To be honest, this isn't the perfect location if you're headed into Hyderabad city (as opposed to the suburbs like Hitec City), and it is actually out of the way from the airport to the city. The hotel itself is about 30 kms from the HYD international airport.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad location mapThe hotel is located in an area where there's a lot of construction coming up at all times, thanks to the nearby Indian School of Business.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad exterior
This was my first stay at a Holiday Inn Express, so I wasn't really sure of what to expect. I reached the hotel in the late evening, and there weren't any guests around.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad lobby
The front desk was manned by a lone agent, who was later joined by a colleague.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad check in
However, the decor of the lobby was quite nice and colourful. Quite tastefully done, too!
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad lobby
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad lobby
At check in, I was handed a 15% discount voucher for dinner at the hotel's restaurant, Jonathan's Kitchen.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad discount voucher
Right next to the front desk was a small outlet like a mini tuck shop, that had some chocolate bars, instant noodles, wafers and soft drinks, all available for purchase (marked up, of course!).
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad mini tuck shop
Since I was going to spend only one night here, and had a meeting early the following morning before heading for the aviation show, I quickly went up to my room on the 12th floor.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad lift lobby
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad corridors on the 12th floor
The room was small, but sometimes small is good. Especially when you have to pack up quickly and don't want a large room where the chances of leaving something behind are greater.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad room
The front desk was apologetic that they couldn't get me a double bed, but honestly, it didn't make a difference to me.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad room
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad room
The room was stocked with sufficient water and a kettle for my morning coffee. And unlike hotels in the north of India, there were sufficient sachets of instant coffee in the room!
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad coffee and water
The bathroom was compact, with a single door service as both the door to the bathroom (from the main room) and between the shower area and the rest of the bathroom.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad toilet
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad showerHoliday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad bath room
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad bath room
Because of their "boutique" nature, this hotel had an unusually shaped and coloured couch in the room...probably the only thing I thought didn't go well with the rest of the room. It was also a bit uncomfortable to sit on.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad couch
The work desk was fixed to the wall, and had sufficient power outlets.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad work desk
And the minibar...I know this is a HI Express, but that's no reason to have an empty fridge!
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad minibar
Surprisingly, the room came with an iPod docking station by the bedside.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad iPod docking station
I was in no mood to head back down to the restaurant for dinner, so I ordered up room service. Being a limited service hotel, they had only a handful of dishes on the room service menu (something they warned me about at the time of check-in, though only after reading the room service menu did I realise the extent of how limited the offering was). Having said that, the Hyderabadi biryani I ordered was full of taste, and I could really find nothing lacking with it. (Not pictured, chicken curry).
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad room service dinner
For what it was worth, I took a night-time skyline picture of this part of the city.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad nighttime view from the room
And here's kinda what it looks like in the daytime.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad view from the room
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad view from the room
Breakfast was on the ground floor, just behind the front desk, at what's called The Great Room.
This is basically a large room with limited pre-set food offerings that are laid out, buffet-style. You cannot get eggs (or indeed anything) to order. However, there's fruit, choice of cereals, bakery products (muffins, croissants), and some pre-cooked south Indian and north Indian breakfast dishes (idli, dosa, paratha, etc).
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast
They also had coleslaw sandwiches, and toast with a variety of things to go with it (including Marmite!).
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast
The dining area is set up with either long tables or four-seaters with high barstool type seats. I loved the communal seating theme.
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast seating
Holiday Inn Gachibowli Hyderabad breakfast seating
There's one attendant at breakfast who will get you coffee and is responsible for clearing tables after the guests leave, but that's about it.
During my limited stay here, I noted that the guests were largely either visiting ISB for one reason or another, or were in the IT industry. This may be the result of the hotel being a very wallet-friendly place to stay. They offer no frills, but deliver on the base requirements - a clean room, functional toilet and bath, enough power ports to charge all your devices, functional breakfast and very good wifi internet. Except for the fact that it was out of the way for me, this is a great way to
earn IHG some points and stay counts, and qualify for promotions, on the cheap.
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