I had never thought that after over two decades of all this I would be going to stay at the Sun n Sand, even the name sounded like music to my ears. I was on my way to write a review about a hotel which I had always thought of.
However, my enthusiasm waned as the cab entered the complex of Sun n Sand, I noticed a signboard of an employees’ union hanging next to the entry gate, the building did not impress me much. The reception was different, small and the staff of two sat behind a table as if in an office. I was allotted a room to which a bell boy escorted me. I was quite excited that finally I will be able to sit at window and watch the sun go down the sea and waves lashing the shore. Unfortunately, the room which I got turned out to be depressive, the windows opened on a terrace where all kinds of unused material seemed to have gathered. The room was small, modestly furnished and had nothing impressive. The bathroom shocked me all the more – small, local toiletries and without any ventilation. A 5-star hotel ? I asked myself. Is this what I wanted to see all these years? There was nothing I could have done. Perhaps the hotel management thought this was their best room or perhaps they did no it have a better room.
I felt sorry for the hotel and the classification committee which still maintained it as a 5-star hotel. Are there no standards for star category hotels in Mumbai?
Thought it would be better out at the beach side as the hotel directly opens on the beach, it was certainly better to see the waves come closer and closer, but the charm of Sun n Sand further went down as I noticed a big temporary shade built up in the open area outside into a kind of a sitting place. It seemed like a big marriage pandal.
I settled for ‘Kabab hut’ for my evening meal – a small restaurant claiming to be serving authentic Awadhi cuisine. A few tables and not many guests, the kitchen behind a glass where the chefs prepared their specialties tossing the ‘roomali rotis’, but as I said earlier, those days are gone when guests used to get impressed by the chef tossing the ‘roomali’, today what matters is the taste and presentation. Once again I was not much impressed by the Awadhi cuisine. I think no North Indian would find it impressive. I slept the night peacefully on those thin mattresses. I have maintained it all my life that a comfortable sleep at night is all that matters and have spent good amount of money forgetting into a comfy bed with soft pillows. This was different, but I slept waiting for a better deal the next day.
Next morning the buffet breakfast was at Aqua, the 24-hour coffee shop which has a glimpse of the pool and the sea at a distance. Had it really been poolside or sea side, it would have just been heavenly. An old juke box in the Aqua reminded one of the old glory, it still looked graceful. The lady heading the sales team took me around to show the renovated part of the hotel. The rooms and suites which I was taken to seemed much better, more space and recently done up. Some of them really opened to the sea. Yes, these were the rooms where one could enjoy a stay. Then why put a travel writer in your worst room, I thought to myself. One should put his best foot forward in such reviews. Maybe Sun n Sand does not bother about travel writers much, they are still lost in the glory of the bygone era. Times have changed and competition has grown, hotels have opened up around and near the beach – budget and luxury both. Sun n Sand must also realize this ; loyalties also change and guests patronize the best.
The multi-cuisine dining restaurant, Sunset room would have been an excellent dining area if it had a window peeping out to the sea. The restaurant, which I was told, is the favorite haunt of many a cine stars, has nice ambience, again reminding one of the good old days.
Coming back to the swimming pool which is said to be the locale for many film shots, I found that all hygiene norms have been thrown to the winds. While some domestic guests were in the pool there seemed to be no restrictions on people walking around the pool with their shoes. No doubt it has an ideal location facing the sea beach. A poolside eating area would have been heavenly.
Aqua Spirit, the bar at the hotel, is separated from the Kabab Hut with a glass partition, somehow leaving no room for privacy for those using the bar. One cannot forget to mention the banquet hall facing the sea, but obstructed by the temporary ‘pandal.’ I expected much better, the banquet hall was still drenched in a stink of some forgotten dinner party. Presumably all hotels clean their halls immediately after a party. All said and done, Sun n Sand needs to maintain standards conforming to 5-star norms unless they are different in Mumbai.
They need a lot of improvement to retain their past glory which seems to be evaporating fast in the humid climate of Mumbai.
My advice to travelers – do not take the rooms not facing the sea and if you are on the first floor, check that the room does not stink of an old carpet. The classification committee must also keep its eyes open for deviations from the standard norms.
