Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels in Chennai

```html

Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels in Chennai

During my recent trip to India, my family had quite an adventurous journey, exploring various types of accommodations. Most of our time was spent in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu, where finding a suitable place to stay proved to be quite a challenge. However, we eventually made our way to Chennai for a few days and chose to stay at the first hotel I want to highlight – Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels on Cathedral Road.

Location and Pricing

This hotel was chosen primarily for its convenient location and reasonable pricing, as it was close to where we needed to be. My mother covered the cost of our stay, and the “Executive Club” room we booked typically runs around 12,000 Rs (approximately 133 USD) during the summer. The hotel’s address is 10 Cathedral Road, Teynampet, Chennai 600086, Tamil Nadu, India.

Hotel Highlights

• Four on-site restaurants
• Business center
• Travel desk
• Fitness center
• Spa
• Swimming pool

The hotel is about 7 km from the city center and Chennai Central Station, and just 15 km from the airport. Notably, it is also not far from the U.S. Consulate. Marina Beach is approximately 3 km away, accessible by heading straight down Cathedral Road. However, it's important to note that traffic in Chennai can be quite heavy. The journey to the airport takes about 25-30 minutes without traffic, but can easily double if you're caught in a jam.

When to Arrive at Welcomhotel

We arrived at the hotel around 5 AM after a rather chaotic experience at the airport with immigration and baggage claim. The check-in process was a bit slow, but with three rooms and eight people, that was to be expected. It took about 25 minutes to receive our keys, but retrieving our luggage turned out to be a bit of a hassle.

The front desk staff mentioned that someone would bring our luggage up, but after waiting for half an hour without anyone showing up, we decided to go down and collect it ourselves so we could finally relax. The check-in area resembled most four-star hotels in India, with seating available for guests while they wait. There were some beautiful artworks hanging on the walls to admire, and the hotel’s main lobby featured a lovely arch design.

Accommodations

As mentioned, my mother booked an “Executive Club” room for our group. The name can be a bit misleading, as there is no actual “Club” or lounge. These are simply larger rooms (60 square meters compared to the standard rooms at 26 or 35 square meters) with a separate living area. The room opens up to a cozy sitting area with a sofa and dining table, which I found quite comfortable.

The sofa can comfortably seat three people, but working from there can be challenging due to the limited power outlets. I only found one outlet near the window. Each morning, staff provided complimentary drinking water and replenished it daily. The room offers a rather unexciting view of Cathedral Road, but it’s enough to keep things cool in the Chennai heat.

About the Bathroom

The bathroom design is quite unique. A hallway to the right of the bed leads to a wardrobe before entering the bathroom. It features a lovely large bathtub, which was delightful for me and my son. However, the shower setup is a bit unusual; there’s a handheld shower next to the bathtub, with no traditional shower setup. If you prefer a conventional shower, you might want to request a room without a bathtub.

The hotel provides free WiFi, but to be honest, the speed isn’t very fast; it’s sufficient for basic web browsing but may be a struggle if you want to stream movies.

Conclusion

Despite a few imperfections, overall, my family and I had a wonderful time at Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels. With reasonable prices, a great location, and decent customer service, our stay added excitement to each day of our trip. If I have the chance to return to Chennai, I will definitely consider staying here again.

```