Top 10 Resorts in Chennai: Best Getaways for a Weekend Break

Chennai’s own East Coast Road stretch means a genuine beach weekend is often under two hours away, and the right resorts in Chennai make the most of that. We pulled ratings, prices and locations for 10 resorts along ECR and Mahabalipuram, and ranked them by current guest ratings rather than an arbitrary order.

A quick note before you dive in. Almost every resort on this list sits along ECR or in Mahabalipuram itself, since that’s genuinely where Chennai’s beachfront resort scene is concentrated. If you want something closer to the city centre, expect fewer options and a more hotel-like experience rather than a proper resort.

If where you live is part of why weekends feel rushed, that’s worth sorting out too. Stanza Living’s PG in Chennai options handle meals and housekeeping so your actual free time stays free.

With that out of the way, here’s the ranked list.

Key Takeaways

• Most of the best resorts near Chennai are located on ECR and Mahabalipuram, making them easy options for a weekend trip.
• Sheraton Grand, Radisson Blu, and ITC Kences Palm Beach are good choices for a more premium stay.
• Four Points and Chariot Beach Resort are better suited for couples, while VGP Golden Beach Resort is a family-friendly option.
• TTDC Hotel TamilNadu Mamallapuram is a good budget option, especially for travellers who also want to explore Mahabalipuram.
• Most resorts are around 1–2 hours from central Chennai, so some can also work for a day trip.

Quick Overview

The Ranked List: 10 Resorts in Chennai

Ranked by current guest ratings and by how consistently each property is praised in recent reviews, not by an arbitrary order.

1. Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa

Recent guest reviews consistently mention the food and pool here by name, and staff members are frequently thanked directly in reviews, which usually points to consistent service rather than a single good visit. This is a strong pick if the resort experience itself matters more to your group than a specific beach.

Location: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Contact: Available via marriott.com

2. Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay

Frequently described in reviews as an oasis for couples specifically, this one leans into its scenic Mamallapuram setting more than a large activity roster. It’s a reasonable pick if relaxation matters more than a packed itinerary.

Location: Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu
Contact: Available via radissonhotels.com

3. Welcomhotel by ITC Hotels, Kences Palm Beach

One of the more established beachfront names in Mahabalipuram, this ITC property benefits from a longer track record than some of the newer resorts on this stretch, which shows up in more consistent reviews over time.

Location: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Contact: Available via itchotels.com

4. Grande Bay Resort and Spa

Positioned at the luxury end of the Mahabalipuram beach resort scene, with pricing starting around 9,712 rupees a night. The spa and beachfront setting are the main draws mentioned in reviews, more so than any specific room feature.

Starting Price: Rs 9,712 per night onwards
Location: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

5. Four Points by Sheraton

This one is built specifically with couples in mind, offering honeymoon suites and a private plunge pool as a genuine point of difference from the more family oriented resorts on this list. It’s a popular choice specifically for that reason.

Location: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu

6. Chariot Beach Resort

Offering a genuinely private beach rather than a shared public stretch, this is another strong couples pick along ECR. Reviewers consistently mention privacy as the main reason they’d return, more than any single facility. Worth comparing against a PG in OMR if you’re actually deciding where to base yourself for work rather than just visiting for the weekend.

Location: East Coast Road, Chennai

7. InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort

Part of the IHG group, this one is repeatedly named alongside The Raintree Hotel and Fortune Park Vellore for consistently good breakfast quality specifically. It works well for families who want a reliable international brand over a smaller independent resort.

Location: Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu
Contact: Available via ihg.com

8. Fortune Beach Resort ECR

A mid range option directly on ECR, positioned as a practical choice if you want beach access without travelling all the way to Mahabalipuram itself. Good for a shorter day trip or single overnight stay.

Location: East Coast Road, Chennai

9. VGP Golden Beach Resort

One of the longer standing family resorts on ECR, with a reputation built over years rather than a recent opening. It’s a reasonable pick if a nostalgic, established family resort feels matters more to your group than the newer luxury properties further down the coast. If beach weekends become a regular thing, it’s worth reading up on the area to live in Chennai to cut down on the drive each time.

Location: East Coast Road, Chennai

10. TTDC Hotel TamilNadu Mamallapuram

Run by Tamil Nadu Tourism, this is clearly the most budget friendly option on the entire ECR and Mahabalipuram stretch, located close to the area’s UNESCO monuments. Good pick if sightseeing matters more to your trip than resort amenities.

Location: Mamallapuram, Tamil Nadu
Contact: Available via ttdconline.com

Conclusion

If a few of these resorts have you thinking about spending more time near the OMR and ECR corridor generally, that’s worth acting on too. A managed PG in Tidel Park handles the daily chores through the week, which is really what makes weekend beach trips like these easy to plan rather than something you keep postponing. It’s also worth reading our take on the cost of living in Chennai if budget is part of your decision.

Whether it’s a couples focused stay at Four Points or Chariot Beach, a family weekend at VGP, or a budget government run stay near the monuments, the honest takeaway is that Chennai’s own coastline covers most of what a good weekend trip needs. Pick one off this list and go.

FAQs

Q. Which are the best resorts in Chennai right now?

Sheraton Grand Chennai Resort & Spa in Mahabalipuram is consistently the most praised property on this list, with reviewers specifically highlighting the food and pool. Radisson Blu Resort Temple Bay follows closely for couples.

Q. Which Chennai resorts are best for a couples getaway?

Four Points by Sheraton and Chariot Beach Resort are both built with couples specifically in mind, offering honeymoon suites and private beach access respectively.

Q. Are there budget friendly resorts near Chennai?

TTDC Hotel TamilNadu Mamallapuram, run by Tamil Nadu Tourism, is the clearest budget option on the ECR and Mahabalipuram stretch, positioned close to the area’s UNESCO monuments.

Q. How far are most resorts from Chennai city?

Most sit along East Coast Road or in Mahabalipuram, generally within one to two hours of central Chennai, which makes a single day trip genuinely feasible without an overnight stay.

Q. Which Chennai resorts are best for families with kids?

VGP Golden Beach Resort and InterContinental Chennai Mahabalipuram Resort both work well for families, the former for its long established reputation and the latter for its consistent breakfast and international brand standards.

Q. Are the resorts near Chennai actually on the beach?

Most of the properties along ECR and Mahabalipuram do offer direct or private beach access, though it’s worth confirming with the specific resort since a few sit slightly inland with beach access a short walk away.