Accommodation in Mumbai

burnz · Nov 10th, 2006, 11:01

hi max, welcome to mumbai in advance

getting good, affordable accommodation in mumbai is always a challenge. depending on where your office is, you can then better shortlist your options whether staying in South Mumbai (Colaba, Cuffe Parade etc) or in the suburbs (Bandra, Khar, Andheri). you don't want to deal with a long commute given the crowded traffic in mumbai.

in south mumbai, it is very difficult to find newly built properties as most apartment buildings tend to be at least 20-30yrs old. though some are quite well-maintained and considered to be grade A buildings by the locals. for a 1-2 bedroom apt in one of these grade A buildings, expect to pay around US$1,500 and upwards depending on location. if you're looking at the Taj Wellington (where my colleague stays), you'll be paying at least US$6000 per month for a studio or 1 bedroom service apt. shocking?? welcome to mumbai

if the suburbs is closer to your office, then i'd recommend taking a look at Bandra (where i'm staying). nice residential area with a number of good restaurants and shopping. and you'll find a wider choice of newly built properties in suburbs like Bandra. depending on the size of the apartment, prices can range from US$1,000 to US$2,000 for a decent 1 or 2 bedroom apt.

took me 3 long months before i settled on mine.
anyway, best of luck apartment-hunting

romagna67 · Nov 10th, 2006, 14:27

Thanks Burnz. I'll go for the Taj Wellington. Ah!Ah! Joking of course. NO there is no Company office in Mumbay. The office will be my laptop in my house. At least for the first year. That's why i underlined for a fast internet possibility of connection.
I forgot to say that i eventually will have to take a flight at least once a week, thus maybe, a place not so far from it would be a good solution. In the thread i red of a girl asking for Santacruz area (i think). Is it a good one? In order to low the price i consider also to share an appartment with someone.... Max

burnz · Nov 10th, 2006, 18:27

well, since you don't have an office location, that will make your apartment search a whole lot easier. and given that you travel often, you might want to stay closer to the airport. so you can try looking into the suburb areas like bandra, khar, santacruz, kalina, andheri etc. santacruz is a decent area, but make sure it's santacruz(W). most of mumbai suburbs are divided into east and west by the railway lines e.g. there's santacruz(E) and santacruz(W). the western suburbs are usually more pleasant

don't count on the quality of broadband connections here in mumbai. in short, the quality is terrible and ridiculously high priced. take my case for example, i pay close to US$60 per month for a measly 512kbps broadband connection with unlimited bandwidth. US$60!! not to mention problems with downtimes. sometimes my broadband can be down for hours or even days! absolutely frustrating

Mbps speed plans are not even available for most consumers (usually only for offices), unless you're prepared to pay top dollar for it. hard to believe sometimes that this country is supposed to be a major IT hub of the world.

romagna67 · Nov 11th, 2006, 04:21

Thanks Burnz, very helpfull informations... Would you suggest looking for the flat while there? Is it a long and difficult routine to get the internet fast connection, as i immagine?

burnz · Nov 11th, 2006, 14:31

you prob won't be able to find a suitable apartment before you get to mumbai. the only thing u can do to speed up the process is to start contacting some real estate agents here before you arrive, and get them started on shortlisting suitable apartments according to your budget and requirements. so that you can start viewing these apartments by the time you get here.

as for the broadband, it'll take a couple of weeks minimum to get it up and running. things here simply just don't move as fast as we expect them to

coolmohi · Nov 19th, 2006, 19:32

Hi all,

Saw some posts in this thred and was wondering if someone could help me find some acco around andheri for 4 days. I have a few guests coming over and would need a 3 bhk or 2 2bhk flats to accomodate them. please let me know in case anyone has any options that could cater to my needs.

romagna67 · Dec 2nd, 2006, 20:23

Hy all, i wrote a few days ago in this thread for infos on housing in Mumbay (where i'll relocate on february for work). In the meanwhile, i made research on this matter and i have new questions.
What i'll need is a newly build house, with internet connection and A/C, one bedroom would be enough. Now i saw many new complex (tower, or big buildings) in Chembur, Harbour, Goreagon East. Prices are not very high (from 15000 IRP to 30000, which could be OK) and from the description seems something luxury (some with swimming pool, children gardens, fountains, satellite dish, lifts, security, etc.).
I'd like to get info related to the location of these places: are they well connected to South Mumbay (where i'll go to work)? are they quiet places or polluted and crowded?
Goreagon East seems in the middle of the big Gandhi park (it will be nice living with lot of green around; also very close to Film City):
Chembur seems a very expanding building area; it's full of new constructions proposal; is it a good area? Will it take me too long to go to Mumbay South?
Harbour area too seems an expanding building area with incredibly reasonable prices considering the location; is it a dangerous area?
p.s. i also noticed Prabha Devi area. Prices a little higher, but there is still something reasonable.
Thanks for your help and patient Max

burnz · Dec 2nd, 2006, 23:04

hi max,

the places u mentioned (Goregaon, Chembur etc) are all in the suburbs quite a distance away from south mumbai, and the daily commute would probably kill you. driving time during good traffic, you're looking at 1hr minimum. during peak hours, it can take you anywhere from 1.5hrs to more than 2hrs each way. i'd strongly suggest against living this far.

a much better bet would be Prabhadevi, Parel or Worli. if you go further south, that's where you'll hit prime real estate with sky high prices (places like Malabar Hills, Breach Candy, Peddar Rd, Colaba, Cuffe Parade etc). one example is a fellow expat friend of mine, who has a 2 bedroom apartment in a 20-30yr old building in south mumbai (cuffe parade) and pays about 120,000 rupees monthly rental

although as i've mentioned before, it is very difficult to find newly-built apartments in South Mumbai these days. the few new constructions in South Mumbai tend to be in larger configurations (3 bedroom or larger), and new 1 bedroom apartments in the south would be almost unheard of these days.

so it'll most likely have to be a compromise. either sacrifice some comfort (older apartment in the South) for a shorter commute, or put up with a long daily commute in exchange for a nicer place to stay in the suburbs where apartments are newer and cheaper.

romagna67 · Dec 3rd, 2006, 03:10

Hy Burnz, nice to talk to you again!

You say about driving in the traffic. I surely don't want to drive when in Mumbay, i don't have a car in Italy as well!!! I thought about taking a train when i'll need to go to Mumbay South from, for example Goregaon (the train line is very close). In your experience, you think it still will be very tough taking a train? Are there any chance for example to make a train subscription in order not to stand on the cue at the Goreagon station every day for a ticket? Also, keep in mind i don't have to go to Mumbay South every day...

romagna67 · Dec 3rd, 2006, 03:17

Oh yeah, forgot... what can you tell me about Harbour area? It's in Mumbay south and i saw affordable prices... Max

anar · Dec 3rd, 2006, 03:56

a visiting friend from britain paid me a visit at my parents' flat in the suburbs of mumbai - he took the local train. he is a very good-humoured man - he described his journey there as a 'free massage'! and he was putting it mildly. romagna67, you have no idea what's in store for you!!! chembur? harbour? goregaon? these are cesspits of pollution and overcrowding - pay attention to what burnz is trying to tell you - if you value your sanity and well-being, that is.

burnz · Dec 3rd, 2006, 12:09

unfortunately i can't really comment on taking the local trains, as my company has kindly provided me with a company car and chauffeur to get around. but i do know that regular train commuters usually buy monthly passes, instead of buying tickets each day.

Harbour is definitely not south mumbai.. the Harbour suburbs are made up of Chembur, Mankhurd, Govandi and Trombay areas.. if u ask me frankly, harbour suburbs are considered to be poorer areas compared to western suburbs and central suburbs.. if you choose to stay in the suburbs and commute to south mumbai, i would only suggest staying in the western suburbs... so u can try places like Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, Juhu or even up to Andheri (in order of proximity to south mumbai, bandra being closest of these places)... i prob would not advise going further northwards of Andheri...

GoanCanuck · Dec 4th, 2006, 12:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by romagna67

Oh yeah, forgot... what can you tell me about Harbour area?

Filthy place. Stay away. Far away.

mani · Dec 4th, 2006, 12:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by romagna67

Hy Burnz, nice to talk to you again!

You say about driving in the traffic. I surely don't want to drive when in Mumbay, i don't have a car in Italy as well!!! I thought about taking a train when i'll need to go to Mumbay South from, for example Goregaon (the train line is very close). In your experience, you think it still will be very tough taking a train? Are there any chance for example to make a train subscription in order not to stand on the cue at the Goreagon station every day for a ticket? Also, keep in mind i don't have to go to Mumbay South every day...

Hi romagna,

YOu wouldnt want to travel by the local trains.

if you are travelling in mumbai from north to south during peak hours of the morning that also by train the be ready no t just for the massage but the suffocation, daily fights, pushing around etc etc. Everyday there are incidents of people falling off the trains during peak hours.

Take a look at the links below.

http://www.indiatravelogue.com/trav/trav6.html
http://www.mouthshut.com/product-rev...925006607.html
http://smita2468.sulekha.com/blog/po...bai-locals.htm
sagardarshan0.tripod.com

Each train compartment is has more than a 1000 people in it during peak hours. From goregaon if you try to get into the compartment the feeling may be like being a peice of fruit in a bowl of jelly i.e you will have to find that small gap within the human wall at the doorway and push your way through and once you are in there is no space to move.

I travel in the opposite direction from churchgate to vasai and let me tell you even then our trains are filled to capacity. some times in the peak hours of the evening as the train is entering churchgate you see a sea of people rushing in even before the train has stopped and god forbid should you not have the sense to stand to one side you will most probably be pushed, pulled, tossed around, stepped on etc etc and this is just the ladies compartment.

Un hun You are not going to travel from goregaon to churchgate or Chembur to CST during peak hours.

It would help to remember that this is not milano centrale but mumbai

if you need any other please help let me know.

Regards
mani

burnz · Dec 4th, 2006, 12:56

max, u'd do well to listen to mani.. avoid the trains as best as you can.. if you're not getting a car, try your very best to stay as close to the office as possible.. best if it's walkable distance.. else, maybe somewhere that is at most half an hr's drive so you can at least take a cab and it wouldn't cost u too much.

Nov 19th, 2006, 19:32	#21
coolmohi Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Mumbai Posts: 1	Needed accomodation for 4 days Hi all, Saw some posts in this thred and was wondering if someone could help me find some acco around andheri for 4 days. I have a few guests coming over and would need a 3 bhk or 2 2bhk flats to accomodate them. please let me know in case anyone has any options that could cater to my needs.

Dec 2nd, 2006, 20:23	#22
romagna67 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: italy Posts: 41	news on housing research... Hy all, i wrote a few days ago in this thread for infos on housing in Mumbay (where i'll relocate on february for work). In the meanwhile, i made research on this matter and i have new questions. What i'll need is a newly build house, with internet connection and A/C, one bedroom would be enough. Now i saw many new complex (tower, or big buildings) in Chembur, Harbour, Goreagon East. Prices are not very high (from 15000 IRP to 30000, which could be OK) and from the description seems something luxury (some with swimming pool, children gardens, fountains, satellite dish, lifts, security, etc.). I'd like to get info related to the location of these places: are they well connected to South Mumbay (where i'll go to work)? are they quiet places or polluted and crowded? Goreagon East seems in the middle of the big Gandhi park (it will be nice living with lot of green around; also very close to Film City): Chembur seems a very expanding building area; it's full of new constructions proposal; is it a good area? Will it take me too long to go to Mumbay South? Harbour area too seems an expanding building area with incredibly reasonable prices considering the location; is it a dangerous area? p.s. i also noticed Prabha Devi area. Prices a little higher, but there is still something reasonable. Thanks for your help and patient Max

Dec 3rd, 2006, 03:10	#24
romagna67 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: italy Posts: 41	max... Hy Burnz, nice to talk to you again! You say about driving in the traffic. I surely don't want to drive when in Mumbay, i don't have a car in Italy as well!!! I thought about taking a train when i'll need to go to Mumbay South from, for example Goregaon (the train line is very close). In your experience, you think it still will be very tough taking a train? Are there any chance for example to make a train subscription in order not to stand on the cue at the Goreagon station every day for a ticket? Also, keep in mind i don't have to go to Mumbay South every day...

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Nov 10th, 2006, 11:01	#16
burnz Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bandra, Mumbai Posts: 24	hi max, welcome to mumbai in advance getting good, affordable accommodation in mumbai is always a challenge. depending on where your office is, you can then better shortlist your options whether staying in South Mumbai (Colaba, Cuffe Parade etc) or in the suburbs (Bandra, Khar, Andheri). you don't want to deal with a long commute given the crowded traffic in mumbai. in south mumbai, it is very difficult to find newly built properties as most apartment buildings tend to be at least 20-30yrs old. though some are quite well-maintained and considered to be grade A buildings by the locals. for a 1-2 bedroom apt in one of these grade A buildings, expect to pay around US$1,500 and upwards depending on location. if you're looking at the Taj Wellington (where my colleague stays), you'll be paying at least US$6000 per month for a studio or 1 bedroom service apt. shocking?? welcome to mumbai if the suburbs is closer to your office, then i'd recommend taking a look at Bandra (where i'm staying). nice residential area with a number of good restaurants and shopping. and you'll find a wider choice of newly built properties in suburbs like Bandra. depending on the size of the apartment, prices can range from US$1,000 to US$2,000 for a decent 1 or 2 bedroom apt. took me 3 long months before i settled on mine. anyway, best of luck apartment-hunting

Nov 10th, 2006, 14:27	#17
romagna67 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: italy Posts: 41	Thanks Burnz. I'll go for the Taj Wellington. Ah!Ah! Joking of course. NO there is no Company office in Mumbay. The office will be my laptop in my house. At least for the first year. That's why i underlined for a fast internet possibility of connection. I forgot to say that i eventually will have to take a flight at least once a week, thus maybe, a place not so far from it would be a good solution. In the thread i red of a girl asking for Santacruz area (i think). Is it a good one? In order to low the price i consider also to share an appartment with someone.... Max

Nov 10th, 2006, 18:27	#18
burnz Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bandra, Mumbai Posts: 24	well, since you don't have an office location, that will make your apartment search a whole lot easier. and given that you travel often, you might want to stay closer to the airport. so you can try looking into the suburb areas like bandra, khar, santacruz, kalina, andheri etc. santacruz is a decent area, but make sure it's santacruz(W). most of mumbai suburbs are divided into east and west by the railway lines e.g. there's santacruz(E) and santacruz(W). the western suburbs are usually more pleasant don't count on the quality of broadband connections here in mumbai. in short, the quality is terrible and ridiculously high priced. take my case for example, i pay close to US$60 per month for a measly 512kbps broadband connection with unlimited bandwidth. US$60!! not to mention problems with downtimes. sometimes my broadband can be down for hours or even days! absolutely frustrating Mbps speed plans are not even available for most consumers (usually only for offices), unless you're prepared to pay top dollar for it. hard to believe sometimes that this country is supposed to be a major IT hub of the world.

Nov 11th, 2006, 04:21	#19
romagna67 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: italy Posts: 41	Thanks Burnz, very helpfull informations... Would you suggest looking for the flat while there? Is it a long and difficult routine to get the internet fast connection, as i immagine?

Nov 11th, 2006, 14:31	#20
burnz Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bandra, Mumbai Posts: 24	you prob won't be able to find a suitable apartment before you get to mumbai. the only thing u can do to speed up the process is to start contacting some real estate agents here before you arrive, and get them started on shortlisting suitable apartments according to your budget and requirements. so that you can start viewing these apartments by the time you get here. as for the broadband, it'll take a couple of weeks minimum to get it up and running. things here simply just don't move as fast as we expect them to

Dec 2nd, 2006, 23:04	#23
burnz Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bandra, Mumbai Posts: 24	hi max, the places u mentioned (Goregaon, Chembur etc) are all in the suburbs quite a distance away from south mumbai, and the daily commute would probably kill you. driving time during good traffic, you're looking at 1hr minimum. during peak hours, it can take you anywhere from 1.5hrs to more than 2hrs each way. i'd strongly suggest against living this far. a much better bet would be Prabhadevi, Parel or Worli. if you go further south, that's where you'll hit prime real estate with sky high prices (places like Malabar Hills, Breach Candy, Peddar Rd, Colaba, Cuffe Parade etc). one example is a fellow expat friend of mine, who has a 2 bedroom apartment in a 20-30yr old building in south mumbai (cuffe parade) and pays about 120,000 rupees monthly rental although as i've mentioned before, it is very difficult to find newly-built apartments in South Mumbai these days. the few new constructions in South Mumbai tend to be in larger configurations (3 bedroom or larger), and new 1 bedroom apartments in the south would be almost unheard of these days. so it'll most likely have to be a compromise. either sacrifice some comfort (older apartment in the South) for a shorter commute, or put up with a long daily commute in exchange for a nicer place to stay in the suburbs where apartments are newer and cheaper.

Dec 3rd, 2006, 03:17	#25
romagna67 Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: italy Posts: 41	Oh yeah, forgot... what can you tell me about Harbour area? It's in Mumbay south and i saw affordable prices... Max

Dec 3rd, 2006, 03:56	#26
anar Maha Guru Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: India Posts: 682	a visiting friend from britain paid me a visit at my parents' flat in the suburbs of mumbai - he took the local train. he is a very good-humoured man - he described his journey there as a 'free massage'! and he was putting it mildly. romagna67, you have no idea what's in store for you!!! chembur? harbour? goregaon? these are cesspits of pollution and overcrowding - pay attention to what burnz is trying to tell you - if you value your sanity and well-being, that is.

Dec 3rd, 2006, 12:09	#27
burnz Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bandra, Mumbai Posts: 24	unfortunately i can't really comment on taking the local trains, as my company has kindly provided me with a company car and chauffeur to get around. but i do know that regular train commuters usually buy monthly passes, instead of buying tickets each day. Harbour is definitely not south mumbai.. the Harbour suburbs are made up of Chembur, Mankhurd, Govandi and Trombay areas.. if u ask me frankly, harbour suburbs are considered to be poorer areas compared to western suburbs and central suburbs.. if you choose to stay in the suburbs and commute to south mumbai, i would only suggest staying in the western suburbs... so u can try places like Bandra, Khar, Santacruz, Juhu or even up to Andheri (in order of proximity to south mumbai, bandra being closest of these places)... i prob would not advise going further northwards of Andheri...

Dec 4th, 2006, 12:56	#30
burnz Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Bandra, Mumbai Posts: 24	max, u'd do well to listen to mani.. avoid the trains as best as you can.. if you're not getting a car, try your very best to stay as close to the office as possible.. best if it's walkable distance.. else, maybe somewhere that is at most half an hr's drive so you can at least take a cab and it wouldn't cost u too much.