A friend and I stayed in the twin room upstairs at Villa Helena. The room is huge and tastefully furnished and we felt at home from the beginning. We had our own sofa outside the room where it was great to sit in the evenings. The owners were in Iran extending their visas when we were there but a friend... More

This tastefully decorated colonial house offers a peaceful break from it all. Its antique furniture, old posters and authentic flavour makes it a small heaven. It is both authentic and friendly. Its relative small size allows people to mingle should they wish to do so. The breakfast with french baguettes is simply delicious. The staff is friendly and the rooms... More

La Villa Helena is the best guest house I have stayed in in India. It is an excellent representation of Pondicherry's French colonial heritage. When you walk in you feel like you are in a different time period with all of its beautiful antique furniture. The service is very efficient which is something hard to find in India. It is... More

Simply the best hotel we stayed in in India. This place is a tastefully restored colonial villa in the heart of the old French quarter. It is run by a young Frenchman and has a traditional French breakfast - unbeatable coffee. It is also a hangout for French tourists so if you are meeting too many anglophones its a good... More

My partner and I originally intended to stay here 3 nights but extended the stay to four. We found the courtyard a serene oasis, the staff friendly and helpful,the owner welcoming and the kittens out the back playful. Breakfast served each morning in the courtyard shortly after you wandered out of your room (as described by KK). The Suite was... More

I spent a weekend here with friends and had an amazing time. I was told that the place is under new management and has been significantly updated. Breakfast was simple (awesome bread, coffee, juice), the setting was relaxing, and a great place to be for a vacation. The courtyard seating is comfortable and is a great place to hang out.... More

I've been at Villa Helena for a week now. The ambience is charmingly colonial, the breakfast of coffee, fruit & croissant is lovely, the internet is pretty fast and the location is wonderful - easy to get to the Promenade for a stroll, to the shopping areas on MG Road, or walking distance to some nice little eateries. The staff... More

A beautiful and relaxing setting, and super convenient to the center of French Pondicherry. There's a lovely interior courtyard garden as you walk in. Rooms were simple, but clean. My husband and I never saw any of the bad things others complained of, though service staff were sometimes hard to find. Setting for breakfast very comfortable. villahelena@sify.com

The rooms were filthy with dirty bed sheets .Crowd coming only for drugs , booze and prostitution