From a Star to a Stain: My Disheartening Stay at Sahara Star, Mumbai

There was a time when Sahara Star, with its iconic dome and enviable location near Mumbai Airport, was among the city’s proudest hospitality offerings. A favorite of many visiting the city for business or leisure, it carried a promise of elegance, comfort, and good food. That star, sadly, has faded. My recent experience at the hotel made me wonder if it should be renamed Sahara Scars.

The first impression was nothing short of a red flag. The hotel’s entrance, once grand, now stands neglected, crying out for a fresh coat of paint. Inside, the disinterest continues. The front lobby staff, far from welcoming, seemed more engaged in banter with each other than with guests. Not a smile. Not a nod. Just indifference.

My ordeal began even before I entered my room. We requested an early check in, and were promptly asked to pay five thousand rupees. That is standard practice, I understand. But when we offered to pay by card, the staff insisted on cash, warning us that card payments would include extra taxes. Begrudgingly, we paid in cash. Two hours later, when I asked for a receipt, they finally handed one over — with no tax breakup. That is not just shady. That is unacceptable.

Once inside the room, I hoped things would improve. They did not. Barely warm water in the bathroom. Only one side table with the bed — the other side left inconveniently bare. The socket near the bed did not work, so charging a phone required acrobatics. The AC mysteriously shut down early morning. Curtains too narrow to actually block sunlight. The carpeted hallway leading to the room was a story in itself — worn out, dirty, and faintly smelling of mildew. If this is luxury, I would rather downgrade.

With the General Manager being an ex chef, I thought the food might be the hotel’s saving grace. It was not. We ordered pav bhaji to the room — a dish so bad it does not deserve a second mention. Breakfast next morning was an exercise in frustration. A simple request for scrambled eggs was repeatedly messed up. When they finally served something, it looked like a single egg beaten with air. Toast? Forgotten. Repeated requests for uttapam led nowhere — until I walked to the counter and discovered the kitchen had marked it as served even though it never reached my table.

The final straw came when I requested a pyaaz aloo parantha — my last hope to salvage the morning. Ten minutes passed, nothing came. I walked back, only to find the breakfast counter shut. Timing over. I called the restaurant manager, Abhijeet (if I remember right), who had earlier taken my order. He apologised sincerely, and even promised to send food to my room.

To their credit, the parantha did eventually arrive — but an hour later. By then, I was leaving the room, so I politely declined.

I made several attempts to reach the General Manager, Salil Fadnis. I was told he was not available. No one would share his number. I left him a message on Facebook. No reply. At this point, my patience had run out. And hence this column.

To clarify, Sahara Star is still being run by the Sahara family, though they are reportedly facing significant financial strain, including delays in lease payments to the Airport Authority of India. One of the staff members I spoke to even admitted that employees have been receiving their salaries after considerable delays. That perhaps explains the lack of morale, but cannot justify the complete breakdown of hospitality standards.

Sahara Star, once the crown jewel of airport hotels in Mumbai, is now an ill managed relic of its former self. A star that once shone bright now flickers feebly — a victim of neglect, financial stress, and managerial apathy.

One can only hope that a revival is still possible. Until then, I for one am steering clear of this property. And if you value your time, money and sanity, perhaps you should too.