Hotel Reviews (please share your reviews)

[anjum153]

Dear Sherdil is Benazir hotel situated near tourism rest house and what are normal charges

imarshad said about rate

Accomodation:
Sudhan Gali:
There is a AJK Tourism rest house with 2 rooms availabale for rent. You have to get advanced booking from Bagh or Muzaffarabad. Usually it is not available as in summer it is usually booked in advance.
Also there is another option and it is called Benazir Palace. It is adjacent to the Toursim resthouse and is an excellent choice to stay. Room rent is a little bit on the higher side (Rs. 4000 per room/suite) but it is worth it. We got it for Rs. 3000 per room due to some contacts.

Assalam u Alaikum,
Alhamudulillah I am back after a successful family trip of Chikar, Sudhan Gali, Ganga Choti, Dao khan, Leepa valley and Jehlum valley (Chakothi - URI crossing Point) from 05 June 2013 to 09 June 2013 with my family.

Our Ride:

Honda City 2012 Model.
Suzuki Mehran 2008 Model.

Itinerary:

Day1: Thursday 05 June 2013
Left Islamabad at about 0900AM.
Our route was via Murree Expressway to Lower Topa/Danna.
Then on Kohala road via Alliot, Phagwari etc. reached Kohala and crossed Jehlum river bridge and then towards Muzaffarabad on Shahra-i-Quaid-e-Azam.
Then from Domail in Muzaffarabad turned towards Chakhoti. Just a couple of KM shy of Hattian Bala turned towards Chikar and reached Sudhan Gali at 4PM. Night stay at Sudhan Gali (In Benazir Palace).

Day2: Friday 06 June 2013
Hiked all the way upto Ganga Choti top.
Left for Dao Khan from Sudhan Gali at about 3:30PM reached Hattian Bala at about 5PM and left the Jehlum river at about 5:30PM from Naily and reached Dao Khan at 7:40PM.
Night stay in Forest Rest house in Dao Khan.

Day3: Saturday 07 June 2013
Left Dao Khan at about 0900AM on a rented jeep towards Leepa valley through Mauji route.
Enjoyed Mauji, Kappa Gali, Leepa, Naukot, Chananian and Kulimandal.
Started the return leg through Reshian Top at about 5PM from Leepa. Crossed the famous 72 turns and reached back Daokhan at about 6:30 PM.
Night stay in Forest rest house in Dao Khan.

Day4: Sunday 08 June 2013
Left Dao Khan at about 10:30 AM. and reached Naily on Mzd-Chakothi road at about 12 noon. Moved towards Chakothi and were allowed to visit Uri-Chakothi crossing point and Dosti bridge... Spend some time there and on our return spotted a wonderful waterfall just 2KM shy of Chinari. Spend almost 2 hours there.
Reached Muzaffarabad at about 5PM and had a traditional Kashmiri lunch (Goshtaba, Yakhni Gosh and of course boiled rice and red beans) in Pakistan hotel. Left Muzaffarabad at about 6PM. Reached our home in Patriata at about 8:30PM and spend a couple of hours there. Then left for our home at about 11 PM and reached back safely to our home in Islamabad at about 12:15 AM.

Distances and Road Conditions:

Islamabad-Lower Toppa:
Approximate Time: 1hour 15 min.
Distance: 60KM
Excelent road condition on Murree Expressway.
Lower Toppa - Kohala:
Approximate Time: 1 hour.
Distance: 40KM
Road is in good condition although it is a narrow one. One has to take care in overtaking on this road. There is one patch which is damaged due to landslide. It is a permanent landslide and has been this way since my childhood.
Kohala - Muzaffarabad:
Approximate Time: 1 hour.
Distance: 36KM
For most parts this road is quite good but there are at least two places where due to landsliding the road is in terrible condition. Although they are working on these areas but it might take a couple of months before it is completed.
Muzaffarabad-Hattian Bala-Chakothi:
Approximate Time: 1hour 15 min.
Distance: 70KM.
This is the best road in all of Azad Kashmir. Really fun to drive on. Very wide newly carpeted and not too much load of traffic.
Hattian Bala-Chikar-Sudhan Gali:
Approximate Time: 2 hours
Distance: ~30KM
The road is not in good condition. But still any car can reach there. There are a few good patches of road and a few terrible ones but still it is really enjoyable. Also note that it is continuous ascend all the way upto Sudhan Gali.
Hattian Bala-Naily-Reshian-Dao Khan:
Approximate Time: 2 hours
Distance : 28KM
After leaving Jehlum river near Naily the road is in excellent condition for about 13KM till Lamnian. Newly laid and fun to drive. But after 2KM from Lamnian there is no road and you have to travel on gravel and dirt for almost 10KM till Reshian. If you have a low ground clearance vehicle like I had then you should be very careful as your car might get hit quite a few times on larger stones.
From Reshian to Dao Khan the road is in even worse condition as you have to tackle the stones as well as the steep ascend. Although it is just 4KM but it was really scary (For Honda City). The Mehran did better as it had better ground clearance.
Dao Khan - Mauji - Leepa - Mandakuli - Reshian:
Pure 4x4 track. No non 4x4 vehicle except motor bikes can do this.
Jeep Fares:
Please note that usually jeeps are not available at Dao Khan. You have to hire one from Reshian. So it is advisable to rent the jeep in Reshian before going up to Dao Khan. Tell the jeepwala to pick you up from Dao khan and also drop you there. The fare from Reshian to Leepa village is Rs. 250 and they usually have 10 people in the jeep. So they usually do a round trip of Rs. 5000. But if you want to add other places like Mauji, Naukot, Chananian etc. then they will ask you for about 6000-7000 rupees. We managed to get the jeep at Rs. 6000. which included picking us up from Dao Khan and driving through the Mauji route and then also visiting Naukot and Chananian and return via Reshian top and drop us at Dao Khan.
Also note that you have to explicitly tell the driver about the places you want to visit otherwise he might not take you to other places like Mauji, Chananian etc.
Accomodation:
Sudhan Gali:
There is a AJK Tourism rest house with 2 rooms availabale for rent. You have to get advanced booking from Bagh or Muzaffarabad. Usually it is not available as in summer it is usually booked in advance.
Also there is another option and it is called Benazir Palace. It is adjacent to the Toursim resthouse and is an excellent choice to stay. Room rent is a little bit on the higher side (Rs. 4000 per room/suite) but it is worth it. We got it for Rs. 3000 per room due to some contacts.
The official website with contact numbers is Benazir Palace

Dao Khan:
There are two options to stay in Dao Khan. First is the Kashmir Hotel. It has 5 rooms and direct phone number is 0343 - 5782719. You can book it in advance via this phone number.
Second option is to book the forest resthouse via some links in forest department. We booked it via some contacts through DFO Muzaffarabad. Room rent for both the rest house as well as the hotel is Rs. 1000.

Other Information:
For detailed information about other possible routes to Sudhan Gali and details about hiking to Ganga Choti please visit my earlier thread.
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/166343-ganga-choti-hiking-expedition

and as far as Leepa valley is concerned there are no two opinions that the ultimate resource is the one and only Mubeen's (@aesiege) thread...
https://www.pakwheels.com/forums/road-trips-vacations/199249-23-aug-2-sep-2012-heavens-leepa-neelum-valley-ajk-never-seen-before

Also I would like to specially thank Mubeen (@aesiege) for the wonderfull information that he shared with me using PM....

Important Note:
NOC is absolutely essentially required for going to Leepa valley. You can get the NOC from Hattian Bala DCO office by producing your actual NADRA NIC..

[ranasherdil]

Its just adjacent to rest house.

[anjum153]

Arcadian Sprucewoods - a Himalayan Paradise Arcadian Sprucewoods Resort, ShogranExperience the heady heights of luxury at 2,500 meters. The Arcadian Sprucewoods Himalayan Resort looks out over the stunning Kaghan Valley from the plateau of Shogran in the Himalayas. It's a world away from the city, yet only five hours' drive from Islamabad.

Rooms and Other Facilities
Sprucewoods offers three room options to our guests.

Our two deluxe single bedroom cottages each have one comfortable twin/double bedroom with attached lounge and veranda;

Our ten luxury twin/double rooms each offer breathtaking views, tasteful furnishings, an LCD television showing major news and movie channels, and comfortable spring mattresses;

Our three standard twin/double rooms are similar to our luxury rooms with the exception that the beds have foam mattresses and the rooms have no television.

Additional facilities at Sprucewoods include:
? Wireless Internet access
? Laundry and pressing service
? Room service from 7 a.m till midnight
? 24-hour reception
? Left-luggage service
? Silver Ibex Restaurant, offering a delicious and varied international menu
? Evening bonfires (Subject to weather conditions)
? Conference facilities for up to 50 people

Room Rates
[TABLE="width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, width: 28%, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Room Type / Facility[/TD]
[TD="width: 6%, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: left"]No of Rooms[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Winter Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Spring Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Summer Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Autumn Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Winter Season[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: black_bold"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"] Standard Twin / Double[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]3[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]2,500[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]4,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]6,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]4,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]2,500[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"] Luxury Twin / Double[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]10[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]3,500[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]6,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]9,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]6,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]3,500[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF"] Deluxe Single Bedroom Cottage
(1 Bedroom with private living room and veranda)[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]2[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]5,500[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]9,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]13,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]9,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]5,500[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"] Extra Mattress[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]600[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]1,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]1,200[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]1,000[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"]600[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="class: black_bold, bgcolor: #FFFFFF"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #FFFFFF, align: center"][/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

[TABLE="width: 100%"]
<tbody>[TR]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Winter Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Spring Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Summer Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Autumn Season[/TD]
[TD="class: width_80, bgcolor: #E2CF92, align: center"]Winter Season[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: black_bold"]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"]April 1 to April 30[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"]May 1 to May 31[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"]June 1 to Aug 31[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"]Sep 1 to Oct 15[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: #E2CF92"]Oct 16 to Dec 31[/TD]
[/TR]
</tbody>[/TABLE]

http://sprucewoods.arcadian.pk/index.html

[kashif]

Benazir Hotel is surprisingly expensive ! Sudhan gali is just a small town !!!!

[anjum153]

[h=2]Shogran - Kaghan - Naran Trip From 15th to 19th August 2013 Cost[/h]For Three People

Thanks, Here is some of your required information :-
Jeep from Shogran to Siri Payee was 3000 Rs. because we asked him to stay with us for 2 extra hours which is 300 rs per extra hour.
Jeep for Naran to Saif ul Malook was 2500 Rs.

For the rest of traveling we used our Car (Jalkhad - Lulusar etc)

Hotel for Summer Retreat Nathia Gali was 7000 Rs.
Hotel for Pine Park Shogran was 6000 Rs.
Hotel for Pine Park Naran was 6000 Rs.
Hotel Musairee In Murree was 5000 Rs.

Total cost excluding airfare for three persons approx 65000 Rs.

[asimm76]

Especial request to Anjum bhai and also other members
I need your help in planning a family trip from karachi to murree etc for about 6 days. I,ll try to give you a background of what I would need and then I would need your best susuggestions.

i in my younger days have visited with my mom and dad more than a couple of times to murree, swat , naran, Kaghan, nathiagalii etc, but all This has been about 15 years ago.

now I am thinking of taking my family 3 persons for about 6 days to few of these places. They have never seen these places though they have traveled a bit out of Pakistan.

i am thinking of going by air on Oct 14 to isb and from there on to murree, ayubia , nathiagalii etc. thinking of staying 2 days each as I need to return to Karachi on oct 20 or 21

am looking for hotels under the budget of 6000rs, but I surely need some really good family hotels, which should be nice and clean, good rooms with comfy beds and bathroom. Can also look increase the budget to 10k if really needed

in murree I would like to sTay at Mall road or very close by so as to enjoy the hustle and bustle but at other places I can go to stay at resort type hotels too.

i hope you and other members can guide me on this

[pistonhead]

Giglit City
Hotel Riveria
Nice and Clean though with limited menu options
Rate: 2K per night (breakfast included)

Hunza
Hotel Hill View*
Nice and clean though a bit expensive
Rate: 1700 per night (breakfast included)

[Shahzad727]

java hotel on mall road is gud option with family stay.

[cool2033]

I would prefer Hotel Orient in Murree, cuz every year i stayed at here, very good neat n clean rooms, with nice and clean washrooms, specially room service is very good. if you r interested than i will send you mobile number of the manger of the hotel, so that you can go here easily.

regards

shahbaz from Lahore

[asimm76]

Shehzad bhsi, I tried to check photos of rooms of Java hotels and they didn't seem good to me. Do you have any photos

Cool : you have any photos of the rooms of Orient hotel and how about price range

Suggestions from other members would be highly appreciated

[KhalidMushtaq]

Shehzad bhsi, I tried to check photos of rooms of Java hotels and they didn't seem good to me. Do you have any photos

Cool : you have any photos of the rooms of Orient hotel and how about price range

Suggestions from other members would be highly appreciated

Many good hotels dont bother to have pictures of their rooms, they dont have and facebook pages. Jawa, Metropole , lockwood and blue pines are good hotel to stay in Murree. Check Tourplanner.pk (Tourplanner: Pakistani Holiday Packages, Pakistani Hotels, Honeymoon packages from Pakistan, Hotels in Karachi, Hotels in Lahore, Hotels in Islamabad, Guest houses in Pakistan) for any package or hotel booking.

[mkkd]

Best hotel/guest house with cheap rates in lahore?

Sent from my GT-I9105 using PW Forums mobile app

[Shahzad727]

i recently stayed in java with family but it is just avg hotel.never stay ther again.metropole is better than it.another hotel is brightland.

[tariqislam]

What are best hotels to stay in Abbottabad given the budget of between Rs.3500 - Rs.5000 with me and my wife

[Akshaf]

suggest some nice hotels in neelum valley

[naveed479]

Please suggest me best family hotel (3k-5k range) in murree near GPO/mall road,i will be there on 9th Muharram & also in nathia gali as well.some friends suggest me Felton hotel in murree.Is it reasonable hotel for family?or suggest any other good one.

[ranasherdil]

Courtesy Facebook.
https://www.facebook.com/ChalloGhomneyChalteyHain
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/996654_258368460978742_1421644661_n.jpg

[TARIQTJ]

Anjum Bhai

Kindly give some name good Family hotel in Lahore.

[janleva]

are rooms available in hotels near mall road these days or overcrowded what about rates

[Xoofi]

are rooms available in hotels near mall road these days or overcrowded what about rates

Will be available easily now a days.

P.s. I assume you're talking about Murree Mall road.