Guest House Recommendations - Chennai Help!

Nick-H

It's reckoned by many to be an easy introduction to India, as far as the big cities go

Where did you stay and what was it like?

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Indiaevan

Well, if this is easy, I can't wait to see what the difficult ones are like, but maybe on a few days of sleep and a little more experience here, but I'm definitely felt it getting easier and more comfortable as the day went on...

I stayed at the New Victoria and it was very nice but I'm a super budget travellor and 1050 was too steep for me, so I've moved over to the Paradise for tonight and I'm hitting up the Shantdi express tomorrow at 6am.

Wish I would've contacted you for some advice before I got here, but the past is the past and the future is golden.

Evan

Nick-H

Happy Journeying!

When you havae time, posting location, cost etc of your hotels wouldbe useful, or adding them to the IM Hotel section if they are not there already.

machadinha

Surprised the typo squad hasn't moved in on this one yet That's the hi-tech way Indian elephants get in touch I'm sure?

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beach

Triplicane is the Phagadganj of Chennai

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Hampi info

Nick-H

I am the Typo Squad

Nicely noticed, Sir

Sama

Thank you ALL so much for suggestions, so quickly. Nick, you are wonderful

It's true that I've read many good comments about Woodlands, about the price, food, etc., however, cockroaches..... . Yeah, yeah, I know you can see some wherever one stays (even the fanciest restaurants in Chicago have them, along with rats in the alley), but I don't want to be beating them off with a stick. I appreciate your comments about Shelter, Nick.

What I like about Shelter is that they said they give discounts to the KYM students (1300R instead of 1600R, with breakfast), and they are closer to the school. Woodlands is farther, 1000R/night, no food, no discount.

beach, your web link said that I could not access the site. What is Phagadganj?

WOO-HOO, 71 more days!

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camelgirl

We stayed at the Sarveri our first week in Chennai and while it's looks like a luxury hotel it definitely is not!!! There are real luxury hotels in Chennai but I've only been in the lobbies! It is very expensive though and we would not stay there again. We were insecure having had an 11 year lag between India trips and wanted more comfort. We stayed at the New Woodlands our last few days in Chennai and we loved it...yes, very plain, but by then we didn't need the security of the Sarveri anymore and to us the New Woodlands was "luxurious" enough plus we were crazy for the food!!

Yogagal's got lots of great info and this is such a great site!!! Everyone so helpful, especially in this kind of emergency...kudos to all

ddevadatta

Traet your self in Mysore area after hectic & frustrating time in Madras. Try Jungle Inn or Kabini Lodges for wildlife viewing. We had a similar experience. We were eaten by mosquitoes for four days in Madras at the Dashaprakash Hotel and we went to Mysore and what a change it was. We preferred Jungle Inn and know the folks there. Also listed here on IM.

I grew up in Madras and we did had a great time being back, except for the accomdations, heat and mosquitoes...

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Nick-H

Interesting about the Saveri. I think it is about twice the price of New Woodlands, which doesn't put it in anywhere near the 5* hotels, so perhaps I shouldn't have used the word luxury. It is the hotel of choice for some of the wealthier Chennai visitors that I know who come here for the music stuff.

If I was visiting with a heap of money I'd probably pick one of the Taj hotels. But that just isn't going to happen

Indiaevan

Its astounding to me how far in advance you all seem to plan, I guess maybe the benefit of no foresight and strong legs have gotten me through all problems so far, everyone I've met have been so nice, I'm loving India so far, and Mysore is a good way to get away from the pollution and intensity of Chennai (intensity for someone's first visit).

I stayed at the New Victoria, it was in the very center of town next to the train station and cost a little more than a 1000 for a nice queen, airconditioning, a tv, hot/cold shower and washbasin, I also stayed at the Paradise Guesthouse the next night, and boiled my ass off, I bought this alarm clock in Singapore that could read temperatures and it was 90 degrees the entire night, regardless of fan or open window... hot for me, but the service was good and the bed also big, and this one was only 350 rupees.

I wish you luck in finding a place to stay, but please don't panic, I know you are looking for long term accomodations, but I arrived in Chennai two nights ago, found lodging very easily and if you ask around or have a good guide book, you can find housing here easily enough in case you want to explore your various housing options in person rather than relying on other people's reports. I only say this because everyone is unique and certain features fit some people better than others, me, any feature fits great.

Take care and good searching.

Sama

Again, thank you all so much, I even got PMs from other IMers with suggestions.

I actually have two reservations, one at Woodlands and one at Hotel Shelter, but I will probably go with Hotel Shelter since it is only 1.5km from the school. Now someone will probably post something like "I stayed there once and it totally sucked because.....", but I don't care.....

This website rocks!

70 more days.....

camelgirl

Thank you Indiaevan for reminding me of traveling WITHOUT plans. This is how my husband and always travelled until our trip to Cochin a few years ago.

We never made reservations because we always could find something, until that day after a 24 hr. train ride, hot and exhausted, we discovered there was nowhere, absolutely nowhere to stay. There was a convention/conference of pediatricians in town! We said a bed on a roof would be OK, we tried the cheapest guesthouse to the most expensive hotel in town (the "plastic" emergency card). We took a taxi an hour from the city that Tourist info. recommended but it was so far away from everywhere we came back. We considered leaving Cochin but really wanted to spend a little time there. We finally called the women we met on the train who lived on the military base and whose husband was the director of something or other. She said she had a friend who worked at the Casino Hotel. She got us 1 night there!!! Way above our budget but we kissed the floor when we walked in! It was a wonderful hotel.

We still don't make all our reservations but still do for when we arrive all jet lagged! for our first few days and maybe if there is someplace we've heard about that might be popular with groups.

It's easy to be flexible when you've got more than a month for traveling--good going Indiaevan....you're keeping the spirit of independant travel alive and well Just leave a room for us old fogey travelers

Sama

HA! I remember traveling like that in my younger days (in the US) -- no plans, no reservations, pulling into a rest area and pulling out the sleeping bag and sleeping on a picnic table.

But now I want a for sure bed for these arthritic bones.....

Auntyji

Is that the Savera Hotel (unless they decided to change their name to Saveri??)
It's not exactly a luxury hotel, from what I remember, but definitely more expensive than New Woodlands. I heard that it has some good restaurants but I forget the names. Weekend buffet in a pool-side restaurant or some such thing, I think.