Our wedding was booked at Santoriini Resort for 29th and 30th November 2025. The venue looked perfect at first- pretty property, good ambiance — exactly what we were looking for. But what followed was an absolutely horrible experience that no family should ever have to go through, especially during wedding planning.

We paid ₹2,00,000 in advance under the bride’s father's name (Mr. Rajesh Jaiswal). But the way the General Manager Mr. D.S. Thakur behaved was beyond disrespectful, unprofessional, and downright shameful. After we mentioned our love for movies in casual conversation, he responded arrogantly saying:
"Movie dekhne wale log wahiyat hote hain, main bas yahan paise kamane baitha hoon."
Translation: “People who watch movies are worthless, I’m only here to make money.”

That one line said everything about his mindset — zero hospitality, no grace, just pure arrogance, especially speaking like this in front of elders and female was pathetic. To top it off, during another visit, we saw him smoking in the reception lobby while casually seated and unfazed, even as guests walked in. This is the kind of ‘professionalism’ you get at this so-called high-end venue.

Things only got worse when I called D.S. Thakur to clarify and express our discomfort. His response?
“Aapko jo karna hai kar lo”,
“Gundai na karo, jyada hai to resort ake baat karke dikhao, mai batata hu,
and then proudly boasting about being the GM. He spoke aggressively and without any accountability — like holding a GM title gave him the right to intimidate guests. In my opinion, this man is not suited for the hospitality industry at all.

Eventually, we were forced to cancel the booking — not because we wanted to, but because we couldn't imagine celebrating something as important as a wedding under this kind of environment. And despite cancelling 7+ months in advance and using no services, ₹50,000 was unfairly withheld.

I then personally reached out to the owner, Dr. Arvind Kumar Gupta, who initially responded kindly, accepted the drawbacks indirectly and acknowledged that the same wedding dates were now rebooked by someone else — albeit at a lesser amount. He even offered two complimentary suite nights post-wedding, which I appreciated but politely declined, asking instead for a refund since we’re already bearing heavy wedding costs and staying at a place where you're humiliated as a guest isn't what I would prefer. Unfortunately, despite a follow-up message and emails sent to both the resort’s official and the owners personal email and whatsapp ID, I received no further response or written communication.

The worst part? The emotional and social embarrassment our families faced. Both sides — bride and groom — had already informed relatives and guests about the wedding dates and venue. Reversing that decision so late, especially in a society like ours where people ask unnecessary questions, was humiliating — especially for the bride’s side. All of this stress and disruption just because of one man’s ego and inability to speak respectfully.

And not once has the resort or its owner shown any serious remorse for what we went through. No apology. No accountability.

I’m writing this review so that no other family has to face what we did. A wedding is supposed to be joyful — not something that leaves a scar. If you care about peace of mind, basic respect, and hospitality — think ten times before booking this place.