The Retreat Hotel & Convention Centre

The hotel is widely regarded as a peaceful retreat from the city's hustle and bustle, offering a vast and well-maintained property that provides a sense of escape. Its signature feature is its direct access to the sea, making it appealing for those seeking a coastal getaway. Guests frequently highlight the staff's exceptional hospitality, the overall cleanliness of the premises (though with some mixed feedback on rooms), and the quality of the food. The hotel is an ideal fit for families looking for a staycation with ample activities, business travelers attending conferences, and couples celebrating special occasions or seeking a quiet escape. To enhance your stay, be prepared for challenging road conditions leading to the hotel and manage expectations regarding the strong fish smell, particularly near the beach and in open areas.

Facilities & Amenities
The hotel offers a range of facilities designed for relaxation and recreation. The swimming pool is frequently praised for being large and well-maintained, though some guests noted issues with birds and cleanliness. A Jacuzzi is available, though it is sometimes reported as not being in use. For entertainment, the clubhouse and games room provide various options, including table tennis, foosball, billiards, and carrom. A fitness center or gym is also on-site for guests to use. Additionally, a steam bath is available for relaxation. However, guests should be aware that Wi-Fi is often chargeable and can have poor network connectivity, sometimes deactivating automatically at checkout. Some recreational games within the hotel also incur additional charges.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on room comfort and cleanliness is varied. Many rooms are described as spotless, well-maintained, and notably spacious, providing ample room for relaxation. The comfortable beds with spotless bedsheets are frequently praised for ensuring a restful night's sleep. Guests appreciate rooms offering pleasant pool view or sea view. However, a significant number of reviews mention issues with overall room cleanliness, including reports of mold, fungus, or general dirtiness. Problems such as dampness or wet floors due to air conditioning, dirty or malfunctioning taps, unclean water bottles, and frequent key card failures are also noted. Some rooms lack modern amenities like smart TVs, and basic toiletries such as shaving kits or body wash, along with room slippers and bathrobes, are often missing.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining experience receives mixed but generally positive feedback. Many guests commend the food quality as excellent, highlighting its pure taste and the availability of healthy options. The buffet service is often praised for its variety and the introduction of new items. Both the Oriental Bowl restaurant and Tangerine cafe are noted for their good food and service. The breakfast spread is generally considered decent and delicious, with South Indian breakfast options receiving specific praise. However, some guests find the food super expensive with limited choices, not always meeting the expectations for a high-star property. Complaints include an average breakfast spread, stale bread, or sour curd. Instances of unfresh fish or even a stone in an omelet have been reported, and room service food is sometimes deemed overpriced, with additional charges for cutlery.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's peaceful location is a major draw, offering a welcome getaway from the Mumbai hustle. It boasts direct access to the beach, which is a significant feature for many. However, this proximity also leads to the most prominent negative aspect: a strong, pervasive fish smell that permeates the property, especially near the beach and in open areas, making the beach unusable for many guests. The Road access to the hotel is consistently described as horrible, very bad, and often under repair, leading to huge traffic jams and difficulty in finding cabs or public transport. This makes the hotel feel quite remote and far from the city center, impacting the overall convenience of the stay.

Staff & Service
The staff at the hotel consistently receives high praise, being described as very courteous, accommodating, helpful, polite, attentive, and highly professional. Many guests highlight their excellent hospitality and willingness to go above and beyond to ensure a comfortable stay. The check-in process is frequently noted as smooth and efficient. Housekeeping staff are commended for their diligence and discretion, ensuring rooms are well-maintained without disturbing guests. The Banquet staff and restaurant staff also receive positive mentions for their attentive service. Despite this, a notable number of guests reported horrible or rude reception staff, particularly concerning payment issues, denials of early check-in, or a general lack of cooperation, leading to instances of slow service and perceived inflexibility with hotel policies.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware of several important policies and features. Wi-Fi is chargeable and often considered expensive, with connections sometimes deactivating automatically at the standard Checkout time is strictly 10 am. For room service, cutlery is chargeable, and the hotel enforces an on-the-spot payment policy rather than allowing charges to the room bill. Some guests reported being denied complimentary high tea if their booking was not made directly. Mobile no network is a common issue within the property. The hotel is noted as an old property that is undergoing ongoing renovations, which may impact certain areas or services during a stay.