帕羅濱河艾美飯店

The positive thing, the location is very nice, right at the riverside. Now the negative… for starters, staff at the reception, especially those boys, needs more training on how to handle guest requests. Their attitude is not helpful, borderline rude sometimes. One staff tells you something and a minute later you hear exactly the contradictory thing from another staff. Very confusing and frustrating. Don’t expect 5 star service here …  Let’s move on to the amenities. The rooms are simple and clean, but very outdated, the floor queaks and you clearly hear footsteps from above.  Then there is the spa… first of all, you need to inform them 20-30 mins before you want to use the sauna in order for the staff to turn it on. Then the steam room had really dirty floor which a kinda of unknown black gluey thing sticking to your feet, kinda disgusting. When I told the spa staff about it, then they just ignored it.  Finally, the food in the one and only restaurant, last recipe, was „underwhelming“, if you want it said in a polite way. The pizza dough was still raw when it was served to us.  I wouldn’t stay in this hotel again but I guess this is your only choice if you want a safe option besides Aman or Six Senses.

We liked Le Meridien Paro and it is a well run hotel. It was perhaps half full when we were there: about 75 guests. It has a nice setting on the river. The room was clean and comfortable. Like many high-end Asian hotels, it has a window from the bathroom to the room. We closed it off, but whenever someone turns the light on at night it shines through the translucent panels, potential awakening your partner. A dark shade as they had in Thimphu would help. We had a comfortable bed, couch and desk area and there was good WiFi. The bathroom had both a tub and separate shower. We ate dinner and breakfast twice in the second floor dining room. At the end of our time in Bhutan we were tired of buffets. Certainly they offered to prepare whatever you want but the offerings weren’t the best. Breakfast was cooked to order, and the fresh squeezed orange juice was delicious. All in all an excellent hotel for western tourists. Hotels of this caliber are super expensive in Bhutan. You won’t find Bhutanese staying here.