Indian YouTuber Questions Hospitality In US After Paying Over Rs 1,000 For Water, Compares Experience With Taj Hotels

The individual, Ishan Sharma, said that he stayed in hotels of different standards across the USA but found the country lacking of a welcoming culture

An Indian YouTube content creator recently visited the US and shared his experience with hospitality in the States. The individual, Ishan Sharma, questioned the culture in the US and compared it with India.

In a post on social media platform, X, formerly known as Twitter, Sharma said that he stayed in hotels of different standards across the USA but found the country lacking of a welcoming culture. “My biggest culture shock - American Hotels They just don't get hospitality. Funny how they ask for tips but won't even give complementary water. I stayed at 3 star, 4 star AND today 5 star hotel (Caesar's Palace) Maybe I'm spoilt with Taj hotels in India. But basic things like helping with luggage, being accomodating were missing,” the post read.

The YouTuber said that he checked-in early morning and asked for water at the hotel, however, they asked him to pay $14.99 (about Rs 1,260) for a 200 ml bottle of water. Sharma criticised the lack of empathy displayed by the hotel staff. Comparatively, he said that staying in five-star hotels in India like Taj offered a much better experience.

The post garnered a lot of attention on social media and many users commented that Indian hospitality standards are much higher in comparison to their European and American peers.

One of the users said, " Ishan, America understands hospitality differently !! Whether it be planes, hotels, Restaraunt’s, ships etc. It’s been so for decades. Their concept is just to provide the basic facilities, unlike in Asia / India where we are spoilt by Airlines hotels and the like with extras. You pay for everything in the US & their union regulations are so tough, it’s the law to tip in most states (and everyone expects it), Cali, Illinois, Florida & New York states are some of the places where you experience this."

While another pointed out that tap water in American hotels is drinkable, unlike Indian hotels. Therefore, these places need to offer free bottled water as a necessity, while in the US, hotels typically offer bottle water as a 'fancy' beverage.