dryness): Climbed into my damp bed, hoping the mosquito net works. Praying for a dry pillow and a decent night's sleep. This is definitely going to be an adventure.
(Day 2: Hiking, Hangovers, and a Deep Dive into My Existential Dread)
8:00 AM - Wakey Wakey (and the Damp Embrace Continues): Still alive! The dampness has become less offensive and more like a wet hug.
9:00 AM - Breakfast (and Regret): The breakfast buffet. Decent, but I may have overindulged. I had a full plate of everything. And coffee, lots of coffee. This is going to be crucial later.
10:00 AM - Hiking (Attempt Number One): I was going to hike to a waterfall. I imagined myself, adventurous and athletic, conquering the hills with ease. However, the hike was a lot muddier and the waterfall a lot further. Let's just say, I turned back before I lost a shoe in the mud. I spent the first half mile swearing under my breath, the second half questioning my life choices.
12:00 PM - Regret and the Hangover from Hell: The second breakfast, combined with the hike and the early morning coffee, finally arrived. I retreated to my room, head throbbing. The rain had stopped, the sun was out, but I was in no mood for nature's beauty. I now know how a cockroach feels, the one I saw scuttling in my room last night.
1:00 PM - Rest and Re-Evaluation: More of the same.. the dampness is a true friend
2:00 PM - Delayed Lunch and a Moment of Clarity (Maybe): Lunch. This time, a smaller meal. I had a quiet moment to reflect on the past, and the future. Maybe I do need this break.
4:00 PM - Waterfall Re-Visit (Take Two, No Expectations): I'd decided to face my fear, or the mud. This time, the waterfall was a lot more rewarding. I'm starting to think I'm not completely useless at this whole "being outside" thing.
6:00 PM - Tea and Contemplation: The hotel offers a tea and coffee service, for free. I sat in the lounge of the hotel, sipping tea and watching the rain. The view was beautiful.
7:00 PM - Dinner (Finally): I had dinner. Good.
(Day 3: Departure (and a Renewed Sense of Mud-Caked Optimism)
9:00 AM - Early Morning Yoga (Sort Of): Tried to do yoga. It was less "zen master" and more "flailing around in the mud". Still, it felt nice to be outside.
10:00 AM - Breakfast (and a Final Chicken-Free Meal): The last breakfast.
11:00 AM - Check Out, and a Fond Farewell to the Damp: Check out was a breeze, and gave a tip to the worker who served me. I'm leaving, and I actually feel…refreshed? Weird.
1:00 PM - Back to Mumbai (With a Mud-Caked Souvenir): Road trip. Traffic awaits. But this time, I'm ready. Lonavala, you beautifully messy, rain-soaked, chicken-masala-filled place. You've tested me, frustrated me, and somehow, strangely, made me happy.
Escape to Paradise: Unbelievable Highland Resort Lonavala Awaits! ...or Does It? Let's Unpack This
So, is this "Paradise" *really* a paradise? Like, actual angels singing and rivers of chocolate?
Okay, let's be real. No, there were zero angels. Though, after that second mango lassi, I *might* have hallucinated a tiny harp solo. And the chocolate rivers? Sadly, no. More like, a *very* enthusiastic chocolate fountain at breakfast, which, hey, I'm not complaining! Look, "Paradise" is a bit of a lofty claim. But the Highland Resort? It's… pretty good. I went with ridiculously high expectations, fueled by Instagram and a desperate need for a break, and, well… let's just say it took me a day to fully chill out. I arrived with a knot in my stomach from the pre-trip chaos, and the first thing I saw was a slightly grumpy-looking security guard. Not exactly the harp solo experience, you know?
But then… ah, then there was *that view* from the balcony of my room. Just… *wow.* The lush green hills, the mist, it's like the world just exhales. That right there – that was pretty damn close to paradise, even if it involved a slightly creaky balcony railing and a rogue mosquito.
What's the food situation? Because, let's face it, a bad buffet can ruin everything.
The buffet... ah, the buffet. It's an experience. It's not Michelin-star dining, okay? Let's put it that way. There's a lot of Indian cuisine, which is generally great, but sometimes… you get a dish that's a little *too* adventurous for your palate. I *may* have cautiously poked at something that turned out to be… well, I still don't know what it was. Swallowed it whole, though! Gotta be brave, right?
But, there are also the successes! The masala dosas were legendary. Seriously, I ate three on one morning. The chef, bless his heart, was always there, bustling around, trying to keep everyone happy. He even, after a bit of persistent pleading on my part, made me a special, extra-spicy chicken dish. It was amazing! (And, yes, I was sweating like I'd run a marathon. Worth it.) The desserts were… hit or miss. The mango lassi, however, was a consistently amazing hit. Obsessively good even!
Is the pool as amazing as the pictures make it out to be? Because online photos are notoriously… deceptive.
The pictures… ah, those seductive pictures. The infinite pool, the sun loungers, the glamorous people sipping cocktails… Okay, let's address this head on. The pool *is* nice. Really nice. The infinity edge gives you a good view. BUT… it's not quite as pristine as in the photos. There were a few leaves bobbing around, and a couple of overzealous kids splashing water everywhere. I'm not gonna lie, I was a grumpy, judgmental person for about 30 minutes of the first day (I blame the travel stress). Then I had a cocktail and decided to lighten up. It's still a great pool, though, especially at sunset. But, yes, lower your expectations a *smidge*.
And I had a bit of a… *moment*… at the pool. I was enjoying my cocktail when a rogue inflatable flamingo came zooming towards me. I spent a solid five minutes wrestling with the damn thing, and the whole time the glamorous people, (or rather, the people that looked glamorous in the photos), were looking on in amusement. I'm pretty sure I looked utterly ridiculous. But you know what? After the flamingo battle, I felt a hundred times more relaxed.
What about the activities? Boredom is my enemy.
They have things. Hiking trails, a game room, a spa… The hiking trails are… well, they exist. I attempted one, got eaten alive by mosquitoes, and decided to retreat to the spa for a massage. which, let me tell you, was the *best* decision. Seriously, the masseuse was like a wizard. All that tension I arrived with? Gone. Poof!
The game room… I peeked in once. A bunch of teenagers were hogging the pool table. I didn’t want to intrude. But the spa! Ah, the spa. I ended up going there three times. One time, during a particularly violent rainstorm, I had a treatment and it was like a whole symphony of relaxation. Thunder outside, pure bliss inside. Highly recommend the aromatherapy massage. Seriously, do it. Just… do it.
Is the room clean? I have a phobia of questionable hotel room hygiene.
Okay, let's dive into the room situation. It was… clean. Generally. No major red flags, no creepy crawlies running around. The cleaning staff were super friendly and helpful; always ready to provide extra towels or water, and even brought me some fresh flowers on my second day (that was a lovely touch, actually!). I'm a bit of a germaphobe myself, and I didn't feel like I needed to bleach everything.
The only minor thing was that the shower drain seemed a little… slow. But hey, that’s small potatoes, right? Overall, the room was comfortable, the bed was comfy, and the view from my balcony was to die for. I would say it was a definitely a win.
What's the "vibe" of the place? Is it relaxing or… overwhelming?
The vibe… it's… chill. Mostly. There's a mix of people. Families, couples, a few solo travellers. It’s not a party place, which is a good thing. It's a place you go to unwind and – hopefully – escape the chaos of everyday life. Some days, though, I just had to deal with my own Internal Dialogue to chill.
Sometimes It can feel a little crowded, especially around the pool or during mealtimes. But the sheer size of the place means you can usually find a quiet corner to escape to. Find a good book and some peace. It's a little bit of a mixed bag, but overall, it's more relaxing than overwhelming. Just don't expect complete isolation. And definitely pack earplugs if you're a light sleeper. Those birds! *Those* noisy birds!
Is it worth the money? Because let's be honest, travel can get expensive.
Worth it? Okay, that depends. Are you expecting perfection? If so, probably not. Are you expecting beautiful scenery, a chance to unwind, and some pretty decent Indian food? Then, yes. Definitely. It's not the cheapest place, but it's also not ridiculously expensive. Taking all into account, I give it a solid "thumbs up."
Look, there were moments of minor frustration, and moments of pure bliss. I lost my sunglasses in the pool (still haven’t found them!), I overate at the buffet more times than I'd like to admit, and I had a slight argument with a pigeon.Book Hotels Now
