Discovering Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels

Discovering Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels

During my recent trip to India, I had the pleasure of staying at Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels located on Cathedral Road in Chennai. With a large group in tow, staying with relatives wasn’t the best option for us. We chose this hotel for its reasonable rates and convenient location for our itinerary.

I booked an "Executive Club" room for about 12,000 Rs (approximately 133 USD) during the summer. While it may be slightly pricier compared to other options, the quality of service made it worth the expense.

Hotel Information

Welcomhotel boasts a variety of amenities, including four restaurants, a shopping center, a travel desk, a gym, a spa, and a swimming pool. It is located about 7 km from the city center and 15 km from the airport, which is not too far from the U.S. Consulate. However, do keep in mind that traffic in Chennai can be quite chaotic, so travel times can vary significantly.

Check-In and Common Areas

I arrived at the hotel at 5 AM after navigating through a maze of immigration procedures. The check-in process took about 25 minutes for three rooms accommodating eight people. Although they promised to bring our luggage to our rooms, after half an hour of waiting, I had to go back and retrieve it myself.

The hotel’s reception area features distinctive decor with eye-catching artwork. The lobby is spacious, with a bar on the left and an entrance to the restaurant on the right. However, the waiting area is somewhat limited, with only one small table and chairs in the corner.

Hotel Amenities

There is also a premium chocolate shop, Fabelle, within the hotel, where prices start at 529 Rs (around 6 USD). It’s rumored to be a product of ITC and is available at many of their hotels. I hope the quality lives up to the price!

The second floor has a small public area, primarily a walkway around a chandelier, but it also features a cozy seating area with a comfortable sofa. This is also where you can find the Indo-Chinese restaurant called Mahjong Room.

Accommodations

The "Executive Club" room I stayed in was quite spacious, measuring up to 60 square meters. Upon entering, I was greeted by a living area with a sofa and dining table. The space was airy, although I found the placement of electrical outlets a bit inconvenient, with only one located next to the window.

The most important feature, of course, is the bed. While I often find beds in India to be too firm, this one was relatively comfortable. There was an additional chair beside the bed, but I didn’t find it very comfortable for extended sitting.

Bathroom and Internet Connectivity

The bathroom had a unique design, featuring a small area leading into the wardrobe before reaching the shower space. The hotel offers a large bathtub, perfect for those looking to unwind. However, the shower setup was a bit unusual as it lacked a traditional standing shower.

WiFi is provided free of charge, but the speed was quite slow, sufficient only for basic web browsing.

Conclusion

My family members were very pleased with our accommodations. Despite a few minor shortcomings, the overall space and service were well worth the money we spent. If I have the opportunity to return to Chennai, I wouldn’t hesitate to book a room at Welcomhotel again.