Hotel Southern

The hotel is widely recognized for its prime central location in Karol Bagh, offering excellent accessibility to local markets and transportation hubs, making it a suitable choice for shoppers, sightseers, and business travelers seeking good connectivity within the city. Its reputation for serving authentic South Indian cuisine is a significant draw, particularly for South Indian travelers looking for familiar and tasty food options, often highlighted as a memorable aspect of their stay. While many guests appreciate the hotel's overall value for money, feedback on room conditions and service quality is notably mixed, with some reporting significant issues. To enhance their experience, guests are advised to clarify their room's location upon booking, as some accommodations are in a separate annex building, and to manage expectations regarding room size and potential maintenance aspects.

Facilities & Amenities
Feedback on the hotel's facilities and amenities is varied. Guests generally find the presence of an electric kettle and complimentary tea/coffee supplies in the rooms convenient for preparing hot beverages. While Wi-Fi is available throughout the property, many guests reported inconsistent connectivity and slow speeds, impacting their ability to stay connected for work or leisure. The availability of hot water in bathrooms was also a point of mixed feedback, with some guests experiencing issues, particularly during colder months, despite efforts to resolve them. Some guests noted the presence of a TV in the rooms, though channel selection was sometimes limited. The hotel provides basic amenities, aiming for a comfortable stay, but the reliability of certain services like internet and hot water can be a concern for some visitors.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
Guest feedback on cleanliness and room comfort is highly polarized. Many guests reported significant concerns, describing rooms as small, dingy, old-furnished, and lacking proper ventilation, leading to unpleasant smells like mold, sewage, or stale cigarette smoke. Issues such as dirty floors, stained bed sheets, worn-out linen with holes, and poor quality towels were frequently mentioned, raising hygiene concerns. Some rooms reportedly had water leakage in the bathroom or from the AC, and even issues with rats or mosquitoes. Conversely, some guests found their rooms to be clean, well-maintained, and comfortable, with some even praising the comfortable beds and daily housekeeping. Noise levels from busy traffic and the lobby were also noted by some, affecting sleep quality.

Dining & Food Quality
The hotel's dining experience, particularly its South Indian food, receives considerable attention. The complimentary breakfast is a consistent highlight for many, offering a good spread with a focus on authentic South Indian dishes like Idli, Pongal, and Masala Dosa, which are often praised for being fresh and tasty. However, some guests found the breakfast variety limited or noted issues with specific items like watery coffee or stale Medu Vadai. The in-house Southern Masala restaurant is frequently recommended for its Andhra cuisine, including thalis and biryani, though some found the overall food quality to be inconsistent or overpriced. While room service is available, some guests reported it to be slow or awkward. The presence of both vegetarian and non-vegetarian restaurants within the hotel premises is appreciated by many visitors.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location in Karol Bagh is consistently highlighted as a major advantage. Guests appreciate its proximity to the Karol Bagh market, making it ideal for shopping and exploring local attractions. Its excellent connectivity is further enhanced by being within walking distance of metro stations like Jhandewalan and Karol Bagh, providing easy access to other parts of Delhi and major transportation hubs. While the area is described as very busy with significant traffic, this is often seen as a trade-off for the convenience. However, a notable drawback mentioned by many guests is the complete lack of dedicated parking facilities, which can be a significant inconvenience for those traveling by car, especially given the crowded surroundings.

Staff & Service
Feedback regarding staff and service is notably mixed. While many guests praised the staff for being polite, helpful, cooperative, and providing excellent service, particularly highlighting their attentiveness and willingness to assist with requests, a significant number of reviews reported negative experiences. Some guests encountered rude or unprofessional reception staff, describing their attitude as arrogant or uncooperative, especially during check-in and check-out processes, which were sometimes problematic or involved billing discrepancies. Issues with room service being slow or unresponsive were also mentioned. Despite these inconsistencies, instances of good hospitality and prompt assistance, such as with housekeeping or airport transfers, were also frequently noted by satisfied visitors.

Additional Information
Several important details about the hotel experience are frequently mentioned by guests. A recurring theme is the presence of an annexe building, where many rooms are located. Guests often describe the approach to this separate building as shady or unappealing, with a dirty entrance and a lack of a proper lobby or reception, which can be a significant disappointment compared to the main building. The hotel frequently offers complimentary airport pick-up and drop-off services, which many guests found to be a convenient and valuable amenity. Additionally, the hotel's association with Southern Travels allows for the arrangement of local and sightseeing tour packages, providing a convenient option for exploring Delhi and nearby areas. Some guests also reported issues with the billing process, advising others to get written confirmation of rates.