The Pandemic was hard on all of us, mentally and physically. I personally was trying to find ways to distract myself and keep a calm sense of mind during all the chaos around me. When things got a little better during Covid and the first wave subsided, there came a little respite where hotels were allowed to welcome outside guests again with strict guidelines. Taj Lands End being a very popular hotel pre-pandemic had very high room rates throughout the year. That changed during the pandemic period when this hotel was available for almost sixty to seventy percent lesser than its normal per-night price. So my husband and I decided to take the plunge and stay here during Diwali of 2020. My idea was basically to get a change of atmosphere, have some good hotel food and basically just chill while taking all the necessary precautions.
In Pic - Hotel Lobby
We checked in and the atmosphere was more somber as the pandemic had greatly reduced footfall. The staff were all in masks and there was a glass partition at the check-in counter and sanitizer dispensers to ensure hygiene. The room we took was the normal category luxury room and had a view of the beautiful Sea Link and the bay. We were provided with safety kits with masks and sanitizers in the room. This was our first outing to a hotel since the Pandemic happened and I felt really happy and relieved to be able to step out. I honestly was not quite sure when exactly I would get to do that again when the Pandemic hit and the uncertainty of it all was really disturbing. So I felt quite nice entering a hotel room again even though I lived in the same city as this hotel. Just the idea of stepping out felt nice.
In Pic- Day and Night View from the Room
As this time was just after the first wave hit in India, I was over-cautious, to the extent that I had decided not even to go down for breakfast even though the restaurant was open to hotel guests. My basic plan was to enjoy in-room dining for all meals and step out once a day to roam in the hotel, poolside, etc.
On the first day, we spent our time just observing the views from the room and enjoying some of my favorite foods from Taj Lands end. They had provided a QR code in the room for a digital version of their in-room dining menu for hygiene reasons.
In Pic (In Room Dining) - Left - Dinner from Vista, Right - Breakfast from Vista
In Pic - Left - Lychees with Ice Cream (In Room Dining), Right - Diwali Meal from Qmin App
On the first day for lunch, we gorged on the thin-crust Margherita pizza (my all-time favorite thing to eat at the Vista Restaurant in Taj Lands End) and a veggie burger. For dinner, we had some of my favorites from the Ming Yang restaurant including Kung Pao Potato and Veg Fried Rice. For dessert, we had tasty lychees and ice cream. This was the first time since the pandemic that I was able to try all of my favorite dishes again. I felt so happy and satisfied! The series of amazing meals continued for the next 3 days, with me trying some items from Qmin as well. Qmin was launched during the pandemic by Taj for home delivery of their signature dishes as people couldn't step out to go to their restaurants. So on the Qmin app, they had special Diwali meals for 2 which I tried and loved. The funny thing about Qmin though is that if you are staying in Taj, they will still not send you the food with their cutlery. It will be delivered to you in take-out packages and has to be ordered separately from their app itself, they did not accept the order by calling them from my room. I also ordered Swiggy delivery from my favorite restaurants in Bandra on some days. All we had to do was go to the hotel gate to collect our order as no delivery agents were allowed inside the hotel.
In Pic - Stunning Diwali Decorations in the Lobby
The days were spent relaxing, we used to step out once a day either to take a stroll during the evening at the huge poolside area. Even though the pool was shut due to the pandemic, the area was decorated with Diwali lanterns and was nice and windy due to the cool sea breeze. We also took a stroll some days in the lobby area which was beautifully decorated for Diwali. So even though the entire atmosphere was subdued due to the pandemic, these beautiful decorations gave me hope that one day we will eventually come out of this, and we did! I also got the chance to visit the hotel salon for a long overdue haircut. The staff was professional and had taken all the precautions. They were wearing masks and PPE kits as well. I felt safe and protected while getting my hair cut and the stylist did a pretty good job. All in all, at the end of the 4-day stay, I was refreshed, I had eaten to my heart's content and I felt positive and rejuvenated. This visit to Taj made me realize how it was that we took so many things for granted before the pandemic. A good hotel meal, travel, even a simple haircut, or a stroll, I was finally able to do those things. Things that before were common and normal now had become even dearer. But on the flip side, I was able to take a step back, slow down and actually appreciate each of those things even more. This time surely taught me a lot, it changed me I hope for the better and now I constantly try not to take anything for granted anymore.
I wish I was able to convey to you, not only my experience of this hotel but my mindset during this time and how it affected and changed me. I hope you and your family were safe during the pandemic and now that we have finally come out of it, I hope you as well are able to just appreciate things even more and live in the moment. Thank you for reading. ❤️
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