Good resort/hotel in Manali

[Yogesh Sarkar]

A friend of mine is planning to go to Manali for his honeymoon and is looking for a good resort/hotel that he can book in advance. Moreover he wants an all inclusive package which would also include sightseeing (in taxi, not shared with any one else), breakfast and dinner and also pickup from Bhunter airport.

Any recommendations?

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

Moreover he wants an all inclusive package which would also include sightseeing (in taxi, not shared with any one else), breakfast and dinner and also pickup from Bhunter airport.

YS, booking all this as a 'package' is only going to jack up the price. If budget is never (and I mean never, as in later life!) going to be a constraint, this would be in order and many 'resorts' will do the needful. There is no need to mis-reprsent reality as it will be in daily life.
However, as you well know, taxis are freely available at Bhunter, and hiring one for sightseeing at Manali is no problem at all.
Almost all hotels have catering. No prior commitments required; you eat there if you want to and go to Johnson's or Chopsticks if you want to.
Advise your friend to just book a hotel and take the rest as it comes. They'll enjoy that more, I think.

[tsk1979]

Stay in any HPTDC hotel(the luxury ones), for example Log Huts.
As for taxi, best to book there, package will jack up price.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by tsk1979

Stay in any HPTDC hotel(the luxury ones), for example Log Huts.
As for taxi, best to book there, package will jack up price.

I too love these, and I think a garden in full bloom will be of assistance on a honeymoon!
By mid to end June the gardens around the log huts are also beautiful, though Hotel Rohtang Manalsu is usually the most delightful.

[LLL]

Check ezeego1.co.in (customer service is poor) or yatra.com (good cs)

They have all inclusive 3N/4D packages under 15k including Del-Man-Del volvo, hotel with bfast + major meal, trip to rohtang, trip to manikaran and 1/2 day tour of manali. Seems a good bet to me.

You might save 2-3k by booking everything on your own, but this i think takes the hassle out. As it is, your friend is going for a major onetime event.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by LLL

You might save 2-3k by booking everything on your own, but this i think takes the hassle out. As it is, your friend is going for a major onetime event.

It also takes the CHOICE out!
People are always a little tensed up going to a 'new' place and want to sort of arrange everything in advance. More often than not, once they get there, they realize that the next time they'll do it differently!
The difference in cost is invariably equal to one more holiday!

As for the major onetime event, that is a rather 'personal' matter but my advise to people is to never 'overdo' a honeymoon to an extent that is going to be unsustainable in the future in their wedded life!!!

[Yogesh Sarkar]

Anup sir budget is not going to be an issue, hopefully never in future either. As far as hiring taxis etc. on his own goes, I have already advised him about it, but he wants an all inclusive package and is willing to pay for it, so can’t argue with that.

Also it’s not just a matter of once in a lifetime thing, he rarely goes out of Delhi (busy with business), so he wants this to be as relaxing and hassle free trip as possible.

I have checked out a few packages on travel sites, however it is still a matter of picking the right resort/hotel (with in Manali), of which I don’t have any knowledge because in all my visits, I have always stayed in budget-mid ranged hotels.

[anupmathur]

Originally Posted by Yogesh Sarkar

he rarely goes out of Delhi (busy with business),

In this case best would be best not to show the wife Manali. She'll want to go there again & again!

Suggest (as a good friend) that they do their honeymoon at that nice Haryana Tourism resort near Suraj Kund (I'm forgetting the name)!!

[Yogesh Sarkar]

I would do that, but I don't want to get a black eye and a lump on the head

[anupmathur]

Oh oh. Yes, no call for you to risk life and limb!

Then try John Banon's Lodge.
And beyond the Log Huts, right at the top, Snow Crest Manor. They have a lovely Dining Room and a huge terrace with a view.