This being our 5thtrip to Pondicherry, the idea was to spend a relaxing time with family and friends rather than sight-seeing, which we did many times during our previous visits. We were 3 families traveling to Pondicherry over the weekend, considering young kids, we opted for a beachside resort. Being a long weekend, most of the resorts were already booked or charging skyrocketing prices. We chose the Ashok beach resort on ECR road for our stay. Charges were 3 times higher than that of the usual price.
Sharing the review of this property. Please note: its not the paid/ sponsored review, but honest opinion based on our stay at the property
Ashok Beach Resort – Review
Ashok beach resort is a joint venture between the ITDC group (Indian Tourism Development Corporation) and PIPDIC (Government of Pondicherry undertaking). Sprawling across 65 acres of land along the ECR road, Ashok beach resort is surrounded by greenery on 3 sides and overlooks the Bay of Bengal on one side. The resort offers different types of rooms right from a deluxe room to special cottages.
Location: Perfectly located on ECR Road
The best part of this resort is its location. The property overlooks Kalapet beach on East coast road and has direct access to the beach. The entrance of the resort is right on the main road, making it easily accessible and you don’t have to waste time looking for it. Ashok beach resort is situated 5 km from Auroville Beach and 11 km from the spiritual centre Sri Aurobindo Ashram.
Ambiance & rooms: Little rundown property but a beautiful view
When it comes to Ambience, the entrance and reception do give a grand feel, but I found rooms a little run down and outdated. Also, the restaurant was not very well maintained, the open-air part of the restaurant was surrounded by crows all the time.
The good part is that all the rooms here are sea-facing and you can witness the mesmerizing sunrise from the room itself. Deluxe rooms are provided with a sea-facing balcony and cottages have a sit-out area in front. Although I found rooms a little outdated and rundown, especially washrooms were a bit disappointing. Most of the time geyser in our room was not working and we had to manage with cold water. Apart from this the phone and cable connection in our room were not working.
We were not particularly happy with the service, as nobody turned up to clear the teacups etc. till the next day.
Amenities
Amenities include free WIFI and parking facilities, along with the other facilities.
Swimming Pool: We were excited to spend time in the Pool, but it was not well maintained, water was not clean, and the floor of the pool has chipped with tile pieces scattered all over.
Restaurants: Resort has a coffee shop, restaurant, and the Bar. The Food served at the restaurant was tasty and we enjoyed it. Even the complimentary buffer breakfast had a choice of south Indian and north Indian dishes. The Bar offers a variety of liquor and cocktails at quite a reasonable price.
Sea Side Lawn: Another good thing about this property is the Sea-front, beach facing lawn with hammocks where you can spend peaceful me-time during the evenings or nights.
Our Experience
We stayed at Ashok beach resort for 2 nights and 3 days. Overall it was a pleasant and relaxing stay. Our kids thoroughly enjoyed beach visits and pool time. I especially loved our late-night walks on the lawn and walking up to the beach in the morning to witness the sunrise. Although few things were not as per our expectations, especially in terms of service and amenities, given we paid INR 9000 (approx.) for a day.
Recommendation
To conclude Ashok beach resort is a good place for family outings at the rates they offer regularly which is, INR 3500-4000. Although the property is not very well maintained and service is not that great, but its location is a big plus point.
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