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The latest Heritage hotel of Pondicherry. Located in the hearth of the old French town, near the business area, in front of State bank of India, close to the seaside and the Aurobindo Ashram, this old 19th-century house has been renovated and a new contemporary wing has been added. With its clean lined interiors, craftsmanship, woodwork, Villa Shanti brings you a new experience in town.
Star ratings are intended to indicate the general level of features, amenities, and services to expect. This property is classified according to Giata.
HOTEL STYLE
Trendy
Boutique
Languages Spoken
English, French, Hindi, Tamil
Location
14 Rue Suffren Street, Pondicherry 605001 India
Villa Shanti
4.4 reviews
Getting there
Great for walkers
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Needs to fixed a shower curtain infront of the shower place, Its feel awkward for guest to shower. Staffs are very helpful. Anil and Riya are very friendly. The place is very near to the beach and the market. I will recomend my family and friends to stay this hotel.
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Date of stay: August 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Villa Shanthi is neatly tucked away on a quiet road in the Center of lovely French Colonial (White Town ) Puducherry . The streets around here are all interesting and have quaint eating places and boutiques . It’s a great area to stay in this City . You don’t need a vehicle as you can walk around the various streets all preserved with French names ! Be sure to carry the map provided by the reception so you don’t get lost ! This small but elegant hotel has a good vibe , the reception , dining , bar are around a courtyard and always buzzing ! The rooms are on the two floors , the one I stayed in was super large , very nice and comfortable and decorated with simple and pleasing aesthetics . These rooms are not filled with unnecessary ‘things’ or useless decor , as many hotels do , but have nice coffee , tea sachets ( try the Karma Kettle lavender or camomile for a deep slumber ) and kettle and a minibar . The bathrooms are nice as well , with a modern shower with hot water at all times ! The beds and pillows super comfy . They have a fabulous Genuine Thai masseuse on call who is really good , must give her a try ! The food is very good ( in fact the best in that area ) and they share a fancy foreign chef with the neighbour luxe hotel La Villa . The breakfast is wholesome , the poached eggs with sourdough and masala dosas divine ! I much prefer the casual yet chic vibe here ! The staff are very helpful and cheerful . Love the bar scene too ! I will stay here again ! Felt very safe during these Covid times , as they follow very strict compliance with their staff and sanitising the property , rooms etc frequently . Please note there are no lifts here only stairs .
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Date of stay: January 2021Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We can't rate Villa Shanti highly enough. We had a wonderful experience there after a disastrous one elsewhere in Puducherry. The Operations Manager at Villa Shanti went above and beyond to accommodate us and literally 'saved' our holiday. All the staff at Villa Shanti were welcoming and attentive. Nothing was too much trouble. The aesthetic suited us perfectly, Indian but with a modern twist. The rooms were spacious and comfortable. Housekeeping was to a high standard. The food was very good and we tried both Indian and Continental menus. Villa Shanti was a lively place in the evenings and attracted a lot of non residents for dinner, so best to book a table in advance. Breakfast was delicious and generous. But it's the people that make the difference and the staff at Villa Shanti make it stand out. Would definitely recommend and look forward to visiting again.
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Date of stay: February 2025
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:The restaurant is popular in the peak season and weekends so best book a table.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Villa Shanti is a lovely heritage property in Pondicherry. The location is excellent - very central and walking distance to cafes, restaurants, shops and the beach. We didn't have to take the car out once we checked in, and thank god for that!
The rooms are simple but very comfortable and have an old world charm. We had three rooms - one on the ground floor and two on the second floor. We especially liked the room with the four poster bed, and blue tiles - a lot of attention to detail has gone into this room. A word of warning: the ground floor rooms end up with a little less privacy and noise from the restaurant/courtyard, though the noise doesn't last late into the night.
The restaurant is very popular and gets very busy, especially on weekends. We liked the breakfast (especially the fresh baked goods). Dinner was wonderful, very good food, and a lovely open air ambience.
One tiny complaint: while the hotel provides nice toiletries, these are not Kama Ayurveda, as mentioned on their website. To be fair, given how reasonably priced the hotel is, one shouldn't expect Kama Ayurveda, but they need to update their information accordingly.
If you're looking for a lovely heritage property in Pondicherry that is centrally located and reasonably priced, and offers great food and friendly service, Villa Shanti is it!
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Date of stay: December 2021
Cleanliness
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Room Tip:Take the higher floor rooms if you want quiet and privacy. Do note that there are no lifts though.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
My wife and I stayed here for 4 days. This is post the pandemic. We are stepping out on Busienss and reluctantly booked this hotel keeping in mind, maintenance of the property post the lockdown & sanitisation process. My God, we had a such a wonderful time. The service was brilliant. Everybody was accommodative. We felt like Villa Shanthi was home. For a few days we were the only guests but still they were functioning the kitchen and other services on full capacity to just take care of us. Like the saying goes, beautiful people makes it a happy home, I was actually told to consider this my home many times. Further I would like to saw the following - 1. I saw people sanitising other rooms using surface disinfectant. Their house keeping was wonderful, well trained and equipped to handle hospitality post the pandemic era. 2. They served a set breakfast to the room, Indian and Continental. But let us choose, mix and match between the menu items. We can ask for more and they will oblige with kind faces. 3. I would like to appreciate the management for bringing all the teams together and training them. It was absolutely amazing to see happy faces everywhere. 4. I would like to appreciate the following people for making my stay comfortable, safe & happy. Mr Jeeva for allocating my room and kindly showing alternatives, calling us and ensuring we reach the town safely. Ms Marie for bring very kind and friend like. Mr Divakar for providing excellent service with all smiles. Ms Avelie for the smooth check out and promising the best possible rate for the next time. All in all we loved everything about this place and I strongly recommend staying here. Cheers!
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Date of stay: October 2020
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This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from SEgiyane PAQUIRY, Owner at Villa Shanti
Responded 24 Oct 2020
Dear Sir, Thank you for taking the time to write this review. We are happy to know that you have noticed the core values of our hotels. Our team is wonderfull and they are our first ambassadors. We will certainly have a word for those you have mentioned as well as all other members. During these years and especially during these last months, we have tried not to compromise anything in our philosophy and we will continue whatever it cost. You are the ones who encourage us to continue. Best regards Ségiyane Sylvain Paquiry
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
Stayed here with a friend for our first ever visit to Pondicherry. Villa Shanti was recommended by a friend who travels to the city regularly - and when I told people where we were staying (at home in the US, before the trip), several people commented on what a great choice it was. So I arrived with high expectations and was not disappointed!
Communication in advance of our arrival was clear and responsive. The location was ideal for exploring White Town on foot. The staff members also were extremely helpful with transportation to/from the Chennai airport (including sightseeing stops) as well as arranging a driver for day trips around the area.
The room was spacious, clean, and had a really nice atmosphere. The restaurant is definitely a highlight - such incredible food! (The shrikhand with candied eggplant is a must.) People we spoke to in Pondy mentioned that the chef has a great reputation and it's known for its excellent food. The breakfast was generous and service was fast and attentive.
I recommend this hotel without hesitation.
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Date of stay: October 2024
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Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I first stayed with Villa Shanti in March 2022 (Executive suite). The room was very clean, tastefully decorated, and well planned. The food was excellent, breakfast also very filling. The staff here is super courteous and polite and will do everything to make you feel more comfortable. My experience with Kavitha, the manager was incredible - she went an extra mile to ensure we were super comfortable. We were helped with everything we needed and she paid a lot of attention to detail (eg - our rooms were cool when we got back from the Pondicherry heat and humidity; there is a separate table reserved for in-house guest; room service is prompt and efficient).
We had an early morning flight on day of checkout and they packed us some super fresh, filling sandwiches too!!
I loved my stay so much that I have stayed with them the 3 other times I visited Pondicherry since. Highly recommend staying with Villa Shanti.
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Date of stay: March 2022
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Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
This place is beautiful and clean. If that's all you care about, this is great place to stay. Otherwise, it's pretty mediocre even for India and definitely overpriced. It's been well marketed.
The restaurant brags about having a chef from a Micheline star restaurant in France. Having been to micheline star restaurants, this isn't even close. In fact, of mid/high end Indian hotels the food is subpar. Perhaps I missed something on the menu but I did eat there like 6 times. The menu is affordable, and the food reflects that. You can definitely eat better elsewhere in Pondicherry.
As for service, it needs a lot of work. Staff often seemed clueless. They would lie about things just to appease the customer. For instance, asked for a hotel sewing kit. They kept saying they would bring one instead of just saying, "no we don't have a sewing kit". Often no one picked up at reception. One day, we needed to leave early in the morning. They offered to pack breakfast. I called to confirm that 30 minutes in advance. Came downstairs and no body had prepared anything. Again, don't say you have services or make offers that can't be delivered on. I have other examples but this review is long enough.
Also, the jr suites with balconies face a very noisy road, particularly on the weekend. Bring your earplugs.
That said we had a couple of very nice female servers who were good a developing customer relationships, and again the place is pretty.
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Date of stay: February 2025
Value
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Location
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Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I traveled solo to Pondicherry and decided to stay at Villa Shanti. This was my best decision. Right from room reservation to dropping me at the airport, everything was PERFECT!
Villa Shanti's asset lies in its amazing staff and super-talented chefs. Everyone - housekeeping, receptionists, and waiters, are all very friendly, warm, and made me feel at home. Despite being a solo female traveler, I never felt even slightly uncomfortable. Special thanks to the amazing chefs, Adelie, Anjana (waitress during the morning breakfasts), Diwakar, Rajesh, and Muthu (driver). The restaurant manager ensures that all customers use sanitizer and checks their temperature. The staff wore masks in the restaurant.
Adelie, Diwakar, and two other receptionists (whose names I, unfortunately, don't recollect) were always there for any help or suggestion. Adelie and Diwakar are especially concerned about the guest's comfort and do their best to accommodate the requests. Rajesh suggested the best dishes on their menu and all the dishes he suggested were really delicious! I was also surprised at how well he remembers my preferences. Anjana always served breakfasts with a warm smile and sometimes, even a friendly chat. Muthu, my driver during the trip, made me feel safe and was very friendly. Due to the COVID situation, some places were closed and yet, Muthu tried to show the best of Pondy.
A big thanks to the wonderful chefs at Villa Shanti! Every dish was simply delicious. I highly recommend their fish dishes. The desserts are mindblowing.
Talking about accommodation, rooms are clean, spotless, and very beautiful. Good quality toiletries are provided. Housekeeping staff ensures that all requests are attended to immediately, despite being understaffed. There's ample running hot water. The teas provided in the minibar are of good quality.
Overall, my trip to Pondy wouldn't have been this memorable and beautiful if not for my stay at Villa Shanti. The food is amazing. I will definitely come back soon :)
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Date of stay: December 2020
Location
Cleanliness
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
An overrated arrogance filled restaurant which serves food full of drama but lacks the taste and zest to serve its guests. The vegetarians don't have best of choices, the portion sizes are small, the service is pathetic and the prices are exorbident which isn't worth your experience. Visit only if you want to charm someone with hollow showoff
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Date of stay: February 2023Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Yes UBUD it self is quiet safe . There are no security guard here but was a safe place to be at . You may need a flash light in the night to walk to your room . But the place is worth staying . You won't regret staying here
Dear Sir/Madam
You can park your car in the street as there is no public parking. What type of car are you having.
You can call us at 04134200028 or send us your phone number.
Regards
Villa Shanti
"There is absolutely no space to stop in front of hotel, as bikes and motor bikes are parked all over. Perhaps they have some facility but I am not aware"
There are more places to choose from in the Pondicherry area.
PRICE RANGE
₹11,493 - ₹15,524 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
LOCATION
IndiaUnion Territory of PondicherryPondicherry
NUMBER OF ROOMS
15
Prices are provided by our partners, and reflect average nightly room rates, including taxes and fees that are fixed, known to our partners, and due at time of booking. Please see our partners for more details.
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Are there any historical sites close to Villa Shanti?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Vedapureeswarar Temple, Puducherry (0.6 km), Church Of Our Lady Of Good Health (4.0 km), and Arikamedu Archaeological Site (3.5 km).