here is a plethora of private hostels near UPES in addition to Campus hostels (where all rooms are triple sharing with common toilets & baths, 1 for about 24 students!, food being disgusting). Private hostels while being better, none is perfect. My comments on some nearby hostels:
The Inn: Definitely no no no. Cramped up conditions, no windows or ventilation, bad food, no transport. No transport. Owner claims 5 minutes walk to UPES (takes actually 15 minutes and that thru a dusty unpaved village track & agriculture fields. Screws up your shoes & trousers. The track is non negotiable in rains and u have to walk 2.5 Kms on the main road to reach college. Owner is visible only at admission time to collect money, then vanishes, leaving it to the warden who pleads helplessness in the event of all problems. Bathrooms attached (but too small, take a bathe while sitting on the toilet seat!!!))
Scholars Paradise: Barely OK. But too small a space for 90 students. Food is so so. Worst part is owner’s love for horses and cows who live in the same premises. Fowl smells and flies prevail due to their excreta. Bathrooms attached. No transport.
Doon Scholars: 215 students in 1200 sq yards. Very noisy, disgusting food, no transport. 4 storey building with no lift makes life very inconvenient for those living on 2nd or 3rd floor. Bathrooms attached. No transport.
Red Bricks: Small place, 45 capacity. Rooms barely enough for a single person acomodate two. Transport provided, food is not good. Bathrooms attached (but too small, like The Inn’s). 1.6 Kms from college
Salwoods: Good choice if you can get a seat as previous years’ residents continue their stay . Rooms are large and very well ventilated. (some rooms have air conditioning too). Food is nice. 1800 sq yards for just 60 students. Owner is always available. Indoor and outdoor sports. But negative point is that they are unduly high on discipline. Bathrooms attached, transport provided. 1.7 Kms from college.
Dua’s Hostel: Small rooms, attached baths, transport provided. Owner is a drunkard, chain smoker and leaves hostel to it’s fate at 7 PM after a few drinks. No security staff. Food is bad, transport provided. 1.8 Kms from college.
B.K. Boys: Least said the better. Rooms have no windows or ventilation. If you want to feel what life is like in a Mumbai Chawl, please book a room. Food is not worth commenting on (for it can’t be called food). Transport provided. 2.5 Kms from college.
Avalon Green: As good Salwoods, but priced higher. Area is small. No sports but food is okay. Transport provided. About 3 Kms from UPES.
Avalon Royal: New branch of Avalon Green. Very luxurious but exorbitantly priced. Again area is small so no outdoor sports. 3 Kms from college. Transport provided.
Ashoka, Blessings Home, Deep: Outright rejects, do not even consider them. both are about 2.5 Kms from college. Deep is about 9 Kms.