Pearl Continental Hotel, Bhurban

Good location but very old facility, needs improvment. Food was terrible, don't eat in the hotel.

One best in muree

Loved everything. It was an amazing experience.

Not good at all

Yes

I had never stayed at a hotel in Pakistan, and I wanted to start the new year with some rest and relaxation at the PC Bhurban. While the view of the mountains from the Terrace Café was stunning, the rest of the hotel left something to be desired. Because the hotel is charging international prices, I managed my expectations by setting them to a range for international standards. Regrettably, the PC Bhurban was not able to meet those expectations. The first challenge was at check-in. The lack of customer service was immediately noticeable in all respects and especially when it came to billing. In order to hold my reservation, I was required to prepay the first night’s stay. When I checked in, I was told that the rate was higher than what I was quoted and what I pre-paid for the first night, and the hotel would be charging me a higher rate upon check out to collect the appropriate amount. Additionally, the hotel representative at check-in kept referring to my reservation as a Deluxe Room when I had booked and provided the confirmation for a Standard Room. After numerous conversations, the issue was never resolved, and I opted to pay and never return to avoid being labeled as a guest who did not pay. The second hotel demerit was the lack of upkeep and cleanliness throughout the hotel including the rooms. Although the hotel is quite beautiful, the rooms are very dated and dingy. There was dust in the corners and along the surfaces that abutted the walls. There were stains and smudges on the curtains, sheers, bed cover, and furniture surfaces. There were years’ worth of paint droppings and grout mixed with residue layered on the floors and walls. Additionally, I noticed cigarette butts and dirt buildup on the stairs in the hotel corridor and unidentified odors in certain areas. While I can only speak about my experience in one eating establishment, the Terrace Café, the lack of customer service extended to this area as well with one exception. A server named Anjum stood out from the others and seemed to have more experience in hospitality and customer service. Despite his efforts, in the three times that I ate at the café (tea, lunch, dinner), I felt abandoned once seated at a table. None of the waiters – and there were many – greeted me or asked if I would like a beverage. I eventually had to seek out a server to ask for service which is how I met Anjum. The food prices were elevated much like the room rates and sadly the quality was subpar. While there are more shortcomings, there is also great potential. The 50-seat movie theatre, the spa, the exterior grounds with walking paths and amphitheatre are unique amenities. However, until there is a major update of the property and significant customer service training, the PC Bhurban falls short of its potential for which the hotel guests ultimately pay the price.