Raunak International, New Delhi

Verdict Criterion:
* - Ewww, Pathetic, Highly Not Recommended
** - Not too Good, Not too Bad Either; You Can Take a Risk
*** - Fair, I might come again
**** - Good, Par with International Standards, Recommended to others
***** - WOW! Excellent, First on my List, Highly Recommended

Hotel Raunak International, Karol Bagh, New Delhi
4/38, W. E. A. Krishna Market, Saraswati Marg, Karol Bagh, New Delhi-110 005
(TEL)+9111 45060000/45060006 (FAX) +9111 45060001/45060002
Hotel Star Rating: 3 Star
Overall Verdict: *

Pros:
• Low Priced (If booked Online – via makemytrip.com)
• Centrally Located
Cons:
• Pathetic Service
• Unprofessional Attitude of Staff
• Poor Food Quality (Menu Card is useless as Most of its stuff is never available)
• No Parking Facility

Hotel Raunak is located in the Karol Bagh Area which is centrally located. The Karol Bagh area is famous for its market which is called as Gaffar Market which is predominantly into selling electronics goods. Karol Bagh have more than 50 Hotels and most of their clients are small and big businessmen. One such Hotel in this area is Raunak International. My stay with the hotel was really a bad experience. Prior a day of check in to the Hotel, I had asked the hotel for a pickup from New Delhi Railway Station in view of the fact that I was coming there for the first time by train, to which the hotel staff replied affirmatively. Next day when I reached the station there was no one to pick me up and when I called the hotel they said that they don’t have any information regarding the pickup. Such is their professionalism. I had also seen some bunch of guys having their food in the lobby itself; it was looking as if it is a banquet cum lobby. One of the most pathetic things that happened while during my stay was that Front office people will call you in the room and will ask you if they can show the room to others who wishes to stay in the hotel, and it is not that which is pathetic, sometimes the people will directly barge inside the room whether or not you have said yes or a no to show the room. There are many more things which will be revealed section wise.

Location: ***
Being centrally located it scores high in the category. If you are travelling for the first time in New Delhi or not a frequent visitor, please don’t risk by taking a cab or a rick directly to the hotel. As I said earlier the Karol Bagh area is full of hotels and thus it is difficult to locate a particular hotel. Getting your cars in the narrow roads is also a daunting task; you will probably end up with some scratches on your lovely car.

Hotel Ambiance: *
Justice isn’t done to the good furniture and a huge LCD TV lying in the lobby. Heavy improvements are required with back office not being in the Front office.

Hotel Amenities & Facilities: *
There is hardly any facility available. Business Centre, travel desk, lockers, gym, swimming pool, etc missing.

Room & Suites: *
There are no suites in the hotel. Rooms are fair enough and interiors are good, an LCD TV is an advantage but the hotel guys could not capitalize on it since it has cable television which is most of the time not working and has poor reception. A Dish television would have been better. Electricity goes on and off frequently, so sometimes the AC also does not work. Bed bugs also seen on the bed, after loads of efforts I was successful to put them away. Room tags like DO NOT DISTURB, Clean my Room, Laundry Pickup are not seen anywhere. There are no fire safety exit guidelines which is a must in a Hotel of a 3 star stature. Basic stuff like notepad, letter pad, envelopes, laundry bags and shoe cleaner are also missing. Bathroom is okay; it has a WC and a bath tub which is reasonably fine. Hot water is generally available only during mornings that too between 8am – 10am. Tea/Coffee maker is also available but coffee powder, tea bags, sugar, powdered milk sachets missing.

Food: *
Food quality is bad and most of the items on the menu are not available. Only thing I liked at the hotel is the chicken clear soup which helped them earn single star otherwise there would have again been no ratings. The food items are not worth the price put on the menu.

Cleanliness: *
The rooms and lobby are comparatively clean than the others present in the same area. The housekeeping team will only clean the rooms if they are told to do so. So I you are going out somewhere out, inform the front office to clean your room.

Service: No Ratings
Since I could not see any professionalism in the staff, I find it is better not to rate them. They are far below in achieving even a single star. Do not expect any welcome or a door attendant opening the lobby doors or bell boy taking care of your luggage. Everything is missing.

Value for Money: *
Not worth the price you are paying. Highly not recommended

Important Points to be remembered:
• Confirm your booking prior coming to the hotel and if asked for an airport pickup or a railway station pickup – give them a call at least an hour before you reach.
• Confirm the car rental tariff from the front office before hiring a car. Make sure you remember the person’s name from whom you have booked the car i.e. the front office representative and get the details in writing because from person to person the tariff changes.
• Avoid coming by car as there is no car parking available and even if you get one there is no security and moreover the roads are very narrow.
• Avoid having hotel food. There are some good restaurants nearby which are better than that of the hotel.