If you are craving a hill station vacation to escape your mundane life without burning a hole in your pocket, check out these five best budget hotels in Ooty for families for a comfortable and pocket-friendly vacation.
Most people think that hill station trips are expensive. Yes, you have to pay a hefty price to hire a taxi to get around in a hill station if you are not a master in the art of negotiation, but you will be surprised that Ooty has some of the best affordable accommodation because budget hotels in Ooty can provide you a comfortable stay without an air conditioner in the room.
This is because, even in the hottest summers, the temperature at night in Ooty hovers between 15° Celsius to 20° Celsius.
Ashley’s Tip: Take an auto rickshaw to visit Ooty Lake, Rose Garden, and Botanical Garden as they are in the city and the roads are generally in good condition. The road to Dodabetta Peak may not be that great, but an auto rickshaw will still work if you are staying within 7 kilometers of it or you can even take the state bus. You will need to hire a car only for farther places like Avalanche Lake and Pykara Waterfalls. You can cover pine forest, Pykara Waterfalls, Pykara Lake, and Wenlock Downs shooting point all in a day’s trip.
Read my comprehensive Ooty Travel Guide for more tips.
Ooty has some great affordable accommodation options to make that perfect vacation happen for you. Before I get to these best budget hotels in Ooty, I want to tell you what the factors are that you should look for in a budget hotel in Ooty.
What to Look for in a Budget Hotel in Ooty
Cost
Well, if you are looking for a budget hotel in Ooty, then the cost is the number one factor in finding the best place to stay. It is not about the money you pay at the hotel, but the value for money you get from the hotel.
If the cost includes free breakfast, do look for reviews on the free breakfast they provide. If you find that they are not worth it, better go for a cheaper place with a no breakfast-included price.
Location
Traveling on a budget also means that you don’t end up paying a lot of money to get around the city. The best budget hotels in Ooty are the ones that are located closer to the major attractions, railway stations, or bus stands.
In Ooty, one of the best places to stay is near Charing Cross. This is the junction where Coonoor Road, Kotagiri Road, and Mysuru Road meet. Charing Cross is just one kilometer from Government Botanical Garden which means that, if you stay in a hotel in or around this place, you can even walk to the Botanical Garden. Charing Cross also connects you to Ooty Lake and the Udagamandalam Railway Station, through Commercial Road, the shopping hub of Ooty.
Availability of Restaurants
You may or may not eat from the restaurant in your hotel, but it is important that your hotel has a restaurant that can get you food on demand. The major tourist attractions in Ooty close by 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm. This means, either you will be spending late evenings in the hotel, or you will be strolling through the town.
If you get back to the hotel, they should be able to provide you with dinner without a long wait time. If not, there should be restaurants within walking distance of your hotel.
Amenities
Is it too much to expect amenities in a budget hotel in Ooty? I don’t think so. When it comes to budget hotels, amenities are the no-frills requirements for a comfortable stay.
Most budget hotels in Ooty don’t provide 24×7 running hot water but have a fixed time for when hot water is available. Check with the hotel if they can provide you with hot water at any time of the day. Availability of an electric kettle in the room and extra blankets at demand (some hotels do not provide extra blankets to make you pay for room heaters) are some amenities that you need to check with the hotel.
Best Budget Hotels in Ooty
Here is a list of the best budget hotels in Ooty that are ideal for families:
Ponmari Residency
Ponmari Residency is a value-for-money family-friendly hotel budget hotel in Ooty that meets all your basic requirements and more. The property is ideally located at Charing Cross, and it is within walking distance from Botanical Garden. They have a restaurant that serves really good South Indian food, and they have a bar as well. Apart from that, there are many good restaurants less than a kilometer from the hotel. The property boasts a complimentary gym for all its guests.
Address: Ponmari Residency, No.26D, Kotagiri Road, Charring Cross, Ooty– 643 001.
Phone No.: 91-423-2452448 / 2451448
Mobile: 91-96000 02448 / 96000 03448
Price Range: Rs. 2500-3500 (for the basic room)
Pros: Good restaurant, location, and accessibility, electric kettle, 24×7 running hot water, complimentary breakfast
Cons: No view from the hotel, smaller rooms, no lift, limited car parking space
Types of Rooms
Deluxe Rooms: King-size bed, attached bathroom, wardrobe, and TV (with or without a sofa)
Honeymoon Suite: King-size bed, attached bathroom with a bathtub, a table, and 2 chairs for a candlelight dinner, wardrobe, and TV
Family Room: Two king-size beds, one attached bathroom, sofa, wardrobe, and TV
Suite Room: King-size bed, Living Room, attached bathroom, sofa, wardrobe, and TV
Distances to Major Attractions
Government Botanical Garden: 550 m
Ooty Lake: 3.5 km
Rose Garden: 1.8 km
Dodabetta Peak: 6.1 km
Pykara Waterfalls: 23.4 km
Avalanche Lake: 24.1 km
Astoria Residency
Astoria Residency is one of the best budget hotels in Ooty with great amenities at a perfect location. The rooms have a water purifier for drinking water that dispenses both hot and cold water. Apart from that, there is an electric kettle, a fan, and a safe locker where you can keep your valuables and laptop when you go out. This is a great place for a family, although there is no in-house restaurant. They provide you with sachets of milk powder, sugar, coffee powder, and tea bags, so you don’t have to worry about your morning tea/coffee!
Address: Astoria Residency, 171, Church Hill Road, Near ICICI Bank, Botanical Garden, Ooty, India, 643001
Phone No. 0423-2444571 / 0423-2444572
Mobile Number. +91-9585524572
Price Range: Rs. 2300-3300 (for the basic room)
Pros: Electric kettle, water purifier, fan, safe locker, location and accessibility, great view from the rooms, ample car parking space with accommodation for the driver
Cons: No in-house restaurant, no complimentary breakfast, no lift, smaller rooms, hot water available for a limited time, but available in both morning and evening
Types of Rooms
Classic Suite: Double bed, attached bathroom, two sofas with a teapoy, wardrobe, and TV
Honeymoon Suite: Double bed, attached bathroom, a table and 2 chairs, wardrobe, and TV
Astoria Studio: Double bed, one attached bathroom, sofa, dining chair with four chairs, wardrobe, and TV
Royal Family Suite: 2 single beds and 1 queen-size bed, attached bathroom, sofa, wardrobe, and TV
Distances to Major Attractions
Government Botanical Garden: 1 km
Ooty Lake: 3.4 km
Rose Garden: 1.8
Dodabetta Peak: 7.1
Pykara Waterfalls: 22.4 km
Avalanche Lake: 23.2 km
Hotel Sanjay
Hotel Sanjay is a no-frills budget hotel in Ooty town at close proximity to Botanical Garden, Rose Garden, and shopping centres. It is right next to a taxi stand, so you will have hassle-free local tours and return journey. They have a decent restaurant named “Tharavadu” and a bar. Your booking may or may not be “breakfast included” depending upon the deal at the time of booking. Each room has a balcony of its own. This is a good choice if you are traveling as a large group.
Address: Hotel Sanjay, Charring Cross, Ooty, The Nilgiris -643 001
Phone No.: 0423 – 2443160, 2444562
Mobile: 94429 67354
Price Range: Rs. 1500-2500 (for the basic room)
Pros: Good restaurant, location and accessibility, balcony, can accommodate more people in a single room, ample car parking space
Cons: Smaller rooms, no lift, no fans, room has geyser, but you will have to ask them to turn it on for you.
Types of Rooms
1-Bed Deluxe Rooms: 1 double bed, attached bathroom, wardrobe, and balcony
2-Bed Deluxe Room: 2 double beds, attached bathroom, teapoy, two chairs, wardrobe, and TV
3-Bed Deluxe Room: 3 double beds, 2 attached bathrooms, teapoy, two chairs wardrobe, and TV
4-Bed Room: 4 double beds, 3 attached bathrooms, teapoy, two chairs, wardrobe, and TV
Distances to Major Attractions
Government Botanical Garden: 800 m
Ooty Lake: 3.1 km
Rose Garden: 1.4 km
Dodabetta Peak: 6.6 km
Pykara Waterfalls: 23 km
Avalanche Lake: 23.6 km
KSTDC Hotel Mayura Sudarshan
Enjoy the comfort and quality of a KSTDC hotel at Mayura Sudarshan. One of the best affordable hotels in Ooty, Hotel Mayura Sudarshan is conveniently located near Ooty Lake. The rooms are large and spacious and on top of that you get a free entry to Karnataka Horticulture Garden. There service is top-notch, and they have a very good restaurant.
Address: Lake Road, Fern Hill, Ooty (Udhagamandalam) 643004 India
Phone No.: 0423-2443828
Mobile: 8970650052 (Karthick Santhosh)
Price Range: Rs. 1900-2500 (for the basic room)
Pros: Good restaurant, spacious rooms, location and accessibility, free access to Karnataka Horticulture Garden, 24×7 hot water, fan, ample car parking space
Cons: No kettle in room, need to walk a bit to reach the restaurant, no complimentary breakfast
Types of Rooms
Standard Room: Queen-size bed, attached bathroom, wardrobe, private entrance, seating area with a teapoy and chairs
Non-AC Premium: Queen-size bed, attached bathroom, wardrobe, private entrance, seating area with a teapoy and chairs
AC Suite: Queen-size bed, attached bathroom, wardrobe, private entrance, seating area with a teapoy and chairs, study desk, AC
Wooden Cottage: Queen-size bed, attached bathroom, wardrobe, private entrance, seating area with a teapoy and chairs, AC
Distances to Major Attractions
Government Botanical Garden: 5.5 km
Ooty Lake: 2 km
Rose Garden: 4 km
Dodabetta Peak: 11.2 km
Pykara Waterfalls: 22.2 km
Avalanche Lake: 19.1 km
Garden Manor
As the name suggests, garden Manor is a property with a beautiful garden. If you are looking for a no-fuss simple clean budget hotel in Ooty, this is where you should be. The property is conveniently located on the way to Government Botanical Garden and has many good restaurants at a walkable distance. Their premium rooms have balconies with mountain views.
They don’t have a restaurant per se, but they have a pantry to meet all your requirements. They also offer a complimentary breakfast. The annex building has larger rooms compared to the main building. The best part of Garden Manor is its roof-top open-air dining area, surrounded by potted plants that give you a nice ambiance.
Address: 16 F1 F2, Ottley Road, Near Botanical Garden, Ooty (Udhagamandalam) 643001 India
Phone No.: 04232443144
Price Range: Rs. 2300-2700 (for a non-premium room)
Pros: Complimentary breakfast is good, location and accessibility, 24×7 hot water, an open-air dining area with garden view apart from the dining hall
Cons: Smaller rooms, no lift, no fan, limited car parking space
Types of Rooms
Standard: Double bed, attached bathroom, wardrobe, and TV
Budget Room (Annex): King-size bed, a coffee table and two chairs, attached bathroom, wardrobe, and TV
Executive: Queen-size bed, attached bathroom, balcony, wardrobe, and TV
Semi Deluxe (Annex): King bed, a coffee table and two chairs, attached bathroom, wardrobe, and TV
Deluxe: Queen-size bed, attached bathroom, balcony, wardrobe, and TV
Family: 2 Double beds, dining table with 4 chairs, attached bathroom, wardrobe, and TV
Distances to Major Attractions
Government Botanical Garden: 260 m
Ooty Lake: 3.8 km
Rose Garden: 2.4 km
Dodabetta Peak: 6.2 km
Pykara Waterfalls: 23.6 km
Avalanche Lake: 24.4 km
Wrapping Up: Best Budget Hotels in Ooty
If you are still wondering which is the best budget hotel in Ooty for your stay, here are the takeaways.
If you are on your honeymoon, go for the honeymoon suites by Ponmari Residency, Astoria Residency, or KSTDC Hotel Mayura Sudarshan. Although Garden Manor does not have a honeymoon suite, the ambiance makes it a romantic choice.
If you are traveling with one young child, KSTDC Hotel Mayura Sudarshan, Garden Manor, and Ponmari Residency are the best options.
While, if you are a family of 4 or 5 members with young children, the family rooms provided by Ponmari Residency, Astoria Residency, and Garden Manor can accommodate all in one room.
If you are 4 or more adults who require separate rooms to be booked, KSTDC Hotel Mayura Sudarshan and Garden Manor are the best options.
But if you are traveling as a large group that wants to stay in one room, go for Hotel Sanjay for the most affordable rates.
If you are bringing a driver along with you, go for Astoria Residency as they provide accommodation for drivers.
On the other hand, if you prefer a place with complimentary breakfast, opt for Ponmari Residency, Hotel Sanjay, Garden Manor.
If you want something more than just a room, KSTDC Hotel Mayura Sudarshan gives you a free entry to Karnataka Horticulture Garden. Garden Manor is another place that provides a little outdoor space, a roof-top garden with potted plants and an outdoor dining area for you to relax and sip your coffee in peace.
I hope you have a wonderful trip. And when you get back, do let me know where you stayed and what you liked or disliked about the place. If you find a good, budget hotel in Ooty that should be on my list, do let me know in the comments below.
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