Mumbai's Hotel Planet Plaza: Unbelievable Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the glittering, possibly slightly over-the-top, world of Mumbai's Hotel Planet Plaza: "Unbelievable Luxury Awaits!" And trust me, after a week there… well, let's just say my perspective on "unbelievable" has been expanded.
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Hotel Planet Plaza Mumbai Review: Luxury, Accessibility, and (Maybe) a Little Bit of Madness
Let's get this clear: I'm not a travel blogger. I'm a regular person who, after a particularly brutal year, decided to splurge on a "treat yourself" trip. Mumbai seemed exotic, and the Planet Plaza promised… well, a planet full of luxury. Did it deliver? Let's dissect this beast of a hotel (and my post-stay sanity).
Accessibility: Navigating the Labyrinth (Mostly Successfully)
Okay, accessibility. Seriously important, folks. I'm not in a wheelchair myself, but I always look out for this because it matters. The good news? Hotel Planet Plaza is mostly good on this front. I saw ramps, wide hallways, and the elevator – a lifesaver, especially after a heavy dinner at the… well, we'll get to the restaurants. They definitely have facilities for disabled guests. My only slight niggle? Signage could be a little clearer at times. Elevator access was brilliant though.
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: Yes, yes, yes! It's essential. I did see a few accessible spots, and even the Poolside bar seemed manageable. Less stress, more cocktails, everyone wins!
Rooms: The "Gilded Cage" (I Mean That in a Good Way)
Let's talk about the rooms. They are… opulent. Like, "did I accidentally wander into a Bollywood music video" opulent. Think Air conditioning that could chill a polar bear, Blackout curtains perfect for sleeping off jet lag (or a particularly rowdy happy hour), and a bathroom with more marble than the Taj Mahal. I had a fantastic bathtub – a real game-changer after a long day. They've got your basics right: Coffee/tea maker (essential!), Free bottled water, and a ridiculously comfortable bed. Oh, and my room had a window that opens! A small thing, but I like fresh air.
I will say this though: after a long train journey, the room felt like a refuge. A proper escape. And the bathrobes are… heavenly. Seriously.
Internet: The Digital Drug (and Its Ups and Downs)
Let's face it, we're all addicted. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Thank goodness. Internet access – wireless, Internet access – LAN (if you're old-school like my dad), and just plain Internet are all available. The speed wasn't always lightning-fast, especially during peak hours, but it was generally sufficient for all my social media stalking. I was never without connectivity, which frankly, is the 21st century dream. Things to Do, Ways to Relax, and Avoiding Complete Meltdown
Okay, this is where the Planet Plaza really shines. They have everything. Seriously, everything. Let me break it down before I ramble too much.
- Spa/sauna, Spa: Ah, the spa. This is where I spent a good chunk of my time. The Sauna? Excellent for detoxing after too many samosas. The Steamroom? Pure bliss. And the massage! I'll be dreaming of that deep tissue massage for weeks. They had a Body scrub and a Body wrap too, but I chickened out – my skin is sensitive.
- Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with view: The pool area is… wow. It overlooks the city, like, properly high up. I can't swim for nuts, so mostly I floated on a lilo (which I may or may not have brought myself). The pool is heated, which is a godsend sometimes!
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: I briefly considered the Fitness center, but then I remembered I was on vacation. I gave it a miss. My body is not built for that sort of thing.
- Foot bath: Now that's a good way to spend an hour.
- For the Kids:I don't have kids. But they have Family/child friendly options, and Babysitting service if that is your thing.
Food, Glorious Food (and the Occasional Stomach Ache)
Okay, food is my life. From Breakfast [buffet] to Room service [24-hour], this hotel truly understands me.
- Restaurants: There are multiple restaurants. Prepare to be overwhelmed.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: I'm a sucker for a good Asian breakfast.
- Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: My boyfriend loved the Western breakfast.
- A la carte in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant: both are great.
- Happy hour, Poolside bar, Bar: Cocktail time!
- Coffee shop, Coffee/tea in restaurant: Excellent coffee. Excellent everything.
My favorite? Probably the Indian place – the Asian cuisine in restaurant, you absolutely must try the Butter Chicken. Mwah!
Anecdote Time!
One night, I had a Room service [24-hour] dinner delivered. I ordered a ton of food, like, a ridiculous amount. The waiter, bless his heart, arrived with armfuls of plates, a huge smile, and a look that said, "Are you sure you can eat all this?" I did, mostly. And then I blame the sheer amount of eating on the Bottle of water and the Complimentary tea! That said, the Breakfast in room was divine. Definitely recommended.
Cleanliness and Safety: The "Germ-Free" Guarantee?
This is critical. Cleanliness and safety were clearly a priority.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol: All perfect!
- Individually-wrapped food options: More perfect!
- Hand sanitizer: Plenty of it!
- Doctor/nurse on call: Good to know.
- First aid kit: Always useful, right?
They even had Room sanitization opt-out available if you were feeling particularly eco-conscious. Looked great on the brochure, and it seemed to work.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
The Planet Plaza is on it:
- Concierge: Super helpful, especially when I was trying to navigate the Mumbai train system.
- Currency exchange: Saved me a trip to the bank.
- Cash withdrawal: Another time-saver.
- Laundry service, Dry cleaning, Ironing service: All appreciated.
- Elevator, Luggage storage are perfect!
- Business facilities, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Seminars
- Facilities for disabled guests: Great!
The Quirky Bits (Because Every Hotel Has Them)
- Couple's room: Perfect for honeymooners!
- Family/child friendly, Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meal: I don't have kids to test that out!
- Exterior corridor: Very rare.
- Pets allowed unavailable
- Proposal spot, Shrine: Okay, I found it to be over the top.
The one slight snag I had? Twice, my Daily housekeeping seemed to forget to refill the complimentary cookies. Tragic. However, I asked and a lovely housekeeper brought me a fresh batch, no problem. They tried.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: So convenient. Definitely recommended.
- Car park [on-site], Car park [free of charge], Valet parking, Car power charging station, Taxi service, Bicycle parking: All sorted.
Final Verdict: Should You Stay?
Hotel Planet Plaza is a splurge, no doubt. It's not budget-friendly, but if you're looking for a truly luxurious experience, it delivers. The rooms are gorgeous, the facilities are top-notch, the food is delicious, and the staff are genuinely helpful. Yes, there might be a slight hint of over-the-top-ness, but that's part of the charm, right? I'm not perfect, and the Planet Plaza isn't either, but it was still a fantastic stay.
Overall, I'd give it a solid 4.5 out of 5 stars. I’d definitely go back, especially for the massage and the Butter Chicken.
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Mumbai Meanderings & Hotel Planet Plaza Pitfalls: A Travel Diary (Oh, the Humanity!)
Day 1: Arrival & the Great Curry Catastrophe (or, My Stomach's Revenge)
1:00 PM: Landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport. Mumbai's humid air hit me like a wet towel, a welcome change from the sterile airplane cabin I had spent the last 24 hours in. The airport… well, it's Mumbai, so obviously, it was a vibrant chaos. Baggage claim was a scrum of sweaty limbs and desperate eyes. My bag, predictably, was last. Figures.
2:30 PM: Taxi to Hotel Planet Plaza. The drive! Oh, the drive! Horns blaring, auto-rickshaws weaving like caffeinated bees, cows casually blocking traffic… a sensory overload that I'm pretty sure accelerated my heartbeat by like, a hundred beats.
3:30 PM: Check-in at Hotel Planet Plaza. Now, let's be real. The website photos? Lies. The lobby was…functional. Think faded grandeur, slightly peeling paint, and a general feeling of "seen better days." The staff, however, were lovely. Super helpful, even when I asked about something I definitely should have known, that it was customary to take your shoes off when you walk into a temple.
4:00 PM: Unpacked (sort of) and decided to explore the neighborhood. Aimed for a small "local" eatery I had found on a blog. Mistake number one.
6:00 PM: Curry! Oh, the curry! It smelled divine, a complex symphony of chili, coriander, and…well, something else. Something utterly, violently, unfamiliar. I dug in, feeling adventurous. I should have stayed in the familiar comfort of my hotel room.
7:00 PM: Rapid descent into stomach distress. Let's just say the evening was spent closely acquainted with the porcelain throne. The memory of that curry still triggers a visceral reaction. I'm pretty sure I could write a whole epic poem about the aftermath. I'll spare you the details, but let's just say it involved a lot of bottled water and a profound appreciation for the invention of air conditioning.
8:00 PM: Attempt at ordering room service (plain toast and ginger ale, thank you very much.) The phone in the room was a relic. A rotary phone! I'm talking dial-up internet era. It took me roughly 20 minutes to call. The phone then promptly died on me when I was halfway through ordering. Gave up and decided to sleep.
Day 2: Marine Drive Musings & Gateway Grandeur (and the Rise of the Regret)
8:00 AM: Woke up feeling slightly less like the walking dead. The plain toast and ginger ale were miracles. The sun, though, was a brutal reminder of my current, sweaty existence.
9:00 AM: Walked down to Marine Drive. The air, even early in the morning, was thick and salty. The waves crashed against the sea wall, and the "Queen's Necklace" of lights lining the promenade was stunning, even if I was too exhausted to appreciate it fully.
10:30 AM: Visited the Gateway of India. It’s… imposing. Massive. The sheer scale of it hits you like a physical blow. The crowds, though? Even more overwhelming. Tourists vying for selfies, hawkers trying to sell me everything from postcards to tiny, plastic elephants. I got conned into a photo with a guy dressed as a parrot. Yes, I did. My travel photo album is a collection of moments of both beauty and humiliation.
12:00 PM: The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel. Now, this is a hotel. Marble, chandeliers, impeccable service – a stark contrast to the somewhat… rustic Planet Plaza. I wandered around, feeling like I had stumbled into a movie set. I may or may not have pretended to be a fancy socialite for 15 minutes while waiting in line for an Ice Cream. I really, really wanted that ice cream.
1:00 PM: Lunch at a local restaurant. This time, I opted for something safer: simple vegetable biryani. No regrets! And thankfully, no repeat performance of yesterday’s curry-induced drama.
2:30 PM: Dabbawalas. I was fascinated by them. These lunchbox delivery men are a testament to efficiency. Seeing these guys is an absolute must. I could fill a book with all the information. I watched them for ages, fascinated. A true Mumbai icon.
4:00 PM: Returned to Planet Plaza. Spent the afternoon avoiding the temptation of "exploring" any more food establishments. I read a book I picked up at the airport.
6:00 PM: Decided to call it a night. The humidity plus the curry disaster equals a very worn-out traveler.
Day 3: Shopping Chaos & Bollywood Dreams? (Probably Not)
9:00 AM: Started the day with a quick breakfast at the hotel. The buffet was… basic. Undercooked eggs, questionable coffee, and a vague sense of disappointment.
10:00 AM: Headed to Colaba Causeway. The market. Oh, the market! A riot of colors, smells, and relentless vendors. I got completely swept away in the chaos and bought a sequined handbag that I’ll probably never use and a shirt that I will surely regret in the morning. More importantly, I finally found some tea. A perfect moment.
1:00 PM: I thought I found an authentic, non-touristy restaurant for lunch. Oh how wrong was I! I had a very spicy thali that left me sweating, gasping for breath, and questioning all my life choices.
3:00 PM: Attempted to see a Bollywood movie. The theatre was packed, the music was deafening, and the subtitles were… challenging. I lasted an hour before I had to retreat. My brain was fried by the sensory overload. Also, the plot made absolutely no sense.
5:00 PM: Back at Planet Plaza. I spent hours replaying my day and regretting the movie.
7:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel. This time, I stuck to the safe option.
Day 4: Departure
8:00 AM: Checked out of Planet Plaza. Looked back with a small smile. It wasn't perfect, but it had character. And the staff were genuinely wonderful.
9:00 AM: Taxi to the airport. The traffic was horrendous, of course. I began to wonder if maybe the curry was the reason I was so tired.
11:00 AM: Flew out of Mumbai, my stomach slightly grumpy, my head filled with a kaleidoscope of images, and my heart full of the memory of a city that defies description. I will for sure come back again. Next time, I'm bringing Pepto-Bismol. And maybe a translator. And definitely a better sense of humor.
Is Hotel Planet Plaza actually as luxurious as the hype suggests? Because, let's be real, sometimes those claims are just *lies*...
Okay, deep breath. Honestly? It's... well, it's pretty darn close. The hype, in this case, isn't a complete fabrication. I went expecting a gilded cage, you know? Pretentious staff, overpriced everything. Instead… I arrived after a nightmare taxi ride – potholes you could get *lost* in, mind you – and was immediately greeted with a jasmine-scented towel and a smile that didn't seem surgically attached. Like, a genuine smile!
My room? Yeah, a room. A bloomin' *suite*. Think massive windows overlooking the Arabian Sea…except not just a sea view: a *breathtaking* sea view that made me forget the week's stress. The marble bathroom was bigger than my entire first apartment. And the bed…oh, the bed. I nearly wept with joy. So, yeah, luxurious? Undeniably. But the *unbelievable* part? Well, that's still up for debate. Like, maybe if they had a free massage chair in every room, *then* we'd be talking unbelievable. Just sayin'.
What's the food like? Because I'm a foodie and I’m judging!
Alright, judgey foodie. Let's get down to brass tacks. The food, in a word... *mostly* amazing. The multi-cuisine restaurant, "Celestial Plates," is a gamble. I went one day and the Italian was divine, the next day, the pasta was a bit...soggy. I think their chef was sick. But, their Indian restaurant, "Spice Route," is worth the trip alone. I had a lamb dish that… I'm not even kidding, I think I saw angels. It was cooked to perfection. Their butter chicken was a solid 10/10.
Breakfast is... *epic*. Like, you'll need a forklift to get yourself up from the buffet. So much choice. Fresh fruit, pastries that made my waistline weep, and a dosa station where the chef seemed to know magic. The only downside? You'll spend a good hour just *choosing* what to eat. It's overwhelming, in the best way possible, assuming you have the time. I was, late for a date with my partner. I almost missed my plane. Don't worry, I was not late in the end.
What's the vibe? Is it stuffy or can you actually relax?
Okay, this is a big one. Because *stuffy* is the enemy. And I was slightly worried. But, thankfully, the vibe is… surprisingly chill. They manage to pull off the luxury thing without being pretentious. Sure, there are people in ball gowns, but you also see folks in jeans and t-shirts. It's a nice mix.
The staff are awesome. I swear, they anticipate your needs before you even realize you *have* a need. (Seriously, how did they know I was desperately craving a mango lassi at 3 am? Mysteries of the universe, I suppose). There's a general sense of calm and well-being that washes over you. Which is a HUGE relief because I was recovering from a terrible meeting only a day before.
What about the pool? I need my downtime!
The pool... Prepare yourself. It's Instagram-worthy. Seriously. Infinity pool overlooking the sea. Palm trees. Loungers that practically cradle you. They even have those little floating things, so you get a drink in the pool (I definitely was a fan, and brought my own snacks for the best experience) – pure bliss.
However, it *can* get crowded. Remember, it’s a hotel in Mumbai. So, you might have to share your idyllic moment with a few other people. But, honestly, the views are so amazing, you barely notice. Especially if you have a cocktail in hand.
Any hidden fees or unexpected costs I should be aware of? Rip-offs?
Okay, this is important. The mini-bar. Beware the mini-bar! It's beautifully presented, yes. But the prices… Let's just say, my partner almost choked when he looked at the bill! I think he was more shocked than when he saw the final prices in the markets. You might want to grab some snacks and drinks from a local store beforehand. The other thing? The laundry service is EXPENSIVE. Like, send-your-clothes-to-a-private-island expensive. But besides those things, everything else was fair.
Would you recommend Hotel Planet Plaza? Be brutally honest!
Alright, my brutally honest opinion? YES. Absolutely, unequivocally, YES. It's not perfect. No place is. But it's a truly wonderful experience. Is it worth the high price tag? That, my friend, depends on you. However, if you're looking to splurge, treat yourself, or just escape the chaos of Mumbai for a few days, then yeah, go for it.
I left feeling refreshed, pampered, and… (whispers) a little bit sad to leave. It was a truly unforgettable stay. I would probably not afford it again, but if I had the money, I would go back tomorrow.
Are there any family friendly amenities? (because I travel with rugrats)
Families? They totally cater to families. There is a Kids’ Club that looked legit, packed with toys and activities. My friend was a fan, but I was there alone, so I unfortunately did not visit, even if I wanted to. Also, the pool has a shallow end, which is a godsend. The restaurants have high chairs and kid-friendly options. Honestly, this hotel really goes out of its way to make sure everyone is comfortable, children included.
What's the best way to book? Should I go directly or use a site like Booking.com?
From my experience, always check the hotel's website *first*. Sometimes they offer better deals or packages. But, also, be sure to check multiple booking sites, just to be sure. I've been burned before expecting the best price, and ended up paying *more*. Also, if you are a member of a hotel rewards program, or any kind of rewards program, it probably pays to book directly.
