The front view
Three categories look straight out at the water rather than obliquely.
Premium
Premium hotels in Puri: what "upscale" should mean on this coast
Most of what is sold as premium in Puri is a rate, not a product. Here is what is actually different about this property, and what is not.
- Largest room
- 355 sq. ft.the Suite, with a lounge
- Private balconies
- 3 categoriessea-facing
- Front sea-facing
- 3 categoriesout over the water
- Room service
- 24 hoursin every category
- Pool and spa
- Nonenot a resort, and we say so
In detail
What premium means here, and where the line is
"Premium" in a beach destination usually means one of three things: a higher rate, a nicer lobby photograph, or a genuinely different product. Only the third is useful to a guest trying to decide something, so it is worth being precise about which applies here.
The product differences
Three rooms have a private balcony, and three categories are front sea-facing rather than side. The Suite is the largest room on the property at 355 sq. ft., with a king bed and a separate lounge area. The two four-bed categories are also 355 sq. ft. The terrace cafe faces the sea, and room service runs 24 hours. Those are concrete, checkable differences.
What this is not
It is not a resort, and we will not describe it as one. There is no swimming pool and no spa, which are the two features guests most often use to define "premium" and which are genuinely absent here. There is no concierge desk, no airport limousine and no butler service. If those are what you are buying, this is the wrong property and we would rather tell you now than after you have booked.
Where the value actually is
The genuine premium on this coast is the sea view and the quiet, and the northern stretch of Puri Beach delivers both better than the crowded sand opposite the town. A front sea-facing room with a balcony on the northern half is a materially better holiday than a side-view room on the southern beach, and that difference is worth more than a star rating.
Ask for the balcony room specifically. Of eight categories, only three have a private balcony. If you are paying for a premium stay, the balcony and the front view are what to spend it on. Name the category rather than saying "something nice".
What to know
What you are actually paying for
The balcony
Three categories have a private one. Name the category, not the rating.
The room size
The largest rooms are 355 sq. ft., including the Suite and both four-beds.
The location
The northern stretch of Puri Beach, which is quieter than the town beach.
The dining
A multi-cuisine restaurant, a sea-facing terrace cafe and 24-hour room service.
What is absent
No pool, no spa, no concierge, no airport limousine. This is not a resort.
Compared
The upgrade path, in order
| Upgrade | Size | Gains | Sleeps |
|---|---|---|---|
| Side to front view | – | A real look at the water, not an angle | 3 |
| No view to front view | – | The single biggest change in a Puri room | 3 |
| Add a balcony category | – | A private outside seat | 3 |
| Move to a four-bed | +134 sq. ft. | A separate living room | 5 |
| Move to the Suite | +138 sq. ft. | King bed and a lounge area | 3 |
| Upgrade the floor | – | Higher up, with a longer view | 3 |
Step by step
Spending a premium budget well
Spend on the view first
A front sea-facing room is worth more in Puri than any other upgrade.
Then on the balcony
Three categories have one, and it is where the evening happens.
Then on space
355 sq. ft. with a living room makes a long stay materially easier.
Book the northern stretch
The quiet is free once you know which half of the beach you are on.
Dine on site
Two venues and 24-hour room service remove the evening logistics.
Ask what is not included
We will tell you exactly what you are not paying for.
Questions
We do not claim a star rating and there is no pool or spa here. What we can describe precisely is the room inventory, the views, the balconies and the dining. Judge those rather than a label.
Three: the Platinum Double, the Platinum Twin Bed and the Platinum 4 Bed. All are sea-facing, and the first two are front sea-facing.
The Suite at 355 sq. ft. with a king bed and a lounge area. The two four-bed categories are also 355 sq. ft. and sleep five.
No. There is no swimming pool and no spa at Hotel Sonar Bangla, and we would rather say so plainly than let you find out on arrival.