Kolkata's HOTTEST Hotel? Collection O Motisarai Review!
Collection O Motisarai Review: Kolkata's Hottest? Let's Dive In! (Because Honestly, Kolkata's Hot Anyway)
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to wade into the glorious, chaotic, and sometimes slightly bewildering world of the Collection O Motisarai in Kolkata. "Hottest" might be a strong word (Kolkata's temperature is generally the hottest thing around!), but let's just say it's getting there. And after my recent stay, I'm ready to spill the chai.
First Impressions (and the Kolkata Humidity Factor):
Landing in Kolkata, even with airport transfer (thankfully they offer that – more on that later!), is like stepping into a warm, humid embrace. The Motisarai, thankfully, had AC in the common areas. Breathing in that sweet, sweet conditioned air after the airport gauntlet was a godsend. The exterior? Well, it's not exactly Taj Mahal-esque (and let's be honest, nothing is), but it's clean enough, and the security is good. Plenty of CCTV in common areas and outside the property, so you feel relatively safe navigating that crazy Kolkata traffic. They also have a front desk [24-hour] which is brilliant because jet lag laughs in the face of normal business hours.
Then the check-in/out [express] came to play, which was a godsend. It was seamless and quick. I was in and out of my room without fuss.
Accessibility & "Facilities for Disabled Guests":
Now, I didn't need those facilities, but I did notice the elevator, which is essential in a city where patience runs thinner than a Kolkata street crepe (trust me, I’m a food lover!). I didn't see any glaring accessibility issues, but I'd suggest calling ahead if you need specifics. They do have Facilities for disabled guests, so they're at least thinking about it.
The Room: My Oasis Amidst the Chaos!
My room! Ah, the room. The Air conditioning was LIFE. Absolutely life. Praise be! It had to contend with the Kolkata heat and humidity. The Blackout curtains were also a lifesaver. Kolkata wakes up early, and the sun is unforgiving. My room was a haven of calm. I had the Air conditioning, of course, and while the décor wasn’t going to win any design awards, it was clean! And that, my friends, is gold in a Kolkata hotel.
Highlights:
- Wi-Fi [free]: Crucial, because you need to Instagram your samosa exploits! Seriously, the Wi-Fi was snappy, which is a massive win.
- Air conditioning: Did I mention AC? Seriously, my sanity depended on it!
- Free bottled water: Hydration is KEY.
- Coffee/tea maker: Caffeine is essential for navigating Kolkata.
Minor annoyances:
- I couldn't open the window that opens, which made me feel trapped. I like a bit of fresh air, even if it’s humid.
- The desk felt a bit cramped. Not ideal if you're trying to work.
- I didn't get to test the bathtub, as my room had a shower, which was alright.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Kolkata Food Adventure!
This is where things get interesting. The Motisarai has a restaurant and serves Asian, International, and Vegetarian dishes (bonus!). They offer Breakfast [buffet] as well as A la carte in the restaurant. My morning ritual was testing the Asian breakfast. Let me tell you, the parathas were spot on! And they also offer Breakfast takeaway service if you're in a rush. I saw a lot of folks grabbing them, and I had a few that I was glad to take.
I was a bit disappointed by the lack of a truly stellar Poolside bar, but you can't have everything, right? They also have a Coffee shop, which was great because I’m a coffee fiend! The staff was happy to make me my coffee.
The Cleanliness and Safety Factor: Gotta Breathe Easier!
Honestly, cleanliness is a HUGE deal for me, especially in a city like Kolkata. They've got this down pretty well. They use Anti-viral cleaning products, they do Daily disinfection in common areas and I think it's safe to say that the entire staff is doing it. And I love the Hand sanitizer everywhere. It’s a small thing, but it makes a big difference. Rooms sanitized between stays is a good sign.
Things to Do (and Ways to Relax): Beyond the Room
Okay, so this is where the Motisarai could level up a little. They have the Fitness center, but I didn't venture in. There isn't a Pool with view, which is a pity in a city like Kolkata. But honestly, you're in Kolkata! Get out! Explore the city! You can use them as your base.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
They have the standard stuff: Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Luggage storage. They have a Concierge who helps with the little things. The Cash withdrawal is valuable. I liked the Daily housekeeping. I'm personally in love with places that do the little things like Ironing service.
For the Kids: Family Fun?
They claim to be Family/child friendly, and they offer Babysitting service. I didn't test this, but I saw a few families, who seemed pleased.
Getting Around: Navigating the Kolkata Chaos
Car park [free of charge] – HUGE win! Parking in Kolkata is a nightmare. I had a Taxi service to get around. They also offer Airport transfer, which, again, is a life-saver.
My Biggest Takeaway (And a Rambling Anecdote!)
Honestly? The Motisarai is a perfectly decent hotel. It’s not perfect. It’s not the fanciest. But it’s clean, comfortable, and in a good location. And in Kolkata, that’s saying something. It's a damn sight better than some of the dives I’ve accidentally stumbled into!
My most memorable moment? Well, it wasn't a single "wow" experience, but more of a cumulative feeling. After a day of navigating the crowded streets and the relentless heat, coming back to my air-conditioned room felt like a genuine homecoming. I remember one instance where I was absolutely drenched in sweat after a walk through the New Market. I was exhausted, cranky, and ready to throw in the towel. Then, I got back to the Motisarai, had a nice shower, a cold bottle of water, and just breathed. That feeling of relief was pure gold.
Final Verdict:
The Collection O Motisarai? Probably not Kolkata's hottest, but a solid choice. It's a good base for exploring the city, and it offers enough comfort and convenience to make your stay pleasant. I'd recommend it, especially to budget travelers like myself who value cleanliness, good Wi-Fi, and, above all, a working air conditioner.
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Collection O Motisarai: A Kolkata Adventure (Maybe) - A Messy Itinerary
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this ain't your perfectly-curated Instagram feed. This is REAL LIFE in Kolkata, baby, and my attempt to navigate the gloriously chaotic city while hopefully surviving the Collection O Motisarai experience. Wish me luck, I'll probably need it.
Day 1: Arrival & Deliberate Delays (and Maybe, Just Maybe, Some Food)
10:00 AM (ish): Land at Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport. Ugh, airports. Instant anxiety. Already sweating. Found my driver (fingers crossed he actually is my driver and not some charming con artist). He's got a seriously impressive handlebar mustache. Gives me a good feeling, I guess?
11:30 AM (supposedly): Arrive (hopefully) at Collection O Motisarai. Google Maps says it's "nearby." Google Maps also said my ex was a decent person. Lesson learned: trust absolutely no one.
- My Actual Arrival: Okay, so, "nearby" translated to "a delightful scenic route through what looks like a vibrant construction site." The car coughed its way through the narrow streets, dodging rickshaws and cows (yes, cows! In the middle of the road!). Finally, finally, Motisarai. It's… well, it's there. And it kinda looks like the pictures, which is a win in my book.
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Check-in Shenanigans: The reception? Pleasant enough. But there's a minor (okay, major) snag. Apparently, my booking "wasn't confirmed." Panic sets in. Deep breaths. A charming (I think) gentleman with a name I can't pronounce but a very reassuring smile rescues the situation. After some frantic phone calls, and my own flailing attempts to use a translator app, I'm in!
1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Room Reconnaissance & Mild Panic: The room! Surprisingly clean. Decent AC (crucial. Absolutely crucial). But… the view? Overlooks a courtyard where a guy is diligently peeling potatoes. This is either incredibly charming or a sign that I'm about to be embroiled in a Bollywood musical number. I'm cautiously optimistic.
2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Lunch (or the Quest for Sustenance): Okay, where to eat? Every single recommendation is 45 minutes to an hour away. I'm starving, jet-lagged, and starting to hallucinate street food vendors. Decide to be brave. Find a little place down the street called "Babu's Bites." It's a gamble. Everything smells amazing. Order the chicken biryani. The spice level is… well, let's just say I'm currently fanning myself and contemplating my life choices. Totally. Worth. It.
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Nap & Existential Dread (or at least, a strong desire to lie down): The biryani did me in. Crawl back to the room. The potato peeler is still hard at it. Close my eyes and attempt to sleep. But the sounds of Kolkata – the honking, the chatter, the distant music – are a constant symphony. I drift in an out of a nap. I ponder the meaning of life… or at least the meaning of this trip.
6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Exploring the Neighborhood (Or Getting Slightly Lost): Venture out. Get gloriously lost. Wander through the colorful streets, dodging the aforementioned rickshaws. Witness a cricket match in a park. The air is thick with the smells of spices and something indefinably… Kolkata. Absolutely mesmerizing. Buy a chai from a street vendor. It's the best thing I've ever tasted.
8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner (Round 2): Found a rooftop restaurant with a view. The food is… okay. The view? Breathtaking. The city twinkles below me. For a moment, I feel a sense of… peace? Maybe. Or maybe it's just the biryani finally kicking in. Either way, I'm happy.
9:00 PM - Bedtime: Back to the Motel and a Moment of Reflection: Write this diary entry while the sounds of Kolkata drift upwards. Not bad for a first day. Not bad at all.
Day 2: Culture, Chaos, and the Quest for the Perfect Saree
8:00 AM: Alarm (I think, or maybe I just woke up): The incessant noise outside my window is deafening. I was never a natural night owl but I am starting to embrace the madness.
9:00 AM: Breakfast & the Great Bathroom Odyssey: Collection O's breakfast situation is… well, it's something. The toast is suspiciously pale. The coffee tastes vaguely of dirt. I have a small existential moment as I try to navigate the bathroom. It is far more precarious than I had expected.
10:00 AM: Journey to the Victoria Memorial: Taxi time! The driver, a sprightly man with a penchant for loud Bollywood music, drives me through streets full of colour. The Victoria Memorial is stunning. The grand building, bathed in sunlight, is enough to still my beating heart. The gardens are an oasis of calm amidst the chaos and I spend a hour strolling around and take many photos.
12:00 PM: The Great Saree Hunt Begins: This is it. The moment I've been both dreading and anticipating. My friends back home are obsessed with sarees. Time to brave the market! I will not be intimidated, I will not become a victim of pushy sellers, and I WILL find a saree that makes me look like a glamorous Bollywood star. This is a total lie. I think I'll be sweating, overwhelmed, and probably end up buying something hideous. But still. Gotta try.
1:00 PM: Market Mayhem: The air is thick with the scent of jasmine and the cries of competing vendors. I walk gingerly past the first few stalls, trying to look like a seasoned shopper. I get swarmed. The sellers are surprisingly friendly, but I'm still sweating. I find a shop with the most helpful salesperson in Kolkata, and I'm instantly in love. After two hours of fabrics and colours, I walk away with a gorgeous saree. I feel like a queen.
4:00 PM: Lunch & Post-Saree Euphoria: Back to Babu's Bites for another hit of biryani. Feeling like I have really turned a corner.
5:00 PM: The Indian Museum: I take a taxi to the Indian Museum, and I'm so tired after the saree shopping that I'm able to visit it properly. The exhibits are impressive, but the overwhelming crowds and my exhaustion make me wish I wasn't there. I give it an hour, and then I'm back and ready to retreat to the hotel.
7:00 PM: Dinner & Downtime: I find a little hole-in-the-wall down the street that serves something that looks suspiciously like a chicken tikka. It's delicious; I eat every last morsel. I spend the evening getting to know the room, its features, and where exactly the light switches are. I feel good.
Day 3: Goodbye, Kolkata? (Or Maybe Just Goodbye to Collection O?)
9:00 AM: Final Breakfast & Lingering Doubts The same pale toast. The same dirt-esque coffee. I'm starting to consider smuggling instant coffee in my suitcase.
10:00 AM: Check Out & The Grand Finale: Check out is smooth. I say goodbye to the kind man at reception, and feel like I have found a friend in Kolkata.
11:00 AM: Last-Minute Souvenir Shopping: The airport is in sight. I duck into a shop and buy some very bright coloured spices and some key rings for my friends. I'm more and more grateful that I came.
1:00 PM: The airport chaos: This is where I'd put my emotional reactions, my opinions, and the more messier side of my trip.
And there you have it, folks! A completely subjective, highly imperfect, and hopefully entertaining account of my Kolkata adventure. It's been chaotic, overwhelming, delicious, and utterly unforgettable. Will I recommend Collection O Motisarai? Maybe. It depends on your tolerance for the unexpected. But Kolkata? Absolutely. GO. Just be prepared to embrace the mess. It's part of the magic. And bring your own coffee.
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So, is the Motisarai actually HOT? Like, temperature-wise? Because Kolkata can be brutal.
Okay, real talk. The air conditioning? Hit or miss. One night, I swear it was competing with the surface of the sun. My forehead practically glowed. The next night? Chilled to a polar bear's preference. Pack layers, people! Seriously. Or maybe just pray to the AC gods. They seem to be fickle.
Alright, alright, AC gamble aside. What about the *vibe*? Is it… nice?
"Nice" is a strong word, okay? The Motisarai has... character. Think "slightly worn-out, but trying its best." The lobby is a riot of mismatched furniture that somehow *works*. Like, did they find it all in a vintage store's "things no one wanted" section? Maybe. But it has a sort of quirky charm. Don’t expect pristine perfection. Expect… personality. You know, the kind that might involve a leaky faucet or the occasional questionable stain on a chair. But hey, that's life, right?
The rooms! Spill the tea. Are they clean? Because, let’s be honest, that's important.
Okay, this is where it gets… complicated. Let’s just say the cleaning crew seems to operate on a sliding scale of effectiveness. My first room? Spotless! Like, practically sterile (which I appreciated after a long train ride). The second? Let's just say I developed a very intimate relationship with my hand sanitizer. Found a whole family of dust bunnies living under the bed. And a stray hair that definitely *wasn’t* mine. So, yeah. Take your chances. Maybe pack Clorox wipes. Just saying.
Breakfast? Is it worth the hassle?
Ah, breakfast. The great equalizer. The Motisarai's breakfast is... adequate. Continental, mostly. Toast, eggs, cereal, the usual suspects. The coffee? Strong. Surprisingly strong. Possibly *too* strong. I swear, I saw colors I’d never seen before after the second cup. The service? Friendly but... slow. Expect to flag someone down for a refill. But hey, who's in a rush on vacation? (Or at least, who *should* be?)
The Location! Is it convenient? Or am I going to be stuck in a taxi forever?
The location is... debatable. It's not right in the middle of the action, which can be either a blessing or a curse. You'll need to rely on taxis or ride-sharing apps to get around. The upside? It's generally quieter. You won't be kept awake by the honking of a thousand auto-rickshaws at 3 AM. Though, be warned, the *occasional* stray dog symphony can still make an appearance. I’m honestly not sure if I loved it or hated it. It depends on your tolerance for Kolkata’s beautiful chaos.
Okay, so… would you recommend it? Be honest!
Okay, here's the bottom line. The Collection O Motisarai is not a luxury hotel. It is NOT a place for sticklers or perfectionists. But… if you're looking for something affordable, with bags of character, and you don't mind a little bit of rough around the edges? Then, yeah, I’d recommend it. Just lower your expectations a *tiny* bit, bring some hand sanitizer, and embrace the glorious, slightly-flawed, reality of it all. You might even have a good time. I did. Yeah, some days were frustrating. One day, I was convinced the shower was plotting to kill. But hey, that's Kolkata, baby! And that's part of the charm, right? RIGHT?! Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go look for that missing sock...
The Staff! Are they Friendly? Because nothing ruins a trip quicker than a rude face.
Honestly? The staff were the *best* part. Granted, there was some communication barrier now and then, but they tried their best. I remember one poor guy, bless his heart, who was trying to explain the WiFi password. "It is… very long," he'd say with a pained expression. They were always smiling, they always tried to help, even when faced with my requests for more ice (Kolkata heat, am I right?). It’s worth so much when the people are good. And let’s be honest, a friendly face can soften any rough edges.
Any Hidden Gems or Quirks to Look Out For?
Oh, absolutely! Okay, so one day, I was wandering around (lost, as usual) and stumbled upon a little courtyard with a tiny, overflowing flower bed. Gorgeous! Then, I found a vending machine with snacks that were… well, let's just say, I had to order *more* than a few to get it to operate! But hey, those small quirks are part of what makes this place memorable. Keep your eyes peeled for hidden art, unexpected decorations... and maybe a mischievous stray cat or two.
Okay, last question. The worst experience you had? Spill ALL the tea.
Ugh, alright. This is going to be a deep dive. So, one night, the power went out. No big deal, Kolkata, it happens. But the backup generator? It… uh… *didn't*. I spent three hours in my room, sweating like a pig, swatting at mosquitos the size of small birds, with no windows, no AC and no sign of help. Finally, at around 2 AM, I crept out into the corridor, found one of the staff, and, and after much frantic hand-waving and poor language skills they understood, and finally, the power was back. The hotel staff were so nice and apologetic. But those three hours? That was rough. That was when I truly questioned all my life choices. But you know what? Even that became a story. It’s a Kolkata experience, right? So, yeah, power outages are a thing. Be prepared. Or, you know, just pray the generator gods are on your side.
