Hotels in Darjeeling – Know Some Crucial Factors before You Book a Room

There is no dearth of lodgings and hotels in Darjeeling. You will find all kinds and categories of hotels. There are some premium hotels offering best facilities whereas the rest are moderately priced and budget accommodations. There are some family-run hotels among the best ones and these are managed by the owners themselves. You need to consider a lot of factors while booking a hotel in this hilly station. Let us have a quick glance over some of them.

Beware of Lease Hotels

Numerous hotels in this beautiful hill station run on lease. Those who lease hotels are driven by the goal of making some quick money so that they can repay the regular lease amount to the hotel owners and extend their profit margin. Many of these leased hotels often hold on to quite a few empty rooms during the peak travel season. They decline booking requests from the agents and those who made online enquiries. But if you visit these hotels and ask for a room, you will get it but only at a high price which is much more than the standard rate.

Those who run hotel in Darjeeling on lease actually make good use of these opportunities to churn out more money during the high season. During this period, many flying visitors drop in and want immediate arrangement for accommodations. They have no advanced booking and are charged over the top of usual tariff. Some hotels also cancel prior booking just to welcome the instant customers who are ready to pay more. There is no need to tell you that these hotels are not meant for the budget travelers.

Should you book a hotel directly or through an agent?

It is better if you go with the first choice. Does it sound strange, with so many operators around offering easy and best online booking service? Their websites have good reviews to convince the potential customers about their service. And there is no way that you can downgrade their service value and offering.

But then consider the limitations if you approach through an online booking agent. Do you expect them to request for a view room? This is one of the factors on the must-wish list of the visitors.  Who won’t love to have a generous glimpse of Kanchenjunga while reclining on the bed or having a cup of Darjeeling tea on the sofa at the crack of dawn? If you place a call on the manager desk and talk with him directly, there is a high chance to get one such room. Make sure to remind the manger about your booking and specification before you are bound for Darjeeling.