Footprints Bed and Breakfast

callie · Mar 1st, 2008, 13:29

Hi

I have been wandering through these threads for a couple of weeks now and the information I have gotten has been invaluable. I have been looking for just the right hotel for me and think I may have found it. I want a place when I land in Chennai next week to relax for a couple of days and find my India feet.

Has anyone heard anything or stayed at the Footprints Bed and Breakfast? It is at 108 Chamiers Road and states that it is about 20-30 mins from train and bus stations. Is it a long way out or does it just take that long to get around Chennai.

Any assistance greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

mairangi_vice · Mar 1st, 2008, 14:23

Hi,

I havent seen this place before, but I just checked out their website and it looks pretty good. The Chamiers Rd area is nice, I think when they say 30 mins to the train station they mean the Chennai Egmore main terminal where you catch trains to other cities, and in traffic it will take at least that long to get there. There is a commuter station about 10 mins away, but the metro trains in Chennai are a waste of time, use autos or taxis for getting around the city. Chamiers Rd is close to Mylapore and T.Nagar which are popular tourist areas to visit.

callie · Mar 1st, 2008, 14:58

Thanks for the advice. The location info was really what I was looking for. Their website showed a pretty slick operation in the Andamans so I think I will take a chance on them. Just sent through the booking request, so just going to wait and see. I will send through some feedback on the place if I get to stay there.

Thanks again.

Nick-H · Mar 1st, 2008, 15:13

It does look nice ---and it should, at the price! Rs 2,750!

That would get you a very nice room at, for instance, New Woodlands Hotel, with all the other facilities, eg restaurants (vegie, no bar), pool etc, which might help you relax over those first days.

Nick-H · Mar 1st, 2008, 15:14

M_V, don't you like the MRTS? If one's journey happens to be on its route, I think it is a great railway, with enjoyable views from its elevated track.

callie · Mar 1st, 2008, 15:48

I don't mind spending a little bit more - the first place I looked at was Raintree so this is a bit cheaper.

They have just let me know that they have availability but with some interesting requirements. They have attached a credit card form to complete but also want a copy of my passport and a copy of the front and back of my credit card. Seems a little extreme to me. Any advice?

Ta

Nick-H · Mar 1st, 2008, 18:17

Their site makes it clear they are going to charge for cancellations --- hence they will need that information.

About the passport... it was explained to me some years ago in a jewellery shop that they took that photocopy to prove that the card holder really really had been there, as there were cases were the charge was disputed when the buyer got home. That's all I can offer.

Raintree is a different kettle of fish altogether! The city's latest 5-star; very nice. And about five minutes walk from this Footprints place.

machadinha · Mar 2nd, 2008, 21:00

It's none of my business and I don't know nor have I ever heard of the place. However, Footprint is a well-established international travel guide series based in Britain.

My intuition would be any hotel trying to cash in on the name without being directly linked to them is trying to do just that: Cashing in on the name. (Note the slight spelling difference too, presumably to avoid certain allegations.)

Again, not knowing anything about the place in question, the method as such (and you'll run into this a lot all over the world) wouldn't make me look favorably on them per se, no.

(So what put me onto looking into this at all? It's a fairly odd name for an Indian hotel, and I happen to know that series and have used one of their guidebooks before -- found it not bad at all btw -- and so the question sprung out to me. I'm not saying that hotel must be bad, it may well be excellent. I'm not connected to either. Just be wary of any Marriotta or Holiday Inny anywhere you go. If you're looking for low-key or something out of the ordinary, such options could be an excellent choice though. Or then maybe they won't be.)

mairangi_vice · Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:24

The raintree is very nice, had dinner at the mongolian bbq place in there the other day, an interesting concept in largely vegetarian chennai. Callie, hotels wanting your passport is not unusual in India. They are technically meant to keep this information so the govt can know where you are off to. If they want a copy sent before you arrive it is prob for id verification for the credit card. I agree it is a bit overkill, but perhaps they have had recent problems with CC fraud?

Nick, no, Im not a big fan of the MRTS. My one experience with it didnt fill me with the desire to repeat it!

madan80 · Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by callie

I don't mind spending a little bit more - the first place I looked at was Raintree so this is a bit cheaper.

They have just let me know that they have availability but with some interesting requirements. They have attached a credit card form to complete but also want a copy of my passport and a copy of the front and back of my credit card. Seems a little extreme to me. Any advice?

Ta

well, the credit card and passport is for identification for using international credit cards. this is apparently a pre-requisit from the bank and not the merchant establishment.
Taking Nicks advice - New woodlands is a more spacious place, and more centrally located.

I have heard of The barefoot group - they have some good resorts all over, including at andamans- which has some eco friendly places.

The Raintree is an Ecotel.

Nick-H · Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:54

...whatever an ecotel is!

madan80 · Mar 3rd, 2008, 14:09

Eco friendly hotel - one that is concious about the environment!

Nick-H · Mar 8th, 2008, 15:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by madan80

Eco friendly hotel - one that is concious about the environment!

Then they shouldn't allow smoking in their restaurant!

callie · Mar 10th, 2008, 19:36

I thought that I may as well wrap this one up and give a little review of Footprints Bed and Breakfast.

It is in a street behind Sheraton Towers, located in an apartment block. Newly decked out and very modern, the rooms are very clean and comfortable. Bathrooms are good too. The owner is really friendly and helpful and the breakfasts so far are pretty good. Choice between local or western. Local was very good in fact.

I am sure that for the more adventurous there are plenty of places to eat but I am struggling a little bit. Don't particularly want my first dinner in India to be Thai but that looks like what it is going to be. Last night I got by with the French bakery around the corner.

So if you want to spend a bit more but don't want to spend as much as the 5* will cost, this could be a good option.

Ta

Nick-H · Mar 10th, 2008, 20:45

That's great, thank you for the feedback: maybe you'd like to add it to our Hotel's Listings section!

Of course you have the Park Sheraton and Raintree Ecotel restaurants within a few minutes walk, if you are feeling flush and want to be eased into Indian food. There is also a continental restaurant called Cornucopia in nearby Cenotaph Road, and another called Tangerine, a little further away (a few minutes in an auto, walkable with good directions, still) in Murray's Gate Road, Alwarpet.

Also a few minutes from you is Anokhi, in Chalmiers Road, where you can get nice nice snacks and cakes and stuff. A piece of carrot cake and a glass of juice there cost me as much as Mrs N and I usually spend on lunch for the two of us! But hey! Where else can I get nice carrot cake

Welcome to Chennai!

Mar 1st, 2008, 13:29	#1
callie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aldinga Beach, South Australia Posts: 16	Footprints Bed and Breakfast Hi I have been wandering through these threads for a couple of weeks now and the information I have gotten has been invaluable. I have been looking for just the right hotel for me and think I may have found it. I want a place when I land in Chennai next week to relax for a couple of days and find my India feet. Has anyone heard anything or stayed at the Footprints Bed and Breakfast? It is at 108 Chamiers Road and states that it is about 20-30 mins from train and bus stations. Is it a long way out or does it just take that long to get around Chennai. Any assistance greatly appreciated. Thanks.

Mar 1st, 2008, 15:13	#4
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	It does look nice ---and it should, at the price! Rs 2,750! That would get you a very nice room at, for instance, New Woodlands Hotel, with all the other facilities, eg restaurants (vegie, no bar), pool etc, which might help you relax over those first days. __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Mar 2nd, 2008, 21:00	#8
machadinha Not Your Guru Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: yörp Posts: 10,574	It's none of my business and I don't know nor have I ever heard of the place. However, Footprint is a well-established international travel guide series based in Britain. My intuition would be any hotel trying to cash in on the name without being directly linked to them is trying to do just that: Cashing in on the name. (Note the slight spelling difference too, presumably to avoid certain allegations.) Again, not knowing anything about the place in question, the method as such (and you'll run into this a lot all over the world) wouldn't make me look favorably on them per se, no. (So what put me onto looking into this at all? It's a fairly odd name for an Indian hotel, and I happen to know that series and have used one of their guidebooks before -- found it not bad at all btw -- and so the question sprung out to me. I'm not saying that hotel must be bad, it may well be excellent. I'm not connected to either. Just be wary of any Marriotta or Holiday Inny anywhere you go. If you're looking for low-key or something out of the ordinary, such options could be an excellent choice though. Or then maybe they won't be.) __________________ Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

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Mar 1st, 2008, 14:23	#2
mairangi_vice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 284	Hi, I havent seen this place before, but I just checked out their website and it looks pretty good. The Chamiers Rd area is nice, I think when they say 30 mins to the train station they mean the Chennai Egmore main terminal where you catch trains to other cities, and in traffic it will take at least that long to get there. There is a commuter station about 10 mins away, but the metro trains in Chennai are a waste of time, use autos or taxis for getting around the city. Chamiers Rd is close to Mylapore and T.Nagar which are popular tourist areas to visit.

Mar 1st, 2008, 14:58	#3
callie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aldinga Beach, South Australia Posts: 16	Thanks for the advice. The location info was really what I was looking for. Their website showed a pretty slick operation in the Andamans so I think I will take a chance on them. Just sent through the booking request, so just going to wait and see. I will send through some feedback on the place if I get to stay there. Thanks again.

Mar 1st, 2008, 15:14	#5
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	M_V, don't you like the MRTS? If one's journey happens to be on its route, I think it is a great railway, with enjoyable views from its elevated track.

Mar 1st, 2008, 15:48	#6
callie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aldinga Beach, South Australia Posts: 16	I don't mind spending a little bit more - the first place I looked at was Raintree so this is a bit cheaper. They have just let me know that they have availability but with some interesting requirements. They have attached a credit card form to complete but also want a copy of my passport and a copy of the front and back of my credit card. Seems a little extreme to me. Any advice? Ta

Mar 1st, 2008, 18:17	#7
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	Their site makes it clear they are going to charge for cancellations --- hence they will need that information. About the passport... it was explained to me some years ago in a jewellery shop that they took that photocopy to prove that the card holder really really had been there, as there were cases were the charge was disputed when the buyer got home. That's all I can offer. Raintree is a different kettle of fish altogether! The city's latest 5-star; very nice. And about five minutes walk from this Footprints place.

Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:24	#9
mairangi_vice Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Mumbai Posts: 284	The raintree is very nice, had dinner at the mongolian bbq place in there the other day, an interesting concept in largely vegetarian chennai. Callie, hotels wanting your passport is not unusual in India. They are technically meant to keep this information so the govt can know where you are off to. If they want a copy sent before you arrive it is prob for id verification for the credit card. I agree it is a bit overkill, but perhaps they have had recent problems with CC fraud? Nick, no, Im not a big fan of the MRTS. My one experience with it didnt fill me with the desire to repeat it!

Mar 3rd, 2008, 11:54	#11
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	...whatever an ecotel is!

Mar 3rd, 2008, 14:09	#12
madan80 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Chennai Posts: 157	Eco friendly hotel - one that is concious about the environment!

Mar 10th, 2008, 19:36	#14
callie Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aldinga Beach, South Australia Posts: 16	I thought that I may as well wrap this one up and give a little review of Footprints Bed and Breakfast. It is in a street behind Sheraton Towers, located in an apartment block. Newly decked out and very modern, the rooms are very clean and comfortable. Bathrooms are good too. The owner is really friendly and helpful and the breakfasts so far are pretty good. Choice between local or western. Local was very good in fact. I am sure that for the more adventurous there are plenty of places to eat but I am struggling a little bit. Don't particularly want my first dinner in India to be Thai but that looks like what it is going to be. Last night I got by with the French bakery around the corner. So if you want to spend a bit more but don't want to spend as much as the 5* will cost, this could be a good option. Ta

Mar 10th, 2008, 20:45	#15
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 26,870	That's great, thank you for the feedback: maybe you'd like to add it to our Hotel's Listings section! Of course you have the Park Sheraton and Raintree Ecotel restaurants within a few minutes walk, if you are feeling flush and want to be eased into Indian food. There is also a continental restaurant called Cornucopia in nearby Cenotaph Road, and another called Tangerine, a little further away (a few minutes in an auto, walkable with good directions, still) in Murray's Gate Road, Alwarpet. Also a few minutes from you is Anokhi, in Chalmiers Road, where you can get nice nice snacks and cakes and stuff. A piece of carrot cake and a glass of juice there cost me as much as Mrs N and I usually spend on lunch for the two of us! But hey! Where else can I get nice carrot cake Welcome to Chennai!

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