I would like to find out from forum members which hotels in Pondicherry near the beach are good. I had checked out some beach resorts but they work out to be a bit costly, and therefore I am now opting for hotels near the beach which works out to be near enough the same kind of thing. It would be great if the hotel is walking distance from the beach which is something I am ideally looking for. My budget is anything up to Rs3500 per night. I would like the hotel to have a good view and good restaurant where we can sometimes have breakfast if need be.
Hello, welcome to the forum! (Images from Senthil Ram, Tripoto, Abhinav Sumit and Davapriya) Overview The union territory of Pondicherry is located close to the state of Tamil Nadu. This small town is known for its French-style streets and even residential areas. It also has a number of beaches that line its northern point up to its southern point. To the northernmost point is the Auroville Beach, followed by Serenity Beach, then Promenade Beach, then Veerampattinam Beach and finally, Paradise Beach. There are many resorts close to these beaches but they can be quite expensive, like you have mentioned. You can opt for hotels which are close to the beach but won't cost as much. However, not all of these beaches have hotels close to their shores, you can mainly find hotels in close distance to Promenade Beach and Serenity Beach. Thus, you can make these beaches as your base and just make day trips to other beaches that don't have as much hotel options that fit within your budget. Hotels in Pondicherry Near Beach (Under Rs. 3,500/Night) 1. Hotel Du Parc - Just about eight minutes of walking away from the Promenade Beach is the Hotel Du Parc. This heritage hotel was built around the 17th century and has served as the residence of various French officials back then. The facade is very much French, with its bright yellow and turquoise motifs and white-framed windows. The rooms are classy too, with a colonial vibe and designed uniquely. The antique furnitures and overhanging cotton drapes take one to the older times. You have three dining options as well, starting with La Maree, their multi-cuisine restaurant. Cuisines served here are French, Continental and Indian. Other dining options are High Tide and The Canopy, which also serve the same cuisines but on a different setting. Outside the property building, there is a garden with some sitting areas that the guest can relax in during their leisure time. The best feature of the hotel is its hidden location, it remains far from the chaos of the city centre, but you can still access the main beaches and other attractions from it. Internet is also widely available in the hotel, free of charge for staying guests. Finally, for those coming in with their car, the hotel doesn't have parking facilities but it can arrange for a parking slot as long as you reserve early. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Promenade Beach (450 Metres) Room Rates - Standard Room at Rs. 3,500/Night (April to December or Off-Peak Tourist Season) Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Flat-Screen Television, Safe, Telephone, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Internet, Travel Desk, Restaurants, Library, Laundry Services and Doctor On Call Address - No. 5, Jawaharlal Nehru Street, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 413 222 6591 Hotel Du Parc (Image from Prashant Agrawal) 2. Laila's County - This hotel is about nine minutes of walking away from the Promenade Beach. It is also just under a kilometre away from the Aurobindo Ashram. The hotel has this creamy brown facade, which continues until the reception area. Onto the rooms, they are not that spacious but would do for a short stay. They also have a cream and brown interior, complete with the basic amenities you need. They have two restaurants/bars, the first is Cucina while the second is The Dragon Lounge. Cucina is an all-day restaurant with various cuisines like French, Western, Indian and Chinese. The Dragon Lounge also brings international cuisines to the table but is mostly a lounge are with some alcohol-based beverages. The hotel also provides for currency exchange and travel assistance for guests. In addition, they give huge discounts for guests who book rooms during weekdays. They also have in-house internet for staying guests but signal might be weak at times. Overall, if you intend to mostly do some sightseeing, Laila's County would prove to be a value for money option, as they provide the basic needs of the guests without hurting their pockets. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Promenade Beach (500 Metres) Room Rates - Executive Room at Rs. 2,500/Night and Club Room at Rs. 3,500/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Television, Safe, Work Desk, Telephone, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Restaurants/Bars, Internet, Travel Desk, Doctor on Call and Currency Exchange Address - No. 8, Qaid Ambour, Ambour Salai, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 413 233 3633 3. La Maison Tamoule - Just a short 10-minute walk away from the Promenade Beach is the La Maison Tamoule. This is a small heritage property owned by the Neemrana Hotels. Don't be scared though, as this is still within the mid-range rate despite being a property of the famed hotel chain. The architectural style of the heritage property is interesting, a mixture of Tamil, French and Baroque ones. The lobby area looks quite stunning during day time, when natural light from the ceiling goes in. Rooms have wooden bed frames and wooden furnitures, fitted with modern features like television and air conditioning. Some rooms are duplex types, wherein you need to climb stairs to reach the upper floor where the bed is located. There's an in-house restaurant too serving Indian and Continental cuisines to guests. While the La Maison Tamoule isn't a vast property, nor does it have unique features like a swimming pool, it does take the guests back to almost like a different era. As a bonus, just adjacent to the property is the place where Sri Aurobindo resided when he arrived in Pondicherry. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Promenade Beach (600 Metres) Room Rates - Superior Room at Rs. 3,250/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Cable Television, Safe, Work Desk, Telephone, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Restaurant, Internet, Laundry Services and Room Services Address - Old No. 36, New No. 44, Vysial Street, Heritage Town, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 413 222 4103 4. Hotel Corbelli - Hotel Corbelli is located about 11 minutes away from the Promenade Beach of Pondicherry. It is also just a walking distance away from attractions like Eglise De Notre Dame Des Anges and the Immaculate Concepcion Cathedral. This is one of the most affordable hotels located close to the beach in Pondicherry. The facade is just a basic white and brown, while the reception area is just a small lobby with a desk. Rooms are quite small in size but enough for one to two persons. There is a television set upon a table that doubles as a work desk as well. For dining options, the hotel has two restaurants/bars, one is located on the rooftop while the other is located on the basement. The rooftop restaurant offers Italian dishes with a wonderful view of the city. The basement bar is mostly for alcohol-based beverages and some starters or snacks. They do have a rooftop swimming pool as well, which is relatively well maintained and clean. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Promenade Beach (900 Metres) Room Rates - Standard Double Room at Rs. 1,600/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Cable Television, Work Desk, Telephone, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Bar, Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Shop, Shuttle Services, Room Services, Car Rental and Currency Exchange Address - No. 170, Mission Street, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 413 222 5301 5. Hotel De Pondicherry - Just a few minutes away from Promenade Beach, bang on the buck located adjacent to it, is the Hotel De Pondicherry. It is also just 10 minutes away from the The Basilica Of The Sacred Heart of Jesus. This is yet another heritage property, mainly a French town home converted into a hotel. As such, rooms are smaller and there aren't as much facilities like the usual hotels have. However, the cozy and charming beauty of the hotel would enamour the history lovers. It has this white and gold facade, right from the entrance, surrounded by a lush garden envelopes the entire property. The lobby is very simple but the addition of religious articles in the form of paintings and statues would relax you. Rooms are quite spacious with the traditional French style of design as well, with the low-framed beds, small window, quaint furnitures and bright bathrooms. Their in-house restaurant is known as the Le Club and serves authentic French cuisine to guests. They also have a rooftop terrace where guests can enjoy the surrounding view of the sea and the French town. For those celebrating special events, the hotel has a mini conference hall that you can rent as well. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Promenade Beach (120 Metres) Room Rates - Standard Double Room at Rs. 3,000/Night and Superior Room at Rs. 3,500/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Cable Television, Closet, Work Desk, Telephone, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Restaurant, Rooftop Terrace, Gardens, Internet, Mini Conference Hall, Shuttle Services and Laundry Services Address - No. 38, Dumas Street, Beach Road, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 413 222 7409 Hotel De Pondicherry (Image from Booking) 6. Hotel Sun Park - Under 300 metres away from the Sri Aurobindo Ashram and merely 650 metres away from the Promenade Beach, the Hotel Sun Park is another good option for a mid-range hotel in the city. It is located at the centre of Pondicherry, where transportation options and restaurants can easily be accessed from. Thus, this hotel might not be the best choice for those who want some tranquility as the location is quite chaotic. But if you need to reach the prime areas of Pondicherry, this is the hotel that can give you easy access to those areas. The facade is very modern, a single building with yellow and grey hues. The lobby is a stark white, along with some brown accents and some edgy lighting designs. The rooms are trendy too with black, brown or green accents and bold geometric prints on the walls or bed sheets. The hotel does have a kitchen that serves meals via room service, mainly breakfast. There is an elevator that can take guests to higher floors so there's no need to use the stairs, especially for the older individuals. You can also book a room for this hotel via Oyo Rooms, since they are affiliated with one another. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Promenade Beach (650 Metres) Room Rates - Standard Room at Rs. 1,199 (Oyo Rooms) and Executive Room at Rs. 2,700/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Cable Television, Closet, Work Desk, Telephone, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Internet, Travel Desk, Room Services, Laundry Services, Elevator and Shuttle Services Address - No. 18, Rangapillai Street, Near BSNL Head Office, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 413 234 9700 7. Hotel Continental - A bit further from the Promenade Beach, at its southern end, is the Hotel Continental. The hotel is located quite close to the Puducherry Railway Station though, merely seven minutes of walking away. This is strictly a budget hotel, best for bachelors that would only be staying in Pondicherry for a short while. The hotel has a simple white facade, surrounded by some plants right at the entrance. The lobby area is very simple and just beside it, there are some facilities for snacks as well. Rooms are very basic, with the amenities you might need like a bed and bathroom. The in-house dining area slash restaurant is located on the upper floor, but again, is very simple with just some Indian and French dishes. Aside from these mentioned facilities, the hotel lacks on any other aspects like elevator, swimming pool and conference halls. But if you are tight on budget, then this is a good option, if you can make do with the lesser comforts. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Promenade Beach (950 Metres) Room Rates - Standard AC Room at Rs. 1,309/night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Cable Television and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Rooftop Restaurant, Room Service and Internet (Lobby) Address - No. 48, Opposite PWD Office, La Bourdonnais Street, Puducherry, 605001, India Contact Number - +91 413 222 5828 8. The Serenity Hotel - This hotel is just a minute of walking away from the Serenity Beach of Pondicherry. It is also just under three kilometres away from the nearby Auroville Beach. The hotel mainly has villas for rent for guests, it can even be categorised as a guest house property because a family runs it. Located at a serene location, right at the shores of the beach, you can enjoy the view of the sea right from your villa. The rooms are very cozy, with a simple whit motif and some framed paintings on the walls. The added small sculptures and flowers add some beach vibe to the rooms. At the front of the hotel, there's a lounge area with some chairs and hammock that guests can also utilise. There are common areas like the living room, the dining room and kitchen that staying guests can also access. Privacy is very much assured because the villas are located quite a distance from one another. For breakfast, the hotel does provide them for guests, but they can be outsourced from other nearby restaurants. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Serenity Beach (150 Metres) Room Rates - Standard Room at Rs. 3,000/Night and Premium Room at Rs. 3,500/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Cable Television, Balcony, Sitting Area, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Common Kitchen, Common Living Room, Common Dining Room, Lounge Area, Internet, Shuttle Services, Massage Area and Water Sports Facilities Address - No. 16, Mariamman Koil Street, Thandirayan Kuppam, Kottakuppam, Tamil Nadu 605104, India Contact Number - +91 413 650 1555 The Serenity Hotel (Image from Booking) 9. Karthik Residency - Karthik Residency is about 11 minutes of walking away from the Serenity Beach. From the outside, it has this white and blue facade, which blends well with the surrounding sea. The interiors around the hallways are green in colour while the rooms sport a creamy white interior. The rooms are very basic but clean and well-maintained. There's a small sitting area along with a television where the guests can spend some leisurely time in. Some rooms have a terrace as well, where you can enjoy the view of the sea. The location of the hotel is very serene and quiet, perfect for those who want some time away from the chaotic city centre. For dining options, there are nearby restaurants outside the hotel like the Appu Restaurant and Theevu Plage. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Serenity Beach (950 Metres) Room Rates - Standard Room at Rs. 990/Night and Executive Room at Rs. 1,600/Night Room Amenities - Air Conditioning, Cable Television, Closet, Work Desk, Telephone, Mini Bar and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Gardens, Internet, Parking, Shared Lounge, Shops, Shuttle Services and Bicycle Rental Address - East Coast Road, Kottakuppam, Puducherry, 605104, India Contact Number - +91 97867 55755 10. Mango Hill Hotel - Last on the list is the only hotel close to the Auroville Beach, about 11 minutes of walking away, the Mango Hill Hotel. The property is vast and very scenic, with a French architectural style as well. The rooms were well thought, from the design, until the execution. Special mention goes to their Thai Cottage, which overlooks the outdoor swimming pool and has its own balcony as well. However, this accommodation type doesn't have air conditioning so you can opt for the Classic Room if you're visiting Pondicherry during summer. For dining, they have an in-house restaurant offering Indian and French cuisines to guests. What's more, most of the ingredients used in the meals are taken from the hotel's own organic garden, making the dining experience healthier. Also worth mentioning is their outdoor swimming pool, huge in size, with a wooden patio complete with lounges and with a separate shaded basin area for the children. There is also an Ayurvedic spa centre where adults can spend some time in to relax and get treatments from. Nearest Beach (Distance) - Auroville Beach (950 Metres) Room Rates - Thai Cottage at Rs. 2,500/Night and Classic Room at Rs. 3,300/Night Room Amenities - Air Cooled or Air Conditioning, Balcony, Sitting Area, Wardrobe Closet and Attached Bathroom Hotel Facilities - Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Conference Hall, Spa, Room Services and Laundry Services Address - Old Auroville Road, Bommayapalayam, Tamil Nadu 605104, India Contact Number - +91 413 265 5491 The Mango Hill (Image from Hotel Mango Hill) Conclusion These are the best hotels that are located close to the different beaches of Pondicherry. With any of these hotels, you won't need to walk for more than a few minutes to reach the beach. Further, they are quite affordable as compared to the beach resorts that line the different beach areas of Pondicherry as well. Good luck and I hope this helps you!
