Escape to Paradise: Royal Queen Hotel's Mussoorie Magic
Escape to Paradise: Royal Queen Hotel, Mussoorie - Or, How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Cloud-Laden Views
Okay, folks, lean in. I've just gotten back from a trip to Mussoorie, and, let me tell you, the Royal Queen Hotel? It's… well, it's an experience. Part of the journey is the getting there because the drive up to Mussoorie is a winding, bumpy rollercoaster of a road. But when you’re finally there, and the mist rolls in, and suddenly, everything feels a little bit… magical. Forget the perfectly curated Instagram feeds, this review is about real travel. This is about the good, the bad, and the slightly-crazed coffee-fueled rambling after days of dealing with hotel amenities.
First Impressions (and the Climb): Accessibility, Because Let’s Be Real…
Right off the bat, let's talk Accessibility. This is Mussoorie. That means hills. Royal Queen itself is pretty good. Elevator? Check. Facilities for disabled guests? They are trying. This is very hilly, and maneuvering a wheelchair around the property might require serious muscle power. It's not perfect accessibility, but they're making an effort, which is more than you can say for some places. The car park [free of charge], thank god, because parking in Mussoorie is a nightmare.
Safety First (and the Constant Vigilance):
Let's talk Cleanliness and safety because, honestly, that's been on everyone's mind lately. The Royal Queen seems to take these things seriously. I saw Staff trained in safety protocol, which is reassuring. Daily disinfection in common areas? Check. They even had Anti-viral cleaning products. They've got the basics covered. I'm a paranoid traveler, but, honestly, I felt pretty safe. Also a CCTV in common areas so that's some good stuff, now let’s hope they are working. They even have First aid kit which is pretty important if you happen to slip on the stairs, like me.
Getting Ready to Eat (and the Hunger Pangs): Dining, Drinking, and Snacking
Alright, food. Let's dive in, because I was hungry after all that mountain air.
- Restaurants? Yep, plural! Several options. They did it all, from the A la carte in restaurant to the Buffet in restaurant. I can not remember, and I don’t want to, what they had in the buffet.
- Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant - I think they have or had it, never tried it, because I want to eat Indian style food, so I got myself the Western breakfast. It was alright.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant, and the Coffee shop, always a win for me. I basically lived on caffeine to keep myself going.
- Poolside bar - Because relaxing in the mountains with a drink in hand is the best thing ever.
- Happy hour? Yep!
- Room service [24-hour]: Essential for those late-night munchies. Plus, when you’re jet-lagged, sometimes a burger at 3 AM is the only thing that makes sense.
The Room (and the Search for Bliss): Available in all rooms!
Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty: the rooms.
- Air conditioning, Hair dryer, Free bottled water, Coffee/tea maker, Free Wi-Fi, were my favorite.
- Blackout curtains are a lifesaver. I needed to sleep in, and the room was pitch black.
- Internet access [LAN] - for those hardcore gamers.
- Additional toilet - not in my room but I wish I had it!
I got a Non-smoking room because, well, I’m not a smoker, and you could really smell the smoke throughout some of the halls. Complimentary tea and Bed were fantastic, I really liked both!
**Let’s talk about the *Pool with view*! This pool is amazing. I spent an hour in the sun and got a little red.
The Spa and Wellness Ritual (and the Blissful Surrender):
Alright, let me tell you about the Spa! I went for a Massage. Honestly, after a day of wandering the hills and dodging scooters, my back was screaming. The masseuse was brilliant, and I felt like a new person walking out. It's a must-do. They also have a Gym/fitness if I wanted to do some exercise!
Things to do in all of this (and the Mountains):
- Well, there are a lot of things to do! There is a Shrine right outside the hotel and a Terrace you can sit around to enjoy the view.
- Meetings and Seminars! I don’t know, maybe if I was looking for that, I would have been able to find it, not me though!
Services and Conveniences (and The Little Things):
- Laundry service is definitely a plus when you're trekking around.
- Concierge: helpful in getting around, booking tours, and making sense of the chaos.
- Luggage storage: Because your bags shouldn’t be the only ones feeling overwhelmed.
- Doctor/nurse on call is a definite plus.
For The Kids (and The Parents Who Need a Break):
- Babysitting service -- Need I say more?
- Kids facilities? Probably.
- Family/child friendly? Seems like it.
The Verdict (and the Slightly Hungover Reflection):
Look, the Royal Queen Hotel isn’t perfect. It's got a few quirks, maybe a little bit of a "work in progress" vibe here and there. But here’s the thing: sometimes, that’s the charm. This place offers a solid and clean stay to get to one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. It's got everything you need at the end of the day. The views? Unbeatable. The relaxation factor? High.
My recommendation? Go. Embrace the chaos. Embrace the adventure. And definitely grab a Massage at the spa. You deserve it.
P.S. Book it NOW with the hotel, because, that’s what’s up, or there’s always a chance someone will get your room before you do. Trust me.
Vung Tau Paradise: Unbelievable Ocean & Mountain Views!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your grandma's itinerary. This is Mussoorie, land of the Queen of the Hills, and trust me, it's a wild ride. We're staying at the Hotel Royal Queen, and frankly, after these past weeks, I need a good, Queen-worthy experience or I'm going to lose it entirely. This is my attempt to document the descent (hopefully not literal) into Mussoorie, and honestly, who knows what'll come out.
Day 1: Arrival and Altitude – Maybe I should have taken a breather
- 10:00 AM: Land in Dehradun. Ugh. The flight was delayed, of course, and that little kid behind me kicked my seat for the ENTIRE. FREAKING. FLIGHT. (I swear, I almost turned around and offered to trade places with his harried-looking mother). Honestly, the chaos of the airport makes me want to order a double scotch, and here begins a messy start already.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: The driver, bless his heart, was 40 minutes late. He was nice enough, but clearly new to the whole "tourist transport" game. The road trip to Mussoorie. Let's just say, if you're prone to motion sickness, pop a Dramamine. The scenery is spectacular, don't get me wrong – lush green hills, the Himalayas looming in the distance – but the roads… they're more like a rollercoaster designed by a sadist. I'm not sure if it was the roads themselves or the driver's habit of honking at anything that moved, but even the dog I was sharing the road with started screaming at a point.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Check into Hotel Royal Queen. The name is a bit grandiose, right? Like, is the Queen of England going to be serving me breakfast? The hotel itself is… dated. I think a fresh coat of paint has been on the cards for the past decade. But the view! Oh, the view! It's breathtaking. Seriously. The valley stretches out forever, and the mist rolling over the hills… it's worth the slightly mildewy smell in my room.
- 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Lunch at the hotel restaurant. The food is okay. Bland, honestly. But I was starving after the journey. I ordered the butter chicken and it looked more like a sad bowl of tomato soup with a few lonely chunks of chicken bobbing about. I ate it anyway. Now, I'm not sure if it was the altitude or the less-than-stellar curry, but I feel a bit… lightheaded. Maybe I should have taken a breather.
- 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Rest. Needed. The journey, the altitude, the food… it all hit. I think I slept straight for the the next two hours, and I'm not sure whether to be happy or not that there's no one else here.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Walk as the weather permits. I wanted to go to the Library Bazaar but I was tired. So I just went for a walk. The air is crisp and cool, the sun setting, painting the sky in shades of orange and purple. It's beautiful. Just beautiful. I'm starting to feel grounded again.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. This time I ordered the pasta. It was a complete failure. All I wanted at that point was to go to sleep.
Day 2: Finding My Inner (Less Irritated) Tourist
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. This time, I go the safe route and order the omelet. It's okay, the cook seems to at least have grasped the basics of egg-cooking. However, the grumpy man at the table next to me kept staring at me. Maybe he's mad in general?
- 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Visit Kempty Falls. The drive there? Again, a rollercoaster. But the falls themselves are quite majestic. The water is so powerful, crashing down. I saw some people actually swimming, which is insane, and I don't know what they were thinking. I did NOT want to join them. The whole area is a bit touristy, with vendors selling everything from cheap trinkets to questionable street food. I had a chai, which was spicy and delicious. And then, I sat and watched the world go by. It's good sometimes to not take things so seriously, you know?
- 1:00 PM - 02:00 PM: Eat Lunch. I went back to the place where the chai was and ordered some momos. They were a bit too soft.
- 2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Mall Road. I spent most of the time wandering along Mall Road. It's the heart of Mussoorie, a bustling street lined with shops, restaurants, and cafes. I bought a scarf, just because. The air has a buzz, even the other tourists are smiling.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Landour. Found a local's place to watch the sunset and it was great. The air was cleaner, the crowd lighter. It made the experience very peaceful, the peace I was looking for.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. I went to the restaurant to order dinner, and the waiter said it was closed and the chef was gone for the night. I really didn't know where to go to eat, and I was tired to even go out and find a place. I had a mini-meltdown because, you know, lack of dinner.
Day 3: Clouds, Chaos, and Contemplation
- 9:00 AM: I woke up to the incessant sound of monkeys banging about on the balcony. Seriously, they're like the neighborhood watch of Mussoorie, always keeping an eye on everything. Breakfast was a sad affair. The omelet was gone, and I was left with dry toast.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Cloud's End. This is supposed to be this amazing spot where the clouds literally roll in, and you feel like you're walking on air. The road up there is terrifying. It's narrow, winding – I was pretty sure we were going to fall off the edge at any moment. But once we arrived… it was amazing. Walking the small, dusty trail, breathing the fresh air, feeling the chill of the clouds.
- 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM: The hotel restaurant. I came back to have the soup, and it was amazing. However, it was a little short since the bowls were small.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Visit to the old library. It was quiet and musty. I love the atmosphere. This library is a treasure trove of books. I browsed through old books. It was a moment of peace and quiet. The irony that a library in the middle of all this chaos, is the irony I needed.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: I got a massage. I have been wanting this for so long. The therapist was amazing, and it was the best part of the day. I think that I could stay like that if I could.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner. I ordered food from a different place. It was good.
Day 4: Farewell (and a deep breath)
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast. Today's omelet was perfect! Maybe they're finally starting to understand me.
- 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Packing up. I am still here, thinking if should I extend my stay.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Checking out. The staff was nice and even gave me a small discount.
- 2:00 PM: Drive back to Dehradun. The roads are just as bad as when I came. I tried not to scream.
- 3:00 PM: The flight.
This is Mussoorie. It's chaotic, beautiful, and utterly unpredictable. It's also exactly what I needed. And while the Hotel Royal Queen might not be fit for a real queen, it was home long enough. Now, time to exhale and face the real world… or at least, the flight back home to whatever comes next.
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Okay, so...Mussoorie? Worth the Hype? (And Will I Get Altitude Sickness?)
Look, let's be brutally honest. Mussoorie is gorgeous. Like, Instagram-filter-doesn't-do-it-justice gorgeous. But worth the hype? That depends. If you're expecting pristine, perfect, and exactly like the brochure, prepare for some disappointment. The roads can be chaotic (think honking scooters playing a permanent game of chicken), the air is thin (hello, altitude!), and you might find yourself dodging stray dogs that look like they’ve seen things. Things.
Altitude sickness? Oh, I got it BAD. First night, I felt like a giant, sentient grape. Headache, nausea, the works. My partner, bless her, kept saying, "Drink more water!" like I was some kind of dehydrated desert wanderer. Turns out, she was right (as usual). So yeah, listen to the locals. Acclimatize. Take it easy on those first few days. And maybe pack some Ibuprofen. (Pro-tip: the local pharmacies are a treasure trove of *slightly* sketchy but effective remedies. Just sayin'.)
The Royal Queen Hotel - Is it Actually Royal, or Just...A Hotel? (And About Those "Mountain Views" They Brag About...)
Okay, the Royal Queen. The name's a bit much, right? It's not *Balmoral* royal, folks. Let's manage expectations. But it *is* charming, in a slightly faded-glory kind of way. Think vintage charm, not modern glitz. There's a certain… character. You get what I mean? Some might call it “rustic”. Some, “a bit run-down.” I call it “endearing, if you’re in the right mindset.”
And the views? Oh, the views. They are spectacular. When the clouds aren't playing hide-and-seek. One morning, I swear, I saw the Himalayas. Just… *saw* them. Breathtaking. Then the next day? Fog. Thick, impenetrable fog. So pack a lot of patience, and maybe a good book for those foggy days. And pray to the weather gods, because they’re clearly in charge of everything.
The Food! Tell Me About the Food! (And, Like, How Clean Are the Kitchens?)
Alright, the food. This is where things got… interesting. The hotel restaurant was decent, kinda basic, filling. The usual suspects: dal makhani, butter chicken (which was actually pretty good, I'll admit it), roti, rice. The breakfast buffet? Let’s just say it was an *experience*. Think lukewarm eggs, mysterious sausages, and a toaster that seemed to be powered by a gerbil on a treadmill. (I may be exaggerating, but only slightly.)
And cleanliness? Okay, look, I'm a bit of a germaphobe (don't judge!). I peeked into the kitchen ONCE. Just once. The memory still haunts me. Let's just say, if I had to write a Yelp review, it would read: “Charming, but bring your own antibacterial wipes.” But honestly? I didn't get sick. Maybe the spices kill anything bad? Who knows. It's part of the adventure, right?
Okay, So What's There *To Do* in Mussoorie? Activities? Day Trips? Don't Leave Me Hanging!
Right, activities! Here's the deal: Mussoorie is all about the *chill*. Don't expect raging nightlife, or adrenaline-pumping adventures. Think leisurely strolls, quiet moments, and breathing in the mountain air. (Which is, as I've said, also a bit thin, but still… breathe it in!)
The Mall Road is a must-do. It's like a mile-long bazaar. Bustling, chaotic, and full of shops selling everything from woolens to handicrafts. I spent an embarrassing amount of time haggling over a pashmina scarf that I *totally* didn't need but couldn't resist. The food stalls lined it... mmm, the momos, the parathas. A food coma and shopping: the best combination. It’s a glorious sensory overload, in the best possible way.
Camel's Back Road offers stunning views (weather permitting, remember?). Gun Hill is another popular spot, accessible by a cable car (which feels slightly terrifying but the views are worth it). And Kempty Falls... Well, they *look* amazing in photos. In reality, it's crowded, the water is a bit murky, and you'll be dodging selfie sticks like it's an Olympic sport. But hey, it's an experience! And the drive up there gives you some spectacular scenery even if you are annoyed by the falls.
Day trips? Dehradun is nearby, if you're craving a little more… city life. (But honestly, I was happy to escape back to the relative peace of Mussoorie.)
What's the Best Time to Visit? (And Should I Take My Mother-in-Law?)
The best time to visit Mussoorie is… debatable. Summer (April-June) is warm and clear, but also crowded and expensive. Monsoon season (July-September) is lush and green, but expect landslides and constant downpours. Winter (October-March) is cold, but you might get snow… and glorious, empty roads! I went in November, and the weather was perfect. Crisp air, sunny skies, and fewer tourists. Bliss!
And the mother-in-law question? Oh, that's a tough one. Mussoorie requires a certain level of… flexibility. If your mother-in-law is easily rattled by bumpy roads, questionable hygiene, and the unexpected appearance of monkeys raiding your balcony (true story!), then maybe… maybe not. Maybe send her to the Maldives? Just kidding…mostly. But if she's adventurous and doesn't mind a little rough-and-tumble…go for it!
My Absolute Favorite Moment (Because, Seriously, I Need to Gush About Something!)
Okay, I have to tell you. This is going to sound cheesy, but it wasn't really that cheesy at the time. It was one of those moments that I'll probably remember forever. It happened early one morning. I was up before dawn, mostly because the altitude was messing with my sleep schedule. I crept out onto my balcony. The air was crisp, the sky was a watercolor painting of pinks and oranges. And then, it happened. The sun peeked over the Himalayas.
Now, I'm not a religious person, and I'm not the type for dramatic pronouncements, but *wow*. Just... *wow*. The sheer scale of it, you know? TheDelightful Hotels
