The Westin Chennai Velachery

The Westin Chennai Velachery is one of the more expensive hotels in Chennai. Part of the Starwood Group, it's geared toward corporate travelers, largely due to its close proximity to IIT Madras and the central business district. The hotel plays frequent host to business conferences, with many corporate guests gathering for meetings in the business center and lobby throughout the day. The hotel has towering glass-front exterior, with traffic noise barely audible from the inside. The lobby is bright, with sharp touches that resemble a modern art gallery. The space is filled with contemporary sculptures, and curved light fixtures are suspended from the ceiling to add a bit of cool to this otherwise business-ready property. Soft lighting bounces off glossy marble floors, while colorful flowers brighten the space and add freshness. The building rarely feels overcrowded, though dining areas can get busy during times of high occupancy (usually when a conference is being held), but the pool area is mostly quiet and has plenty of loungers and cabanas for relaxing. 

The hotel is located on Chennai's Velachery Road, just outside picturesque Guindy National Park. The prestigious Indian Institute of Technology Madras is located nearby, and farther south is a business hub with numerous multinational offices and major IT companies. Although the immediate area is quiet, there are a number of restaurants and shops just up the road. The main city center and most attractions are within a 20-minute drive from the hotel, including Chennai Snake Park and Guindy Race Course. Chemplast Cricket Ground is a 10-minute walk away, and Phoenix Market City Mall is a five-minute walk. Budget 20 minutes to reach Marina Beach. Guindy Railway Station is a five-minute drive from the hotel, while Chennai International Airport is around a 30-minute drive. Traffic can be bad in Chennai, so bear in mind that drive times can vary.

The Westin Chennai Velachery offers spacious, individually decorated rooms with city or pool views. The building consists of 215 rooms and suites, all done in muted color schemes, with hardwood or carpeted floors, sleek wood furniture, and pillowtop beds. It's a pleasant look that sits well with its corporate-heavy clientele. Suites add extra living space and small kitchenettes, which are ideal for long-stay travelers. Connecting rooms are also available. There are plenty of modern amenities, like 40-inch flat-screen TVs, air-conditioning, phones, safes, electric kettles, minibars, free bottled water, and free robes and slippers. Unfortunately, Wi-Fi costs extra unless rooms are booked directly. Sleek frosted glass doors open to marble bathrooms, with spa-like amenities like rainfall walk-in showers, free-standing bath tubs, and premium bath products. The frosted doors are a modern touch, but may cause privacy issues for some. Rooms are generally quiet, but poolside rooms get less traffic noise from the road. 

The Westin's facilities are geared toward business travelers. There are several excellent dining options, including a 24-hour cafe called Seasonal Tastes, which serves international cuisines and fresh coffee in a relaxed setting. A generous and varied breakfast buffet is served here daily, but this costs extra. Five Senses offers pan-Asian cuisine and fine-dining, while Poolside Grill serves BBQ dishes and drinks, and has outdoor seating that overlooks the pool. The outdoor pool is a lovely spot to relax during leisure time, with plenty of sun loungers and cabanas. There are few facilities for kids, apart from a separate shallow pool attached to the main pool. Guests can work out at the fitness center with cardio machines and free weights, though the space is disappointingly small. There's a full-service spa for relaxing, offering a wide range of massages and body treatments, including a hot stone massages, reflexology, and detoxification wraps. The hotel has a chic Club Lounge, which is exclusively for SPG members and those in the highest category rooms. Other services include a 24-hour front desk, 24-hour room service, concierge, laundry, dry cleaning, airport transfers for a fee, and free valet-parking. There's a fee for Wi-Fi, except when booked directly through the hotel.