21 MUST TRY HOTELS & RESORTS, KERALA: These were the places I stayed and eat during my first visit in Kerala, India. Thank you for making it a trip of a lifetime
21 MUST TRY HOTELS & RESORTS, KERALA
BOOK YOUR HOTEL ROOM IN KERALA HERE
In my entire 2-week visit to Kerala, India, I had the opportunity to experience the hospitality of 22 Hotels and Resorts in this beautiful district of India. While my stay in these Hotels and Resorts were sponsored, the words written below were entirely based on my opinions and personal preference.
Wait, did I mention 22 Hotels and resorts? Well, I experienced the 23 properties as opposed to the 22 mentioned in my title. The last one, however, was given by Silkair the official carrier of 5 bloggers (including me) in the entire Kerala Blog Express 3.
In as much as my stay in these hotels and resorts were very short, I didn’t have the opportunity to explore their entire offerings. I’m sure If I only had a little more time, I could give more justice to my reviews of these properties.
Generally, most of these hotels received us very well literally with some sounds using their traditional drums, garlands in various materials like flowers, spices, and shells, welcome drinks like fresh coconut juice and, of course, their traditional tika or tilak. (Tika or Tilak is a ritual mark on the forehead. It is used as a sign of blessing, greetings.)
So here’s the 22 Must-Try Hotels and Resorts in Kerala, India and find out the reasons why I like them.
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Vivanta By Taj Green Cove, Kovalam
I arrived at Trivandrum on the eve of February 14, and I was brought straight to a lovely resort where I spent my first night in Kerala, the Vivanta By Taj Green Cove, Kovalam. The resort is a 12-kilometer drive from Thiruvananthapuram airport and 14-kilometer drive from the railway station. The resort is located amidst lush vegetation with a beautiful view of the sea.
Three things I like most about Vivanta By Taj Green Cove, Kovalam:
- I love the Balinese influences in the architecture and décor of their villas. This is the kind of resort which I would want to stay if given a chance to enjoy for a few more days.
- I enjoyed their restaurant where we had our breakfast. It’s beside the pool at the second level of the main building of the resort.
- While having my early coffee, I was entertained well by the waiters and cooks on my queries about Indian Food.
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Vivanta By Taj, Trivandrum
February 15, my second night in Kerala, India. I stayed at one of the best 5-star hotels in Trivandrum, the Vivanta by Taj. The hotel is 1.5 kilometers from the railway terminus and 10 kilometers from the airport.
What I like most about Vivanta By Taj, Trivandrum:
- Need I say more? It’s a beautiful 5-star hotel equipped with fantastic and luxurious amenities any guest will surely love. Unfortunately, It was just an overnight stay. But we were given the best service and hospitality from this hotel.
- This beautiful hotel is located in the heart of Trivandrum. Surely, I highly recommend that you will visit this hotel.
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WelcomHotel Raviz Ashtamudi, Kollam
February 16, we were on our way to experience the Kerala Backwaters, we stopped for an excellent breakfast at WelcomHotel Raviz Ashtamudi. The moment we arrived, we were well received by the traditional drumbeats of Kerala, Leis, welcome drinks and warmth.
What I like most from WelcomHotel Raviz Ashtamudi
- The main building of this hotel is overlooking a big lake which emulates a very relaxing feeling. For me, this hotel is perfect to spend a pleasant vacation when visiting Kollam, Kerala.
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Lakes & Lagoons
In my previous post, I made a lengthy review about Lakes & Lagoons being a sponsor in my overnight stay at the Boathouse in Kerala Backwaters. Please click here for my Kerala Backwaters Experience.
Lakes & Lagoons takes pride to be the first & only ISO 9001 – 2008 certified Houseboat Tour Company in Kerala.
What I like most about Lakes & Lagoons:
- Their staff was amiable. We made sure that all our needs were taken care of. For me, one of the significant factors which make my stay memorable in a particular facility apart from their amenities is its people. Lakes and Lagoons have great men.
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CGH Earth – Marari Beach Resort
We were welcomed gracefully by their traditional tika, lei, and the fresh coconut juice.
We just drop by Marari Beach Resort for our lunch so I cannot speak so much about the property. But Marari Beach Resort is one place which I ate a lot.
What I like most about Marari Beach Resort
- They have a wide array of food selection in their main dining hall. Their food is just perfect for me. I can say that they offer one of the best food among the places we’ve visited in Kerala. I’m sure you will love it too.
- To those who are not really into spicy food, they have a wide array of food selection for you to choose from.
- The place is quite large and ideal for a peaceful vacation, they have a pool and has a beautiful beach front.
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Kumarakom Lake Resort
Tradition, culture, arts, service …just the first few words that come to my mind when describing this place. One of my favorite resort in Kerala.
What I like most about Kumarakom Lake Resort
- The rooms, villas, and suites at Kumarakom Lake Resort reflect Kerala’s traditional architectural art with luxurious, modern comforts. According to one of their staff, each building is a careful reconstruction of manas, the 16th-century conventional homesteads of Kerala. Most of these structures were transplanted from their original locations and reassembled painstakingly by hand, plank by plank, tile by tile, to create the luxurious accommodation.
- I was flabbergasted at seeing the luxuriously modern, open-roofed bathrooms set in small, aesthetically designed pocket gardens. I was so excited about taking a bath in an open-roofed bathroom with matching garden plants in it, the whole space was furnished by the Home Furniture Website.
- Another surprising feature of this place which amazed me was a 250-m long meandering pool. The room which was given to us has direct access to the pool.
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KTDC Waterscapes
We just had a short tea break from this exotic backwater resort. Located on the shores of Vembanad Lake and inside the Kumarakom Bird Sanctuary. It is said that migratory birds from as far as Siberia visits the place.
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Lakesong Resort
Lakesong Resort is located amidst the beautiful backwaters of Kumarakom. The architectural design of Lakesong Resort was based on the traditional Kerala style. It was very heartwarming to note that Lakesong Resort had prepared a cooking demonstration for us on some conventional Kerala Cuisines.
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CGH Earth – Spice Village, Periyar Sanctuary
For a quick lunch, we dropped by at CGH Earth – Spice Village, Periyar Sanctuary. We were welcomed by an elephant, drumbeats and their traditional tilak. As we entered the resort, we were offered a various flavor of teas as welcome drinks.
10.Elephant Court
We stayed for two nights at the Elephant Court in Thekkady. The Elephant Court, the only five-star hotel in this region, invites you to come and experience the rejuvenating power of nature. Come, surround yourself with dense rainforest.
What I like most about the Elephant Court
- Every night this hotel offers a free show showcasing some traditional Indian Dances
- Since I stayed in this hotel for two nights, I had the opportunity to enjoy my early morning coffee and evening tea in their poolside which I like.
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Spice Tree – Munnar
One of my favorite Hotel in Kerala is this premium boutique luxury resort at Munnar, The SpiceTree. Unlike in most resorts we’ve visited in Kerala that we were given buffet meals, at Spice Tree, we were given a sit-down dinner with the Chef explaining each dishes being served.
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KTDC Tea County
One of my favorite Hotels in Kerala, the KTDC Tea Country. This beautiful sprawling hotel is located on top of the hill offering a beautiful vista of the place.
What I like most about the KTDC Tea County
- The location of the hotel is perfect for people who wanted to relax.
- The place is quite cold at night-time and in the early morning, making it a perfect summer destination.
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Kalypso Adventures – Camping
We stayed overnight at the Kalypso Camp in Munar. Kalypso Adventures, the company operating the place received us with a welcome gift such as a box of chocolate, a box of assorted spices, a cap and a shirt which we used for our outdoor activities. The campsite is not an ordinary site. It has good bathrooms and comfort rooms, tents with beds and sleeping bags – just a few signs that the campground is operated by professional people.
Kalypso Adventures offers various outdoor activities like trekking, cycling, kayaking, wildlife, and bird watching holidays among others. If you are an active person and would want to experience outdoor activities, I do recommend that you contact Kalypso Adventures.
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Cherai Beach Resort
We had a quick stopover at Cherai Beach Resort for a quick lunch. Cherai Beach Resort is landscaped with lagoons and canals meandering in and around some cottages built around the serene backwaters.
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Holiday Inn
Holiday Inn is located in the heart of Cochin City. Holiday Inn Cochin has 211 spacious and lavishly furnished rooms, with modern amenities.
What I like about Holiday Inn
- They offer a wide array of food selections and a pleasant culinary experience.
- I love their rooms.
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The Windflower Resorts and Spa, Vythiri
Another hotel, I like most in my entire Kerala trip was The Windflower Resorts and Spa, Vythiri. The hotel offers a cold climate and surrounded by lush greenery year round.
What I like most about The Windflower Resorts and Spa, Vythiri
- The hospitality and charm of the people working in this hotel made my stay extra special.
- See some monkeys the moment you get out from your hotel room.
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Vythiri Village
I didn’t stay at this hotel; instead, they hosted all of the bloggers for a night at the fun party. This resort has all the rights to brag about being called as a 5-star resort. The resort features were spectacular, such as man-made falls, zip line and many more. Looking at the property simply amazed me. Their main dining hall was one of the biggest dining halls in all of the places I visited in Kerala. Their food selections were excellent. Two thumbs up to Vythiri Village. I enjoyed sharing personal stories with the Managers of this hotel who were quite familiar with my culture of being a Filipino. Two thumbs up to you Vythiri Village!!! Next time, please let me stay in your hotel.
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Hill District Club
The Hill District Club is a sprawling resort in over 3.5 acres of green land; the club boasts many facilities such as mini-convention center to nice swimming pools.
19. WelcomHotel Raviz Kadavu
We arrived late after lunch in this hotel, and we need to leave the place as early as 8 in the morning as we don’t want to be caught with so much traffic. The reason? The President of India is expected to arrive and stay at the hotel. Maybe that was enough reason for you to imagine what is this hotel all about.
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Kunnathor Mana Ayurveda Heritage Resort
Being one of the few ancestral homes in Kerala, what attracts me first about Kunnathurmana Ayurveda Heritage Resort is its building. For me the old charm of the place made me feel at home.
Website: http://www.kmaheritage.com
Bolgatty Palace, Photo: From Bolgatty Website
21.Bolgatty Palace, Kochi
Located on the Island of Bolgatty, the Bolgatty Palace has four palatial rooms. Initially built by Dutch traders in 1744 and it is the oldest of its kind that exists outside Holland. The resort is encircled by a nine-hole golf course established in 1925.
22.Xandari Harbour, Fort Kochi
The Xandari Harbour is located right at the spice trading district of Kochi, Kerala, the Mattancherry. The Mattancherry is an exciting place to visit during daytime as you will see ancient structures which are being used for spice trading. It is also a Bazar Road, where art galleries and cafes are located.
The resort offers 16 beautiful guest rooms and has a great view of the harbor. We were treated at the resort’s signature restaurant, Restaurant 51 which has a 2-story waterfront view. I only stayed at this resort for our farewell dinner, so I cannot give a full detailed review.
What I like most about Xanari Harbour’s Restaurant 51
- I guess they offer the best food in Kochi.
- The restaurant which was a restored old building spells modern comfort and luxury.
I’ve never been to anywhere in India. It would be delightful to go there and experience all of these! Thanks for sharing the must try hotels!
The surrounding is so serene. Must have been a relaxing place to stay.
I have never been to India, but I will add this to my bucket list. All the hotels look fabulous. I will bookmark this for future reference.
Such an exotic place to visit. I get used to seeing parts of India on TV that isn’t this beautiful so all I can see is Wow.
What a great post! I have plenty of Indian friends here and they have been inviting me to visit Kerala. Perhaps, I will be tempted to accept the invitation after seeing all those marvelous photos you have shared, especially the floating hotel boats. I have heard so much a out them and how beautiful Kerala is. Your pictures prove them. I bet you had a fabulous time in beautiful Kerala.
I haven’t been to India but I would like to visit it someday because of its rich culture! Aside from hotels and resorts, I also want to try authentic Indian food.
Wow! visiting 22 hotels must have been quite an experience. Going to one especially in an exotic place like India is good enough for me so you are truly fortunate.
Great post! I envy you, having the privilege to travel all those places for free. Thank you for sharing about Kerala, I wouldn’t have thought that it is a nice place to travel to but seeing the wonderful photos you shared makes me want to explore it as well.
It inspire me to travel and be there soon.
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Equipped amenities of the hotels and its surroundings are just lovely.
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its feels so relaxing, comfortably having fun and enjoyment with families and friends.
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I really love traveling. Since then, it’s already in my bucket list to travel the world in the future. In God’s Will 😀 But one of my concerns when traveling is the accommodation of the hotels and I really find this interesting and exciting. 🙂
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I hope i can visit there soon and explore their different hotels, try the foods and experience the culture of india. #sales
Wow! amazing. It inspires me since I love traveling around and exploring new places. I wish I’ll able to visit one of these places someday. #sales
Places to go in my list. A lovely and relaxing atmosphere plus the culture and nature.
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If I had a lot of money,I wanted to be here also.:)
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“Excellent place”. I want to experience all of these… Awesome Samudr tat Asshray 🙂
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Kalypso Adventures, I wanna meet you! 😀 #sales
I enjoyed reading this since i love traveling! Must read!
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India has a rich culture which attracts the tourists. I would love to visit India someday. 🙂 #Sales
its interesting to see personally in this beautiful place the resort and hotels in kerala.
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The place was very nice and relaxing..I hope I can travel there soon..#sales
Even just by looking at the photos? I have seen how amazing to be in the place so called India. I wish I could experience it soon.
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Wow! Soon I’ll be visiting in one of the hotels there or maybe all of the hotels you’ve mention. #sales
well organized and suitable for family comfort.
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more comfortable and good chillin place for a barkadas and family
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I love all the places..wish i could come there someday
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I love some of the concepts and it really inpires me to travel around the world #sales
i want to visit these beautiful hotels and resorts in Kerala India #sales
I am quite like to travel over India. I am a malayalee, and now, recently I choose 3 night ride to Munnar, and choose two resorts in munnar for the stay. The hotels in munnar, which i found in google results, I choose Camelot Resort Munnar , and Rivulet Resort Munnar ,. Both seems superb, having different experience. Camelot and Rivulet trends to the best honeymoon resort in munnar. Both have organic farm, nature feel. Best places for relaxation. Budget hotels