Have you ever had holiday anxiety? The anxiousness that builds up before a trip or a vacation, where you only hope that everything goes well and nothing gets screwed up? We’ve all been there. We’ve all dreaded unorganized and unplanned trips for this reason exactly. So, how do you avoid making such a faux pas? How do you ensure your holiday is everything you want it to be?

Our solution over the last few months, ridden with COVID-19 scares, has been to stick to city getaways. Be it the beautiful properties along Chennai’s ECR and OMR or quick getaways like Mahabalipuram, Mysore and Coorg — the closer the property, the better has been our experience.

With that tried and tested formula being our new life hack, we were overjoyed when we got to review Somerset Greenways in Chennai — right in the middle of the city and yet, tucked away in the pristine MCR Nagar, sharing walls with the palace of erstwhile Chettinad royalty and the picturesque Adyar Creek in the distance.

We’ve all been to the property at some point of time, considering it houses two award-winning restaurants and one of the city’s most famous gastro-pubs. The area is green and somehow always seems to look like it has just rained. That and the sea breeze that constantly blows across this part of town — it’s almost like MRC Nagar was made for resorts!

The ambience is warm and the décor classy — the 187-roomed hotel features studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom units featuring separate living and dining areas and a fully equipped kitchen. The staff is trained to be as non-intrusive as possible and in these COVID-19 times, such social distancing is much appreciated.

The views from the rooms are spectacular! Especially if you’re facing the Adyar Creek. We happened to be residing at the property at the break of the monsoon and the rain showers at midnight were magical to say the least. Sipping on a hot cuppa while you watch lightning strike at the sea in the distance is one of those memories that will stay with you for life.

What works in properties like these is how they take care of everything. Somerset Greenways Chennai has been certified by Bureau Veritas as a ‘safe hotel’ that complies with international standards of health and safety, offering travellers and expats a safe haven in the city. They ensure stringent hygiene and cleanliness standards as well as safe distancing protocols. Guests can choose to whip up their favourite comfort food in their own rooms or order in from the in-room dining menu.

We decided to order-in two of our meals and were thoroughly satisfied by the quality. A request for a cooking experience led to a chef sending a DIY pasta kit to our room and in no time, we’d plated a delicious plate of pasta that not only looked delectable but tasted delicious too. We managed to sneak in a meal at Fromage, a quaint French-themed café that celebrates cheese in all its carefully crafted dishes. The menu was interesting and we were left wowed by the food.

Art is also an important part of the property and most notable are the two 80-foot mural paintings depicting the various performing art forms of rural South India.

The property also offers a ‘Work in Residence’ programme, offering flexible work solutions. Guests can continue working remotely with maximum peace of mind and leave it to the property to provide an environment that is not only comfortable, but also clean, secure and safe. Working professionals can rent one or two-bedroom apartments (suite-sized) for day use and enjoy their home-office space with customized workstations with an ensuite kitchenette and services including in-room dining options, complimentary hot beverages like tea and coffee, high speed Wi-Fi access and business-support services.
The property has gone out of its way to adapt to these pandemic times and this holiday season, they’re offering up to 40% discount on daily rates.

With the rains hitting the city again and the North-East monsoon around the corner, we’d suggest you book a room here ASAP and experience this magic first hand. You’ll thank us for the suggestion.

At: Somerset Greenways Chennai, 94, Sathyadev Avenue, MRC Nagar, Chennai
+91 44 7101 0000