Five bases,five different mornings.

• 

  BKC

  Stays here

  0.5–2 km · walkable · 5–10 min off-peak, 10–25 min at rush hour

  Bandra Kurla Complex is the business district the venue sits in: wide roads, consulates, bank towers and two full-service hotels within a ten-minute walk of the doors. It empties after 9 pm and on Sundays, so evenings mean a ride to Bandra West or South Mumbai. Rooms are few and priced like it; if you want to walk to Devcon, book here first.

  Good for

  Zero commute. Sponsors, speakers and budgets above ₹20,000 a night.

  The ride

  Line 3 BKC station, 12–20 min walk to the venue; internal BKC loops add 10–15 min at peak by car

  A typical night

  typically $30–5303 stays listed

• 

  Kalina · Santacruz East

  Stays here

  3–5 km · Line 3, 1–2 stops · 10–15 min off-peak, 25–40 min at rush hour

  The strip between BKC and the domestic terminal along the Western Express Highway. The Grand Hyatt's rooms and residences, the Taj and Orchid by the domestic airport, and a run of mid-market hotels in Kalina. One or two metro stops from BKC, and autos are everywhere. Not a neighbourhood for evenings, but the best value-for-minutes near the venue.

  Good for

  Big rooms and serviced residences. Good for teams on longer stays.

  The ride

  Line 3 Santacruz or Bandra Colony, 1–2 stops; autos ₹60–120 to BKC

  A typical night

  typically $55–14011 stays listed

• 

  Bandra West

  Stays here

  4–6 km · no metro, autos · 15–20 min off-peak, 35–50 min at rush hour

  Mumbai's lifestyle quarter: specialty coffee on every second corner, Pali Hill and Bandstand restaurants, the sea face for an evening walk. There is no metro on the west side, so every trip to BKC is an auto or cab across the Bandra flyover, and the evening peak doubles it. Hotel supply is small (Taj Lands End and a handful of boutiques), which is why it sells out first.

  Good for

  Cafés, bars and the best restaurants. Few rooms, so book early.

  The ride

  No Line 3 stop on the west side; autos and cabs over the Bandra flyover, 15–50 min

  A typical night

  typically $55–2355 stays listed

• 

  Airport zone

  Stays here

  7–10 km · Line 3, 12–18 min · 15–25 min off-peak, 45–70 min at rush hour

  Andheri East around the international terminal holds the largest block of upper-upscale rooms in the city: JW Marriott Sahar, ITC Maratha, Hyatt Regency, Lalit, Hilton, Courtyard, Holiday Inn, Novotel and more. Line 3 starts at T2 and reaches BKC in about fifteen minutes, which turns the airport zone from a compromise into a reasonable base. Rates hold steadier here when the city sells out.

  Good for

  Most rooms and the steadiest rates. The honest pick for late bookers.

  The ride

  Line 3 from T2, Sahar Road or Marol Naka, 4–5 stops, 12–18 min to BKC

  A typical night

  typically $40–14025 stays listed

• 

  South Mumbai

  Stays here

  19–24 km · Line 3, ~30–35 min · 35–50 min off-peak, 60–100 min at rush hour

  Colaba, Fort, Churchgate, Marine Drive and Nariman Point: the Gateway, the Taj Mahal Palace, Kala Ghoda's galleries and the only skyline worth a sunset. Line 3 reaches Churchgate and Cuffe Parade from BKC in roughly half an hour, which makes it possible as a base, but a daily round trip at peak is two hours by road. Better as the place you move to for Diwali weekend.

  Good for

  Heritage and sea. A Diwali-weekend base, not a daily commute.

  The ride

  Line 3 to Churchgate or CSMT, 30–35 min; by road only off-peak via the Coastal Road and Sea Link

  A typical night

  typically $45–30520 stays listed

• 

  Juhu · Vile Parle West

  Stays here

  6–9 km · beach, autos · 25–35 min off-peak, 50–75 min at rush hour

  Juhu's beach hotels (JW Marriott Juhu, Novotel, Sun-n-Sand, Sea Princess) give you a sea view and a morning run on the sand, but no metro and a slow crawl through Santacruz to reach BKC at peak.

  Good for

  Beach-front hotels and Bollywood's neighbourhood. A resort stay with a commute.

  The ride

  No metro; cabs via Juhu-Tara Road or the Western Express Highway, 25–75 min

  A typical night

  typically $60–1659 stays listed

• 

  Powai

  Stays here

  12–14 km · tech campus, cabs · 30–40 min off-peak, 60–90 min at rush hour

  Powai is where Mumbai's startups and IIT Bombay live, with the Renaissance, Meluha and a cluster of business hotels around the lake. Pleasant, but the road to BKC runs through Saki Naka and Kurla, which is the slowest stretch in the city at rush hour.

  Good for

  Lakeside tech campus with good mid-range hotels. Only if your meetings are there too.

  The ride

  No metro link; cabs via JVLR and the highway, 30–90 min

  A typical night

  typically $55–1306 stays listed

• 

  Lower Parel · Worli

  Stays here

  10–12 km · Sea Link, Line 3 Worli · 25–35 min off-peak, 50–75 min at rush hour

  The old mill lands turned into Mumbai's tallest towers, with Four Seasons, St. Regis and ITC Grand Central, and most of the city's rooftop bars. The Bandra-Worli Sea Link makes BKC a quick drive early and late, and Line 3's Worli station adds a rail option.

  Good for

  Mill-district towers, the city's bar scene and the St. Regis. Fast by Sea Link off-peak.

  The ride

  Line 3 Worli station, ~15–20 min to BKC; Sea Link by cab, slow at the Bandra end at peak

  A typical night

  typically $45–2356 stays listed

• 

  Navi Mumbai

  Stays here

  25–35 km · not for a daily commute · 45–60 min off-peak, 75–120 min at rush hour

  Across the creek, near the new Navi Mumbai International Airport. Cheaper rooms, but the drive to BKC is an hour on a good day.

  Good for

  Listed for completeness and the new airport. Do not base a Devcon week here.

  The ride

  No metro link; cabs via the Eastern Freeway or Sion-Panvel highway

  A typical night

  typically $70–1201 stay listed

Room bands are typical November rates from the research, before event pricing. Expect more for 2–6 Nov; live prices are on the stays page.