Beautiful property ! but service disappoints !
people have been raving about kariappa house with its very instagramable pool and all, i decided to go ahead and book it. Didn’t really read up too much on the website, just skimmed through and everything looked picture perfect. No doubt everything is picture perfect, only when you enter the property. I was driving and found myself in tiny lanes and by the time we made it to the property my heart sank. My friend’s face was white ! the parking is opposite the property and we were asked to park there. After the drive, we weren’t sure so we asked to check the rooms before we checked in. The rooms are old world, pretty, well appointed bathrooms, really gorgeous, but the overpowering smell of lemongrass gave me an instant headache ! the manager mr dileep checked us in very unceremoniously and as we were being led to our room, we were asked to take off our footwear and wear slippers that belonged to the hotel. Slippers that have been used by god knows a thousand other guests. Dileep said it’s the “ rule “ of the property and we aren’t allowed to wear our footwear that we use outside. I thought it was a covid thingy and asked him if it was and he said no it’s always been the rule and we have to oblige ! i told him that i refuse to wear footwear that’s been worn by so many people ( and worn out too ) and that i would wear my house slippers that i have in my bags. Apparently it’s on their website, but like i said i hadn’t read it thoroughly, my bad !
the food is very good, home style, served by the ladies. Sweet and courteous. The setting is amazing. Could be any tropical place on the world. Beautiful pool. It’s a lap pool, so one will have to book a slot to use it. Next day my friend and i had booked for watsu sessions at auroville. So we packed our things, i did not have a towel and therefore i took my used towel from the hotel room. My friend had a towel with her so she didn’t take the one from the room ! the towel ( old & tattered btw) was in plain sight and as we were heading out, one of the ladies gestured to the manager and just as were exiting to the road he stopped us and he said we can’t take the towel. I explained the situation to him that we were going for our water treatment and i don’t have a towel, so therefore i’d like to take it and bring it back. He refused and used the “ rule “ word again. I told him i ll leave a 500 rs deposit with him for the towel or even 1000 rs, but he didn’t budge at all. He asked me to leave the towel and go. I then told him, if i had wanted to smuggle the towel ( wish is old and tattered i must say ) out i could have without anyone noticing and i didn’t want do that. I had to go looking to buy a towel in those narrow streets and ended up buying one which barely soaked up water because it was brand new ! i am also in the hospitality business. I run a similar guesthouse near dindigul. If my staff were to come across a situation like this, they would have very nicely told the guest to go ahead and take the towel but bring it back without fail. We have a lake and waterfall by our resort and guests frequently take towels and bring them back. It’s basic courtesy that the hotel must allow. I am really miffed with the managers attitude at karaippa house. He’s unsmiling, rude and unpleasant! 10 points to the property. If i could negative points for the service of the manager then i would. I hope the management takes necessary steps and makes sure their staff are polite and smiling to say the least !