Staying within the City Palace is a double-edged sword: you get historic opulence, but deal with cramped rooms and dated plumbing.
The biggest drawback was the logistics. Since ride-shares cannot easily pass the main palace gate, ordering an Uber was a constant struggle. Getting a cab to the airport turned into a 30-minute ordeal, eventually forcing us to use the hotel’s shuttle at four times the price. Furthermore, the hotel’s internal golf carts were unreliable; once we had to wait 15 mins for one, one night at 11:00 PM, the guard couldn't reach reception, and we were forced to walk up the hill ourselves.
Staff communication was equally frustrating. While everyone was incredibly kind, their information was consistently contradictory. For example, when we inquired about the hotel’s walking tour, the receptionist told us to meet at the desk at 3:55 PM. When we showed up, a different staff member informed us the tour actually started elsewhere and sent us on a golf cart to a crowded gate with no further instructions.
While the hospitality was warm, the lack of coordination and inaccurate information—issues easily solved with better training—made for a lackluster stay.