Stay in Madurai

TonyH

Have stayed in Madurai many times at most of the main hotels in the city. My friend and I want to stay at the Hotel Northgate Hotel on Alagarkoil Road, for the last week in November but have not been able to `raise` them, either by email or telephone. Has anyone their address ,email or other details, would you please pass them on to me. I hope the hotel is still going as it has always been a great place to stay.
TonyH.

ananda2193

Here's their website.

http://www.hotelnorthgate.com/

alextur

TonyH, could you suggest what other hotels you have stayed in Madurai would you recommend?

TonyH

Hi Alextur,
I have stayed in a number of hotels during my visits to Madurai.
When first visiting this amazing city I use to stay at the Pandayn Hotel which was very nice. The food was very good and they have a wonderful restaurant and a nice bar. It is, or was not cheap and think now it would be quite expensive.

Next door to the Pandayn is the Goverment owned hotel, the Hotel Madurai Ashok. Again very nice , not up to the standards of the Pndayn, but very nice.
They do ,or did have a very nice swimming pool. From memory after several stays there found the rates to be also getting quite expensive.

From there stayed at the Hotel Supreme which is located more in the city as the aforemention which are not quite central.
They have a very good roof garden restaurant and a bar.
Stayed there a few times but found the service not very good and the rooms were not being kept well. I also read a review of the hotel on a website some time ago which was not good at all. Poor service and the rooms were not very good.
Some of my Tamil frinds that live around the area, several years ago now told me of a new hotel which was opened, the Hotel Northgate which was owned by a taylor who had made good. I did meet this nice man and when I and my friend stayed there he made us most welcome. I think we were the first westerners to stay there. The rest is history. I never stay anywhere else now.

I have not been to India since 2005 but am going again this late November and shall be once again staying at the Northgate. The rates were quite good and they have a very good roof restaurant and a bar.
Let`s hope things have not changed much. I shall be making my booking shortly.

I have read your other emil enquries and replies regarding hotels. There are so many to choose from. It`s alwys better to book direct as it cuts out the agents fee. I know everyone has to make a living but it hels to keep costs down.

There are many more hotel where I have stayed , some really wonderful, just outside the city but if you want to `feel ` the India as I do then pick a place about in the middle, not too cheap and certainly not expensive.
In Madurai I have details of a bank that has always given very good exchange rates and they will actually bring the money to your hotel room to exchange.
All you do is phone them. Have dealt with them for many years. Let me know if you would like to have details and I will send you the details privately.
Having travelled through Tamil Nadu both south and across to Kerala many times, please email if I can be of any assistance.
Enjoy.

TonyH.

alextur

Hi TonyH,
First of all, thanks a lot for your respond. Surely, I want to have all details you can provide me regarding Madurai as it will be my first experience in India.
I have already looked up at website of North Gate hotel and after your comments it looks as this place suit me as well. If it still good as before.
I do want to know info about Bank where I can make exchange at a good rate.
Now a couple more questions.
1.Whenever you are going to India ( it seems as you have been there more than couple times) how did you prepare yourself regarding your health? What I mean here - did you do some vaccines and if you did - what exactly those vaccines were? Another problem I was told here in Canada - is malaria in India. Did you take some pills against that thing? On that Forums I heard from some US folks they tried Maralon, did you use it?
2. Did you travel around Madurai? What transport did you use: taxi, train, bus?
What places around Madurai are you familiar with? What are the taxi rates?
3.Have you ever been to Chennai, do you know hotels ( good ones ) in there?
Of course I have more than that but let's start from these questions and if you don't mind I will ask you more.
Thanks a lot Tony, Much appreciate your help.
Alex.

Nick-H

We have a nicely organised board, all divided into different forums. You'll find one for Health and Well Being where most of your health preparation questions will be already answered. Where in doubt you can ask your own question there.

But please do not mix up the health questions here in the Destinations forum.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

alextur

I am sorry Nick to disturb this 'STAY IN MADURAI' forum. I am asking questions that concern me more or less when I found people who are willing to answer, that's all. It is interesting when I asked yourself same questions in not related to subject forums - you did answered me nicely and did not mentioned about that HEALTH thing forum, but I definetely will switch to that one if I will need again. Thank you.

Nick-H

No problem.... Indiamike threads stray all over the place!

But we try to keep the basic travel stuff in the right places.

Indiamike.com offers you thousands of people who are willing to answer!

machadinha

Heheh. Alex I think that wasn't meant as an admonition, just that your health questions are more likely to gain the attention they deserve (or may already have been touched upon) in an appropriately titled thread in the health forum, rather than tucked away in a thread entitled "Stay in Madurai" in Tamil Nadu forum where people will have to just stumble into them by accident, that's all

Keep on enjoying the forum!

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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

TonyH

Hi Alextur,
Sorry for not coming back to you sooner.
I am sure the Hotel Northgate will be fine. My friend and I will be staying there in Late November so I shall make sure if you book there then that everything is in order. Good idea when booking any hotel that faces a main road then ask when booking a room ask for one at the back of hotel. The traffic starts early as do the sound of horns.
You of course must visit the Meenaskshi Temple, everal times just to take it in. Also go early in the morning when the Indian elephants are walked around the outer Temple walls. For a donation you can , as I have done many times managed a ride on one. An experience not to be missed.
I will send another ekmail regarding changing TCs to Indian money.
This year will be my 23 visit to India and I have always stayed in Madurai. I enjoy the city very much and love the people there.
You must go with an open mind, when in Rome etc.
My advice is that you must visit your doctor who will tell you what you need to take, including what anti- malaria tablets you will need. What injections you will need before you go, it is a must.
Travelling around the city I always go by auto rickshaw. Always ask how much first.

Travel outside the city go by bus or train both experiences not tobe missed,. Saying that I did take an auto rickshaw 25 klms on one occassion.

As far as hotels in other cities you are going to there have been some excelent threads from Nick H and gantam and others already posted on this subject.

It may be of use but I sometimes visit www.tripadvisor.co.uk as it posts comments from travellers that have stayed in hotels around the world, including India.

TonyH.

Hope this all helps.

anar

i was told the taj hotel is a very good option when staying in madurai because apparently it is on a hill that offers views of the city below, including of course all the amazing temples. also, they periodically offer package deals which make it very affordable. has anyone stayed here or has some info about it?

alextur

Thanks a lot, TonyH, your respond as usually is as much firm as comprehensive. I appreciate any other advices from you if you will do.

TonyH

Anar,
I have stayed once at the tag hotel. It is out of the city along the road not too far. My lasting memories are of , after the busy ,hot and noisey city centre the tag was very quite and peacefull, almost serene due to the contrast.
The rooms are very nice and the rstaurant very good. They have a small swimming pool and the service at all times in the hotel was good.
Apart from being quite expensive, and that was a few years ago, I can still remember the view over Madurai which has stayed with me . You can see all the tops of the tall buildings and the wonderful temples.
To me the tag was part of India that at the time I `escaped` to but I prefer to be `in amongst it` as it were. I like to stay in the city but if you want some peace and quite then you will find it at the tag.
TonyH.

anar

thanks, tonyh - i like the sound of it, somewhere that affords one respite from the noise, bustle of the city.

TonyH

Once stayed in Chennia , Trident . 90 dollars for 4 hours sleep! I could feed a family in some places I know for a month on that ! Beautiful hotel though.
I am passing through Chennia and wil be staying for 1/2 nights before flying back to uk. Small hotels not too far from airport where too relax. Any suggestions please and if poss. with email.
Thanks