No trips found in this category yet. Check back soon!
No hotels found in this category yet. Check back soon!
Balochistan's Port City of Gwadar is on the Arabian Sea and is home to many businesses due to its connection to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. Over the years, Gwadar has developed many hotels and other places for travelers to stay. There is a wide variety of places to stay in Gwadar, from four star or more hotels, to two star hotels, and even economy hotels. A decade ago, places to stay in Gwadar was very limited. Compared to other cities in Pakistan, Gwadar is fairly small. Understanding the characteristics of hotels in Gwadar is important when choosing a place to stay.
The hotel market in Gwadar has developed based on the types of travelers and guests that stay in the hotels. One of the main markets that developed hotel services was the business and official travel market, which is made up of government officials, employees of Chinese contracting firms, and other employees that are working on and related to the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. This market prefers to stay in hotels that offer secure and comfortable services and have facilities to hold meetings and seminars.
The other main market is made up of travelers that want to visit the beaches and other tourist attractions on the coast of Balochistan. Compared to the business and official travel market, this market prefers to stay in hotels that are not formal.
Hotels that are best for business travelers and officials may not be best for travelers that want to visit the beaches and coasts.
The Pearl Continental Hotel chain, under Hashoo Group, opened its first property in Gwadar under the name Pearl Continental Hotel Gwadar. Given that it opened its doors to the first government officials and corporate visitors, Pearl Continental Hotel Gwadar enjoys a history of satisfying customers at all levels, be it service, security, and/or conference needs. Pearl Continental serves an official and business traveler clientele. With modern conference and banquet facilities, the hotel is also able to host government officials andother travelers on official business.
Besides the properties owned by the Hashoo Group, other business-class and CPEC-related hotels have opened in the area in the last few years. Due to the CPEC-related activities, there is demand for business hotels and services in Gwadar.
In the last few years, other businesses have entered the corporate and business tourism market. Therefore, the hotel scene in Gwadar has changed for the better, and there are more options for business travelers than Pearl Continental.
A) Mid-range hotels in Gwadar
Compared to just a few years ago, the mid-range hotel options in Gwadar have improved drastically. Most of the hotels now have air-conditioning and ensuite bathrooms, and some have their own restaurants. The rest of the amenities are generally supported by generators. Load shedding is a common issue in all of Pakistan, and generators help support the load. While the comfort level is nowhere near that of a hotel in Karachi, the mid-range hotels in Gwadar are overall clean and comfortable.
Tourist-oriented mid-range hotels in Gwadar employ staff that have knowledge of the local tourism attractions, and provide support and connectivity to local boat and tour operators. These hotels are generally more comfortable and have better facilities than business-oriented mid-range hotels.
B) Areas in Gwadar
Being a hammerhead peninsula, the location of your hotel on the peninsula generally dictates the type of sea and beach access you will have. Hotels located on the western side of the head of the peninsula generally have a clearer view of the sea and easier access to the beach. Hotels located in the commercial area of Gwadar are near the city’s main bazaar and are more centrally located.
There are low-cost guesthouses in Gwadar for travelers and residents on a budget. Expect basic conditions. Air conditioning is not always available. Older guesthouses near the original fishing port and bazaar are the cheapest but farthest from the new, developed parts of the city.
For travelers completing the Makran Coastal Highway, it is convenient to stay in an inexpensive guesthouse the night before flying back to Karachi.
Prior to the completion of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, the hotel market in Gwadar was rudimentary at best. The concentration of Chinese nationals working on various infrastructure projects created an unmet demand for short term lodging. This led to the development of hotels focused on the Chinese market.
Several of these hotels employ Chinese managers and staff. In addition, the staff is trained to prepare Chinese dishes. Because of these factors, travelers from other countries may feel that these establishments are not representative of hotels found in other parts of Pakistan. For Chinese business people, these hotels may provide a greater degree of comfort.
In the last few years, there has been a big investment in developing the local infrastructure, for example better and more reliable electricity, improved roads, and business opportunities, especially for trade and services.
The Gwadar bay and beaches of the Arabian Sea offer scenic views and attractions for tourists. Unlike city hotels, coastal hotels have views of the sea and are closer to and more accessible from the beaches. For tourists looking to stay in a hotel close to the beaches of Gwadar, especially the Pishukan area, and enjoy the sound and sights of the sea, a coastal hotel would be the better and more convenient option, even if it is further and more remote from the city.
Being located in the city has its advantages, especially if the stay is short, e.g. 1 or 2 nights, and a tourist is simply looking for a convenient and comfortable hotel to stay in before taking the long drive on the Makran Coastal route to the airport. City hotels are conveniently located to shopping and other services, and to the transport terminal and access to the airport. The beaches are located further from the city.
A. Power supply and generators
Power outages in the interior of Sindh can last for many hours, but the situation in Gwadar is much better. Still, outages happen. The better hotels have a generator. In a hot and often humid climate like in Gwadar, the relief that air conditioning can provide comes at the expense of comfort level if the air conditioning is not backed up by a generator. Make sure the hotel has a generator and for how many hours. A particularly bad time to be without a generator is at night.
B. Safety and security
Although the overall threat level to travelers in most of Pakistan is quite low, in areas of Baluchistan like Gwadar it is higher, especially outside of the urban areas. Better hotels, like PC Hotel in Gwadar, have a good security system and some control over guest access. Security systems at lower-tier hotels are quite variable. If your guests are of a higher threat level, like diplomats, you should make sure the hotel has a security system that meets your needs.
C. Air conditioning
In Gwadar, the need for air conditioning is very real between May and September. Make sure that the hotel has generators and that the air conditioning is backed up by the generators. Air conditioning backed up by the hotel generator is a must.
Gwadar has fewer dining options than Karachi, and while the city has developed over the years, the selection is still limited. The best dining option is a hotel with an on-site kitchen. They use local fish harbor resources. Ask what the kitchen offers for Pakistani and Chinese food.
Ask about security
Do the existing security procedures for the property and staff cater to the travelers in my group? Gwadar requires this inquiry more than other cities in Pakistan.
Does the room have a back-up generator for the A.C? What hours does the A.C. run?
Is there on-site dining, and do they offer fresh fish?
Are there conference rooms, and do they provide audio visual aids and catering?
Check prior to your departure
Are there recent political changes at the property that impact my stay?
Have security advisories for Baluchistan been updated?
options for flights from Karachi to Gwadar. Check your booking and flight schedule status.
We do not suggest you book mid-range or economy hotels in Gwadar based on an online post. Verify and confirm local operation status. The market is volatile and changes faster than online editorial updates.
We do not recommend booking hotels in Gwadar during the summer months without a generator-backed AC.
Gwadar should not be assessed at par with Lahore or Karachi when analyzing the hotel and market industry. Gwadar has improved over the years and offers better hotel industry options but the diversity and variation in mid-range and economy hotels is limited as compared to other cities of Pakistan.
Booking hotels in Gwadar depends on several factors and varies case to case. A detailed analysis is needed for each case.
Some hotels on the western and southern sides of Gwadar offer sea views. Confirm the view when making your reservation. Some properties do not have all of their rooms facing the sea.
CPEC has promoted significant investment in building hotels of Gwadar. Currently, a greater portion of the hotels of Gwadar cater to Chinese clients. Most of these hotels maintain adequate services and facilities.
Yes. Recently, hotels in Gwadar have begun constructing and improving their facilities to cater to the needs of corporate clients. These hotels also have security services for their clients. Because of ongoing security issues in Balochistan, any planned business visit should be organized by a reputable and reliable local company. The security of the company should be checked prior to making reservations at the facility.
E) What is the ideal time to visit Gwadar?
October to April is the ideal time to visit. Sea conditions are calm and temperatures are moderate. The cooler months are from November to February. The humidity and temperatures from May to September make conditions very uncomfortable and only generators on the hotels provide little to no relief.
F) What hotels are in Gwadar?
The only hotel of an international standard is Pearl Continental Gwadar. Other international hotels have opened and may be represented by regional or area directors. These should be confirmed via recent references.
The staff of HospitalityTours.com.pk requires your travel dates and the names and ages of travelers to create an itinerary. There is no obligation or charge until you approve the itinerary.
Whatsapp: +92 341 111 3777
Email: info@hospitalitytours.com
Website: www.hospitalitytours.com.pk