and it wasnt somewhere we easily fell in love with, but we did warm to the hotel. We were travelling in India only for three weeks and didnt have a working phone so relied on online booking and emails to book ahead. Being the low season everywhere had been pretty empty so we werent concerned that we didnt hear back from the Green Hotel when we completed an online booking form as well as sending them an email the day before we arrived. When we did arrive they had no reservation for us and were uncommital as to whether they had seen our email or online form. The two women who manage the hotel turned out to be completely lovely, with nothing too much trouble - but they did come across a bit brusque when we pitched up. One room left, downstairs, large and pretty clean it looked over a scrap of grass inbetween what is the original hotel and one of the newer bits (basically we were below the cafe). The shower control came off in my hand - missing the pin that keeps it in place (probably still does?), and it was abit musty (no window in the bathroom), but it was a bed and after a long bus journey we were grateful. We were shown an alternative room that looked over the valley but it was in an older part of the hotel and not as nice - also the 'view' was severly compromised by the acres of concrete roofs and water tanks you have to look over first - and pesky monkeys. Construction is long since out of control in the town and though it must have been a pretty place at one time, you have to dig deep to find the charm in McLeodganj these days. Also sometimes it takes a while to settle in.
Anyway, next day a room came free on the second floor slightly to the left of the cafe and we moved having negotiated very hard on the price. Clearly an upgrade - exceptionally comfortable bed, lovely white sheets - very clean, lovely bathroom, (everywhere we went this time had individual hot water geysers so that was never a problem) and a balcony that still looked over the roofscape of other hotels but was high enough to give a longer view over the valley - chairs to sit out and enjoy it. Still had pesky monkeys but otherwise excellent.
We ate breakfast in the hotel twice and dinner once and each time the food was really excellent - and well priced. The cafe and the outside balcony (no longer with a view as another bit of the hotel has been built up in front of it) are both very convivial to sit in. (We did struggle elsewhere to get quality Tibetan food which was what we were especially looking for). The two women managers were always very helpful, ringing ahead to our next hotel for instance and ordering us a taxi to the bus stand down in Dharamsala the morning we left. (Best line every heard from a taxi driver as an excuse for a scandolous price - 'its morning' ???).
Highly recommend staying at this hotel. Review a range of rooms, check the shower control, assess how busy it is in terms of what price you pay (no different from any other approach to a hotel). The location is excellent as well.
PS - good wifi too, both in the bedrooms and the cafe (different passwords).