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Hotel Atithi TGI Grand has always been my family’s trusted stay in Pondicherry. Located just a kilometer away from Promenade Beach, the luxurious 3-star hotel is renowned for its cozy rooms, impeccable service and inviting rooftop bar. And, needless to mention the lip-smacking dishes both its restaurants serve.
On numerous occasions, when my husband and I visited the beach destination for work, we have invariably dined at Le Boulevard, Hotel Atithi’s French-styled restaurant, simply for its peaceful ambience and mouth-watering food. To put it right, this hotel offers all the luxuries and amenities of a 4-star establishment, but within a budget.
If you’re wondering what makes this hotel such a family-favorite, and how our recent experience turned out to be, stay with me till the end of the article for the detailed review.
You can also check out our Pondicherry travel guide to help you explore the beach town to its fullest.
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Best Parts Of Our Stay At Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
Let me begin by telling you how impressed I was with Hotel Atithi’s excellent in-room dining service. My husband and I were traveling from Chennai with a plan to spend a blissful weekend at Pondicherry. So after a 3 ½ hour journey, when we finally checked into the hotel, we were famished.
Hoping for a quick service, we ordered a plate of Chicken Biryani, Egg Curry, and Chapatis. To our pleasant surprise, the food was delivered within the promised 15 minutes.
This wasn’t the only time that the in-room service was quick. Even our afternoon coffee was delivered hot. This is something I have rarely experienced in other hotels. I like my coffee steaming hot, but by the time it reaches the room, it often gets cold. That was not the case at Atithi TGI Grand. Hence, their quick service truly deserves a special mention.
Another speciality about this hotel is that their food is nominally priced. In most 3-star hotels, though the rooms are usually affordable, their in-house restaurants are often expensive. However, that is not the case with Hotel Atithi. And this is one of the main reasons why we pay such frequent visits to the hotel.
The Room At Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
For our recent stay in September 2023, we booked an Executive Room with a city view. Adorned with modern interiors, the spotless room was quite spacious for the two of us. It had twin beds with a bedside table adjacent to each, a round wooden coffee table, a two-seater couch, 2 chairs and a work desk. In short, a comfortable room with ample space to unwind and even catch up on some pending work.
The room was equipped with all the basic amenities such as a TV, WiFi, a minibar, a wardrobe, a dressing area with a mirror and a tea/coffee maker with good choices of tea and coffee bags. The bathroom had a separate shower cubicle and toiletries such as soap, shampoo, body wash, a dental kit, and a hair dryer.
You can also choose to stay at their business or family suites.
TWT Tip: In my experience, it is recommended that you book your stay directly from the hotel’s website. This is because, at times, the room availability is not updated on travel websites like MMT or Booking.com. Also, the hotel’s website offers better rates.
Food & Drinks At Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
Le Boulevard
Atithi TGI Grand’s main restaurant is Le Boulevard, located in the hotel lobby. Whether it’s an early brunch or a quick dinner before we head off to Chennai, Le Boulevard has never disappointed us with its wide range of culinary delicacies.
Le Boulevard’s breakfast buffet is quite renowned for its variety and authentic taste. Complimentary with our stay, the spread included Indian specialities like Poori, Alu Bhajji, Alu Parantha, Idli, Bonda, Rawa Upma and my favorite Semiya Payasam.
It also had good Continental options such as Chicken Sausages, yummy Banana Pancakes, Boiled Vegetables, and Corn Nuggets.
There was a live counter for omelets that were freshly prepared as per your taste, along with bread. There were also 2 types of cereals – wheat and choco flakes.
For dessert, we could choose from fresh fruits, tea cakes that melted in the mouth, choco muffins, chocolate doughnuts, and croissants. And as you can see in the picture, I loaded my plate with a piece of each.
TWT Tip: The restaurant’s refreshing Ginger Tea, prepared at their live tea counter with freshly ground ginger, is a must-try!
Meal Timings at Le Boulevard:
Breakfast: 7 am-10 am
Lunch: 12 pm-3 pm
Dinner: 7 pm-11 pm
Toxic The Bar
With the aim of enjoying a refreshing beer before visiting the Rock Beach, we went to the hotel’s famed rooftop bar – Toxic. The bar offers a diverse choice of liquor, including classic cocktails.
The service, as usual, was quick. We ordered some spicy Chili Prawn and Paneer Tikka. Both were scrumptious and paired well with our beers.
The night ambience with a gentle breeze and sweeping panoramic views of the city added extra charm to the whole experience.
Atithi TGI Grand also has a rooftop barbeque restaurant called The Terrace Grill and an in-house coffee shop, RUE 126, for coffee lovers like me.
Other Amenities & Services At Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
Swimming Pool
Since my husband loves to swim, we always ensure that the hotel we are visiting has a good swimming pool. Hotel Atithi had a rooftop pool that offered a beautiful view of the city and the beach.
The poolside was well maintained and had a good number of sun loungers, making it fun to hang out, even if you are not getting into the water. An additional advantage about the swimming pool was that the water had limited chlorine, making it suitable for people of all ages and skin types.
Gym
Being fitness enthusiasts, we were quite glad to find a well-maintained gym in the hotel. It had basic fitness equipment such as a treadmill, elliptical, chest press, and weights, which were sufficient for a brief morning workout. Clean towels and drinking water were also available here.
Parking Space
The hotel had ample parking space at the sides and the basement. However, we felt that the basement parking was slightly cramped as we found it difficult to park our Honda City.
Cleanliness At Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
Hotel Atithi TGI Grand’s commitment to cleanliness is quite admirable. This is not a sentiment I’ve formed from my recent experience, but an opinion I’ve developed based on all our visits spanning over the last few years.
Their room service ensured that our beds were meticulously made and our room and bathroom were fresh and hygienic. And I noticed during my afternoon strolls that every area, including the corridors, winding staircases, pool area, gym, and restaurants, was spotless and well-maintained.
Location Of Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
The location of the hotel is an added advantage of staying here. Most of the tourist attractions of Pondicherry are within a 2-3 km distance. We used to walk to the Puducherry Beach, which took about 15 minutes from the hotel. Sri Aurobindo Ashram is located just 900 m away, and all the eateries of White Town are within 2 km, including my favorite Baker Street.
The usual pick-up and drop point for tour buses traveling from Chennai, New Bus Stand is 2.3 km away from the hotel. The Puducherry Railway Station is 2.4 km away and the Pondicherry Airport is 4.6 km away.
TWT Experience Summary Of Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
Hotel Atithi stood out as one of those rare 3-star hotels where the staff and management worked diligently to ensure the happiness of their guests. The entire team was friendly and went the extra mile to make our stay thoroughly enjoyable.
The hotel’s exotic breakfast buffet, filled with mouth-watering Indian and Continental dishes, was another highlight of all our stays at the hotel.
On a finishing note, Hotel Atithi’s courteous staff, good service and delectable food made our stay truly memorable. We left for Chennai with absolutely no regrets and with a firm intention of returning to this property whenever we plan our next Pondicherry trip.
Inclusivity Checklist:
✅Kid-friendly
✅Disabled-friendly
✅Vegetarian-friendly
✅Budget-friendly
✅Family-friendly
Check-in time: 2 pm
Check-out time: 12 pm
Contact: reservations@tgihotels.com, rooms@atithipondicherry.com, +91 90030 43207 | +91 1800 258 3100
Location: Google Maps
Price Per Night At Hotel Atithi TGI Grand: INR 3,800 to INR 7,750
Room Booking Link: Booking.com
Frequently Asked Questions About Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry
1. Is early check-in or late check-out available at Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry?
The hotel may allow early check-in or late check-out depending on their room availability. However, if you arrive early, you can deposit your luggage at the reception and get freshened up in the washrooms available in the lobby.
2. What is the price of rooms at Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry?
An executive room for 2 cost us INR 4000, inclusive of taxes. The business suites are priced at INR 6,750 and the family suites cost INR 7,750. However, during the off-season (summer & rainy), the rates are slightly lower compared to festive months like October to January.
3. How far is Auroville from Hotel Atithi TGI Grand, Pondicherry?
Auroville is located around 15 kilometers away from Hotel Atithi TGI Grand. It takes around 25-30 minutes to reach the main tourist spots such as Auroville Matrimandir.
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2 thoughts on “Hotel Atithi TGI Grand: Luxury Stay On A Budget In Pondicherry”
Seems to be very good Hotel for stay in Pondicherry. Food also looks very good. Nice review.
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