The hotels below are listed alphabetically and have been classed into four different pricing categories:
$$$$ (over US$200)
$$$ (US$100 to US$200)
$$ (US$50 to US$100)
$ (up to US$50)
These rates are starting rates for a double room, inclusive of breakfast but not tax (around 12.5%). Good discounts are sometimes available online or on request, especially for long stays.


Fisherman's Cove
Owned by one of India's premier hotel chains, the Taj, this relaxing beach-front resort has both hotel rooms and pretty cottages (sea or garden views) spread along the palm-fringed beach, around 50 minutes' drive from Chennai Airport. Facilities include a pool, spa, gym, clutch of good restaurants, beach activities (eg volleyball and buggy rides), babysitting services and a well-equipped business centre. A perfect place to wind down from the frenetic  city.

Covelong Beach, Kanchipuram District
Tel: (044) 6741 3333.
Website: www.tajhotels.com  
Price: $$$-$$$$

Nilgiri's Nest
This relatively simple hotel is in a good location within walking distance to Marina Beach, and features a multi-cuisine restaurant and department store on the ground floor. There are four standards of double rooms; the top two categories (‘deluxe' and ‘super deluxe') are well worth the extra money as you get more space as well as nicer interiors. All rooms are fairly basic but well kept and with TV, phone, fridge and room service.

105 Dr Radhakrishnan Road, Mylapore
Tel: (044) 2811 5111.
Price: $$

Residency Towers
This good-value 4-star hotel has smartly furnished standard rooms and more ornately decorated Club rooms and Suites. Amenities include a swimming pool, small gym, business centre and handful of restaurants including Southern Aromas, which serves up scrumptious South Indian specialities. For beer on tap head to the Bike & Barrel bar.

115 Sir Thyagaraya Nagar Road, T Nagar
Tel: (044) 2815 6363.
Website: www.theresidency.com
Price: $$$

Sheraton Chola
Not far from the railway station, airport and city, this elegant and comfortable hotel features decent-sized rooms with warm furnishings, minibars, in-room safes and Internet connectivity. If you like plenty of space, it's worth paying extra for the larger duplex rooms. There is a swimming pool as well as commendable restaurants including Peshawri, which specialises in hearty North-West Frontier food.

10 Cathedral Road
Tel: (044) 2811 0101.
Website: www.itcwelcomgroup.in
Price: $$$$

The Park
Converted from the old Gemini Film Studios, this 215-room 5-star deluxe property gets plenty of kudos. From the edgy yet elegant design of the spacious lobby, the hotel has largely retained the movie theme: rooms and public spaces are decorated with original film posters. Rooms are contemporary and stylish, with beechwood flooring, frosted glass and marshmallow-soft beds. Hotel facilities include a stunning rooftop pool, stress-banishing spa (Ayurvedic treatments available), the Leather Bar, Pasha nightclub and several fine restaurants.

601 Anna Salai
Tel: (044) 4267 6000.  
Website: http://chennai.theparkhotels.com
Price: $$$$