A Trip Gone Wrong: The Unfolding of a Travel Disaster
Have you ever had a gut feeling that a trip was doomed before it even began? This exact scenario unfolded for me a few years ago, yet my friend and I pressed on, driven by curiosity to see just how bad it could get. We were in for a rude awakening.
The Desperate Escape Plan
As the Gandhi Jayanti long weekend approached, my neighbor, a college lecturer, and I, both burnt-out Delhi residents, craved a quick break from our office routines. We opted for a short getaway to the nearby hills, choosing Nainital with specific goals: boating, souvenir shopping, and buying dried apricots, in that precise order. Using a reputed online travel platform, I booked a budget stay advertised as having a "lake-view," thinking it sounded perfect.
The Bait-and-Switch Tactic
This story isn't merely a hotel review or a critique of the travel platform; it's a stark illustration of how travelers, particularly women, can be misled by hotel chains, with these platforms often enabling such practices. The disparity between what's advertised and what's delivered became painfully clear during our journey.
While on an overnight bus to Nainital, I received a call from the hotel. The representative informed us that due to "technical issues," our booking was canceled, but they were "generously" offering a room at a sister hotel nearby. Angry and exhausted, we arrived in Nainital early morning and called back for directions. Following Google Maps, we were led to Tallital, near the taxi stand, but no hotel was visible. When we reported this, the person rudely insisted we were in the wrong place.
The Alarming Discovery
After more confusing directions, we found ourselves on an uphill, narrow path through a lightly forested area. Though others were walking there, it felt unsettling. Determined, we pressed on and eventually reached the hotel by asking locals, who were puzzled by our route from the forest side.
The hotel was a shoddy, barely-maintained establishment that seemed suspicious, possibly a hub for illicit activities. We waited over an hour at the reception because the rooms weren't ready. When we finally got our key, the room was appalling: sticky doors, moldy surfaces, and a slippery bathroom floor. We even searched for hidden cameras, feeling uneasy despite finding none.
The Final Straw and Escape
Frustrated, I called the representative to complain about this "compensation" for our canceled booking. He mumbled an apology and feigned poor phone connection. Realizing it was too late to find another hotel on a busy weekend, we made a bold decision. After a moment of dark humor—flipping the room symbolically—we informed the reception we had changed our minds and left. Later, we heard a jug of water mysteriously fell in the room, perhaps due to a breeze.
Lessons Learned and Moving On
Despite the ordeal, we managed to enjoy boating, buy souvenirs and dried apricots in Nainital, and then headed to Pangot for a better experience. This raw account serves as a warning to all travelers: always verify bookings, trust your instincts, and hold platforms accountable for misleading listings.
