Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Soil to Soul Resort, Statue of Unity
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Soil to Soul Resort, Statue of Unity - A Review (and a confession)
Okay, folks, buckle up. This isn't your average cookie-cutter hotel review. This is real. This is me, after a week at the Soil to Soul Resort, Statue of Unity, spitting out the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth (mostly). And yeah, there's some serious luxury involved. But believe me, even paradise has its quirks.
Let's start with the basics, shall we? Accessibility, Internet, and All That Jazz (and the Jazz is Mostly Good)
First things first: Accessibility. The website says handicapped-friendly, and, well, let's just say they tried. There's an elevator (a godsend!), ramps in most places, and while the rooms themselves are alright, maneuvering around in a wheelchair might still require some patience in a few spots. It’s definitely better than some places I’ve been. Just… maybe double-check with the resort before you go, just to be sure.
Wheelchair accessible? Mostly, but check for specifics.
Internet? Okay, this is where I did a happy jig. FREE Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Shouting for emphasis) And it actually worked! I’m a digital nomad wannabe, and a good internet connection is survival. Internet [LAN]? I didn't use it, but the option's there. Internet services? They’ve got the usual suspects, plus helpful staff to troubleshoot if you're, like me, hopelessly inept at figuring out tech. Wi-Fi in public areas? Yeah, it's there, but stick to your room. It’s stronger.
Cleanliness and Safety? They Take This Seriously (and That's a Relief)
During Covid, I was a nervous wreck. So, I was thrilled (genuinely thrilled) by Soil to Soul's hygiene efforts. Anti-viral cleaning products? Check. Daily disinfection in common areas? You betcha. Physical distancing of at least 1 meter? They actually enforced this. Staff trained in safety protocol? The staff were super polite and wore masks. Rooms sanitized between stays? Yes! And, here’s a bonus: Room sanitization opt-out available. If you feel like you want them to skip it, they'll respect your choice! Hand sanitizer? Everywhere. Seriously, I thought I was going to develop an addiction.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: A Foodie's Paradise (with a few potholes)
Okay, I'm a foodie. My expectations for Dining, drinking, and snacking were high. And honestly? They mostly delivered.
- Restaurants: There are multiple restaurants.
- Asian breakfast? The breakfast buffet was fantastic. Seriously, go for the Asian options. They were on point. Western breakfast? The eggs and stuff were pretty standard.
- Coffee/tea in restaurant? The coffee was surprisingly good.
- Poolside bar? Ah, the poolside bar. Picture this: sunset, cocktail in hand, the glorious Statue of Unity looming majestically in the distance, and… a slightly too loud Michael Bublé cover band. Yeah. Maybe bring your own noise-canceling headphones.
- Buffet in restaurant? Breakfast and dinner offered excellent buffets.
- A la carte in Restaurant: If you’re feeling fancy, a la carte works for lunch.
- Desserts in restaurant: Good, not exceptional.
- Snack bar: The snack bar by the pool was a lifesaver when I was hungry.
- Bar: The bar itself was well-stocked.
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Some of the best Asian cuisine, loved it.
- Vegetarian restaurant: I didn't notice one explicitly, but there were vegetarian options on all menus!
- Western cuisine in restaurant: Solid, but stick to Indian for the real experience.
- Bottle of water? Free and plentiful. Thank the heavens!
- Room service [24-hour]? Absolute lifesaver. Especially after that slightly too-strong cocktail at the bar.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: You'll Need a Vacation from Your Vacation
This is the good stuff. The Spa, gym/fitness, Sauna, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Pool with view, Swimming pool [outdoor], Swimming pool situation is top-notch. I spent an embarrassing amount of time in the outdoor pool. The view is breathtaking.
- Massage? Yes! Get one. Seriously. Body scrub, Body wrap? They're available too. I opted for the massage and it was pure bliss. So good, in fact, that I almost fell asleep on the massage table.
- Fitness center? If you have any energy left after all the eating and relaxing, the gym is well-equipped.
- Sauna, Spa/sauna, Steamroom: A perfect way to unwind after a long day of… well, whatever you do on vacation.
- Foot bath: I didn't try this, but it sounded intriguing. Next time!
Services and Conveniences: Helpful, Mostly
The Services and conveniences were pretty good. Daily housekeeping: Spotless. Elevator: Essential. Concierge: Super helpful with planning trips and answering questions. Cash withdrawal: There’s an ATM. Currency exchange: Yep, they have it. Laundry service: Convenient. Car park [free of charge]: Huge plus.
For the Kids:
While I was there solo, I spotted a few families. The resort seems Family/child friendly.
Unboxing the Room: A Sanctuary (with a Few Minor Quibbles)
My room, which was also a Non-smoking room, was pretty amazing. Here's the lowdown on what Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning? Absolutely. Essential in the Indian heat.
- Air conditioning in public area: Yep
- Alarm clock? Yep.
- Bathrobes: Cozy.
- Bathtub: Perfect for soaking after a spa day.
- Blackout curtains: Necessary for good sleep.
- Carpeting: Clean and nice.
- Closet: Plenty of space for all my (overpacked) luggage.
- Coffee/tea maker? Yup. Important for my morning ritual.
- Complimentary tea: Sweet.
- Daily housekeeping: Top-notch.
- Desk: Good for working (when I felt like it).
- Extra long bed: Bliss.
- Free bottled water: Always appreciated. Especially after that spicy curry.
- Hair dryer: Essential.
- High floor: Great views.
- In-room safe box: Peace of mind.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Good for families.
- Internet access – wireless: Reliable.
- Ironing facilities: Yep, if you're into that sort of thing.
- Laptop workspace: Good for getting some work done.
- Linens: High-quality.
- Mini bar: Tempting.
- Mirror: Lots of mirrors, which is good for selfie-taking.
- On-demand movies: Okay, I didn't use this feature.
- Private bathroom: Spacious and clean.
- Reading light: Essential for nighttime reading.
- Refrigerator: For keeping drinks cold.
- Satellite/cable channels: A wide selection.
- Scale: I'm not sure whether to praise it the good thing or the negative.
- Seating area: Comfortable.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Always a plus.
- Shower: Good water pressure.
- Slippers: Cozy.
- Smoke detector: Important.
- Socket near the bed: Essential for charging all our devices.
- Sofa: Comfy.
- Soundproofing: Mostly effective, although you might still hear the occasional… er… enthusiastic tourist.
- Telephone: For room service or calling the concierge.
- Toiletries: Decent quality.
- Towels: Fluffy and plentiful.
- Wake-up service: Reliable.
- Wi-Fi [free]: See above.
- Window that opens: Always a plus, for fresh air.
Quirky Observations and Unforgettable Moments
- Anecdote #1: I tried to order a peanut butter sandwich from room service at 2 am. They didn’t have peanut butter. Heartbreak.
- Anecdote #2: I spent way too much time staring at the Statue of Unity from the pool. It's majestic, imposing, and kinda hypnotic.
- Imperfection: The service could be a little slow at times.
Final Verdict: Should You Go? YES!
Despite a few minor hiccups, my stay at Soil to Soul Resort was incredible.
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Okay, buckle up buttercup! This isn't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is… my trip to the Soil to Soul Resort, Ekta Nagar, Statue of Unity, India. And let me tell you, it's already a rollercoaster.
Day 1: Arrival & Utter Bewilderment (Because Jet Lag is a Monster)
- Time: 6:00 AM (ish… who even knows anymore? My internal clock is currently set to "WTF?")
- Act 1: The Descent of the Tired Tourist. Landed at the airport (wherever the heck that was – think it was Ahmedabad? My memory is… fuzzy), and the heat hit me like a brick wall. I swear, I saw the tarmac sizzling. Finding the pre-booked driver felt like navigating a level in a real-life escape room. I managed to successfully identify the driver (thankfully), but not without a moment of sheer panic where I nearly got into the wrong car. (Thank God for Google Translate, am I right?)
- Act 2: The Drive of Decisions (Which way to the resort?) The drive was… long. Very long. And hot. Okay, I'll just say it: I spent most of the trip trying not to throw up from the motion sickness (yay, me). The countryside whizzed by in a colorful blur of what I think were fields, villages, and the occasional cow just lounging in the middle of the road. (Seriously, India, WTF with the cow situation?)
- Act 3: Resort Arrival! And First Impressions (Slightly underwhelming, I'll be honest.) Finally! The Soil to Soul. It's… nice. Lush. Green. But, I was expecting… I don't know, maybe a welcome committee? Instead, I was greeted by a very polite lady who seemed to read minds and somehow knew I needed tea, which I did. A real, real need. The room? Spacious, but the aircon? Sounded like a jet engine taking off. (Note to self: Pack earplugs.)
- Activity: Settling In. Took a shower that was amazing, because I was sooooo smelly! I spent 50 minutes just enjoying the stream of water.
- Evening: Dinner at the resort restaurant. The food was… spicy. My mouth is currently on fire. But the naan? To die for. Seriously, I think I could live on naan alone. The staff are very friendly, however, so it gets 100% on my heart scales.
- Bedtime: Attempted sleep. Failed miserably thanks to the jet lag and the aforementioned jet engine aircon. Decided to watch some Netflix on my phone instead. Should have brought my noise-canceling headphones. Note to self for the next trip. Oh, and the pillow? Too firm. Just saying.
Day 2: The Statue of Unity (And Emotional Overload)
- Morning: The morning started promising. The aircon miraculously did not give me an anxiety attack while I went to eat breakfast. The hotel staff were great, and the food was fantastic!
- Time: 9:00 AM: Act 1: The Statue! The Statue of Unity itself. Okay, I cried. Like, seriously. Like, snot-streaming-down-my-face cried. It's… massive. Jaw-dropping. A testament to human ambition and engineering and… just… wow. The views from the observation deck were incredible – the river, the mountains, the sheer scale of the thing. It’s a powerful experience, even for a cynical old travel writer like myself. (Okay, I'm not that old.)
- Act 2: The Museum. Oh, the museum. Filled with the history of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. Honestly, I was a bit ignorant going in. I learned so much, and I was overwhelmed by the patriotism and the sheer weight of the narrative. I could have stayed all day.
- Lunch: The food was decent, but all I could think about was the Statue. I was already planning to go see it again tomorrow.
- Afternoon: Wandering through the gardens. The flower gardens were lovely, but to be honest, after the Statue, everything else seemed a little… anticlimactic. Still, I took some photos. For the 'gram, you know?
- Evening: Dinner. More naan. More spice. More internal fires. Starting to think I should have warned my stomach.
Day 3: Doubling Down on the Statue (Because Obsession is a Thing)
- Morning: Woke up, ate breakfast (more great breakfast!), and marched straight back to the Statue. I mean, I had to! I needed another hit of that feeling. I’m not proud.
- Time: 10:00 AM: Act 1: Reliving the Glory. The sheer scale of the thing is still overwhelming. But this time, I’m actively trying to take it all in, to slow down.
- Act 2: The Light and Sound show. Did the light and sound show! I was expecting a cheesy spectacle, but it was actually surprisingly moving. I think I might have welled up again.
- Afternoon: After the show, I went back to the statue's base, just to sit and admire it.
- Evening: One last dinner in town. Found a little restaurant I had been eyeing the previous 2 days, the food was superb. The best of the trip. Went to the bar and relaxed a bit with a soda (I'm not much of a drinker), trying to process everything. Maybe I should get some proper sleep tonight.
Day 4: Farewell (With a Hint of Sadness)
- Morning: Packing! And a lingering feeling of sadness that I have to leave. I've seen the world, and still, it's hard to say goodbye to these places, these monuments, especially if they have caused such a strong emotional response.
- Afternoon: Last Indian food at a restaurant in the main street. I'm going to miss the food, even the spice.
- Evening: The drive to the airport (I'm dreading this bit, given my earlier experience). And then the flight. Thinking: This place gave me everything.
So, there you have it. My Soil to Soul, Statue of Unity experience. Was it perfect? Hell no. Was it memorable? Absolutely. Would I go back? In a heartbeat. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go pack some more naan and plan my next trip. Hopefully, without so much motion sickness this time!
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So, what *is* this whole “FAQ” thing about, anyway? Aren't we over it?
Alright, alright, I get it. FAQs can feel… a bit pedestrian, right? Like, "Here's stuff you might ask! Read it, dummy!" But hey, sometimes you actually *do* have questions. And sometimes, answering them lets me ramble about stuff… which, let’s be honest, is my favorite pastime. So, yeah, FAQ is just an acronym for "Frequently Asked Questions." Which is, well, pretty self-explanatory, isn't it? It's like… a giant, poorly-organized Q&A session about whatever I’m thinking about at the moment.
Okay, I'm intrigued. What do *you* actually do? Like, what's your *job*?
Ugh, the job question. It's the bane of every conversation, isn't it? "So, what do *you* do?" Like it all just *defines* you. (Rant alert: People are more than their dang paychecks!) Anyway, I’d describe myself as a… well, let's just say I'm creatively employed. Think of a digital jack-of-all-trades. I write. I brainstorm. I try to make things sound… well, *human*, you know? I’m kinda-sorta a wordsmith, but, like, a perpetually unfinished one. I build and create different kind of stuff, and I *love* it. It's a constant learning curve, which can be terrifying and exhilarating in equal measure. And, oh yeah, I wrangle these pesky FAQs. It's all… a mess. A beautiful, messy mess.
What are you *really* good at? Be honest!
Okay, honesty time. I’m *really* good at… overthinking. I can overthink a grocery list. I can overthink the meaning of life while folding laundry. I can overthink this very FAQ. But, honestly, the upside of that is that I become really good at figuring out the *why*. Why things work, why things don’t, why people are the way they are. And from that, I'm pretty decent a weaving stories and making (hopefully) relatable stuff. But if you ask my cat? Probably napping. He’s REALLY good at napping.
What are you *not* good at? (Don't be shy!)
Hoo boy. Where do I even begin? I'm terrible at remembering names. Absolutely abysmal. I'll talk to someone for an hour, and the moment they walk away, *poof*. Gone. I’m also not great at… well, I'm *okay*, but not stellar… at being organized. My desk is a testament to controlled chaos, which is code for 'absolute disaster zone.' And don't even get me started on my inability to cook without burning something. Last week, I managed to set a bagel on fire. A BAGEL. It was a *pre-sliced* bagel! I’m still not sure how I did it. The smoke alarm is my mortal enemy.
What’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened to you? Spill the tea!
Oh man, the "craziest thing" is a tough one. "Crazy" depends on the day, right? But alright, here's one. Years ago, I was backpacking through Europe on a shoestring budget (read: eating ramen for a month straight). I was in Spain, wandering around some ancient ruins, and, out of nowhere, this enormous, fluffy dog (like, the size of a small pony) just *plops* down beside me. No owner in sight. It looked lost and vaguely perplexed. We bonded. He didn't speak English, I barely spoke Spanish, but somehow we communicated. For three days, this dog, who I affectionately (and unimaginatively) named "Dog," followed me. We ate questionable street food together. We slept under the stars (him, mostly, me wrapped in a travel blanket). Then, just as suddenly as he appeared, he vanished. One minute he was there, the next…gone. I like to think he found his family. It was bizarre, wonderful, and proves that maybe, just maybe, animals are better at living than us, humans - less complications, less anxieties, and more joy over a belly rub. And, yeah, I still look for him in every big, fluffy dog I see.
What motivates you?
Besides the occasional caffeine injection? Good question! I'm motivated by a few things. The thrill of learning something new. The satisfaction of finally cracking a problem that's been nagging at me. The warm, fuzzy feeling of knowing that I may have helped, even in a small way, to make someone smile. I also am motivated by the desire to finish a project. That moment of accomplishment is the best. And let's be honest: the fear of failure. Which, sometimes, is a pretty great motivator in itself. I want to make my life, and the lives around me, better, more full of experiences.
What makes you laugh?
Oh, easily. A good pun always does the trick. A well-timed, unexpected joke. Watching my cat try to jump onto something he clearly can’t reach. Self-deprecating humor. And people being genuinely, unapologetically themselves. Also, a lot of the stuff I laugh at is probably considered 'inappropriate' or 'weird' by polite society. I like irony, and the human experience is FULL of it. Plus, my own clumsiness. I fall down… a lot. It's a source of endless amusement to me (and, I suspect, to anyone who happens to witness it).
What’s your biggest pet peeve?
People who chew with their mouths open. OMFG. I just… I can’t. It’s like nails on a chalkboard, only… in your FACE. Also, people who don’t return shopping carts to their correct... uh, *housing*, place, I guess? I hate that. It takes *seconds* to put the darn thing away! And, the over-use of vague corporate jargon/buzzwords. Seriously, stop it. Just... stop.
What’s the best piece of advice you've ever received?
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