Hotel Atithi
It’s your rock of recovery in the most chaotic sea of traffic as you turn into Pondy town off the East Coast Road, but this Aitken-Spence property oozes insouciance despite its distance from the quiet Frenchified boulevards of White Town. It calls its multi-cuisine restaurant Boulevard and peoples it with a forest of chairs, has nouveau rather than art deco-furnished rooms and makes much of its rooftop pool, business centre and conference facilities. Tariff: From Rs 3,500 (single) to Rs 5,500 (double-bedded suite), inclusive of breakfast and taxes Contact: 0413-2345000, atithipondicherry.com
Lotus Pondicherry hotels
One of the bigger players in town, the Lotus group has one property in the Tamil end and another near the promenade. Décor may be unremarkable, but the Bay View is nothing to sneeze at of a morning. The group also runs service apartments on the edge of town that could give starred hotels a run for their money, price-wise. Tariff: Comfort Rs 2,350-2,850 (doubles, inclusive of breakfast and all taxes), Bay View Rs 3,150 (non sea-view) to Rs 9,900 (sea-facing suite for six) Contact: 2228777/9777, lotuscomforthotel.com
The Sunway GRT Grand
Yet another for those who prefer the anonymity and convenience of a larger property, the Sunway is a byword for outmodish southern Indian hospitality around here, second only to the Surguru. No pool here, but there’s carpets underfoot! Tariff: Rs 4,000 (superior single) to Rs 8,000 (suite), inclusive of breakfast Contact: 2281608, grthotels.com
Hotel Surguru
This local legend of rooming VFM may be guilty of the typical unimaginative décor that puts the ‘industry’ into the hospitality business, but it is truly unbeatable for rock-bottom prices and one of the most popular vegetarian restaurants in town. Tariff: From Rs 1,300 (superior single) to Rs 2,000 (executive suite) Contact: 2339022, hotelsurguru.com
Ginger
The Taj’s budget brand is more a mid-level offering in Pondicherry, with a modest eatery instead of the order-in menus usual at most Ginger properties — in deference to its out-of-the-way location, off to one side of the East Coast Road heading into town. So if you intend to hire a two-wheeler to do your sightseeing most days, or you’ve left your bookings too late, the Ginger is all right. Otherwise, there are many more options in the town proper at comparable prices. Tariff: From Rs 2,499 (singles) to Rs 2,999 (doubles), taxes extra Contact: 6663333, gingerhotels.com
The Richmond
One of the better full-service small hotels, bang in the middle of White Town, matching it with a typical sunny façade frosted with white, the Richmond is not so much a repository of the spirit of place as a place with spirits, perhaps. But it has all the mod-cons, a three-way (Chinese, Indian, Continental) menu and room service to boot, besides being in a nice spot for proximity to the waterfront and relief from the hectic roads of the Tamil Quarter, with a side order of shopping and eating out. Tariff: Rs 3,000 (standard single) to Rs 5,500 (triple-bedded family room), inclusive of breakfast Contact: 2346363, theresidency.com
Sea Side Guest House
For proximity to the promenade and rock-bottom pricing, though, you can’t beat this Ashram-run guesthouse. All you have to concede is its youth-hostel caveats: an 11pm curfew, no booze, no butts, no living beings on plates, plus stringent ID checks for police verification. In the other corner, though, there’s waterfront location, cleanliness, comfort, and quite a well-manicured façade. Tariff: From Rs 850 (standard room, single) to Rs 1,650 (triple-bedded sea-facing suite), inclusive of breakfast. All rooms air-conditioned, but there’s a Rs 100 discount on room rates if the AC is not used. Contact: 2336494, 2221825, seaside@sriaurobindosociety.org.in
Patricia Guest House
If it’s institutional order that makes Sea Side, this little homestay thrives on the egalitarian spirit of a colourful family residence. Draped in bead curtains and mesh canopies, busy with artwork and antiques, the 200-year-old home of Patricia Michel and her son Olivier encourages guests to come and go as they please, and generally… well, make themselves at home. Tariff: From Rs 2,000 in the low season (Sept-Nov and April-June, not including breakfast) to Rs 2,500 in high season (July-Aug and Dec-Mar, including breakfast) Contact: 2335130, patriciaguesthouse.spaces.live.com
Dumas Guest House
On the far end of the promenade, secluded yet eminently accessible for your evening stroll, this is yet another restored colonial property of seven air-conditioned double-bed rooms, prettily furnished with old-world charm and a small pantry open to guests. Tariff: Rs 2,000 Contact: 2225726, dumasguesthouse.com
L’escale
The main draw of this little ‘boutique guesthouse’ is its airy charm and sea-view terrace. Tariff: Rs 1,500-2,500 Contact: 2222562, www.lescalepondicherry.com
Ocean Spray
A mint-new resort off the East Coast Road, Ocean Spray is an ambitious 23-acre property with a range of dining and business venues, a pool and a five-acre manmade lake, to support its six tiers of accommodation Tariff: Rs 4,900 (standard singles) to Rs 25,000 (royal suites), taxes extra Contact: 2650000, oceanspray.in