Islamabad's Hidden Gem: Delano Inn Guest House - Unforgettable Stay!
Delano Inn: Islamabad's Hidden Gem? Let's Dive In, Shall We? (SEO + Honest Review)
Okay, so I recently stumbled, quite literally, into the Delano Inn in Islamabad. "Hidden Gem," they boasted. And honestly? After a week, I'm still trying to figure out if they're right. This isn't going to be your typical glowing-from-the-get-go review. Prepare yourselves, because we're going to get real. And yes, this whole thing is supposed to be SEO-friendly, but I'm prioritizing honesty over keywords – you'll get the gist.
Accessibility & Getting Around:
Right, so the important stuff first. Accessibility: The website hints at accessibility. I mean, "Facilities for disabled guests" is listed under Services & Conveniences, which is… vague. There’s also an elevator. BUT! I honestly did not dig deep into the accessibility piece, and I'm now kicking myself. So I cannot give you concrete specifics. HOWEVER, the entrance looks manageable from the street, and the lobby seemed relatively spacious. Getting around: The location is decent, BUT, Islamabad is a sprawling city. Airport transfer is a HUGE plus (and yes, it's offered!). I'd highly recommend it. You're also covered with a car park [free of charge] and valet parking. I found a taxi service relatively easy to hail. Don't even think about riding a bike here, unless you're built of steel. Speaking of which, they also have bicycle parking but the area isn't that bicycle friendly.
Cleanliness and Safety - Because, Let's Be Honest, We're All a Little Germophobic Now:
THANK GOD for the focus on cleanliness. Delano Inn seems to get it. I saw hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE. They flaunt Anti-viral cleaning products, and there's Daily disinfection in common areas. The Room sanitization opt-out available which made me happy as I liked the idea of having that option - maybe I could have tried it? The staff seemed genuinely dedicated to the safety protocol and wore masks. First aid kit readily available. So, thumbs up on the cleaning front! Good people.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Food Glorious Food! (and My Unsolicited Opinions):
Okay, this is where things get interesting. Restaurants are listed. But it's more than that, right? Let's break it down…
- Breakfast [buffet]: This was a mixed bag. The Asian breakfast was actually pretty good. It was more a Western breakfast but I am a very picky eater, so, I didn't enjoy it as much, so don't get your expectations too high, and expect a large selection.
- Restaurants: I found myself mostly relying on the restaurants, and the room service [24-hour] was a godsend some nights.
- Coffee Shop: Nice coffee shop.
- Snack bar: Was decent, had some tasty snacks.
- Poolside bar: The Poolside bar was a bit of a letdown. I was hoping for the classic pool-side experience, but it was more functional than fun. However, the Poolside bar was still a welcome respite from the city's heat.
- Bottle of water: Always appreciated.
- Desserts in restaurant: The desserts were decent.
- A la carte in restaurant: I did not try and it was unfortunate that I missed this.
- Happy hour: Missed this opportunity.
Rooms & Amenities - The Heart of the Matter (And Where Things Get… Messy):
Alright, here's the juicy part. The rooms! I was in a "deluxe" room. Let's just say "deluxe" is subjective.
- Air conditioning: Absolutely essential.
- Air conditioning in public area: A+
- Free Wi-Fi: It Wi-Fi [free] worked, but the signal was definitely stronger in some areas than others.
- Internet Access: Both the internet and Internet [LAN] worked fine.
- Satellite/cable channels: Some great channels, some I did not care for, but definitely lots of options.
- Daily housekeeping: The staff was polite and friendly.
- Desk: Great, as I needed it.
- Mini bar: Was okay.
- Refrigerator: Awesome, especially for the summer heat.
- Bathroom: The Private bathroom was clean enough, the shower worked, the towels were fluffy enough.
- Wake-up service: Which I needed!
- Smoke detector/Fire extinguisher: Always a plus (and a legal requirement, I hope!).
- Extra long bed: Awesome!
- Blackout curtains: Yes!
- Non-Smoking Rooms: A must.
Relaxation & Recreation – Did I Actually Relax? (Spoiler: Mostly, Yes):
Okay, so here's where the "Hidden Gem" title gets a little… shaky.
- Swimming pool: The Swimming pool [outdoor] was nice, with a Pool with view.
- Gym/fitness: I did manage to hit the Fitness center.
- Spa: Spa [Spa, Sauna, Steamroom] There's a spa! I saw it! I just… didn't use it. Life got in the way. But the idea of a spa is always a win.
- Massage: Was never really in the mood.
Services and Conveniences - The Little Things That Matter:
- 24-hour Front Desk/Doorman: Always helpful.
- Luggage storage: A lifesaver.
- Currency exchange: Very convenient.
- Laundry service/Dry cleaning/Ironing service: All available, thank goodness.
- Concierge: Friendly and helpful for advice.
- Cash withdrawal: Very convienient.
- Business facilities: Had Business facilities.
For the Kids - Family Friendly?
- Babysitting service: Good to know it's available.
- Family/child friendly: Seemed okay.
- Kids meal: Not sure about this one.
Things to Do – Beyond the Hotel Walls (and the City’s Walls, TBH):
- Things to do: I did not partake in any activities offered by the hotel.
Delano Inn: The Verdict?
Okay, so is Delano Inn a "Hidden Gem?" Maybe. It definitely has its quirks. The food can be hit-or-miss. The Wi-Fi wobbles sometimes. But… I genuinely enjoyed my stay. The staff were lovely. The rooms were comfortable enough. And the pool was a welcome escape.
Is it worth it? Absolutely. Especially if you value cleanliness and a generally relaxed atmosphere. Islamabad is a busy, sometimes chaotic city, and Delano Inn offers a decent spot to decompress after a long day.
My Honest To-Goodness Offer (That Still Works as SEO!):
Book Your Unforgettable Stay at Delano Inn & Get…
- Guaranteed Cleanliness & Safety: Enjoy peace of mind with our rigorous cleaning protocols and staff trained in safety protocols.
- Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms & Reliable Internet: Stay connected with ease, whether you're working or relaxing.
- A Relaxing Oasis: Unwind by the pool, or simply enjoy the comfort of your well-appointed room.
- Delicious Breakfast & Room Service: Start your day right and enjoy convenient dining options.
- And… A Special Discount for First-Time Guests! Use code "HIDDENSECRETS" at checkout and receive 10% off your stay!
Click Here to Book Your Islamabad Escape at Delano Inn!
(Website Link Here – Seriously, Find the Actual Website!)
P.S. I'm still trying to figure out if I actually saw a "Hidden Gem," but I still had a good time. Book your own stay and let me know!
Escape to Paradise: Origin Suites Urla Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is… my itinerary. And it's probably going to be as chaotic and delightfully messy as my life currently is. We're talking Islamabad, Delano Inn Guest House, and the potential for complete delicious disaster. Here we go:
Project: Islamabad Adventure (aka. Pray for Me)
Day 1: Arrival, Delano Delight (or Maybe Doom)
- 10:00 AM - Landing & Initial Dread: Okay, so the flight was a nightmare. Crying baby, guy clipping his nails next to me (the horror!), and the constant fear of turbulence. But hey, we survived! Grab a chai at the airport, before the vultures of taxi hustlers descend. Negotiate like your life depends on it; I’m aiming for a price that doesn't involve selling a kidney.
- 11:30 AM - Delano Inn Check-In & Questionable First Impressions: Arrived at the Delano. Praying it lives up to the pictures online. (Because let's be honest, those things are often lies). Fingers crossed for a clean room, a functioning AC (Islamabad heat is NO JOKE), and hopefully, no bugs of any unpleasant variety. I’m already mentally preparing myself for the inevitable power cuts.
- 12:30 PM - Lunch, or the Search for Edible Food: Gotta find some grub, stat! My stomach is rumbling like a grumpy bear. I'm thinking the local cafe, but I'm also wildly tempted by the street food vendors. Risk vs. reward, folks. Risk vs. reward. (What's traveler's diarrhea even like?) Let's aim for something safe-ish, maybe chappali kabab – I’ve heard good things but have also heard…different things. Wish me luck.
- 2:00 PM - Room Reconnaissance & Fear of the Unknown: The unpacking is done, the safe is tested and room secured. Time to truly scrutinize the room. The bed, the bathroom, the general feeling. (Can't shake the feeling I'm being watched. Probably just the curtains, right?) Let's just say, I'm prepping for either a luxurious stay or a survival mission. Only time will tell.
- 2:30 PM - Power Nap (Key to Sanity): Gotta recharge the batteries after the flight. This is non-negotiable. Even a short nap seems essential.
- 4:00 PM - Preliminary Exploration – Or, Get Lost and Find Your Feet: Time to get out there! Maybe stroll through the nearest park or bazaar. Aim for a gentle initiation, just to get the lay of the land. (I will definitely get lost. Guaranteed. It's my superpower.) Wish me luck in finding my way back. Praying for some helpful locals.
- **6:00 PM - Dinner and Post-Travel Reflection: **Deciding where to eat is a high-stakes game. I would love to hear the call for a restaurant but have to decide whether to go with whatever is accessible or have someone take me to the restaurant.
- 7:00 PM - Early Night (Maybe): Jet lag is a beast. If I can stay awake past 9 PM, consider it a victory. Journaling, reading, and planning tomorrow's chaos. Or maybe collapsing into bed and praying for sweet, uninterrupted sleep. Fingers crossed!
- 8:00 PM - Power Outage. Dark Night and Reflection: Power out and my heart is getting high and high. What a lovely ending to the day!
Day 2: Islamabad's Wonders… and My Own Incompetence
- 7:00 AM - Wake Up & Caffeine SOS: Coffee. Coffee is life. Hopefully the Delano has passable coffee, otherwise, I’m on a serious caffeine deprivation mission.
- 8:00 AM - Breakfast at the Hotel (Or, My Own Culinary Experiment): Will test the hotel's breakfast. Or, if it seems too risky (see: questionable hygiene standards), I might have to resort to instant oats. (Don't judge me!)
- 9:00 AM - Faisal Mosque - (OMG, LOOK AT IT!) This is the big one. The Faisal Mosque. I’ve seen pictures, but I’m praying it lives up to the hype. (Okay, maybe not praying, but seriously, it’s supposed to be spectacular). I can’t believe I am here!
- 11:00 AM - Daman-e-Koh - The View, the Tourists, the Constant Questioning of Life Choices: Daman-e-Koh. The view. The Instagrammers. The… existential dread? Okay, maybe I’m being dramatic. But scenic viewpoints always make me feel a bit… vulnerable. Like, what am I doing with my life? Anyways, taking photos, pretending I’m sophisticated. And probably judging everyone else’s photos.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch with a Side of Regret: Lunch. I really, really want to try biryani. But I'm also still a little wary of food poisoning. Maybe I'll play it safe (again) and order something, maybe a chicken dish? Or maybe I'll throw caution to the wind and embrace the delicious potential of biryani… (And deal with the consequences later. Worth it?)
- 2:00 PM - Hiking at Margalla Hills (Probably Gonna Regret This): Okay, so I'm attempting a hike. Supposedly, it's "easy." Famous last words, right? I’m picturing myself getting lost, covered in sweat, and eaten by mosquitoes. But hey, gotta embrace the adventure (even if it scares the bejeezus out of me).
- 4:00 PM - Tea and Reflecting (or, The Post-Hike Regret): Find a quiet spot for some tea and reflection (and to massage my aching feet). Seriously, the hike… was it "easy" as advertised? Depends on your definition of "easy." Still, I survived! Victory!
- 6:00 PM - Back to the Hotel - Shower and Dinner: Going back to the hotel and relaxing.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner: Thinking of having another dinner in a comfortable place nearby my accommodations.
- 8:00 PM - Journaling and Sleeping: Going to sleep early.
Day 3: Cultural Immersion (or, More Misadventures)
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast: Planning on the local breakfast.
- 10:00 AM - Pakistan Monument and Museum - (History Lessons and Self-Absorption): More history, more selfies. (Because, let's be honest, I’m a walking cliché.) The Pakistan Monument should be cool though. Wonder if they have air conditioning.
- 12:00 PM - Street Food Frenzy (Or, Playing with Fire): Alright, it’s time. Today, I'm going full-on street food adventure. Samosas! Gol Gappas! Whatever looks delicious and potentially deadly. Pray for my gut. Send supplies.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch: Going to finish up the lunch.
- 2:00 PM - Exploring the Local Markets – (Haggling Like a Pro, or a Complete Embarrassment): Okay, I'm going to try my hand at haggling. My goal is to get a good price. Will I succeed? Probably not. But I’ll give it my best shot! (And then apologize profusely for my ineptitude.)
- 4:00 PM - Lunch: Going to finish up the lunch.
- 5:00 PM - Shopping: Going for some more shopping.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner: Dinner in an excellent restaurant.
- 7:00 PM - Packing and Planning the next day: Time to plan my next day.
- 8:00 PM - Going to sleep: Going to relax and sleep.
Day 4: Departure (and the Aftermath)
- 7:00 AM - Last Breakfast: One last attempt to stomach the hotel breakfast. Wish me luck.
- 8:00 AM - Last Check Out and airport run: Head to the airports and do the final check-out of a hotel.
- 9:00 AM - The Airport: Going through the security.
- 10:00 AM - The Flight: Hop on the flight for new places with new adventures.
The Fine Print (aka, My Disclaimer):
- Flexibility is Key: This itinerary is a suggestion, not a rigid schedule. I reserve the right to deviate wildly from it at any moment. (Probably will.)
- Food Poisoning Clause: I am not responsible for any stomach-related incidents. You’ve been warned.
- Fashion Failures: I
Okay, so what *is* this whole "thing" even about? Like, WHY are we doing this?
Honestly? I have absolutely NO idea where to start. We're trying to make a FAQ that actually *sounds* like a human being wrote it, not some sterile, corporate robot. Think less "press release" and more "drunken rambling at 3 AM." Hopefully, the idea is we get across what we do while also being… well, entertaining. It's a noble goal, I think. Or maybe I'm just bored. Let's move on.
What exactly *do* you offer? Details, please! (And no corporate jargon!)
Alright, alright, I get it. You want the goods. Look, we do a lot of stuff, but basically, we *make things.* And by "things", I mean (deep breath) websites, content, blog posts, social media stuff, all that jazz. Basically, we're the digital Swiss Army Knife for your… uh… presence online. We can tell you what you need but we don't have to tell you what you're going to get. It's a conversation. We are also not really interested in doing work that we are not passionate about, and that keeps things interesting. The downside is, your vision might not work out, but if we don't care about what we're doing, it sure as hell won't either.
Can I see some examples of your "stuff"? Like, can you *prove* you're not lying?
Okay, fair. Show, don't tell, right? We can absolutely point you to the stuff we've made before, or the stuff we're working on. But a quick heads up: not everything is a masterpiece. We’re humans, not miracle-workers. Some projects are… well, learning experiences. And hey, even the "good" examples probably had hiccups. That's part of the fun! It's a ride from, oh, maybe the moment we first spoke on the phone, and then to… boom!
What’s the price range? Are you… expensive? (Please don't say "value-added.")
Okay, the money question. It depends. Seriously, it depends. We customize everything, so there's no one-size-fits-all price tag. Also, there are a lot of ways to work together, and what you can do has a direct correlation to what you want to spend. We're not trying to nickel-and-dime anyone, but quality costs something. Think of it this way: cheap is *sometimes* good, but it's often… well, it's usually not worth the headache. And for the first time, the headache is on us, not you, so please don't feel bad! We're definitely not the cheapest option out there, but we're also not the most expensive. We try to find something that works for both of us, to be honest.
What's the best way to get in touch with you?
Email is probably the most reliable way. You can use the form on the website as well. I check my email way too often. But please, for the love of all things holy, no cold calls. Seriously. I have a phone, I know how to use it. Just… email first. It prevents the awkward, "Who *is* this person?" And trust me, that's not fun for anyone. Send us a message, and tell us (briefly!) what you're thinking about. Don't worry if you're not sure yet. We can help with that too.
What's the biggest headache you've *ever* had on a project? Spill the tea!
Ugh. Okay, brace yourselves. There was this *one* project, a few years back… It started out all sunshine and rainbows. We were building this gorgeous website for a… well, let's just say a very particular kind of artist. The initial concept was amazing, the client was ecstatic. We are over the moon at the prospect of making something so beautiful… at first. But then… well, let's just say the vision started to… evolve. And not in a good way. Suddenly, the client wanted more and more features, more complicated designs, and more frequent changes. And by "frequent," I mean, like, every five minutes. It was maddening. Deadlines were missed, budgets were blown… it was a complete dumpster fire. Looking back, I should have put my foot down much earlier, or charged a lot more. Lesson learned: sometimes, you need to say "no," even if it hurts. It hurts a lot less than the soul-crushing feeling of a project gone sideways. Honestly, still have a little PTSD from that one. Don't worry, it made us better! At least that's what I tell myself.
So, what are you *actually* passionate about? What gets you excited?
Oh man, that's a good question! Okay, so, besides the usual stuff (making something beautiful, helping people, etc.), I'm really passionate about… storytelling. I love taking a jumbled mess of ideas and turning them into something coherent, compelling, something that someone will read and then *do* something. It's like… a little magic. Also, I'm really into learning new things, not just in the tech world. I find a new thing for every project I work on. The best projects are the ones where we get to really delve into a niche, learn all the ins and outs. That's where the real fun is. And honestly, a well designed website can be beautiful. But even more than that, is *how* that website makes its viewer feel. Those are the projects that are the most exciting to me.
What's one piece of advice you'd give to someone starting their own business?
This is easy: Protect your time. Seriously. In the beginning, you'll be tempted to say "yes" to everything, to work all the hours, to take on any project that comes your way. Don't. Figure out what your non-negotiables are, your boundaries, and stick to them. Because if you don't, you'll burn out faster than a cheap lightbulb. And that's not good for you, or your business. Also, learn how to say "no" gracefully. It's a superpower, I swear.
