ibabet Homestay (Arara Group)

We discovered Ibabet Homestay in Cherrapunji (Sohra) quite by accident, and overall, it was a reasonably pleasant stay, although the service and food left quite a bit to be desired. The room we were given was on the first floor and had a small balcony at the back. The room was clean, the washroom was clean, and the bed was soft and comfortable. There was also a table with two chairs, which was convenient for having meals. A bedside table on one side had coffee-making facilities and an electric kettle. However, the kettle itself was sticky and did not appear to have been cleaned properly. The staff and service were the biggest drawbacks. The staff did not seem professional, with very limited understanding of Hindi and only basic English. Service was also quite slow. Even tea or coffee could take a considerable amount of time to arrive. The food was another weak point. We ordered simple dal and rice for dinner one evening. The rice was good, but the dal was extremely watery and lacked flavour. Breakfast was very basic—bread, butter, jam, two eggs boiled/omelette, and simple tea or coffee. Even an additional egg or omelette was said to be chargeable. Housekeeping also needs improvement. We went out expecting the room to be cleaned, but on returning, the room had not been made up at all. The staff had not even taken our phone number to check whether we wanted housekeeping while we were away. We had also requested an early breakfast at 7:30 a.m., but it was served only around 8:00 a.m. and consisted of just boiled eggs and bread with butter and jam, with no tea or coffee. On the positive side, the room was clean and comfortable, and the view was good. So, I would recommend this homestay, but with realistic expectations. If you are looking for a clean room and a good view, it works well. However, do not expect great food, prompt service, or professional hospitality.