OYO Rooms Santhome High Road

The staff were good and the food was nice. Breakfast means choosing from Idli, plain Dosa, or Puri. The hotel is by the ocean, which you can reach by crossing the road at the zebra crossing and following the straight road until the ocean is in front of you. The room was smaller than I'd expected, but it was a nice experience. Thanks.

I arrived from Bangalore for a weekend in Mahabalipuram with my girlfriend of 4 years. We had booked through goIbibo, and both of us had valid government IDs. At check-in, the front desk guy asked what our relationship was. I was taken aback, but said clearly that she was my girlfriend. He then refused to let us stay, even though we'd paid. When I asked what law prevented unmarried adults from staying together, he wouldn't answer and just pointed to the hotel rules. I called goIbibo's call center. They agreed that refusing a stay to an unmarried couple was illegal and discriminatory under law, but said they could only refund me. They suggested I take it up legally, since they feared losing business from hoteliers. Lawyer friends I consulted told me the same: this kind of discrimination is illegal, but hotels do it because people don't want to face the lengthy legal process in India. Asking consenting adults about marital status is discrimination, just as asking about caste is. The owner is a dark mark on society, and readers should avoid the place. Hurting him financially by withholding business is the only way to punish this behavior. Please upvote my comment so more people know about the ugliness of this place and can choose judiciously.

It's fine for one night. The place looked clean, though the bathroom could have been cleaner. The AC worked, but I don't know whether they provide hot water. No trouble with reception or the staff, but room service needs to improve. The location is convenient on Santhome Highway, near Santhome Church and Marina Beach, with interesting places around. There are good restaurants nearby, two handy bus stops, and autos available. Nilgris Supermarket is right below, with a Multi Cuisine Restaurant next to it.

There’s a Nilgiries department store on the ground floor, and KFC is across the road if you want somewhere to hang out. The rooms were spacious and clean, the staff friendly, and the place quiet. Marina Beach is nearby too, about 50/- by auto-rickshaw.