Strand Hotel Colaba

Close to gate way of india, the view is mesmerising. The bed was joined and thus created a valley of uncomfort. Roof top food was just as good as to fill the stomach, dont expect the taste.

Perfect location, okay hotel ’ but honestly, my experience was ruined by the blatant racism from the lady at the front desk.She calls herself ’Kitkat,’ and from the moment I approached the counter, her attitude towards me was completely different from how she spoke to my friend. I’m Indian’Iranian, born and raised in the UAE, and this was my first time visiting Mumbai. Instead of a warm welcome, she kept throwing unnecessary shade ’ repeatedly asking ’Where is your home in Kerala’? even after I clearly said I’m not from there and this is literally my first time in India.Just to ’check,’ she snaps back with ’I don’t care, I just need to register.’She made us wait so long in the lobby and took ages just to input basic details. What made it worse was watching how sweet and friendly she was to my friend ’ talking to him in English, joking, even trying to pronounce his name properly, while she completely ignored mine. My name is extremely simple, yet she refused to even make the effort, and only spoke to me in Hindi as if I wasn’t worth addressing otherwise.She kept insisting on a local number even though I told her multiple times that I don’t have one because this is my first trip to India. She just wouldn’t stop. It became so uncomfortable that although we had already paid for 5 nights, I left and checked into another hotel, letting my friend stay since he was fine.What shocked me the most is how some Indians treat people with Indian origin or ’brown people’ so bad, yet bend over and backwards for foreigners and lick their feet. All that slavery is still in the blood I guess. And the audacity ’ at the end she told my friend she’s coming to the UAE and will contact him, completely pretending I didn’t exist. If she does come, I’ll happily show her what genuine Emirati hospitality looks like ’ kindness, respect, and professionalism ’ before reporting her behaviour so she learns how guests should actually be treated regardless of where they come from or what they look like.On a positive note, the other man at the desk was extremely polite and helpful, and it was obvious this wasn’t the first time he’d witnessed her attitude. The rest of the staff were great. It’s just her.

The Strand was undergoing renovations so there was no dining room and breakfast was served in our room. The only choice was eggs. The rooms were clean but the bathroom was not the best.However its location made up for that as it was very close to the Gateway to India with good views over the harbour.The staff were very helpful.The roof top terrace was nice but I suggest you use the one next door.

The room in this hotel is controlled by another hotel. It is not the end of the world that I had to pay for breakfast to use the roof in the morning, but I feel quite misled by how this property was advertised. The manager of the hotel was also weird about having two different people in a double bed room. When I told her that I was having more than one person she was very concerned that it might be a woman (I am a man). When the other person (a man) did arrive, they were also weird about it and asked how we knew each other. I understand why owners might want to make sure that nothing that could harm the reputation of their hotel happens, but people book a room with two separate beds so that two people can stay. Value for money was not fantastic. Place is not particularly up to date or clean. All that said, the location is fantastic. You will be right in the center of things.

Solo Traveller • United States • Nov 2025

Ac,flush not working. Very old and torn pillow and comforter

Solo Traveller • India • Oct 2025