I recently stayed at pine palace resort in gulmarg, and unfortunately, my experience was far from pleasant. As someone with a background in hospitality, i was quite disappointed by several aspects of the resort that should not have been an issue for a property claiming to be a 3-star hotel. 1) stinking bathrooms
one of the most unpleasant aspects of my stay was the state of the bathrooms. They had a strong, unpleasant odor that persisted throughout my stay. For a resort that claims to offer a premium experience, this was a basic issue that should have been addressed. 2) misleading heating claims
the resort advertises itself as centrally heated, but the reality is quite different. Heating is only available during certain fixed hours, and after that, you're left to fend for yourself. This is a major issue, especially when you're traveling with children or infants who are particularly sensitive to cold. The resort only has one portable heater, and it’s kept at the reception area, which hardly helps when you need warmth in your room. 3) untrained and unprofessional staff
the staff at pine palace resort were untrained and unprofessional, which was very disappointing. While hospitality in kashmir is generally warm and welcoming, this resort stood out for its lack of courtesy and attentiveness. The staff didn’t seem to know how to handle basic requests or provide the level of service one would expect from a property of this standing. 4) not suitable for families with young children
if you are traveling with a little one, i strongly advise against staying here. Despite what you might read on blogs or see in videos by influencers, this place is not family-friendly. The lack of basic amenities and the issues with heating and cleanliness made it uncomfortable, especially with a child. 5) food was the only positive
on a positive note, the food was actually quite good. The variety and quality were satisfying, and it was one of the few things that made my stay bearable. Still, food alone cannot compensate for the other major shortcomings of the property. 6) reviews are misleading
one interesting observation is that the positive reviews on various platforms seem to come from a specific time period. If you read reviews from the winter months, you’ll find that the experience is not as pleasant as those from other seasons. This leads me to believe that the resort may be inflating its ratings or that the service drops during peak times.