Jan 26, 2006 08:50 AM
10370 Views
(Updated Jan 26, 2006 09:12 AM)
If you have never had a feeling of being conned, become a member of Club Mahindra and experience the same. The name ''Club Mahindra Lakeview Munnar'' is a complete misnomer since the resort is located 26 k.m. away from Munnar, infact 1.5 k.m. away from the nearest village, Chinnakanal in Idukki district of Kerala. Which means you are totally cut off from civilisation unless you have your own transportation or can afford very expensive taxis. They never publicize this and if you reach Munnar by public transport, specially in the evening, you are in for a rude shock since the resort is another one hour of dark, lonely highway driving away in an unknown taxi. Once you reach, a return trip to Munnar for shopping, sight seeing etc. costs you Rs. 350 by taxi. Except BSNL, no other mobiles work at this location.
Except the room and the kitchenette facilities there, everything is exorbitantly priced. Order room service? Dal is priced at Rs. 180 odd. Unless you take their buffet meals day package (1100 plus taxes for 2 adults + 1 child) or cook all the time, you have virtually no other options to eat out. Bed linen is changed on alternate days. Want a daily change? Pay Rs. 150 extra each time.
In their marketing talks, they say the resorts are five star. True, the resort is well designed, spacious, well laid out and the rooms comfortably furnished. but unlike normal five stars where all facilities are included, here you pay extra for everything. Sauna+steam - Rs. 300. Mini Golf - Rs. 150 for 30 min., glass painting - Rs. 600 per session, rock climbing - Rs. 400 and the list goes on. The only activities which are free are indoor games like carrom, chess, table tennis etc.
The excursions too are exorbitantly priced. A trip to Kurukkumalai (highest tea garden in the world) booked through club mahindra costs Rs. 400 per person (Rs. 3200 for a jeep of 8). We took the same trip with a jeep from outside the resort. Cost? Rs. 600 for the whole jeep. Similarly for Thekkady, Munnar sight seeing etc.
If we count the interest on the cost of membership and the annual maintenance charges (approx. Rs. 6000 but increases every year) then the per day cost of staying comes to Rs. 5000. If you booked Club Mahindra Munnar without the membership the same room would cost Rs. 3500. Their tagline? ''Holidays for a lifetime.'' Offcourse, if you are snared once, you are enslaved to them for a lifetime. Instead, it is much better to book a hotel of your choice when you want it. Don't be a slave (member) of Club Mahindra regardless of the free camcorder or whatever inducements they offer. You will pay through your nose for all these freebies later.
