Uthukuli accommodation from AU$50

World class property. Total surprise for a small town. The lobby is as large and impressive as some 5 star hotels, if more modestly furnished. The hotel is brand new, they told us they opened in November 2023. The rooms are fresh, well appointed, pleasing to the eye and the bed was very comfortable surprisingly no USB ports in any of the power outlets. Bathroom is modern and rivals 4 star hotels in Europe & the USA. The floors are laminate or hardwood not carpet & everything was clean and fresh smelling. The neighborhood is a bunch of charmless buildings, but appears safe and orderly. The Staff: we arrived at midnight, and the lobby was in semi darkness ( ok with thus: makes sense to save energy) and only the lone security guard loitering in the driveway assured us that they were open. Upon entering we realized that these were not 1 but 2 clerks at the desk, who waited unsmiling and unmoving as we dragged our luggage across the Huge lobby. Only after we got to the desk did they even acknowledge us: reasonably friendly but not apparently trained either by traditional Hindu notions of hospitality, natural Indian friendliness to strangers or by modern commercial standards. The same lack of warmth could be noticed during breakfast where they seemed not too happy or responsive to requests. No smiles. In the morning, a family on our floor was COOKing in their room with mideast spices, causing a nuisance, but the staff shrugged it off. Smells matter, and I hope management acts.