Islamabad's BEST Centaurus Mall View Apartment: Luxury Awaits!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving HEADFIRST into the glitz and glam (and probably a little bit of questionable carpet) of Islamabad's BEST Centaurus Mall View Apartment: Luxury Awaits! This review isn't going to be some sterile, robotic bullet-point list. Nope. We're talking real-life experiences, the good, the bad, and the maybe slightly terrifying potential of a luxury stay in a bustling mall. So, grab your chai, and let's GO!
Accessibility: The Great Balancing Act (and My Knee)
Alright, let's get the practical stuff out of the way. Accessibility is KEY, especially for someone like me who’s perpetually worried about stairs after one particularly aggressive dance move. Centaurus Mall itself is a beast. Massive. But the apartment? Well, thankfully, it's mostly good news!
- Wheelchair accessible? They claim to be. Didn't personally test it, but the elevators in the building are plentiful and seem decent, which is a HUGE plus. The interior of the apartment itself should, in theory, be good to go, but double-check for specific needs with booking – better safe than sorry, eh?
- Elevator? YES! Thank heavens. This is a lifesaver when you're lugging shopping bags (more on that later).
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Yep, they mention it. See above on checking out specifics.
Internet: The Digital Lifeblood (Praying for Stability)
Okay, people, we LIVE online. We need internet. We demand it! And this place? Well:
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Hallelujah! This is a gold star for me.
- Internet access – wireless (Wi-Fi [free]): Again, fantastic.
- Internet [LAN]? Yes, there's LAN as well! For all you hardcore gamers or people who just don't trust the cloud (I get it).
- Internet services: Okay, vague. Hopefully, it's actually fast and reliable. Nothing kills a vacation vibe faster than buffering videos.
- Wi-Fi in public areas: A must. Important for those pre-cocktail picture uploads.
My Anecdote: The Great Wi-Fi Hunt
My first trip, though, the Wi-Fi was… patchy. Like, imagine a kitten playing with a ball of yarn, occasionally managing to claw it and then completely unraveling the entire experience. I swear, I spent half an hour running around my room trying to find a signal strong enough to download a simple travel app. Eventually, I had to call reception, and they were SO helpful! Quick fix, new router…but it did make me feel like a digital castaway for a bit. So, just a heads up: check that Wi-Fi the second you get in the door. Save yourself the tears.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Spa Day? Or Shopping Spree? (Decisions, Decisions!)
This is where Centaurus really shines. It's ALL about choice.
- Swimming pool: Oh, yes! And supposedly, there's a pool with a view! Imagine.
- Spa/sauna, Steamroom: YES. Necessary. After lugging those shopping bags.
- Fitness center, Gym/fitness: Gotta burn off all those delicious things you'll be eating.
- Massage, Body scrub, Body wrap: Okay, suddenly I’m imagining myself. I’ll take one of each, thanks.
- Sauna: Always a good idea.
- For the Kids: Babysitting service, Kids facilities, Kids meals – perfect for families.
My Rambling Thought on the Pool
I'm picturing myself right now. Lounging by that pool. Cocktail in hand. Skyline view. Is it too much to hope to be mistaken for a supermodel? Maybe. But a girl can dream! The sheer convenience of having all this right at your fingertips – it’s a game-changer. The way to get there? 😅
- Check-in/out [express], [private]: It is a luxury stay they claim.
- Front desk [24-hour], Doorman, Luggage storage, Concierge, Room service [24-hour], Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service, Daily housekeeping.
Cleanliness and Safety: Germs, Be Gone! (Or, Fingers Crossed)
In the post-pandemic world, cleanliness is paramount. It's GREAT to see they take hygiene seriously.
- Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer, Individually-wrapped food options, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Sterilizing equipment, Staff trained in safety protocol: Phew. Okay, they're covering their bases here. Makes you feel a lot more at ease.
- Safe dining setup: A MUST!
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: Good to have, just in case.
- Smoke alarms, Fire extinguisher, Security [24-hour], CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Safety/security feature: All the basics, excellent.
- Non-smoking rooms: Essential.
Food, Glorious Food: Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Prepare for Glory!)
This is where Centaurus REALLY ups the ante. Being attached to a mall is a HUGE advantage in this department.
- Restaurants, Coffee shop, Snack bar: Obvious perks, right?
- A la carte in restaurant, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: WHEW. So many options!
- Room service [24-hour]: The ultimate indulgence.
My Quirky Observation: Food Court Shenanigans
Right, I'm a massive foodie. And you know what? The attached mall food court is surprisingly good. Yes, it's chaotic and sometimes overwhelming. Yes, you might have to dodge a rogue child wielding a giant bag of popcorn. But! The variety is insane. From your standard fast food to more adventurous Pakistani and international options, you can try just about anything! It is important to note, that I'm personally not a fan of fast food, so I'd personally stick to the international and local cuisine, but it's your money, spend it how you like.
Services and Conveniences: Making Life Easy (and a Bit Lazy?)
- Air conditioning in public area, Cash withdrawal, Contactless check-in/out, Currency exchange, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Safe deposit boxes, Smoking area, Terrace: Standard, but essential!
- Business facilities, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, Projector/LED display, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: Good for the business travellers.
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Valet parking, Taxi service: Parking can be a nightmare in Islamabad, so this is a major bonus.
For the Kids: Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal, Babysitting service (More freedom)
- Kids Meal: I should be a kid again and order one of this.
- Babysitting Service: One of the greatest perks that I've been looking for in a Hotel.
Available in all Rooms: The Comfort Zone! (And Pet Peeves)
- Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, Private bathroom, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Slippers, Smoke detector, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella: Basically, everything you’d expect.
- Additional toilet, Bathroom phone, Carpeting, Coffee/tea maker, Interconnecting room(s) available, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Reading light, Scale, Shower, Soundproofing, Wake-up service: The important pluses!
My Emotional Reaction – The Little Annoyances
Here’s the thing, though: No place is perfect. And this one? It had its quirks.
- Complaints I've heard: The rooms can sometimes be a little… sterile feeling. Not as warm and welcoming as I’d like.
- My gripes: The soundproofing could be improved or I can be a light sleeper.
Getting Around: Navigating Islamabad (Easier Than You Think!)
- Airport transfer, Taxi service, Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Valet parking: Airport transfers are
Okay, buckle up buttercup. This isn't your sterile, perfectly-planned itinerary. This is my attempt to survive, and maybe even enjoy, a week in Islamabad, starting from a plush Executiv Apartment facing the Centaurus Mall. God help us all.
Day 1: Arrival. And a Whole Lotta Altitude Adjustment (Both Physical and Mental)
- 9:00 AM - Islamabad International Airport (ISB). Okay, first hurdle. Getting through customs. Always a nail-biter. I swear, my bag looks like it's stuffed with contraband every single time. Passport control guy gives the side-eye. Deep breaths. "Just visiting, sir. For… business… and… cultural immersion…" (Trying to sound sophisticated is always a bad idea, isn't it?). Finally, freedom!
- 10:00 AM - The Great Taxi Hunt. Pre-booked a car, hopefully. Or maybe just bargained my way through a swarm of increasingly aggressive taxi drivers. My negotiation skills are rusty. Probably end up paying double. Worth it to escape this potential chaos. Praying the AC works.
- 11:00 AM - The Centaurus Apartments - "Executive" Suite. Finally! My haven. Praying it actually looks like the pictures. "Executive" usually means "slightly nicer than a prison cell". Okay, not bad. The view is pretty spectacular. Centaurus Mall sprawls before me, a monument to consumerism… and the promise of AC in a city I'm told will be brutal.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch - Mall Food Court Reconnaissance. Right, surviving this. The sheer volume of choices is overwhelming. Should I go for the biryani or risk some dodgy-looking shawarma? I'm leaning towards the biryani. Less likely to give me food poisoning on day one. Hoping it actually tastes good.
- 2:00 PM - Apartment Nap/Panic. The jet lag is kicking in. Or maybe it's the anxiety about the next six days. Either way, a nap is crucial. Five minutes later, I'm wide awake, staring at the ceiling, rethinking all my life choices. Did I actually want to come here? Probably not.
- 4:00 PM - Explore the Mall (briefly) & Grocery Run. Alright, this could be fun! Maybe. Need to get my bearings, suss out where the good coffee is. And, critically, stock up on the snacks. Gotta have snacks. Oh, and bottled water. Tap water is a definite "no, no, no." Trying to find some things to make the apartment less sterile, maybe some fruit?
- 6:00 PM - Evening Walk Around the Block. Let's see what's outside of the mall. Probably dust and chaos. Hope I can find a park or somewhere to sit down and breathe. The air feels thick. Is that smog? Or just the general ambiance of a rapidly developing city?
- 7:00 PM - Dinner - The Apartment. / Takeout? Cooking is not an option. Food delivery is likely the way to go. Let's see what's on offer… The menu's a jumble of unfamiliar names.
Day 2: Faisal Mosque and the Crushing Weight of History
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast. Cereal, probably. Or whatever I managed to scavenge from the mall. Coffee is essential. Strong stuff.
- 10:00 AM - Taxi to Faisal Mosque. The iconic Faisal Mosque. I've seen it in photos a million times. Prepare to be awestruck or just really hot. Probably both. Praying the driver actually knows where he's going.
- 11:00 AM - Faisal Mosque. Okay, wow. It IS awe-inspiring. The vastness of it… the architecture… feeling a bit clumsy. Trying to be respectful, which is an ongoing challenge for someone who's probably going to accidentally touch the wrong thing or say the wrong thing. (Deep breath). Maybe take my shoes off.
- 12:30 PM - Lunch near the Mosque. Hungry and a little overwhelmed. Finding somewhere with decent food that isn't a tourist trap. That's the goal. Let's hope I don't end up eating something that disagrees with me.
- 2:00 PM - Shakar Parian National Park. Greenery! Hopefully some shade. Need a break from the concrete and the heat. More walking. My feet are already screaming.
- 3:00 PM - Pakistan Monument. Gonna have to see this one. Might try and take some artsy photos. Probably fail. But hey, at least I'll give it a go.
- 4:00 PM - Return to Apartment. Tired. Need to decompress. Also, my stomach is starting to rumble.
- 6:00 PM - Relax, Read, and Contemplate the World. Maybe a good time to read a book. Or at least attempt to. I can't think what I should read, but anything will do.
- 8:00 PM - Dinner - Something delivered. Seriously considering ordering in Italian. Just to feel like I'm still in my world.
Day 3: Taxila: History, and a Potential Dust Storm
- 9:00 AM - Hotel Breakfast. Eggs. Toast. Coffee. Again.
- 10:00 AM - Hire A Driver For a DayTrip to Taxila. I'm told it's incredibly important. Ancient ruins, Buddhist sites… hoping for enlightenment (or, at least, to escape the mall).
- 11:00 AM - Taxila. So many ancient ruins, all of which look the same. But interesting enough. It makes you feel tiny. Praying the weather holds up. Heared the wind pick up. Oh dear.
- 1:00 PM - Lunch. Probably some roadside stall. Fingers crossed. Trying to avoid the inevitable Delhi belly.
- 2:00 PM - Continue with Taxila exploration. The heat is starting to fry my brain. Wondering if I packed enough water. Probably not.
- 4:00 PM - Dust Storm. It's now a full-on brown-out. Everything is coated in a fine layer of dust. The driver's looking worried. I'm just trying not to choke.
- 5:00 PM - Hurry Back to Islamabad. We need to get out of this. Hurry!
- 6:00 PM - Apartment and a shower. Scrubbing the dust off. It's in my hair. It's in my teeth. This is not the glamorous life, folks!
- 7:00 PM - Dinner - Pizza, to comfort my dusty soul. I deserve it. And maybe a second one.
Day 4: Margalla Hills and the Pursuit of Mountain Air
- 9:00 AM - Brunch. Gotta keep my strength up.
- 10:00 AM - Faisal Hills National park. The most beautiful part of the city.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch. A picnic. If I can figure out how to buy the stuff.
- 2:00 PM - Hiking. Gotta find some good view up there.
- 5:00 PM - The apartment again. More peaceful time.
Day 5: Shopping, Spices and Maybe Some Regret
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast. Going fancy.
- 10:00 AM - Explore The Local Markets. Looking for spices! And maybe some genuinely interesting souvenirs. But mostly spices. I need to bring the smell of Pakistan back with me. Also, probably some cheap, quickly made junk that will fall apart in a week. It is what it is.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch - Local Food. Trying that biryani again.
- 2:00 PM - The chaos continues, with shopping for some stuff or souvenirs.
- 4:00 PM - Apartment. Time to rest.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner. Takeout again, but this time from a place that specializes in regional dishes. Learning about the country through food. Amazing.
Day 6: Departure Prep, and the Existential Dread
- 9:00 AM - Breakfast. Trying to finish all the snacks before I check out.
- 10:00 AM - Packing. Trying to figure out how to fit everything.
- 12:00 PM - Final Lunch. One last hurrah. Or maybe just one
Centaurus Mall View Apartment: FAQ - Seriously, Should I Even Bother? (Probably Yes, Actually...)
Okay, spill the tea. Is the view *really* as good as the hype suggests?
Alright, let's be brutally honest. The view? It's… something. They're not lying, it's the Centaurus Mall. Now, depending on what you find beautiful (and let’s be honest, Islamabad ain't exactly known for its stunning vistas like, say, Swiss Alps), it's a *very* urban view. Think shimmering lights, a LOT of activity, and the constant hum of... well, life. I've seen people fall head-over-heels with it, and I've also heard my friend, who's more of a mountain person, mutter something about 'concrete jungles' under her breath. Personally? Watching the sunset over the mall, while sipping chai on the balcony... yeah, that's pretty good. Especially when you're in a comfy robe, pretending you're a film star.
But fair warning: if you're expecting breathtaking, nature-centric beauty, you might be slightly disappointed. It's a sophisticated, vibrant kind of beauty. And let's not forget, you're basically a part of the city's pulse from your window. Which, sometimes, is a LOT of pulse.
Luxury? Really? Is this just marketing fluff or is there *actually* luxury inside these walls?
Okay, okay, the 'L' word. Luxury is subjective, right? My definition involves a Nespresso machine that actually *works*, not just sits there looking pretty. Thankfully, the Centaurus apartments deliver on the luxury front. They are actually REALLY good. They have everything. But, and it's a BIG but, it depends on the *specific* apartment. Some are more updated than others (some are still rocking the late 2000s aesthetic, which, honestly, has its own sort of charm). Look for the marble countertops, the plush carpets (or the recently updated, blessedly scratch-resistant floors if you have a cat like mine), the decent appliances. The bathrooms *should* be a dream. If you’re renting? Definitely ask to see at least two or three different units.
Now, the lobby and common areas? That’s where the luxury REALLY shines. Seriously, the staff is impeccable, and they treat you like royalty... until you accidentally leave your keys in the apartment, which I may or may not have done about ten times. Then they probably just think you're a charming idiot. Which, fair enough.
Location, location, location! Is it *actually* convenient? (Because Islamabad traffic is a nightmare.)
This is where the Centaurus shaves all the other high-rise buildings in the city. Convenience? Oh, honey, you are LIVING in convenience. You walk out the door, and you’re practically *inside* the mall. Grocery shopping? Done. Movie night? Done. Emergency late-night ice cream run (because, you know, life)? Absolutely done. It's a foodie's and a shopper's paradise. And, seriously? Being right next to the mall is a lifesaver in the scorching summer heat. You can dash between air-conditioned havens. Which is a true privilege. The catch? You might get a little *too* comfortable with the whole thing, and never leave. Which, again, might not be a bad thing. It’s Islamabad’s most lively location. With a good mix of everything.
The traffic? Well, it's Islamabad, so it's still there. But you're bypassing a lot of the common headaches. You're already *there*. Which is brilliant, especially when you’re late for something.
Noise levels? Living above a shopping mall sounds like a symphony of chaos.
Okay, this one is legit. The thing is, you're high enough above that it doesn’t get too noisy. BUT, on a weekend, particularly around dinner time, there IS a buzz. You'll hear general noise from the crowds below. It’s not the incessant screeching you'd expect. But it's there. You'll notice muffled music, car horns, and people chatting. Honestly, it’s almost… comforting? Like being wrapped in the warm embrace of city life. (I might be projecting a little here, I *love* the city). So, yes, it can be noisy, but a good set of windows goes a long way and if you're used to city life, it's perfectly manageable. If you're used to the quiet calm of the Margalla hills, then… well, bring earplugs (and maybe a therapist.)
What about the downsides? What are the REAL problems?
Okay, time for the reality check. The downsides? Well, besides the potential noise (already covered), it's the cost. These apartments aren't cheap. Expect to pay a premium. The other thing is the sheer... amount of people. This isn't a quiet, hidden gem. It's a popular spot. You'll encounter crowds, especially on weekends. Then the parking. Even though residents get parking allocated, it can still be a bit of a nightmare, especially at peak times. There were times I just parked in a random spot. And then remembered my car wasn’t registered in Islamabad… That was a fun afternoon.
But honestly, the biggest actual downside? The *temptation*. The temptation to just… order food in every night, watch endless movies, and never, ever leave the building. Which, let me tell you, is a dangerous path. (Don’t judge me, I have done it. For a whole month. It felt amazing, and then I put on ten kilos).
Tell me about the maintenance. Is it actually good?
The maintenance? It’s good, *mostly*. The staff is responsive—things get fixed relatively quickly. That leaky faucet that was driving me insane? Fixed within a day. The AC issues that summer? Handled. But, like with any large complex, there are occasional hiccups. One time, there was a power outage that lasted for hours. I was *so* glad the elevators had back-up power. That was a stressful time for residents.
Overall, though, the building is well-maintained. The common areas are spotless. And the security is… well, considering the location, it’s good enough. If the staff could stop staring at my cat when I'm trying to go in the lobby things would be even better. Okay, I'm a bit of a nervous cat-mom.
Okay, final verdict: Should I live here?
Look, it's not perfect. But… yes. Absolutely, *yes*. If you can afford it, and you love the energy of a city, with all theTrip Stay Finder
