Escape to Paradise: Rakabi The Fern, Igatpuri's Hidden Gem
Escape to Paradise: Rakabi The Fern, Igatpuri - A Review That's Probably Too Honest (And Long)
Okay, so I've just stumbled back from Rakabi The Fern in Igatpuri, and honestly? My brain is still processing the whole experience. This isn't a polished travel brochure; this is me trying to sort out my feelings and, hopefully, give you a decent picture of the place. So, buckle up.
Accessibility (and the Struggle is Real): This is where things get a little…complicated. They technically say they have facilities for disabled guests. And they technically have an elevator. But from what I saw, getting around might be a challenge for someone relying heavily on a wheelchair. The pathways weren't always the smoothest, and I'm not entirely sure about the accessibility of the pool area, which is key because the pool with a view is absolutely stunning. I saw some older folks struggling with the stairs, so just be mindful of this and maybe call ahead and ask for specifics.
Cleanliness and Safety (My Anxiety's Best Friend): Listen, I'm a germaphobe in recovery. Knowing they're doing all this stuff – anti-viral cleaning products, daily disinfection in common areas, room sanitization between stays, hand sanitizer everywhere, hygiene certification, staff trained in safety protocol, etc. - that was a relief! It’s nice to see them trying, and honestly, things felt pretty clean. The individually-wrapped food options were a big win for me, less about the “treat yourself” aspect and more about feeling safe to dig in. And the safe dining setup? Solid. I'm pretty sure they've got a whole department dedicated to spraying things down, and that's totally my jam in this post-apocalyptic (pandemic) world.
Rooms (My Cozy Cave): Right, my room. Oh, the room! It was a non-smoking room, which, duh, but important to state. And it got Air conditioning! The blackout curtains were a lifesaver (hello, sleep!), and the complimentary bottled water was a thoughtful touch (because I'm always thirsty). They had a safe box (yay, I'm not paranoid about my passport), and the Wi-Fi [free] was a godsend because, let's be real, I’m addicted to the internet. My room had everything like hair dryer, bathrobe, slippers, and separate shower/bathtub. And I loved the seating area! Just needed a sofa to really crash in! The bed was super comfy too!
Internet (My Digital Drug): Okay, I'm a digital addict (sigh). Thankfully, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Praise the internet gods! The Internet access was speedy enough to upload my Instagram stories (priorities, people!). Internet [LAN] was an option too, but I didn't even bother, which is a sign of how good the wireless was. There was a working connection!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (A Culinary Adventure. Or, You Know, Food): Alright, food time. Let's start with the good: the breakfast [buffet] was decent. I'm not usually a buffet person (too many little hands!), but the options were varied enough to keep me happy. There was Asian breakfast, and Western breakfast, so something for everyone. The coffee/tea in restaurant were a must, and I appreciated the bottle of water. I had some desserts in the restaurant! Delicious! And the Poolside bar was the absolute winner. Seriously, that’s where my happy hour took the day. Now, the not-so-good: The Poolside bar was a bit sluggish (but understandable, because hey, it's remote!). And while the A la carte in the restaurant was okay, it wasn't exactly mind-blowing. I can't complain about the Snack bar either!
Things to Do, Ways to Relax (My Inner Sloth Is Pleased): Okay, this is where Rakabi really shines. The Swimming pool [outdoor] is gorgeous. Imagine chilling in the pool and gazing at the views; it was pure bliss. The pool with a view is really the star. And, naturally, I had to try the Spa. I opted for a massage, and, let me tell you, the masseuse worked magic. The Spa/sauna was nice! I felt so relaxed after the Foot bath and Steamroom! They also have a Fitness center if you're into that kind of torture. I walked past it though. I'm on vacation! They also had a Family/child friendly and Babysitting service, so it's friendly for families.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Matter): Daily housekeeping was excellent. The concierge was helpful, the luggage storage was a plus, and the fact that they offered car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site] made my life much easier. The Cash withdrawal was a great convenience, and having a Convenience store was really thoughtful. They also had a Laundry service, which I needed desperately after a few days and they even provided Ironing service and Dry cleaning!
For the Kids (Not My Department, But I Noted It): They seemed to cater to families well. They offered a Babysitting service and even have Kids facilities, so parents, this could be a win!
Getting Around (Pretty Easy, Actually): They offer a Car park [free of charge], which is a huge plus . You can also arrange for Airport transfer and Taxi service, if necessary.
Overall Vibe (My Honest Feelings): Look, Rakabi The Fern is a mixed bag. It's not perfect. But the location is stunning, and the staff is genuinely trying to make your stay comfortable. The pool area alone is worth the trip. It's a good option for a chill getaway if you are looking to get away from the city! The food could be better, but considering the location, it's more than passable. Would I go back? Yeah, probably. If only for that pool and that massage!
Metadata/SEO Stuff (For the Google Bots):
- Keywords: Rakabi The Fern, Igatpuri, hotel review, spa, swimming pool, family friendly, Maharashtra, India, accessibility, clean hotel, safe travel, best hotel, hotel with a view, spa retreat, Igatpuri hotels, travel review, vacation spot, weekend getaway
- Meta Description: An honest and in-depth review of Rakabi The Fern in Igatpuri, India, including accessibility, cleanliness, dining, activities, and my overall experience. Learn about the pros and cons of this hidden gem before you book!
- Focus Keyword: Rakabi The Fern Review
- URL Slug: rakabi-the-fern-igatpuri-review
Okay, I'm done. Time for another nap. My review is done, and so am I.
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Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your sanitized, Pinterest-perfect itinerary. This is RAKABI The Fern, Igatpuri, through my eyes, and well… my brain. Prepare for a rollercoaster, because frankly, that's what travel is sometimes.
RAKABI RAGTAG ADVENTURE: IGATPURI, INDIA – A MESSY, MAGNIFICENT MADNESS
Day 1: Arrival AND immediate panic (or, "Why did I wear white?")
- Morning (ish): Landed in Mumbai. The air hits you like a warm, fragrant slap. Immediately, the "organized chaos" thing I'd read about became real. Traffic was a ballet of horns and near-misses. Our driver, bless his heart, looked like he was simultaneously praying, texting, and eating a samosa.
- Afternoon: The drive to Igatpuri. Hours. Glorious, winding hours. The landscape slowly morphs from city grime to lush hills. My initial excitement, frankly, was starting to wane. Then… Rakabi The Fern. Suddenly, a wave of relief. The lobby. The clean air. The scent of… something floral and fancy. Score!
- Late Afternoon/Early Evening: Room Check & Initial Breakdown: Okay, room. Clean, spacious. Balcony overlooking… trees! YES! I dump my overstuffed bag (seriously, I always overpack) on the bed. That's when I realized: I am wearing white. WHITE PANTS. In India. Oh dear god. Instant regret. Deep breath. Time to get a grip. And a drink.
- Evening: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. The food! Oh, the food! Butter chicken that made me weep with joy. Naan so fluffy it defied gravity. But the service? Well, let's just say the waiters practiced the art of casual avoidance with impressive skill. I finally snagged someone after approximately 20 minutes. Worth it though. The satisfaction of the food was incredible!!!
- Night: Walked around the resort. Mosquitoes. Lots of them. My mosquito repellent, predictably, was at the bottom of my bag which I'd already dumped on the bed. And the stars! So many stars. I sat on the balcony, staring up, feeling a mixture of awe and the creeping fear of being eaten alive by insects.
Day 2: Treks, Tea, and a Near-Disaster (or, "Respect the Nature")
- Morning: TREK! Planned a trek. The word "easy" was used to describe it. Lies. All lies! Up, up, UP a hill. Sweat dripping, lungs burning. I felt about 80 years old. Several times I wanted to sit right down on a rock and just. give. up. My guide, bless his soul, kept encouraging me. He also apparently didn't understand the concept of "stop for water." But the view from the top? Holy. Freaking. Cow. Worth it. The mountains stretched out forever, and the entire world felt like a painting.
- Mid-Morning: Exhausted but triumphant, return to the hotel. Shower. That shower was the best part of the entire trek.
- Lunch: The restaurant again. This time I decided to order everything. I mean, I was exhausted, I'd earned food. No judgement.
- Afternoon: Tea, Tranquility, and Terrible Turbulence (or, The Cliffhanger) So, there was a tea-tasting experience offered. Sounded nice. Sounds nice! I sat at a table in the sun drinking tea. Then, there was the moment. It started with a gentle breeze and a small bird. Then, suddenly, the breeze turned into a gale and the bird became a massive flock of birds. A tree nearby was shaking, and I thought, "this is lovely". And then a massive swarm of angry looking bees came out, and let me tell you, I've never moved so fast. I dove into the nearest building. Turns out it was the… what? The SPA. I spent the next hour hiding, trying to get the bees out of my hair, and contemplating the meaning of life (or, at least, why bees like me so much).
- Evening: Dinner. More Butter Chicken. Comfort food, after a bee-adjacent crisis. And maybe a little too much wine.
- Night: Slept like the dead.
Day 3: Serenity, Shopping, and Saying Goodbye (or, "Please Don't Make Me Leave")
- Morning: Woke up feeling surprisingly okay, given the emotional rollercoaster of the past few days. Lazy breakfast. Lounging by the pool. Letting the Indian sun bake into my skin. Realized I was starting to feel… peaceful.
- Late Morning: A visit to the local market. Bartering! I am terrible at bartering. I probably got ripped off but hey, I got beautiful scarves.
- Lunch: My last Indian meal. More amazing food. More service that was, shall we say, "laid back."
- Afternoon: Packed. Sigh. The worst part of any trip.
- Early Evening: One last walk around the grounds of Rakabi The Fern. Really taking it in this time. Trying to cement the memories so that I never forget the journey. Realizing, with a pang of sadness, that I'm going to miss this place.
- Evening: Departure. The drive back to Mumbai. Once again… the horns and near misses and the aroma of… everything. But this time, I was smiling. I'd faced insects, mountains, cuisine, and myself… and I had survived.
- Night: Arrived at Mumbai. Flying back home… slightly sunburnt, definitely full, and undeniably changed.
Overall Impression:
Rakabi The Fern, Igatpuri: More than just a hotel. It's a microcosm of India. It's chaos, beauty, moments of frustration, and pure, unadulterated joy. It's a place I will not easily forget. Will I return? Absolutely. Even if I did spend most of my time running from bees.
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Escape to Paradise: Rakabi The Fern, Igatpuri – Frequently Asked Questions (Because Let's Be Real, You Need Answers!)
Okay, Rakabi The Fern… Is it REALLY Paradise? Or Just, You Know, Nice?
Alright, let's be brutally honest. Paradise? Nah. Paradise got a bad rep after Milton and frankly, setting that bar is just unfair on the world. It's not *perfect*. But listen, Rakabi The Fern? It's damn close. More like "Relaxation Oasis" maybe. Picture this: You, exhausted, staring at spreadsheets all week. Then… BAM! You're surrounded by actual greenery, birds chirping (sometimes annoyingly early, I’m a light sleeper!), and the only thing on your agenda is… *breathing*. That, my friends, is pretty close to heaven, at least for this stressed-out city slicker.
The Rooms! Tell Me About The Rooms! What's the Damage?
The rooms… Okay, this is where it gets interesting. The *rooms* are, generally, pretty darn good. Clean. Spacious. The air conditioning actually WORKS (a small miracle, in my experience!). We booked a Premium Room, and it was… well, premium-ish. Decent view of the pool (which, by the way, is glorious), a balcony where you can actually *sit* and read your book without being eaten alive by mosquitoes (mostly!).
Now, the "damage" part... it depends. Weekends? Forget about it. Book *way* in advance. Prices are… what you expect from a "Fern" resort. Not cheap, but not daylight robbery expensive either. Weekdays? You might snag a deal. Check the usual booking sites, and compare! Seriously, compare. Because trust me; it's always worth shopping around. You might just find a hidden gem discount. Just, you know, don't expect a discount on the view. That's priceless.
Okay, and another thing... the lighting in the room. I swear, they're trying to make it romantic in there! Maybe a bit *too* romantic. I had to practically rebuild the bedside lamp to get enough light to read. And the curtains! Not blackout curtains, they are not. Sigh… still a small price to pay for a good night's sleep, I guess.
The Food! Is it Worth the Hype (and the Calories)?
The food… This is where Rakabi *really* shines, in my opinion. The buffet breakfast? Oh. My. God. Dosa? Check. Upma? Check. Fresh fruit? The colours alone are enough to make you happy. Seriously, the dosa was legit. Crispy edges, fluffy inside, the whole shebang. I went back for seconds (and thirds, no shame).
Lunch and dinner were… also good. Not quite as mind-blowing as the breakfast, but still solid. The North Indian dishes were generally excellent. The pasta… well, it tried. But the views from the restaurant… sublime. You could practically *feel* your stress melting away as you looked out at the greenery. (I swear, the greenery has healing powers.) There's a nice little bar by the pool, too, where you can grab some snacks and a cocktail. Highly recommend the Mojito. And the onion rings. Don't judge!
Now, the only "complaint" (and I use that term loosely)… they could do with a bit more variety for vegetarians, though they do a fine job with what they have. Still, a minor quibble. I think I spent most of my time there eating anyway. (I probably gained a few pounds. Worth it.)
What About Activities? Is There Anything To *Do* Besides Eat and Sleep?
Okay, yeah, there's stuff to do besides stuffing your face and slumbering. Though, let's be honest, that's a perfectly acceptable agenda. But if you’re feeling energetic… they've got a decent pool. Big enough to actually *swim* in, which is a rarity these days. I spent a solid afternoon just floating around, getting lost. There's also a gym, but I mostly just walked past it. (I counted that as my exercise.)
They do have some organized activities, too. Nature walks, which sound idyllic (if you're into that kind of thing), and some indoor games, if the weather's not playing nice. Igatpuri itself is a little out there. The surrounding mountains are supposed to be stunning, but honestly, I was so happy just relaxing at the resort, I didn't venture out much. Maybe next time, I swear I'm going to hike up that one mountain, but honestly, after that breakfast, I had no energy left.
The Service! Any Major Gripes (or Praise)?
The service… okay, here’s the thing. It's generally pretty good. The staff are friendly, helpful, and try their best. But it’s not perfect. (Are you sensing a theme here?) You know how sometimes, at fancy places, the staff is all *over* you, bordering on annoying? Not at Rakabi. Which is a GOOD thing, in my book. They leave you alone to relax.
But there were a few hiccups. Like, one time, we asked for extra towels, and they took… about an hour. (Minor inconvenience but still.) And ordering coffee in the morning could take a bit of time, especially during the breakfast rush. Nothing major, but just be patient. They're busy, doing their best. The housekeeping staff, though? Absolute heroes. Our room was always spotless. Major props to them. I'm terrible at making beds, so I really appreciate that.
Is it Kid-Friendly? Should I Bring My Bratty Niece and Nephew?
Ugh... Depends. Do you *like* your niece and nephew? (Just kidding… mostly!) Yes, it's kid-friendly. The pool is great for kids. They seemed to have fun. There's a dedicated play area, but I didn't go near it due to my childhood trauma.
HOWEVER… if your kids are the type who can't sit still for five minutes, who are noisy, or generally terrorize the dining room, maybe hold off. It's meant to be a relaxing experience. If you're looking for a resort where the kids rule the roost, maybe this isn't the place. If you have well-behaved children, or children who can tolerate you, then go for it. Just be prepared. (Bring extra snacks. You'll need them.)
Would You Go Back? The Ultimate Question!
Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt. I'm already thinking about when I can escape the city for a few days and go back. The food, the pool, the general vibe of *unhurriedness*… it's addictive. It's not perfect, no, but the good farLocal Hotel Tips
