Tamilnadu has a wide range of accommodation to provide to its visitors, be it the class-conscious tourist or the budget-backpacker. Seeing the success of Homestay type accommodation promoted by the Kerala Ministry of Tourism, the Tamilnadu counterpart introduced the "Bed and Breakfast" scheme. Under this scheme accommodation is provided at nominal rates and at the same time with hygienic conditions. Anyways this "Bed and Breakfast" is a western concept neither developed by Kerala or Tamilnadu. And as a bonus you can experience the local life style. "Bed and Breakfast" scheme was introduced by Tourism Department Tamilnadu in 2001-2002. The scheme derives inspiration from a quote of Late Pundit Jawaharlal Nehru, which goes like this "Receive a guest and send back a friend ". Under this scheme, a house owner can let out a few rooms to tourists. During the stay of the tourists in his house, the tourists will be provided with accommodation and food by the house owner. A detailed booklet containing the Names, addresses, Telephone Nos. etc. of the Bed and Breakfast scheme providers was published during 2001-2002 and this information was also put on the website of TTDC.
During the period 2001-02 to 2003-04 as many as 3,258 tourists had availed of this scheme. The Bed and Breakfast service providers are scattered throughout the length and breath of Tamil Nadu as stated below.
The house owners require the services of helpers to attend to the needs of the tourists. Hence, in 2004-2005 a project was established to train such helpers in the field of health and personal hygiene, cleanliness, basic service techniques, basic nutrition values etc.
Apart from this the Tamilnadu Tourism Development Corporation TTDC has 36 Hotels in Tamilnadu that are hygienic and suits the budget to middle category travellers. TTDC Corporation was incorporated during the year 1971. It made a modest beginning with Five Tourist Bungalows and with two coaches. It has made rapid strides since then, and today has earned the proud distinction of owning the largest chain of Hotels in South India numbering 36. The bed strength has increased from 253 in 1971 to 2504 in 1998. 24 fleet of coaches are in use at present. Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation has established the following Tourist's amenities in the State:-
1. Hotels : 36
2. Youth Hostels : 8 intended for Budget Tourists
Budget
Decent budget categories abound from Rs 300 $7 to Rs 700 $20. The former will get you a Non-Ac room with clean bed, TV and most probably a shared bathroom in most parts of Tamilnadu. The latter will fetch you a Ac single room with basic ammenities like TV, Bed, Room service and attached bathroom. If travelling as a couple expect to pay around Rs 500$10 to Rs 1100 $23. Though you might be lucky to find a decent English speaking concierge at this range, you will find lots of people well-versed in Tanglish a concoction of Tamil and English which can be understood quite clearly if you listen hard and pay attention. Please take due precautions with your luggage and other essential documents and money. It is advisable to not leave any money in the room and to always carry your passport in person. Bring a good lock both for your luggage and the hotel door. If you are carrying Laptops or Digi-cams, keep them under lock and key when not taking them on person.
Midrange
Medium category hotels can be had from Rs 1500 $27 to Rs 4000 $80. These will be your 2 to 4 Star rated Hotels. You will most probably be given a well furnished by Indian standards Air conditioned room with good lighting, bed, TV, attached bathroom with a bathtub and warm water during most of the day and hot water from 6AM–10AM and 6PM–10PM and a good concierge who will serve you well provided you tip him the moment you see him rather than the last moment. Follow this advice when it comes to tipping. If you have reserved or kept in mind a certain amount for tipping, tip 20% of the amount at the beginning itself and the rest of the amount should be watered down subsequently on each tip with the final 20% as the last tip. Do not pay a flat rate tip all the time.
Safety in this category of hotels is more, though it is always advisable to be a little paranoid if you are carrying very expensive items. The safety issue is not a constant and will vary according to the city you are visiting and the hotel you are staying.
Most of the hotels in this category will have an in house restaurant and a bar. If you are lucky or choose well you might even get one with a Pub and a Discotheque around which the nightlife of the city is centered, though these kind of hotels are limited to the major cities which will serve you as a stop-gap in between visiting places of tourist interest. Expect a buffet breakfast to be thrown in as a compliment.
Individual cottages at beach resorts can be had within this budget.
Top end
Unlike Rajasthan, you will not be finding any Heritage Hotels ancient Palaces that have been converted in to hotels in Tamilnadu. You will have to splurge on 5 star and 5 star deluxe hotels. They will cost you anywhere from Rs 5000 $110 to Rs 20000 $450. They are usually run by an international chain and so needs not much description as checking into them here is akin to checking into them in San Francisco or Amsterdam.
These hotels are mostly limited to in and around the city of Chennai and a few in Madurai & Coimbatore. Generally speaking Tamilnadu is a haven for the back-packers and the medium-budget travellers. As a result in the more tourist oriented cities, good hotels with good food and service come cheap. You will be hard pressed to find a hotel where you can splurge these ammounts. But of course what you save on your stay can be channelled into some good Kancheepuram silk sarrees for the beautiful ladies or into stone carvings of beautiful women for the Gentlemen.