Member Reviews
★★★
A Clear Letdown -- Misleading, Overpriced, and Far from a "Resort"
Our recent stay at Taj Puri was, regrettably, a clear departure from the standards traditionally associated with the Taj brand. While individual staff members displayed courtesy and professionalism, the overall experience, when viewed in light of the pricing, positioning, and brand expectations, proved deeply disappointing.
When viewed holistically, Taj Puri falls short of the Taj legacy. In reality, the property operates closer to a Vivanta or Ginger-level standard under the IHCL umbrella, rather than that of a flagship Taj or even SeleQtions experience. The disconnect between the name and the actual offering is stark.
To begin with, the property's online representation is misleading. The website showcases images of direct, sea-view rooms under the Deluxe Sea View category, while in reality, the rooms offered under this category provide only angular sea views. The disparity between the advertised visuals and the actual accommodation significantly diminishes guest satisfaction and reflects poorly on the brand's transparency.
Secondly, the property itself offers virtually nothing to explore. It stands as a compact, standalone building devoid of the ambience, landscaping, or leisure amenities that one associates with a resort. Adding to the disappointment, there is no direct beach access, fundamental expectation from any coastal "resort." Moreover, the nearby beach is poorly maintained and lacks a sense of safety, both in terms of cleanliness and surroundings, making it unsuitable for a relaxed or family, friendly seaside experience. Guests expecting a serene coastal retreat are likely to find the location uninspiring and uninviting.
The dining experience was equally underwhelming. The dinner buffets were abysmal in both taste and spread, with limited options and quality that fell far below the standards expected at this price point. The culinary offering neither reflected the finesse associated with the Taj brand nor justified the rates charged.
Speaking of pricing, the value proposition is wholly disproportionate. The tariffs are almost double or even triple compared to what the property genuinely offers in terms of space, luxury, and amenities. The rooms are compact, not particularly spacious, and the infrastructure lacks the refinement of true luxury accommodation. For the prices demanded, guests are entitled to expect far more, both in terms of comfort and overall experience.
Service delivery was inconsistent. While the staff members were polite, housekeeping responsiveness required manual follow-up instead of the seamless, anticipatory service usually synonymous with the Taj name. Nevertheless, the attentiveness of Dhanjay (for cleanliness) and Rajesh (for breakfast service) deserves acknowledgment. The team also extended a thoughtful gesture by providing a baby cot and arranging a leaf-art welcome and welcome cake for our little one, touches that were genuinely appreciated.
By contrast, Mayfair Heritage, Puri, exemplifies what a true coastal resort experience should be offering an exceptional food spread and authentic beach access to a serene, well-maintained, almost private beachfront. Both Mayfair Waves and Mayfair Heritage stand miles ahead of Taj Puri in terms of cuisine, ambience, hospitality, and the overall holiday experience.
In conclusion, despite its courteous staff, Taj Puri neither meets its brand promise nor justifies its pricing. The misleading room descriptions, lack of resort facilities, poorly maintained and unsafe nearby beach, uninspired dining, and inflated tariffs collectively make this property a serious letdown. Unfortunately, we would neither revisit nor recommend it, even for a one-time stay.
★★★★★
I recently stayed at Taj Puri Resort & Spa, and the experience was nothing short of exceptional. From the moment we arrived, we were welcomed with a traditional kumkum greeting, setting the tone for the warmth and care that defines Taj hospitality.
A personalized welcome note from the General Manager, Mr. Tandon, was such a thoughtful touch -- it truly reflected the team's effort to make every guest feel special. Mr. Tandon himself is a fine persona with a warm and gracious personality, embodying the spirit of Taj.
We had booked two rooms, and everything about our stay exceeded expectations. Ms. Roma's professionalism stood out -- she was attentive, courteous, and went out of her way to ensure we were comfortable.
The kids had an amazing time in the plunge pool, and every staff member greeted us with genuine smiles that made us feel right at home. Breakfast and room service were well above par, offering both quality and promptness.
A special mention to Mr. Yogesh from housekeeping, whose eye for detail and dedication ensured our rooms were spotless and inviting throughout the stay.
Overall, the service, ambiance, and thoughtful gestures made this a truly memorable experience. I would love to visit Taj Puri Resort & Spa again -- a place where warmth meets excellence in every detail. Highly recommended!
★★★
Visited the restaurant at Taj Puri recently with high expectations -- both as someone from Odisha and as a long-time admirer of the Taj experience globally. Being the very first Taj property in Odisha, I was genuinely excited to see how it lived up to the brand's legacy.
The food was okay, and so was the service -- neither disappointing nor impressive, but certainly not at par with other Taj properties we've visited across India and abroad. The real letdown, however, was the billing experience. Once I mentioned that I wanted to apply my IHCL shareholder discount, the entire team seemed confused and untrained to handle it. It felt like a group of people trying hard to figure things out without direction. It took nearly 15-20 minutes just to generate the bill.
Even after that, they couldn't provide a hard copy immediately -- only displayed the bill on a tablet. When I requested a printed version, another 15-minute wait followed, with multiple people attempting solutions to no avail. I finally asked them to email me a soft copy instead and shared my contact details, but even after 4-5 hours, there was no update.
For a brand like Taj, such lack of basic training, coordination, and proactiveness was quite unexpected. I understand it's a new property, but the standards of Taj come with a reputation -- one that this experience, unfortunately, did not live up to.
★★★★★
I stayed at this property for an extended period of two weeks and honestly it was one of the best resort experiences I've had in India, perhaps the best that any Taj property offers.
The rooms are big, super clean and fresh, with amazing views right from the window. Waking up to the sea every morning was something else, and you can even see the sea waves crashing from the shower which felt pretty special. There's no bathtub but the washroom has more than enough amenities so I never felt it was missing anything. At night, the gentle sea breeze would make the balcony sitout feel like the perfect place for quiet reflection and the sounds of the waves crashing would work as perfect white noise to fall asleep to.
On top of this, the service is what really made the place stand out a notch. Everyone was quick, kind and humble, always ready to help even late into the day. Mr. Rudra from housekeeping really stood out with how attentive and thoughtful he was. Despite being a trainee, he handled the room service efficiently, and always exuded warmth.
The restaurant experience was equally good. Miss Nikita welcomed me with warmth, Mr. Uday hosted with a lot of grace and Mr. Biswas's team followed through perfectly.
The food though was on another level. Chef Moi went the extra mile every day and it showed. The Italian dishes were genuinely authentic, the Jaatra curated menu was incredible and from the local thali to the breakfast spread everything tasted amazing. Easily the best food I've had at a resort.
Mr. Kanhu, the duty manager kept checking in and made sure my stay went smoothly from start to finish.
The high tea and cultural performances in the evenings were a really nice touch too. Sitting by the sea while enjoying live music and dance made it feel even more special.
If I had to point out one area that could use work it would be the beach. Having staff there and keeping it clean more often would take it from great to unbeatable. Maybe more light to guide the guests back post 6 PM or dedicated staff to look out for returning guests would be ideal. Since the beach area is dark and seemingly unsafe at night, and the only way to return is from the front side of the resort that involves walking through a unlit highway, I think it is essential for the management to do something about that as well.
Either way, I think this resort has the potential to be the best in South India, at par with properties like Taj Exotica, Andaman and CGH Earth, Mararikulam etc. if the beach situation is sorted.
★★
Disappointing Experience -- Not Worth the Taj Tag or the Price
Our recent stay at Taj Puri was far from the refined experience one associates with the Taj legacy. While the staff's politeness and professionalism stood out, the property itself failed to deliver on almost every other front -- from transparency in room descriptions to value for money and the overall "resort" experience.
To start with, the property's online portrayal is misleading. The photos on the official website depict rooms with direct sea views under the "Deluxe Sea View" category. However, in reality, these rooms only offer partial or angled sea views, not the panoramic vistas suggested online. Such misrepresentation feels deceptive and sets the wrong expectations for guests who are paying premium rates.
The property itself is small and lacks the ambience of a resort. There are no open landscaped areas, no meaningful leisure zones, and most notably, no private or direct beach access -- something one would consider essential for a coastal "resort." The nearby beach is neither well-maintained nor safe, which makes it unsuitable for families or those looking for a peaceful seaside retreat. The overall vibe feels more like a city hotel positioned by the beach rather than a destination resort.
The dining experience was another major letdown. The buffet options were limited, the food quality average, and the overall presentation uninspiring. The spread did not reflect the culinary finesse typically associated with the Taj brand, especially given the premium rates. Breakfast was modest, and dinner was underwhelming both in taste and variety.
When it comes to pricing, the experience simply does not justify the cost. The room tariffs are significantly higher than what the property offers -- small rooms, basic interiors, and limited amenities. For similar or even lower rates, other properties in Puri, particularly Mayfair Heritage and Mayfair Waves, offer far superior experiences in terms of food, ambience, beach access, and overall guest satisfaction.
Service quality was inconsistent. While most staff were courteous, responsiveness was not proactive -- housekeeping and room service often required reminders. That said, a few employees stood out for their dedication, including Dhanjay (housekeeping) and Rajesh (breakfast service), whose warmth and attention to detail were much appreciated. The thoughtful gesture of arranging a baby cot and a leaf-art welcome with a cake for our little one added a personal touch that we genuinely valued.
However, such moments of kindness couldn't overshadow the broader shortcomings -- the misleading marketing, lack of resort ambience, mediocre dining, and inflated tariffs.
In summary, Taj Puri struggles to live up to the Taj name. The experience aligns more closely with a mid-tier property under the IHCL umbrella, like Vivanta, rather than the flagship Taj brand. Unless significant improvements are made in infrastructure, food quality, and transparency, this property remains overpriced and underwhelming. Despite the efforts of individual staff members, it's not a stay we would recommend or repeat.
Overall Rating: 2/5 - For courteous staff, but otherwise a disappointing stay.
