10/04/2019
CUSTOMER REVIVE FOR PARADISE RETREAT
DAKSUM
Superb and relaxing stay at the beautiful Paradise Retreat Daksum - great offbeat Kashmir
I chose to explore off-beat locations in Kashmir valley and zeroed on Kokernag, Vernag, Achabal, Chatpal, Sinthan top with a base at Paradise Retreat, Daksum...decision proved to be the best and away from crowded and typical tourist locations...
Booking at Paradise Retreat: 5/5 - connected with Aadil Nazir (9906449752/ 7006946462), Mktg Mgr of Paradise Group of Hotels, it was nice interacting with him who helped me with booking and also came up with a trip itinerary for 5 days covering all these places with 1st day pickup from SNgr airport and drop back on day 6 in SNgr...he also runs a travel company - Manazir Tours Kashmir and can arrange for good transport...he arranged Etios for my trip with the ablest and enterprising driver in Wasim Akbar who made the best driving possible.
Hotel location: 5/5 - at beautiful Daksum with Bringi river flowing in front of hotel and hills behind...there is a lovely garden park in front of hotel and located on the Kokernag-Sinthan-Kishtwar main road next to a fuel station...
Daksum village was serene and peaceful and a great place for long mountain walks and walk in the woods - not very touristy
Accommodation: they have rooms in 3 blocks - A, B, C - rooms in A are located above restaurant and reception and houses deluxe rooms...blocks B & C located adjacent to block A houses super deluxe rooms and suite with balcony...I stayed for 1 night in block C and moved to block A for next 4 nights...blocks B & C although have beautiful balconies, there was a power problem because during my stay they didnt have power backup...so I had to move to block A which had big windows overlooking mountains so cool enough...block A room where I stayed had warm electric blankets, room heater, fan, openable window...all rooms that I saw before taking were clean and neatly maintained
Service & Hospitality - 5/5 - exceptional...they had wonderful staff who were always there for any help...Shaukat was truly outstanding in his polite services
Food - 5/5 - excellent - when I booked itself, I mentioned about pure veg food and Aadil said should not be a problem...their kitchen staff prepared excellent food...quality, taste, variety - everything perfect...as I had taken all inclusive package and insisted I had to carry lunch from hotel for day trips...they had purchased a hot lunch pack for me...so nice of Aadil for this personal touch...I took packed lunch on day trips and had lunch on beautiful country side, sitting next to river stream and mountain roads having lunch in a perfect nature settings in beautiful kashmir valleys and forests...kitchen was very neat and cooks were very positive and smiling...they did a local dish with palak type green leaves - it was just outstanding
Airtel 4G postpaid worked well here
Big thanks to Aadil, and all other hotel staff for their polite and excellent guest-centric approach
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Date of stay: May 2018
Trip type: Travelled solo
Room Tip: I stayed at #201 in block A which has the best mountain view looking at the nearby village
