AMINA LODGE

Very central to all transport including jetty, bus and auto(tuk tuk stand). The airport is not too far either if you like to squeeze in last minute sleep. The rules are strict and clear which are actually guest friendly if you are looking for clean, noise free and respectful environment. All basic necessities are there; bed, desk and chair and ensuite bathroom. The host and her family go above and beyond to give you local tips. For instance, cheap and cheery meals in the area, local a/c transport for site seeing ( she saved me couple of thousand rupees off private tours to Bartang and chidiyatapu ( for bird watchers) by suggesting a/c bus from end of the street). All in all a perfect break and a hub to explore the islands from.

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Location, it was clean, the family is welcoming

Cleanliness most

Size of bathroom

I want to highlight an issue for consideration of the booking.com. A message followed the booking confirmation, asking to deposit a certain percentage of room rent to a given account to confirm the booking (though this booking was to "pay at the property"). This was followed by a call. We refused to deposit any amount outside the forum of booking.com, and paid at the property when we stayed. The messaging/calling customers has another unholy practice. The property "politely" asks the customer to "cancel" the booking and make the booking directly with the property and get a decent discount. It is indeed strange how this has not been detected by the booking.com. I brought such instances earlier also (about other properties following such practice) to the notice of booking.com, but nothing appears changed. If a property needs payment/ part payment in advance, that should be done only through booking.com. I am not here to advice booking com on how to run their business. If booking.com finds it appropriate, they may plug this loophole. I think this can be curbed by not sharing the customer's personal details like phone number with the property. Whatever the property wants to convey to a customer, that should be done through the message box available in the booking.com system.