India - Rant: Stinky Indian hotel rooms

Just checked into the Taj Land's End in Mumbai, and once again, I am knocked over by the blast of mildew that I get walking into the room. I'm at a conference, so I didn't have an opportunity to stay at a newer hotel (the FS is my go-to these days); though I normally book the Club floors at Taj properties, it wasn't an option for the conference rate. This room smells so disgusting that I actually tried to move into a Club room anyway just now, rate be damned, but I was told that the hotel is sold out for my entire four-night stay. :( I am looking around for a clothespin to put on my nose, seriously. It is unbearable.

WHY WHY WHY do Indian hotel operators not realize that if they cannot keep a carpet mildew-free because of the high humidity, it is possible to design hotel rooms that don't have carpets? Or if they must have carpets, can they not replace them when they get this disgusting? The one in this room not only smells but has stains on it and is visibly faded. I would bet a lot of money that it has never been replaced since the hotel was built.

Rant over. (Well, the out-loud one, anyway.) Argh.

I'm currently in Mumbai as well. I'm staying at the Hilton and fortunately my room has hard wood floors so no mildew smell, here. Of course, when you walk out the front door it smells like a sewer but at least that is a very brief bit of stench, much better than having a smelly room.

The office I've been working in, on the other hand...

Sometimes I think I am the only person in India who has a sense of smell.

On a happier note, after making a stink myself last night (pun intended) and waiting for another room to get cleaned, I did manage to switch rooms to one that doesn't smell, and with a much nicer view, too. I do not usually pull the princess card in quite so vocal a fashion, but I did yesterday, and I'm very glad. It was aggravating to be moving my stuff at almost 11 PM, but I am now able to sit in my room without gagging.

I don't think that asking for a room that doesn't stink at a 5-star hotel is asking too much. Certainly not playing the princess card, IMO.

Glad you got something that you can enjoy.

Sometimes I think I am the only person in India who has a sense of smell.

On a happier note, after making a stink myself last night (pun intended) and waiting for another room to get cleaned, I did manage to switch rooms to one that doesn't smell, and with a much nicer view, too. I do not usually pull the princess card in quite so vocal a fashion, but I did yesterday, and I'm very glad. It was aggravating to be moving my stuff at almost 11 PM, but I am now able to sit in my room without gagging.

glad it worked out....i have had a number of bad experiences at this property as have not stayed here over the last couple of years....

This is my first time at this hotel, although I have been traveling to India for 15 years. I guess it's just so out of the way that I never had the idea to stay here. For a conference it works fine, though, and particularly since it is so hot that I am not even tempted to go outdoors, I don't care that it's in a weird location. The room is hardly 5*, but it's OK, now that I have a carpet that doesn't reek.

The one truly nice thing is the view from my room. I am looking straight out on the B-W Sea Link, the bay, and the whole skyline of Bombay. It really looks quite impressive from this vantage point. It's amazing how many tall buildings this city has now, all over the place.

Hyatt Regency Mumbai - Stink-Free. Hardwood and marble floors.
http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/Phone_740.jpg

Maybe we should make a sticky of Indian hotels with hardwood floors!

Wish I could have stayed at either of the Mumbai Hyatts, both of which have hardwood floors, but I was at a conference at the Taj. :(

Stinky rooms are so off putting, no reason not to play the princess card regardless if you are prince or princess!

The Four Seasons Mumbai has been really good, and going to stay there again in July. :)

I will be staying at the Taj Land's End in mid September along with a co-worker. Back in 2004 - 2007 I stayed at this property numerous times, and always enjoyed it quite a bit - mostly when they had the English pub "Churchill's" on the second floor...but that is a different story.

I have not stayed in the club rooms, but think it may be a good idea given your stinky room experience - but why would this problem also not exist in the Club Room? Any inside info would be appreciated.

Also, regarding the lounge - is there any benefit other than the happy hour, since I probably will not partake in this? Is it a nice place to hang out? Is there free wi-fi (is there a charge for in-room wi-fi)?

And the final question...sort of a trivia question for the Taj experts...Do you know the room numbers that would provide for a view northbound along the Arabian Sea? One of my favorite experiences after a difficult week of work is laying in bed, looking at this view. I think one of the rooms I recall was 1848, but that was too long ago, and too many hotels ago, to know for sure.

I thought this thread was about Body Order. lol

Maybe we should make a sticky of Indian hotels with hardwood floors!
How about a stinky sticky (i.e. a sticky of stinky hotels)? :D :D