Nathia Gali Hotel Tips by fashionapple Top 5 Page for this destination

Montana Lodge, Ayubia

Hoteling in Nathiagali is very expensive so as an alternate you can stay in cheaper Ayubia which is hardly 20 minutes drive from Nathiagali.

Montana is the best hotel of Ayubia because of its classic rooms, lovely interior and facilities. Heating system is through ducts so you do not need heater in your rooms. Rooms and bathrooms could be compared with any four star hotel.

Room rates are very reasonable. Economy rooms are without TV, Delux rooms are with TV where as VIP rooms have additional facilities. All rooms have carpeting, sofas, two beds, telephones, private balcony with chairs and very well maintained international standandard bath rooms. Rates vary from Rs.1,200 ($21) to Rs.3,500 ($60) for different catergories with possiblity of discounts.

Montana Lodge has its own restaurant serving delicious Pakistani, Chinese, Italian and Continental food. Their food is very delicious and you must appreciate their cook for his great work. They also have an open air Bar-b-que.

Staff is very friendly and helpful. You can also sit and enjoy in their beautiful and very well maintained lobby or TV lounge. In other words staying in Montana Lodge is an experience of life time.

Address: Ghora Dhaka, Ayubia

Comparison: less expensive than average

Other Contact: Fax: +92 992 359173

Phone: +92 992 359073

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Hotel

PTDC Motel, Ayubia

Ayubia is 90 km from Islamabad and 26 km from Murree. It is situated at an elevation of 8000 feet (2,438 m) above sea level. Many tourist come here for holiday away from the sweltering heat of summer plains. In terms of hoteling Ayubia is least expensive then Nathiagali. It is just 4 km from Nathiagali or in other words just 15-20 minutes drive.

So if you have limited budget then you can always opt to stay in Ayubia and one of the nice options you have for stay is PTDC Motel, Ayubia.

Various excursion options available in Ayubia are chairlift ride, trip to Nathiagali, trekking in Mushkpuri and Miranjani, walk on Dunga gali pipe line track, trip to Khanuspur, hike on Ayubia-Changla Gali track and trip to Murree.

Unique Qualities: PTDC Motel, Ayubia is located near famous chairlift surrounded by green hills and forest. It gives superb views of Khanspur Valley. It has really nice and comfortable rooms of different categories.

There is a nice and well maintained restaurant where you can enjoy delicious food. Satellite TV, Telephone, Rent-A-Car and Laundry facilities are also available here. Room rates varies from Rs. 1,000 ($17) to Rs. 2,700 ($47) for different categories.

Address: PTDC Motel near Chairlift, Ghora Dhaka, Ayubia

Comparison: less expensive than average

Phone: +92 992 359004, +92 992 359200

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Motel

VIP Accommodator

VIP Accommodator is one of the decent places to stay in Nathia Gali especially when you are with family, kids or on trekking trip to Mukhspuri and Miranjani.

Unique Qualities: It has nice furnished carpeted rooms with TV. But channels are on demand from reception. Bath rooms are okay but often dirty. Outside view from windows is nice. Mukhspuri's track starts appox just ten step further.

Recently new block has been constructed and it has superb room with all latest facilities. But its rent is much higher then the rooms in old wing.

Comparison: about average

Directions: VIP Accommodator is located on the base of Mukhspuri peak, closer to Pine Shingrilla Hotel, just before entry point of Mukhspuri.

Price: US$20-40

Theme: Bed and Breakfast

New Pine's Hotel & Restaurant

New Pine's Hotel & Restaurant is new addition to the list of good hotels in Nathiagali. It was a government building before known as "Raees Khana". This season it has been converted into a nice and comfortable hotel.

Recommended for tourists who are coming to Nathiagali with families.

Unique Qualities: Its interior is very impressive with small lobby and reception with nice wooden work. Hotel's newly carpeted rooms are neat , clean and comfortable with telephone, television, hot and cold water facilities in nicely built bath rooms. Every room has two beds with nice furniture.

Other facilities includes a restaurant, a real lush green huge lawn, Bar-b-Q stall and children play area. This hotel is expensive as its per night room rate falls between Rs.2,500-3,000 ( $ 45-55) range.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: From main Nathiagali bazaar just next to icea cream and coffee shop, a road goes towards New Pine's Hotel and Restaurant.

Phone: +92 992 355302

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

Plaza Park Hotel

You would find many hotels in Nathiagali but not all of them are good. Even if they look good from out side, it does not mean that they are good from inside too. Service could be poor and rooms could be dirty with no facilities.

One of such hotel is Plaza Park. From its exterior, you would guess that this is a nice hotel. But never go on looks ;)

This hotel has some old rooms with dirty washrooms. Per night charges are too much for such badly maintained rooms. Most of hotels in Nathiagali (even if they are small hotels) offer you television facility in rooms. But thanks to poor management of Plaza Park who have removed televisions from every room.

They ask guests to pay additional Rs.500 to get a television in their room. They even say that give us Rs.500 more and we would rent a VCR for you from Nathiagali bazaar.

They recommend you to watch television in their so-called restaurant that is in poor condition. But when you go to restaurant, you would find hotel employees sitting there and watching channels of their choice. If you request a channel change, they often mind it.

And if you are lucky enough to change channel, their employees start shouting that go to your bed and sleep. You know why they say so? Actually they place their beds every night in restaurant and sleep there. And since they have to wake up early morning for work so they need to sleep early, no matter if guests wants to watch TV programs. This way guests are forced going to the pathetic rooms. Thats not something to be appreciated!

Unique Qualities: No Unique Qualities at all.

Badly kept rooms
Poor service and food
Dirty bathrooms

"Unique Quality" of hotel is that "Every thing in this hotel is of poor quality".

Plaza Park hotel is located just in parallel to a garbage dump. Although they have tried to cover it but its dirty smell and drainage water noise could be heared any time. Because of this dirt you would find it many insects in your room. And going to bathroom is always risky. You would spend all night fighting with these insects especially "Dangi" which is a large sized poisonous spider.

Food quality is extremely poor. Quantity is very unsatisfactory. They do not even how continental and Chinese food is cooked. And they charge you for this food if you are sitting in some four star hotel. It was my bad luck to stay at this hotel once with family and you could imagine every time we had to go to Greens Retreat no matter if it was breakfast, lunch or dinner.

Do you think it would be nice idea to pay Rs. 3,500 ( US$ 60 appox) per night for stay in Plaza Park? Why not to try Summer Retreat or Greens Retreat then?

The bottom line is that " Avoid Plaza Park at any cost!".

Comparison: more expensive than average

Directions: From main Nathiagali bazaar, a road goes upside. Just follow that and say after two minutes you would see Plaza Park on your right side.

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel

STC Chalets &Cottages

If you are in Nathiagali with family and want a comfortable stay then STC Chalets and Cottages. Many of these are located in various areas of Nathiagali.

I found these chalets a nice place to stay with family. But I remember we took all our crockery with us, as you cannot reply on crockery provided by them. Secondly it’s better to cook yourself or otherwise supervise their cook. But it general it was nice and clean place to stay with family.

As far as I remember, their per day rental was Rs.3000 ( $ 52 appox). You can either make booking directly by calling them in Nathiagali or otherwise by contacting STC (Sehrai Tourism Services) who are managing these chalets and cottages. Their address is:

Sehrai Tourism Services,
12 Saddar Road, Peshawar Cantt.
Ph: +92-91-272084-5, 271344
Fax: +92-91-286077.
E-mail: sehrai@netzone.net.pk

Unique Qualities: These chalets are available for daily, weekly and long-term rentals. Each of them has two double bed rooms with bath rooms, TV lounge, Dining Room, private kitchen facility, cook, lush green lawns with chairs, exclusive car parking and hot water facility all the time.

They can also arrange for you rent a car facility on request. Payments could also be made through credit card.

Address: STC Chalets/Cottages, Opp. PSO Pump Station Nathiagali.

Comparison: more expensive than average

Phone: +92 992 355170

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Other

Stay at best hotel of Nathiagali: Summer Retreat Hotel

The best hotel of Nathiagali is Summer Retreat . Owner of both Greens Retreat and Summer Retreat is basically same. The only difference between these two is that Summer Retreat is new construction with all modern facilities.

Hotel's management has revised per night room rates this year. New room rates are so expensive that you can match them with per night rates of Peal Continental Hotel, Bhurban (a five star hotel near Murree).

New per night charges in season are Rs.4,500 plus 25% taxes making it Rs 5,625 ($97 appox) for Delux rooms. VIP rooms are now very very expensive with room rate of Rs 6,500 plus tax making it Rs. 8,125 ($140 appox). During off season they offered me per night rate of Rs. 2,500 )$43 appox) for delux room which is still very expensive.

With this new policy of Summer Retreat, it looks like that they would loose regular customers. Because they are charging too much now and facilities are just near to four star hotel.

Off season rates are valid from 1st September till 1st April. But best time in off season would be 1st to 15th September because after that weather becomes very cold.

Unique Qualities: Rooms are excellent and special attraction is its lush green exlusive lawn where you can sit , enjoy, relax or have a cup of coffee. Sports and games are strictly not allowed by hotel management in the lawn.

Rooms have valley view side window and you would really enjoy here. Service is excellent and staff is very helpful.

Comparison: most expensive

Phone: 92 992 355201 & +92 992 355360

Price: US$80-120

Theme: Hotel

Greens Retreat Hotel

Greens Retreat hotel is one of the best hotels in Nathiagali. Hotel offers excellent services with well-maintained rooms.

Greens Retreat is one of oldest hotels in area and you would find the old British touch in its rooms. Their food is real good. Pakistani, continental, Italian and Chinese dishes are really delicious. Atmosphere is very peaceful and services are excellent too.

Rooms are nice but old built with fireplaces, television with satellite channels, telephone and attached bathrooms. Bathrooms are not really very good but still they are okay. They have got deluxe rooms only with per night rate of Rs.3, 500/- ($ 60 appox).

Greens Retreat has also got suites for large families. Per night rate for suites is Rs.4, 500 ($ 78 appox).

The bottom line is that your stay at Greens would be wonderful because you would be staying at one of best hotel of Nathiagali.

Unique Qualities: Facilities available at Greens Retreat include an exclusive restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. They have also got additional dinning hall, meeting room with projector facilities, internet club, handicraft and garments shop, lush green lawns, open area bar-b-q and coffee/tea compound, table tennis, video games, small play ground for kids with toys, gifts and chocolate shops etc.

Comparison: most expensive

Directions: From Capital Hotel, a steep road or right goes to Greens Retreat. You simply have to follow this road.

Other Contact: Fax: +92 992 355360

Phone: + 92 992 355261, +92 992 355262

Price: US$40-80

Theme: Hotel