Madurai … It's not the best place for solo travelers as the street hassle is relentless. In two hours wandering the town centre, I was asked for money about once every two minutes, plus there was barely a second passed when there was not at least one rickshaw driver or vendor trying to get money out of me. Sometimes I had more than one person at the same time hassling me. Some of these guys were very aggressive and a firm no several times did not work and I had to yell at them to go away. I have never experienced anything like it even in India.
Greenland Youth Hostel in Kodaikanal … Nice quiet place. A little trek from the centre of town brings you to this place. fantastic views of the plains and surrounding hillsides. dorm type bunker beds, plus individual rooms available. One can meet people from all over the world here. Small cafeteria attached. Fireplace only in individual rooms. can get pretty cold out here, so carry woolens.
Gandhinagar Youth Hostel in Gandhi Nagar … Chaitanya Nimavat is an excellent help in all aspects of this hostel. He was very informative and his knowledge of everything was impressive.
Greenland Youth Hostel in Kodaikanal … Well here you think you have come to a place where you can relax and really have harmony with the nature. The hospitality is good and the ever smiling manager Mr. Prince (Who is well recognized by most of the travel agents of kodai and some other hotel owners) is a great plus. The owners also shares there home in the same premises. They are also very helpful and ready to give you information. Hotel has its own kitchen, which serves you the dish which you want. (Actually when we visited, since it was off season kitchen was not at its full swing but they managed for our food). If you are a tea lover you will have to get milk powder with you as they provide black tea/coffee. (May be someone who has gone in pick season may be able to comment better.) The hotel is near coakers walk and if you don't like to walk down or if you don't have your own vehicle it may be bit difficult for you as the place is approx one and a half kilometers away from the heart of the town. But, the views from…
Elements Hostel - Madurai in Madurai … I booked this hostel through another hostel booking website. The people who wrote the hostel website would make very good politicians, demonstrating a real skill in stretching the truth, throwing in some white lies that go unnoticed because of the very professional presentation. Elements is very clean, modern, and the rooftop garden is very relaxing. However, other website claims are perhaps a little too optimistic. Self catering kitchens -- There are kitchens, but if you're hoping to save money by preparing your own food, forget it. The kitchens have no cooker and the fridges are turned off all of the time. There are cupboards and the odd bit of crockery. Laundry facilities -- there is a washing machine but guests are not allowed to use it themselves. You have to give it to staff. They still charge per item despite one washload costing the same however many items is in it. Your laundry is then hung out in public view on the washing lines, and not ironed. For this service, they…
Greenland Youth Hostel in Kodaikanal … Don't believe the web site of Greenland hostel. The web site looks great, but if you go there, you can see the reality. It may be cheaper, but you can get much cheaper hotels in Kodaikkanal. I went to Greenland on July 6, 2008 with my colleagues including twenty-three girls and thirteen boys. We had called them and booked domes for the entire team two days before. But when we were there, what we got was two dorms (you can hardly call it dorm) one hundred meters apart. When we inquired about the girls' security, they gave us big promises. But we boys had to stay awake and serve as watchmen at the night. There were some guys drinking near the room where our girls were staying. They kept drinking overnight and making comments towards the girls. When we complained at the reception, there was no response. So we had to check-out the very next morning. The food is very bad and costly. For a chappatti, you need to pay Rs. 8 and for an egg curry, you need Rs. 40. The rooms were of very poor…
Hotel Gnanam in Thanjavur … Although this is certainly not a budget hotel or hostel, it was ideal for a treat of a nice comfortable night after several nights in dirt cheap flea pits. The hotel is very clean and comfortable, and the central location -- an easy walk from the temple, shops and palace -- is also convenient. However, although the website claims internet access, this was not actually available when I was there. I recommend this for budget travelers having a blow out or mid range travelers.
JC Woodville Manor in Kodaikanal … I booked online for a dorm bed. The website allowed me as one person to book one bed in a dorm. However, on arrival I was told that I could not stay in the dorm because only groups could book it. This leads me to conclude one of two options -- either they took one look at me as a white female and refused to give me the dorm bed at only 100 rupees a night because they wanted more money out of me and said I could only have a standard room costing 290 rupees a night, or they advertise dorm beds purely to get backpackers to go there then sell the high priced rooms. The only reason I booked JC Woodville manor was because cheap dorm beds were offered and it was a dorm bed I booked. I am not happy about this. Also, I am a backpacker traveling light. I handed in clothes for the laundry -- you really cannot do them in your room here -- and explained that I had no other clean clothes. The receptionist assured me they would be back in the afternoon. When I returned early evening, I was told my…
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