Chris Mix Lewis alleges water on the floor, hair in the bathtub and disappointing food at the five-star hotel, with his video reportedly garnering 4.7 million views.
Islamabad: American YouTuber Chris Mix Lewis has sparked online discussion after sharing his disappointing experience at Islamabad’s prestigious Serena Hotel, where he claims several aspects of the service and facilities fell short of expectations.
Lewis, known for his Hindi and Urdu language skills, visited Pakistan and booked a room at the luxury hotel, reportedly costing around $300 per night, equivalent to approximately 93,000 Pakistani rupees. However, according to his account, the experience proved far less impressive than anticipated.
He claimed that his difficulties began at reception, where he arrived at 2 pm but waited around 20 minutes without receiving a clear explanation about the availability of his room. He said staff members were discussing room readiness over the telephone before he was eventually handed his key.
Waterlogged floor and bathroom hygiene concerns
Lewis alleged that water had spread across the floor of his room, leaving his feet wet as soon as he entered. Although he found the room’s appearance attractive, with architectural features reminiscent of the Mughal era, he was disappointed by the condition of the bathroom.
According to the YouTuber, he discovered hair inside the bathtub, raising concerns about the room’s cleanliness. He also reported a power failure and questioned why an ashtray had been provided despite the hotel’s no-smoking policy.
The incidents led him to criticise the hotel’s housekeeping and maintenance standards, particularly given its premium pricing.
High-tea service fails to meet expectations
Lewis also expressed dissatisfaction with the hotel’s high-tea offering, which reportedly cost around 3,000 Pakistani rupees. The selection included popular snacks such as golgappas and samosa chaat, but he claimed the quality fell short of his expectations.
He described the golgappa puris as soggy and the samosa as cold. He further alleged that he waited approximately 10 minutes for tea before being served a tea-bag version that failed to satisfy him.
Karahi chicken disappoints YouTuber
The YouTuber’s dinner order of karahi chicken also reportedly failed to impress him. Lewis said the dish lacked the distinctive aroma of spices and the rich flavour of a desi ghee tempering that he associated with Pakistani cuisine.
Comparing the meal with his previous culinary experiences in the country, he said street food in Lahore and Karachi offered a different level of flavour. In his assessment, the hotel’s version did not live up to those expectations.
Old video resurfaces online
Lewis documented his experience in a YouTube video titled “Exposed Pakistan’s Top 5-Star Hotel ($300 Dirty Rooms)”. Although the video is not recent, it has reportedly resurfaced and attracted renewed attention online.
According to the figures cited in the report, the video has accumulated approximately 4.7 million views.
Its circulation has prompted debate among viewers about cleanliness, maintenance and customer service at expensive hotels. While some viewers argued that luxury establishments should be held to higher standards of hygiene and accountability, others objected to the criticism levelled at the hotel.
The allegations presented in the video reflect Lewis’s personal experience; no response from the hotel was included in the account.
