First trip to Kerala - plz recommend tour operators

negi15

Hi All,

I am planning a kerala trip with my wife. I posted a message at keralatourism.org and got so many replies from many tour operators. Many of them though didn't continue after their first mail.

I have following tour operator, whose package seem reasonable to me. Could you please just rate them, if you have previous experience with them.


- Inspire kerala holidays ( munnar based)
- Spice Holidays
- Kerala Greenery.

If there are any other operators with whom you had good experience, could you provide his contact info.

Thanks
Bhanu

Nick-H

Welcome to the site

A reminder of the rules...

Yes, established members are free to recommend tour operators, and may post the names on the site.

New members, however, may not. Sorry, but all too often they turn out to be advertising their own business, and we will not have touting on the site.

So, anyone who thinks this is a great chance for a bit of advertising: forget it, we'll delete your post.

Established members, on the other hand, please help Bhanu to have a good time in Kerala

__________________
.


Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

vinod_varma01

You can get a list of travel agents if you go a good search or there are even directory sites proving the same..

__________________
Travel manic... I have visited a good number of place in ma 30 yrs of age

snonymous

We booked our May trip through Murugesan at Inspirekerala, also after posting at keralatourism.

It was good value and we got what we paid for - much more in terms of Kerala itself. The drivers provided were courteous and drove safely. The hotels were excellent and the car was comfortable.

Only one thing to watch out for. He will ask you to pay the balance amount of 60% when you meet him. Please keep this amount in cash, just in case you have to pay for fuel en route, in the event your driver runs out of cash. Secondly, confirm in advance from Murugesan about the hotel vouchers. If your first stop is not at Munnar, and the driver does not have the hotel voucher, you may have to settle the hotel bill yourself and adjust the amount in the balance outstanding to Inspirekerala. That is why cash makes it easier for such adjustments.

Enjoy your trip and do post your experiences.

Nick-H

Finding them is no problem. They crawl out of the woodwork and up the cracks between the tiles. Finding a good one needs a recommendation.

negi15

Hi Synonymous
Thanks for the information. I read your article about your kerala trip... wow what a description. I am now very eager to visit kerala...

For all,

We will be visiting in November. Currently, We have following plan:
1 night cochin ( Riviera suites)
2 night munnar (westwood riverside)
1 night thekkady (silver crest)
1 night kumarkom (cocobay resort)
1 night houseboat
2 night kovalam (hotel samudra)
1 night kanyakumari (singaar international)

I would like to get feedback on this plan along with any hotel recommendation?

Will this plan prove to be hectic. I don't have idea about real time taken for travelling between these places. With time provided in itinerary, it looks fine.

Any comments please

Thanks

snonymous

To Negi

It looks quite hectic, on the other hand if you want to see all these places, and do not have much time or any other opportunity in the near future, you may as well do it.

If you are the type who loves to stop at every scenic spot en route, you can easily add a few hours to the time in the itinerary. Start as early as possible to derive maximum benefit of the day.

Personally, I would spend a day less in Kovalam, its too commercial and will be more so in November when the weather is nice. I would also avoid Kanyakumari as a trifle over rated. This is of course my personal opinion, and I do see the sea every day, whereas it must be something different for those from Delhi [love the dhaba food there!].

vandy

Hi negi, concur with snonymous,reasonable long way
to Kovalam,unless you intend catching a train from Allepey, which will make the trip a lot less
Tiring.

You have not mentioned from where in Kerala you intend to start your return to Delhi,If you intend returning from say Trivandrum (plane) then sure head down to Kovalam, on the other hand IF you are returning to Delhi from Cochin, I personally would give Kovalam a miss,spend an extra day in Thekady area and visit spice town of Kumily and it will also give some time to visit Cherai Beach(Vypeen Island)which is in the Cochin area.It is a short ferry ride across Cochin harbour from Fort cochin
and/or Ernakulam.

Happy travelling.

rgds

vandy

negi15

Hi Snonymous,

Yes, you r right. It will be first time we have opportunity to see it. Since, kerala is too far, I guess we would not get the opportunity to visit there for a long time after that. That's why we prefer to go with this plan, even if it is hectic.

Previously kanyakumari was not in plan. But someone told us that it is very nice place and we should cover it in.

Are the beaches of kovalam same as that of Goa? If it is like that, we may prefer to reduce one night stay at kovalam and adjust it somewhere else. Goa is near to Delhi compared to kerala and we can visit it later. What do you suggest?

negi15

Hi Vandy,

Our plan is
cochin (1 night)-> munnar (2 nights)-> thekkady (1 night) -> kumarkom (1 night)-> houseboat ( 1 night) -> kovalam (2 nights) -> kanyakumari (1 night) -> trivandrum airport.

I am still thinking about adjusting kovalam (1 night) and kanyakumari visit to either thekkady or munnar.

Rgds
Bhanu

snonymous

I agree with Vandy. Cherai beach on Vypeen island opp. Fort Cochin is a much nicer beach. Kovalam is too full of stalls, restaurant shacks, tourists, leerers, and so forth! It is not that clean either and if you care to look, you will observe that the sewage from most of the hotels goes straight into the sea. Kanyakumari is also way too crowded, kitschy and commercial, but if you have the time, why not.

Havent been to Goa for quite some time now, so I cant comment, Im sure other members will give you better feedback.

The entire region between Thekkady and Munnar are definitely worth a longer stay.

negi15

We have now finalized the tour with inspirekerala with following plan

cochin (1 night)
munnar - sienna village ( 2 nights) -- thanks to snonymous changed it at last time...
thekkady - wild corridor ( 1 night)
kumarkom - coco bay resort ( 1 night)
houseboat - ( 1 night )
kovalam - isola di cocco resort ( 2 nights)

Our tour operator suggested about isola di cocco resort which is 20 km away from kovalam. Found a lot of good reviews about this resort. Many of them grading it as much better than kovalam stay. Hope his suggestion turns out to be right one.

Will share my experiences once I come back.. Looking forward to visit beautiful kerala...

Aiexile

I have used Pioneer Travel, based in Cochin. They were very efficient and will offer suggestions based on your preferences.

www.pioneertravels.com

Aiexile.

snonymous

Have a great time Negi, and dont forget to post your experiences.

Tanka Baba

The "ABSOLUTE BEST" is Jenny at "Le Royale" in Cochin!! In april
she did back-flips for my wife & I!!