Staying at ITC Fortune Park Galaxy Vapi - a personal review

On the lighthouse within the Moti Daman Fort you will see the words "Small is Big". This aptly sums up what Fortune Park Galaxy, Vapi is – a small hotel with a big heart (read that as warm hospitality). As mentioned in the review, a hotel does not need to impress as a multi-storeyed building or have numerous facilities. This one is small, with a spacious and beautiful lobby and the mat at the entrance brings a smile to your face when you step in.

The in-house Orchid multi-cuisine restaurant is on the ground floor, and rooms are located on the first two floors. There is a gym on the first floor as well, and they also have a banquet hall and 'Daffodils' which are conference/business meeting rooms of varying capacity for corporate guests. In fact, it is described at their official website as a business hotel, and, perhaps their main source of revenue is from hosting business meetings, However, believe me, it is an excellent place to stay for just about anybody, whether you are travelling alone, or with a family and kids, whether on business or on a leisure trip. Here's my personal review.

Let’s begin with where the hotel is-

Fortune Park Galaxy Vapi Location

Welcome Mat

As many reviewers mentioned, it is indeed right on the NH-48 highway, with a wall separating the property from the road. Inside, when we were staying at the hotel, the compound had been dug up and there was a pit of water in it. It is hoped that this work gets completed soon and a spot of greenery would be put in to give soothing views from the room windows. Outside, the location is excellent. Across the road is the Amiras restaurant that serves really good food. There are plenty of autos, too, heading in both directions, so getting to somewhere is not an issue, whether to the station, shopping areas, or even the Lakhamdev Lake Garden on the outskirts of Vapi.

The problem with this hotel is that because it seems to cater to mainly those who arrive by flight (the nearest airport is at Surat), and who thus hire private cars to drop them here, guests like me who arrive by train find it difficult to explain to auto drivers where we wish to go. Right through our stay, they did not even know the existence of this hotel, which is sad. After a couple of times, we realized the best way to tell them was to either say Hotel Sarvodaya or Amiras restaurant or Galaxy mall ke dukaan (Galaxy mall shops, since these are located behind the hotel).

Next, what guests generally want to know about – the rooms.

Accommodation

The room tariff is as follows-

• Superior room: Rs.5800/-
• Deluxe room: Rs.6,650/-
• Suite: Rs.7350/-
• Fortune Club Room: Rs.7500/-

All the above rates are on a per room, per night basis. GST is 12% for room tariffs ranging between Rs.1,001/- up to Rs.7,500/- and 18% for room tariffs above Rs.7,501/-. A third person (adult) can stay in the room as well, with a roll-out bed provided. The charge for the extra person is Rs.1000/- + 12% GST.

What you get for free with the above tariff: A buffet breakfast, use of the Gym, tea/coffee/sugar and an electric kettle in the room, liquid soap, hairdryer, and, on request, I think you can get an iron and an ironing board as well. The parking facility is also free for the duration of your stay. A few other things are also available on a complimentary basis upon request, and these you can check at their official website.

What you have to pay for: Laundry, airport transfers, doctor on call, beverages for the mini-bar in your room.

About the Suite-

Suite in Fortune Park Galaxy

The Suite is really suitable if you have kids and the tariff is within your budget, as this room is very spacious and will be more comfortable without too much crowding. You could ask for a roll-out bed(s) if the kid(s) is older. Note that there are a couple of high steps leading into the bedroom, so these may be a little difficult to manage for elderly people.

Room comfort and facilities

Two of us stayed in an air-conditioned Deluxe room with twin beds and a large-screen TV. I would recommend it if you are staying for over two days since the Superior room is smaller in size and you may find it a little claustrophobic staying for a longer duration in a cramped space. 

Deluxe room

Our room overlooked the highway but thanks to the thick double windows and thick curtains, only faint noises of passing traffic filtered through, and generally at some point of time after 10.30 p.m. we didn’t really hear anything. The noise that did disturb us was the mini-fridge. It was really annoying, to say the least, and the problem was solved by simply switching it off the next day since we were not using it anyway. Do remember to switch it back on, though, once you leave. 

The noisy mini-fridge

Other than that blip, we had the most comfortable sleep ever in any hotel, on the softest of beds, so much so, that we enjoyed just lazing on it and didn’t really use the chairs in the room! The table and chair were lovely, just the right height, though the second chair was one without arms and it would have been nice to have a kind of lounging chair with arms instead of that one (that is, if we ever really wanted to get off the comfortable beds!) A small glass-topped table was also there, where you could put your tray of food if ordering room service for breakfast or meals. On the right side of each bed was a small table, convenient to place your watch, a bottle of water, etc. On the main table was a tray with sachets of tea, coffee, milk powder, and sugar, two bottles of water, an electric kettle, and two glass stirrers. The water and sachets, if used, were daily replenished without requesting it. It was great to see a good number of hangers in the cupboard, as in a few hotels you will likely get just one or a maximum of two. The cupboard, though, was a bit problematic to open, requiring some force!

The table with tea/coffee provisions

In the washroom, two hand towels for the basin and two large towels for bathing were provided, and a hairdryer. Hot/cold water is available round the clock. 

Washroom

There are no soap bars, these were replaced by a hand wash dispenser that contained a wonderfully fragrant ‘Narangi blossom’ (orange blossom) liquid soap of the Biotique brand. For bathing, too, it was the same, but in addition to that, there was a small bottle of liquid soap and one of shampoo. 

Handwash dispenser

Remember to bring your own toothpaste and toothbrush and any other toiletries that you may need. We requested and promptly got, a bucket and a mug for bathing, so do ask for these if you are not the showering-type person.

I must mention here the unusual light design above the mirror, namely, of a candle with black streaks to indicate smokiness. Quite innovative, that!

The light above the mirror

Cleanliness and safety

Everything is spic and span, and rooms are thoroughly sanitized by an efficient team as soon as the guests leave. Corridors are also cleaned daily – and quietly with no disturbance to guests – and not a speck of dust anywhere to be seen.

Mindful of the lingering Covid virus, a sanitizer bottle has been placed with foot pedals on each floor near the lift. For fire safety measures, there is an alarm and fire extinguisher in each corridor, neon signs to indicate quick exit points and a hose on the staircase landing.

Fire fighting equipment

Some points to note

There is a steep flight of steps that led to our rooms (see image below) so if you have senior citizens in the group, do find out before you make any reservations about rooms that are accessible without these steps (I think the rooms on the other side of our floor were the higher-tariff ones).

Steps leading up to the corridor

The corridor is uncarpeted, so please be mindful of not disturbing other guests, and walk quietly as the footwear makes quite a bit of noise.

On entry to the room, request the staff who brought your bags up to wait while you check out what switch is for what and ask right away if confused. Here’s why- there is this emergency light at floor level just outside the washroom in case you get up in the middle of the night. This light keeps sleep at bay, so we tried all the switches, and not locating it, eventually, put a large bag in front of it. Foolishly, it did not occur to us to call up the front desk and simply ask!! On inquiring the next morning with one of the housekeeping staff who was in the corridor, we were informed it was on the bed’s headboard behind the pillows. Here, too, is the switch for the bedside light, and there is a round knob (like a fan regulator) that allows you to switch on the ‘do not disturb’ red light or the housekeeping requirement, as applicable.

Contact information

National Highway Number 48, GIDC, Vapi, Gujarat 396195, Gujarat.

Ph: +91 260-661-5555. Email: galaxy@fortunehotels.in

Website: https://www.itchotels.com/in/en/fortuneparkgalaxy-vapi

You can also call 24x7 Toll-Free 1800-102-2333, 1800-419-6444 for room reservations.