An Excellent Place to Stay
By A Yahoo! Contributor, 3/10/09
I believe you would be hard-pressed to find a better hotel in Lahore for the money. The building is centrally located, immaculate and secure. Mr. Tariq Malik, the owner, continues to renovate and improve the hotel despite the economic downturn.
The rooms have wireless internet, hot water, AC, new wooden floors, freshly painted walls and satellite TV. Moreover, the hotel offers 24-hour room service, along with laundry and car services. I found that the staff will attempt to satisfy any request within reason, including running out to purchase cigarettes for guests busy working in their rooms.
Breakfast is included and the food in the restaurant is very good, particularly the traditional Pakistani dishes.
The hotel is a family-run businesses. I found Tariq and his two sons, Farhan and Rehan, are more than happy to assist their guests in any way they can.
Mr. Malik is a former urban planner and university professor who is eager to share his knowledge about the history and architecture in Lahore. One evening Tariq gave me a free tour of the walled city. Another time he drove me around Lahore at no charge detailing the stories of some of the historic buildings and sites. (Tariq recently purchased a series of paintings from a local artist depicting buildings from around Lahore that are now displayed throughout the hotel.)
Tariq, who splits his time between Lahore and Canada, is also a licensed golf pro in Toronto. He belongs to every golf club in Lahore and if you're lucky he'll take you out on the links one day when he's around.
I have stayed at the Mirage Hotel for a total of four months while traveling to Lahore during the past year and I have never been disappointed. I now look forward to my trips to the city because I have been fortunate to make many friends there and the Mirage feels more like a very large and busy private household rather than a hotel.