Mister Madras

After visiting InterContinental many times to meet people who were staying there, for events & functions and for, of course, dining in, I decided it was high time I experienced a stay at this property. A while back, it happened and here I’m chronicling that experience.  Location, Reception and First Impressions InterContinental Mahabalipuram stands among a handful of star properties that are located close to Mamallapuram but not exactly inside the bustling town. It’s situated on the ever-busy East Coast Road and is a cool 42kms away from Central Chennai and almost the same distance from the Chennai International Airport as well (yes, I checked). Post the ‘vanakkam’ by the security personnel who greets you right at the gate, the first thing one would notice about ICC is how simple and elegant it is. Once you get past the security checks, you’re welcomed by the sky and a long pathway and standing on the edge of it gives us a bird’s-eye view of ...

It was yet another trip to Mahabalipuram and if you visit the famous tourist town as much as I do, you should be knowing that unless you’re a tourist, it’s better to stay from the centre of the city. A quick search told me that Spago Inn, a considerably new property has made its way to ECR, right at the entrance of Mahabs. I had also seen it, right on the main road, during my regular drives down that brilliant stretch of tarmac. The town is famous for pocket-friendly options making it perfect for a day’s retreat and Spago Inn too fits the bill.  Unlike most of the properties in Mahabs, Spago Inn has a car parking space, enough for more than half a dozen four-wheelers. The room is compact, similar to most of the properties in that price range but ticks off all the basic boxes one would expect. The place is extremely clean and neat. The linens were tidy and so was the bathroom. The bed was comfy too...

During one of my solo bike rides from Chennai to Coorg, I took a detour to check out Wayanad and since Coorg is just a few hours by road from there, I decided to use the small town also for a layover. A quick search told me about the limited options this tourist location has and as I was all by myself, I didn’t mind taking a risk by choosing whatever has a decent rating. iCon Residency in Kalpetta had some really good reviews and in no time, I was in Kerala via Bangalore.  iCon Residency is located on National Highway 212. Though the direction on Google Maps is accurate, finding the place was quite a challenge as it’s located past a narrow street. The hotel looks brilliant from the outside in total contrast to the otherwise old town. There’s also a decent parking space. The basic room I opted for is small when compared to average rooms but for a solo traveller, it was cos...

Hotels like Northern Suites remind us that it’s not actually that big a deal for the customers to have a perfect experience. On my way to Coorg by bike from Chennai, I stopped by at Bangalore and as a city with tons of options, I was lucky enough to spot this hidden gem. Located at Brookefields, one of the city’s best areas, I was happy to discover a place which has all the basic amenities a person travelling alone would need. To be honest, it took a lot of searching online as I needed a place that’s light on the wallet yet be comfy as possible. Considering I was all by myself, I didn’t mind being a bit adventurous and that’s how I landed here. Thankfully, they have an open space right opposite the hotel which was more than enough to park my bike. Though I was sceptical about it being an open space, I was glad that it was safe and sound when I got back the next day.  ...

For those who follow me on Instagram, they’d know how much I love Pondicherry, Auroville and of course, the drive to it from Chennai. The town has a lot to offer and is the perfect weekend getaway destination for the Chennai city dwellers. In one such visit a while ago, I got to stay at this hotel called Le Mirage. Thanks to Trip Advisor, I found this place which had some rave reviews and within the push of the accelerator, I was here for a weekend.  Le Mirage is located at the heart of the hustle and bustle of Pondy. This makes it easier for those who want to be in the centre of the city where the majority of the restaurants, bars and most of the must-visit destinations are. On the flip side, as it’s right next to the main road, they don’t have a dedicated two-wheeler or car parking. I was lucky enough to get a parking space right in front of the hotel but when I had to take it later in the eveni...

Apart from being a major tourist destination for the South of India, Madurai is also a bustling city with people running around all day long. So, when a friend and I, who were riding from Chennai needed a pit stop at the city while going to another village nearby for another friend’s wedding, we decided to stay at the outskirts of the city instead of getting into it. No place in Madurai’s outskirts is as famous as Mattuthavani – a place with one of the busiest bus stops in the state. The groom friend of ours, who is from the city, thankfully got us a room at Meenakshi’s Sunshine Hotel.  The hotel is located right behind the city’s famous hospital – Meenakshi Mission Hospital & Research Centre and as you can guess from the name, it’s owned by the same management. The hotel has a separate entrance through a street past the hospital and following Google Maps got us to the location with no issues whatsoever. The place a good parking facili...