(Image courtesy of theamayaa.com)
WHERE TO STAY IN VARANASI:
Varanasi is one of those rare cities that is not yet completely overrun by the large corporate hotel chains. You’ll find the Radisson or the Ramada, but that’s about it. This is a both a blessing and a curse. With the void of a ‘known product’, you’ll have to venture into something new. But that’s what’s fun about travelling, right?
(Image courtesy of tripadvisor.com)
Luckily, in our digital world, reviews are one thing there is no shortage of. I found The Amayaa after reading through reviews on tripadvisor.com and looking for something in the ‘hotel zone’ – away from the hostels and ‘realities’ of the old city that lines the Ganges.
LOCATION:
The Amayaa Hotel was in the perfect location: about a 25 minute drive by tuk tuk to the Ghats of Varanasi and an equidistant 25 minute ride to the center of Sarnath. It’s located in a quiet*(?) corner of the city near JVH Mall.
The JVH Mall has a cool little grocery store upstairs (where you can stock up on water, snacks, that toothpaste you forgot, etc.). There’s also a decent coffee shop, cinemas, an ATM and a McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, and Baskin Robbins. All have menu items that are unique to India and worth a try. This mall is about a 5-10 minute walk from The Amayaa.
THE HOTEL:
The day of my arrival to India happened be the first day of the Holi Festival. It was also ‘shoulder season’ so there were some vacancies in the hotel. The front desk staff were very helpful and spoke English. They promptly offered me a room upgrade.
(Image courtesy of tripadvisor.com)
The Room:
The Room (Image copyright flyinghighonpoints.com)
Washroom (Image courtesy of tripadvisor.com)
Room (Image courtesy of tripadvisor.com)
The room was large and clean and had a nice bathroom and shower. There was also a small lounge area with a chair and love-seat near the small flat-screen TV.
The Dining Area:
Dining Area (Image courtesy of tripadvisor.com)
Dining Area (Image courtesy of tripadvisor.com)
 The Bar:
The Bar (Image courtesy of tripadvisor.com)
The ‘Free’ Welcome Drink & Tipping in Asia:
After check-in, I was immediately offered a ‘free’ welcome drink of Chai Tea, which I joyfully accepted. Unfortunately, the waiter kept standing there staring and asking if I enjoyed the ‘free’ drink. I got the feeling that he was doing this ‘off-script’ (which I later confirmed with the front desk), but I tipped anyway to end the awkward exchange.
A note here: In general, tipping is not required in Asia; even so – I have no problem being a goodwill ‘tipping traveler’, especially when the service is great. However, welcome drinks usually don’t require a tip. Nor do security guards (but they hit me up as well).
Be aware that tips, even in relatively small amounts, are a very big deal to the service staff throughout India, and rightfully so. Once you understand this, it will actually make your trip much more enjoyable. As such, I’d recommend that you carry a lot of small change so that you can tip accordingly – even for non-traditional hospitality services like security guards. A little goodwill goes a very long way.
The Bottom Line:
The Amayaa was an OK hotel located in a great location for Varanasi. The front desk staff were helpful, and the rooms were clean and comfortable. The best part of the experience was the daily free breakfast buffet which included a mixed Indian (delicious!) and Western menu. If you are lucky, you can even see a troop of Macaques march by – over a cup of coffee (like I did).
Rooms aside, the rest of the hotel seemed a bit old and in need of a renovation. I’d rate it a 3/5.
Would I Stay There Again?
A tuk tuk driver recommended I try the Hotel Surya (next door) for dinner. Wow. If only I had known. Hotel Surya was apparently the place to be. It was packed – the property was large and upscale with a beautiful garden.
It did have a couple of great restaurants (try the lassies!), a garden bar, a proper bar, and a great spa with great massages. And – Hotel Surya was about the same price as The Amayaa. I ended up spending most of my down-time there. Next time, I’m staying at the Surya.
(Image courtesy of hotelsuryavns.com)
(Image courtesy of hotelsuryavns.com)
(Image courtesy of hotelsuryavns.com)
(Image courtesy of hotelsuryavns.com)
