chennai hotel, not broadlands

undomiel · Oct 5th, 2003, 10:33

Hi! Everyone seems to recommend Broadlands. I'm not keen to go there cos of their unofficial whites only policy. So can anyone recommend another central place? Can be pretty basic so long as it is friendly and cheap! Thanks. I plan to book in advance (late plane arrival) so hotel contact details also gratefully received.

steven_ber · Oct 5th, 2003, 12:25

Firstly, I can't recommend a hotel; the place I stayed in was neither central nor suitable.

I do wonder about the 'reputation' that Broadlands has gained in a country that openly discriminates against persons of a lower caste.

I got the room 'boy' to show me around Mumbai, a good day, then it was time to eat, the first 2 places we tried would serve me (with a big smile), but the 'boy' was refused entry, both restaurants were Indian owned and all their customers were Indian.

Broadlands revisited.

bijapuri · Oct 5th, 2003, 13:11

sounds like a caste thingee

wonderwomanusa · Oct 5th, 2003, 23:26

There are plenty of hotels in India that will not rent to foreigners.

pooch · Oct 6th, 2003, 00:40

Are you staying in Chennai for a few days or just leaving the same day ? The immediate sorrounding of Broadlands is a dump anyway and would be a wise decision to skip it altogether.

bijapuri · Oct 6th, 2003, 01:04

since I usually go straight to Mahabs from the airport when I land in India, my experience with hotels in Chennai is a little dated. But I am primarily a Southie, so from time to time I need to go there. Seems like Chennai has a problem with good value lodging being perpetually full (maybe I need to change deodorants)However, for central location, I use the Atlantic. Thing is, it's not a very good hotel, the staff is indifferent, it has that concrete box/musty smell/dimly lit feel to it that is all too common throught India. But it ALWAYS has rooms, and, like I said, it is well located. It's down to the train station and over to the museum for me, anyway, so I'm never there more than a day.
NB Seems like there's a lot of bandwith on trying to find really nice hotels for really cheap in places that by their inherent nature . . .SUCK! Jeesh, most of us are on holiday, right? Get off the plane, get a siesta, go down to the foreigners queue at the RR stn and get out of the meatball! Those on business, your boss won't believe how cheap the good hotels are, so go for it! India is 700,000 villages, and half a dozen ports of entry. Do the math.

Just my 4 annas opinion, nevermind

bijapuri · Oct 6th, 2003, 01:09

Broadlands article . . . Did I read that right, they had problems with drugs and alcohol, so they only take backpackers????

oh, puh-leeeeze!!!!!!!!

MadnoMad · Oct 6th, 2003, 03:14

Hi undomiel,
I would be able to suggest some hotels for you if you tell me your budget and further travel plans from chennai....cheers

MadnoMad

Samsara · Oct 6th, 2003, 17:15

When in Europe, I'm a budget traveller. When in India, I'll have to be a "lady" as I have an Indian name, so backpackers won't let me in (they will expect me to stay where the memsahibs stay). In Europe, I'll be that girl walking alone wearing jeans staying at the cosy cool backpackers. In India, I'll be transformed into a "lady", saris every day and an ayah (that will be expensive to hire...I can't afford it, let alone the hotels where the memsahibs stay! Unless I can find another "lady" to travel with, that would halve the room costs and save me having to hire an ayah...).

undomiel · Oct 10th, 2003, 13:24

Bijapuri - i take your point about bandwidth wasting etc, but my point would be that a 'place that inherently sucks' (?!) can be made so much more enjoyable by a nice friendly hotel, hence asking for personal recommendations!

e101g · Oct 11th, 2003, 02:12

If you dont mind spending lots of $, try Taj Coromandal.
It is expensive. But the service is excellent.
The restaurants are great too.

bijapuri · Oct 11th, 2003, 07:39

yeah, I apologise for being so harsh. And upgrading your stay in a big meatball can make a big difference.

Anth · Oct 15th, 2003, 11:32

Hi undomiel! I'm in exactly the same boat (1 am arrival, 8th Nov)- when are you flying in?

The YMCA gets a rave in the Rough Guide (though i've heard otherwise, i seem to recall), its midrange at Rs 400-900 (talk about a rough guide

) and best of all it has a fax number!!

Worst of all, the fax no doesn't work. hahaha. I think this has something to do with ph no's changing in tamil.. If anyone can help out with this thanks!!!

Anyway - tel: 044/532 4234 or Fax: 532 4263 ... Good luck - let me know if you get through or find somewhere else.. please!

pooch · Oct 15th, 2003, 14:42

Add digit 2 to all numbers in Chennai, thus 532 4234 would be 2532 4234 .

Anth · Oct 20th, 2003, 09:58

woohoo it worked! Thanks again julls! Rs 760 (no ac) - bit pricy i guess but its only for a couple of nights. And if i have too much worries with touts i can just catch the train.

Oct 5th, 2003, 10:33	#1
undomiel Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: christchurch, new zealand Posts: 2	chennai hotel, not broadlands Hi! Everyone seems to recommend Broadlands. I'm not keen to go there cos of their unofficial whites only policy. So can anyone recommend another central place? Can be pretty basic so long as it is friendly and cheap! Thanks. I plan to book in advance (late plane arrival) so hotel contact details also gratefully received. __________________ We should consider every day lost on which we have not danced at least once.

Oct 5th, 2003, 13:11	#3
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	sounds like a caste thingee __________________ Focusing your life solely on making a buck shows a certain poverty of ambition. It asks too little of yourself. Because it's only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realize your true potential. Barack Obama lookit me!!!: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bijapuri/ Utube fuzzy logic: http://youtube.com/profile_videos?user=bijapuri&p =r

Oct 5th, 2003, 23:26	#4
wonderwomanusa Maha Guru Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 3,479	There are plenty of hotels in India that will not rent to foreigners. __________________ The map is not the territory. --Alfred Korzybski

Oct 6th, 2003, 03:14	#8
MadnoMad Simply SyKaDeLiCk Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 90	Hi undomiel, I would be able to suggest some hotels for you if you tell me your budget and further travel plans from chennai....cheers MadnoMad __________________ One world, One man, One plan....Travel...unfortunately just one life!

Oct 15th, 2003, 11:32	#13
Anth Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 32	Hi undomiel! I'm in exactly the same boat (1 am arrival, 8th Nov)- when are you flying in? The YMCA gets a rave in the Rough Guide (though i've heard otherwise, i seem to recall), its midrange at Rs 400-900 (talk about a rough guide) and best of all it has a fax number!! Worst of all, the fax no doesn't work. hahaha. I think this has something to do with ph no's changing in tamil.. If anyone can help out with this thanks!!! Anyway - tel: 044/532 4234 or Fax: 532 4263 ... Good luck - let me know if you get through or find somewhere else.. please! Last edited by steven_ber : Oct 15th, 2003 at 14:44.

Oct 5th, 2003, 12:25	#2
steven_ber Member Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: London, England. Posts: 9,160	Firstly, I can't recommend a hotel; the place I stayed in was neither central nor suitable. I do wonder about the 'reputation' that Broadlands has gained in a country that openly discriminates against persons of a lower caste. I got the room 'boy' to show me around Mumbai, a good day, then it was time to eat, the first 2 places we tried would serve me (with a big smile), but the 'boy' was refused entry, both restaurants were Indian owned and all their customers were Indian. Broadlands revisited.

Oct 6th, 2003, 00:40	#5
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	Are you staying in Chennai for a few days or just leaving the same day ? The immediate sorrounding of Broadlands is a dump anyway and would be a wise decision to skip it altogether.

Oct 6th, 2003, 01:04	#6
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	since I usually go straight to Mahabs from the airport when I land in India, my experience with hotels in Chennai is a little dated. But I am primarily a Southie, so from time to time I need to go there. Seems like Chennai has a problem with good value lodging being perpetually full (maybe I need to change deodorants)However, for central location, I use the Atlantic. Thing is, it's not a very good hotel, the staff is indifferent, it has that concrete box/musty smell/dimly lit feel to it that is all too common throught India. But it ALWAYS has rooms, and, like I said, it is well located. It's down to the train station and over to the museum for me, anyway, so I'm never there more than a day. NB Seems like there's a lot of bandwith on trying to find really nice hotels for really cheap in places that by their inherent nature . . .SUCK! Jeesh, most of us are on holiday, right? Get off the plane, get a siesta, go down to the foreigners queue at the RR stn and get out of the meatball! Those on business, your boss won't believe how cheap the good hotels are, so go for it! India is 700,000 villages, and half a dozen ports of entry. Do the math. Just my 4 annas opinion, nevermind

Oct 6th, 2003, 01:09	#7
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	Broadlands article . . . Did I read that right, they had problems with drugs and alcohol, so they only take backpackers???? oh, puh-leeeeze!!!!!!!!

Oct 6th, 2003, 17:15	#9
Samsara Sentient Being Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 507	When in Europe, I'm a budget traveller. When in India, I'll have to be a "lady" as I have an Indian name, so backpackers won't let me in (they will expect me to stay where the memsahibs stay). In Europe, I'll be that girl walking alone wearing jeans staying at the cosy cool backpackers. In India, I'll be transformed into a "lady", saris every day and an ayah (that will be expensive to hire...I can't afford it, let alone the hotels where the memsahibs stay! Unless I can find another "lady" to travel with, that would halve the room costs and save me having to hire an ayah...).

Oct 10th, 2003, 13:24	#10
undomiel Member Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: christchurch, new zealand Posts: 2	Bijapuri - i take your point about bandwidth wasting etc, but my point would be that a 'place that inherently sucks' (?!) can be made so much more enjoyable by a nice friendly hotel, hence asking for personal recommendations!

Oct 11th, 2003, 02:12	#11
e101g Just a dude.. Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: USofA Posts: 57	If you dont mind spending lots of $, try Taj Coromandal. It is expensive. But the service is excellent. The restaurants are great too.

Oct 11th, 2003, 07:39	#12
bijapuri laid traps for troubadours Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Priustan Posts: 2,598	yeah, I apologise for being so harsh. And upgrading your stay in a big meatball can make a big difference.

Oct 15th, 2003, 14:42	#14
pooch Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Middle East <---->India Posts: 384	Add digit 2 to all numbers in Chennai, thus 532 4234 would be 2532 4234 .

Oct 20th, 2003, 09:58	#15
Anth Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Brisbane Posts: 32	woohoo it worked! Thanks again julls! Rs 760 (no ac) - bit pricy i guess but its only for a couple of nights. And if i have too much worries with touts i can just catch the train.

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