Funtastic Beach Huts Patnem

I loved eating at their cafe, the food was great and the staff were always smiling. The chilli chicken is a must, and the chai was really nice too. The huts are right on the beach, and ours had a cozy feel, a super comfortable bed, and its own little seating area outside. The bathroom was spotless, which is a big plus for me. :)

The property is in a good spot, with great views from the rooms, and the staff were very good, especially Adi. The in-house restaurant was pricey compared with nearby places and had a very limited menu, so we mostly ate elsewhere. Getting there was a hassle. The phone number they provided went unanswered for three days, and we had to follow the map and ask around. There are no signs pointing the way or even a sign outside the property with its name. You need to look for Cafe 17, with the big Lord Shiva sign above it. The owner could be more proactive, and better communication, directions, and more menu options would help a lot.

We booked and paid in advance for seven nights in December, but when we arrived, the staff there knew nothing about our reservation. They called their boss and handed me the phone. She said our booking agency hadn’t informed them, which wasn’t true, since she knew my name. I asked her to confirm in writing that we couldn’t stay there, but she refused and said I could cancel for free on the website. That was bullshit: the cancellation policy said 100% would be charged to my card if I cancelled on the last day. In the end we were lucky to get a bungalow from their neighbor, "Bougainvillea Bungalows", which was truly a nice place. Please don’t book here!!!!!!!

Patnem Beach is quiet, and the property sits at its far end, about 50 metres from the beach. It’s a great spot if you just want to spend time at the hotel and beach. The layout and design are lovely, and the recently renovated place is clean and neat. Staff are friendly, and the restaurant serves good food and drinks from 8am to 10.30pm. If available, they’ll let you check in early, and you can relax at the property for a few hours after checkout if your bus or flight is later. Getting there can be a struggle. The front and back paths are sandy, there’s no path from the road, and it’s about 150 metres to the main road. With luggage, the walk is difficult. There’s no parking at the property because vehicles can’t reach it. A cab leaves you with a five-minute walk; by bike, you can park on the main road and walk five minutes. There’s no designated car park nearby, so if you bring a car, you may have to park far away and walk a lot. The beach huts are temporary wood and bamboo mesh structures, so you can hear voices from outside and don’t get full privacy. Patnem has few shops, budget eateries, pubs, liquor shops, or bike and car rentals. For those, you’ll need to go about 3 km to Palolem beach.