8/10 Good
Arif
Travelled with family
1 Dec 2025
Liked: Staff & service
We recently stayed at Gateway Hotel Aurangabad (formerly Taj/Vivanta Taj) 26th Nov to 30th Nov! travel from USA. We have always loved this property, but this trip was a complete shock. The staff welcomed us warmly, but the room we received on the 3rd floor was extremely disappointing. There was a musty smell, the furniture was old, the bathroom shower door made noise and there were white stains under the sink which made it feel like a local lodge, not a Taj property.
After complaining, the front desk thankfully on second day shifted us to a renovated room on the 2nd floor and the difference was huge. The renovated rooms are modern, clean and comfortable, but the older rooms clearly need urgent renovation. My strong recommendation is that the hotel should avoid allotting 3rd-floor rooms to foreigners or NRIs until renovations are complete.
Breakfast buffet service was excellent, but the food options are mostly Indian/Maharashtrian, so non-Indian guests may find limited choices. Security checks are frequent and can feel irritating, but I understand they follow protocol.
Despite the issues, the staff and housekeeping were polite, professional and very helpful. They even allowed us a late checkout despite a wedding booking. I will stay again only if the renovated rooms are guaranteed.
Arif
Stayed 4 nights in Nov 2025
