My memories of Mahabalipuram are of starry night walks along the sea , of going for a walk along the beach from my hotel to the shore temple and deciding enroute where I will eat next ,
where you can hear the sound of the waves from your hotel room which beckon you to wet yourself in its salty water . The catamaran rides are a must if you love adventure , but dont let a weak hearted person who loves you see you disappearing when the big waves hit .
The hotels here are moderately priced with good facilities .
We stayed at Golden Sun which was the best value for money 7 years ago .
It’s a good idea to hire a guide or buy a book to figure out what is special about the various temples that are here.