We used to dread going to Mumbai because of the nightmarish accommodation situation. Downtown rooms were either extremely expensive or extremely grungy, or both. To find a well-managed budget hotel near Mumbai, you basically had to go to Pune. Till we discovered Chateau Windsor, one of the tidiest lodges in town. It has a dream location, a few blocks from Churchgate Station, next-door to the Ambassador Hotel (where you pay three times more) and less than a stone’s throw from Marine Drive. While no breakfast is included, it is still decent value as some luxurious doubles have been added in recent years. Though it has 50 rooms, the hotel is fairly popular, so book ahead. Tariff Rs 4,000–5,000 Contact 022-66224455, chateauwindsor.com