[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

@shekaran, we need your help here. How would you rate Soorya resort ?

This is a horrible place to stay. Dont even think of putting your worst enemies there.I have stayed there recently and had to vacate it in one day.

More reviews on this disgusting and filthy place

Soorya Beach Resort (Pondicherry) - Hotel reviews, photos, rates - TripAdvisor

[supremeBaleno]

Thanks, Silverwood. Read the reviews and everyone finds it bad. So this is off the list.

As nitrous mentioned, Oasis is more of a farm-house/home-stay and away from the beach. From their site, it looks like a place with open space for us to meet + activities for the kids. Checked out a couple of reviews, which seem to paint a different picture. Anyone who has stayed here ?

So looks like we are back at St.James. :-)

[SILVERWOOD]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

So looks like we are back at St.James. :-)

Been there, done that.

This place is ok for staying, but the food is horrible and even horrible is the room service.You may have to order your lunch at 10am.

[supremeBaleno]

Yeah, agree with your comment about food and service - we had our last Pondy meet there.

But looks like we don't have many options. The cheap ones are not good. And the good ones are not cheap. St.James comes somewhere in between.

Checked out some more options :

1) Mahindra Big Beach - 6K per room, 2K for extra adult.

2) Ashok beach - Standard rooms at 6K, extra person is 800Rs
They have non-a/c cottage at 3500, but there are only 2 cottages.

3) The Dune : Bamboo rooms start at 5500.
Their PoolHouse (with exclusive swimming pool) is cool - costs 18K though.

4) Kailash beach resort : Starts at 3240 with extra person - 1080

5) Nalla beach resort : They have a "Tariff" link, but no tariff mentioned on clicking it. Called them, but no one picks the phone. Looks good and looks like it is located near St.James.

Guys, voice your thoughts.

[praz]

Guys, I had been to Pondy last week. That's the reason I was not able to make it to the meet.
Soorya resort is a disgusting place and I was told by one of my friends that it is raided frequently by the police for you know what...
We had stayed at Nalla resort and it was decent. The service was not that great. They had a nice lawn with the beach in the backdrop and we sat there watching the IPL final on a giant projection screen. It was very pleasant at night with the waves splashing in the background.

[supremeBaleno]

@praz, you have the tariff for Nalla ? I am unable to reach them over phone.

Called St.James just now.
For the weekend of 11-12June, the Deluxe rooms (2300) are all booked.
Super Deluxe rooms are available @ 3200 per room (400 for extra person) - so 3 to a room would come to 1265 per person including taxes (5.15%).

For the weekend of 25-26June, they have Deluxe available @ 2300 per room (extra person - 400) - so 3 to a room comes to 950 per person.

As last time, they block rooms only on crediting the amount to their Axis bank account. So we need to move fast, finalise the dates and book rooms.

[esteem_lover]

SB, I can get discounts from St. James Court, if you need, please let me know.

I am cool for all dates after 9th June.

@SILVERWOOD... I know their room service takes too long but the food is quite decent. If you want better food, just drive down towards pondy and there are plenty of options.

[supremeBaleno]

Ofcourse, we need discounts, John. I even asked the lady about discounts and she said, no discounts for weekends. As soon as we have the date fixed, you can talk to them and get the best rate before we do the bookings.

[sridhar_setty]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

1) Mahindra Big Beach - 6K per room, 2K for extra adult.

I had stayed here during Dec 2010. Its a nice place to stay with family with lot of options for kids. Beach is good and they also have a nice pool. Add another 500 for food, which was good (I am a veggie).

Here are the pics: http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/travel...ngalore-2.html

[shekaran]

Friends, my views (in BOLD) on considering the food/room service, restaurant rating, extra activities, tariff, location etc.,. for the 1.5 day TeamBhp meet :

1) Mahindra Big Beach - 6K per room, 2K for extra adult. Too Costly - Not Recommended for a very short stay.

2) Ashok beach - Standard rooms at 6K, extra person is 800Rs
They have non-a/c cottage at 3500, but there are only 2 cottages. A Decent Option but the Food/Restaurant - Not Great But Like St.James Court...

3) The Dune : Bamboo rooms start at 5500. Leave this out as again for Short stay its highly exhorbitant. Their PoolHouse (with exclusive swimming pool) is cool - costs 18K though.

4) Kailash beach resort : Starts at 3240 with extra person - 1080 Same as Above, No Activities except the Beach & Swimming Pool

5) Nalla beach resort : They have a "Tariff" link, but no tariff mentioned on clicking it. Called them, but no one picks the phone. Looks good and looks like it is located near St.James. The Best Bet - for the teambhp meet.

So Friends, pls try Ashok or Nalla - Both seem to be the best bet for the stay, as far as location, food, service, tariff etc., are concerned.

Best Regards.

[supremeBaleno]

Thanks, shekaran. That was helpful.

@praz/shekaran, do you have Tariff details for Nalla resort ?

[Mr_Bean]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

Thanks, shekaran. That was helpful.

@praz/shekaran, do you have Tariff details for Nalla resort ?

Enquired yesterday, Nalla is 3900/- for a night for 2 adults exclusive of 20% discount. IMO, St James court would the best bet for a team-bhp meet though the food there is a big dampener. Most of the people get fooled by the pictures on their site

================================================== ===
Coincidentally, me and my wife will be in Pondi on the 25th weekend, we have planned to stay at Le Scale, Pondichery. Does Pondichery have a night life, any discos or pubs?

[anachronix]

Originally Posted by Mr_Bean

================================================== ===
Coincidentally, me and my wife will be in Pondi on the 25th weekend, we have planned to stay at Le Scale, Pondichery. Does Pondichery have a night life, any discos or pubs?

Night life in Pondy, there are lots

[supremeBaleno]

Thanks, MrBean. Yeah, St.James seems like the best bet.

With BlueThunder indicating that 11-12 weekend is not good for him (on the thread - he did not vote yet), it would mean the other 2 options are good for him.
Since Mr.Bean is also at Pondy on 25th, looks like weekend of 25-26 scores the maximum participation of 11 votes. Other 2 options share 9 votes each.

Another advantage we have with 25-26 weekend is that normal rooms are currently available at St.James for that date.
Can we finalise the date as weekend of 25-26 and start reservations ?

headers/neoranjit/joshguy/Zoomsun - you four have not opted for 25-26 weekend. However, assuming we opt for this, would you guys be able to make it ? We would like to have the maximum participation and also the presence of the Thalais (headers/neoranjith). Do confirm.

@MrBean, what car did you buy finally ? Baleno sold off ?

[headers]

Originally Posted by supremeBaleno

Can we finalise the date as weekend of 25-26 and start reservations ?

headers/neoranjit/joshguy/Zoomsun - you four have not opted for 25-26 weekend. However, assuming we opt for this, would you guys be able to make it ? We would like to have the maximum participation and also the presence of the Thalais (headers/neoranjith). Do confirm.

A slight adjustment to the recce schedule.

Recce#4 19 June

Recce#5 03 July

Looks possible for me. So lets do 25, 26 if its ok with all. Also, anyone coming with wife, kids, girlfriends?

Biju, lets start a list with name and number of people coming, so it makes it easy to book.