Chennai Guide, map and photos. boo.com members recommend hotels, restaurants and attractions in Chennai

When I arrived after a long overnight flight, they had no record of my booking with hostelworld. I would have gone somewhere else if I was not so tired. So, I lost the deposit. Worse, the staff did nothing but try to pull dishonest scams on me. I was way overcharged for a few items of laundry,...more When I arrived after a long overnight flight, they had no record of my booking with hostelworld. I would have gone somewhere else if I was not so tired. So, I lost the deposit. Worse, the staff did nothing but try to pull dishonest scams on me. I was way overcharged for a few items of laundry, which was bad enough, but then they demaned immediate payment. I only had a 500 rupee note. They promised to bring my 360 rupee change back but did not despite the fact I asked several times and then complained to the manager- who is in on all of the scams. Eventually I got it after complaining in reception in front of a load of potential guests, hours later. A staff member tried to charge me 100 rupees for lift operation. All she did was pull open the door as we were both getting out of the lift. Worse came at check out. The bill I was given was so far off I demanded to see a list of written charges. At that point, it was recalculated and they decided it was 1000 rupees less. Obviously most tourists just pay up without question and it was only because I protested that I got the right bill. If they had succeeded in every scam attempt, I would have paid 1600 rupees extra. The final bill was more than 10 times what hostelworld said the balance would be. They say they do NOT deal with hostelworld. I lost the deposit I paid and was overchanrged big style, not to mention the scam attempts. Worse, the room was such poor value. The shower did not work and I had a cold water bucketand jug for a shower. I was charged 750 rupees for this room - for 100 rupees I would have expected a cold water bucket, but they charged me 750 rupees a night. The room was filthy ad the bedding full of stains and holes - I slept in my sleepsheet. I refuse ot ever book with hostelworld again as they deal with hotels like these and clearly have no standards and are willing to allow hotels to charge people who book through tem whatever they like. I strongly say DON'T go there, especially not single women. I think I got the dishonest treatmentI did because I was blond and travelling alone. Maybe couples and groups will get treated withmore honesty and respect.close

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by millie7597 – posted on Feb 11, 2008

8

I really did not like Chennai, I thought it was the diriest, smelliest city I visited in the whole of South India. Worse than that I did not feel it had any character to sell itself either. On the plus side the train station (Chennai Central) is big - as is the bus station - and the staff were...more I really did not like Chennai, I thought it was the diriest, smelliest city I visited in the whole of South India. Worse than that I did not feel it had any character to sell itself either. On the plus side the train station (Chennai Central) is big - as is the bus station - and the staff were helpful at both, which is particularly good when you want to get out of the place!close

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by benwil4598 – posted on Apr 15, 2006

2