Bella Vista Resort

This mid-range resort is spread out across a lovely, grassy property featuring a large, grassy lawn and lots of pleasant, tree-lined viewpoints and nooks with hammocks, benches, and chairs. Inside, the lobby is pleasant but not particularly spectacular, with wooden furniture, polished marble floors, and low ceilings with recessed lighting. Most guests are tourists -- including families -- and the property is particularly popular with domestic travelers.

This resort is located in Mahabaleshwar, a popular weekend getaway for residents of Mumbai, a five-hour drive away. The town is what's known locally as a "hill station," as it served as a summer capital for the British Raj when heat in Bombay became too much to bear. The resort itself is located around 15 winding minutes from the town center on a hillside that it shares with a few other resort hotels. The Lingmala Waterfall is a two-minute walk away.

This hotel offers four types of room, most of which are in the newer Red Stone wing of the property. The Executive units are housed in the older Orchid part of the property. Decor is simple, but pleasant, with dark-wood finish furniture and an off-white marble floor, plus pops of color in the form of cherry-red bed runners and throw cushions. Features include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs with satellite cable, coffee- and tea-making facilities, mini-fridges, and safes. Note that the hotel website mentions that slippers are provided, but they are referring to flip flops. Bathrooms are nice enough, with walk-in showers, hairdryers, and Biotique brand natural toiletries. Views are great throughout, but the Valley Deluxe and Premium units are particularly attractive, with excellent views out on the Lingmala Valley below. 

Amenities at this hotel are aimed largely at vacationers, particularly families, though there is also a large conference room for up to 150 delegates and plenty more meeting space outdoors on the property's expansive grounds. Family-friendly features include a lovely outdoor pool with a few floaty toys and kid-sized inner-tubes, plus a waterfall feature that tumbles down from an adjacent rock feature. There's also a whirlpool hot tub and plenty of lounge chairs, but note that the presence of trees means that the pool area doesn't get direct sunlight throughout the day. Other family-friendly features include a large playground with swings, play structures, and a slide. plus a covered game area with table tennis and the Indian board game Carrom. There's also a second toddler-sized play area inside the conference space. Karaoke is available some evenings. All three meals -- including a buffet hot-and-cold breakfast -- are available at the K&C (Kebabs and Curries) Restaurant, which specializes in Indian food but also offers some Chinese and European options. Room service is available 24/7. Parking is free and ample. There's a business center with computers and printers. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, free of charge.