This is meant to be one of the better hotels in Karachi and it is really substandard. The rooms are unrenovated. There are no tea and coffee making facilities in the room, no minibar, inadequate power outlets and the wifi failed regularly.

But the thing that really prompted me to write this review is I was just served cold, raw chicken satay, and what's worst it did not smell fresh. I just had a bite so I'm hoping I don't get sick. I'm truly appalled.

It's extremely rare that I complain so I suppose that indicates how I feel about this hotel.

Stayed at this hotel for about a week, and this hotel is a terrible drag on the Marriott brand. It is undergoing renovation so the rooms will probably be a lot nicer. But I'm not sure if that's going to help the service.

It started off badly. When we arrived, we were sold on the idea of a "business room" which is off in an annex off the first floor, which would be quieter and protected from the noise. To get to this room, we had to pass the gym and swimming pool, the kitchen and all its flies, through an un-airconditioned corridor with stained ceiling tiles, an old mattress lying against the wall, and the room service trays (with more flies).

The room was just as bad. Thread bare carpets, bugs coming out of the drain when I started the shower... seriously? This is a Marriott? My female colleague reported that there was a creepy guy trying to look into her window all night (windows look out onto the corridors). In the morning, past the kitchen, broken dishes, spilled.... I don't know what...

After much complaining, I was let into the main building. They granted my colleague and me access to executive lounge for our stay which was nice. Since the business center has no meeting space (basically an internet cafe), we used the executive lounge to meet.

There was some noise, but it wasn't bad - a little distant hammering, that's about it. My bathroom seems to have been redone - but not finished. No shelves anywhere (but not for a lack of attempts - lots of filled holes on the walls), no toilet paper holder and ..... no toilet paper. This I learned early the next morning, the way you don't want to learn about it.

To their credit, the rooms will probably be better - lots of electrical outlets with adapters to everything. Wall connections for VGA, USB, and HDMI to the TV (cool).

But staff is constantly a mixed lot - sometimes excellent, sometimes rude and indifferent. Sometimes they make up your room... and sometimes you have to make 3 or 4 calls to get them to make up your room (they don't seem to change sheets or vacuum). Sometimes they bring fruit... and then leave it for 4 or 5 days. There is no laundry list or bags, and a call requesting them resulted in "right away sir" and nothing arriving. No prices for the minibar... Almost like a hotel in a soft opening.

Wifi is easy easy... just connect and go. No passwords, no connection screens, nothing. Big big plus.

There is work to be done here for sure. I would imagine that there must be better options in Karachi.

A nice hotel, good soft spoken staff. Rooms are clean and tidy. The meals are good. An ideal place to stay on your business trips. Right in the middle of many known shopping area and attraction. I would love to stay here.