Skip to main content

Raintree, Teynampet, Chennai

When a couple of friends from abroad came down to Chennai, we decided to crash at a hotel and have a nice evening catching up with all the stories.  Raintree in Teynampet was touted to be number one according to Trip Advisor and it wasn’t that expensive either. So I checked for prices online and found a deal in Make my trip where I get to reserve a room for a certain price and can pay it in person at the reception. We had to get two rooms and we booked them online. The price per room was Rs. 6250 including breakfast. Though I found the reception desk to be not managed at a level I expected, the staffs were friendly and courteous. After the general ID checks, we were given cards that gives us access to the lifts and our rooms.

Raintree

Room as such was very clean and simple. Even though it didn’t give us that ‘wow’ feel, the decor and lighting made the room look very subtle and serene. Once we enter, the bathroom is at the left and cupboards with safety locker and ironing board is on the right. The usual looking bed is guarded by two nice bedside cabinets which has the power switches and sockets above it. At the far end is the glass wall with a view of the ever busy Anna Salai and the slum nearby. The curtains are thick enough and does a great job of keeping sunlight at bay. Next to it is a glass top study table with an ergonomically shaped cream coloured chair that blends well with the wall paint color and lighting. The same colour is also incorporated in the recliner chair with leg rest which is super comfy. Bedding was very comfortable and clean. Loved the perfectly thick duvets. In room temperature control worked perfectly. TV was a bit of a let down. It’s remote is old fashioned and it stopped working half way through a program. Though the staffs rectified it, it did take a while and I feel it’s something that shouldn’t have happened at the first place.

Raintree1

Bathroom wasn’t spacious but had all amenities required. The hair dryer wasn’t working properly and it had to be plugged in and out a couple of times for it to work. One thing guests look forward to is a neat and clean bathroom and it’s no complaints in that section as far as Raintree is concerned. The mini fridge was pretty well stocked up and the tea collection comes handy. With a kettle and free bottled water, making teas were never so easy. They also gave complimentary fresh cut fruits which included melons, papaya and pineapple. They made an awesome late night snack.


IMG_20160110_011633

Service was excellent. Right from technical staffs who made our TV work again to the regular housekeeping members, all were courteous and helpful. Hangover took the best of my friends and I didn’t want to dine alone for breakfast, so decided to give it a skip. But from my previous experience at their restaurant, The Kitchen, I know that it would’ve been a good meal. Checking out was a piece of cake and we had no problem anywhere. I had a really great time at The Raintree and now I know why it’s rated number one in Chennai.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Vijay and Vijay Sethupathi shoulder a mediocre film: Master Review

A flawed protagonist and a powerful antagonist have always proven to be successful tropes in the world of cinema. The hero, when being anything but perfect, makes way for a beautiful story arc as he convalesces and a strong villain makes the hero’s triumph at the end larger. Despite having both of these, Vijay’s Master feels far from a perfect flick thanks to succumbing to irregular pacing and a middling screenplay. Master follows the trials and tribulations of JD (Vijay), an alcoholic college professor whose valiant effort towards the student community plants a belief in his colleague Charu (Malavika Mohanan) that he would be able to do the same to the kids in a juvenile correction centre that needs… correction. Armed with a just kada, a classic four-wheeler, a Persian cat and a cool pair of sunglasses, JD embarks on a journey that will collide with that of Bhavani’s (Vijay Sethupathi). On paper, Master looks like a failproof star vehicle – the story of a man out there to teach lesson

Icon Residency, Wayanad

During one of my solo bike rides from Chennai to Coorg, I took a detour to check out Wayanad and since Coorg is just a few hours by road from there, I decided to use the small town also for a layover. A quick search told me about the limited options this tourist location has and as I was all by myself, I didn’t mind taking a risk by choosing whatever has a decent rating. iCon Residency in Kalpetta had some really good reviews and in no time, I was in Kerala via Bangalore.  iCon Residency is located on National Highway 212. Though the direction on Google Maps is accurate, finding the place was quite a challenge as it’s located past a narrow street. The hotel looks brilliant from the outside in total contrast to the otherwise old town. There’s also a decent parking space. The basic room I opted for is small when compared to average rooms but for a solo traveller, it was cosy and perfect. The bed

Spago Inn, Mahabalipuram

It was yet another trip to Mahabalipuram and if you visit the famous tourist town as much as I do, you should be knowing that unless you’re a tourist, it’s better to stay from the centre of the city. A quick search told me that Spago Inn, a considerably new property has made its way to ECR, right at the entrance of Mahabs. I had also seen it, right on the main road, during my regular drives down that brilliant stretch of tarmac. The town is famous for pocket-friendly options making it perfect for a day’s retreat and Spago Inn too fits the bill.  Unlike most of the properties in Mahabs, Spago Inn has a car parking space, enough for more than half a dozen four-wheelers. The room is compact, similar to most of the properties in that price range but ticks off all the basic boxes one would expect. The place is extremely clean and neat. The linens were tidy and so was the bathroom. The bed was comfy too and it was perfect fo