Goa or Kerala with thirteen years old |
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Jul 10th, 2009, 18:31
| #1 |
| Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 9
| Goa or Kerala with thirteen years old Hi all, First, this is really a great forum. Grateful for that….. We have never been to India but will go there for three weeks during the coming Dec-Jan period. We have a thirteen years old with us who fancies to stay at the beach and play beach volleyball, going by motorbike, and just to chill. We arrive in Mumbai and were first considering taking the overnight train down to Goa and Benaulim beach. It seems pretty convenient and it is, I suppose, what you are expected to do……. At the same time, I think that we would perhaps appreciate some more local colour and some more genuine Indian culture down in Kerala (I am afraid I would get bored in Goa after some time). An alternative could therefore be to take a Kingfisher flight down to Cochin. If going to Cochin, Cherai beach seem to be a convenient place to stay. Would Cherai during three weeks be too much? My thinking was that we could have it as our base, while at the same time hiring a motorcycle and doing excursions into Cochin, to the boats leaving for the backwaters, driving up into the mountains, and so on….. Does it make sense? Is three weeks at Cherai too much? Is there enough people to get a teenager busy  Any suggestions for accommodation? Has anyone checked out the kadalkkara lake resort? Would be grateful for some guidance. Best, Per |
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Jul 10th, 2009, 22:39
| #2 |
| Maha Guru Member  Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K.
Posts: 995
| Hi Per, welcome to Indiamike. Cherai Beach is a good beach location but apart from the beach there is not much to occupy a 13 year old or adults. As it is on Vypeen island you will have to cross the bridge towards Cochin each time you want to travel or take the ferry to Cochin. I would question the idea of hiring motorbikes. Unless you are experienced the roads can be dangerous as normal conventions about driving do not apply in India especially in towns and cities. Just turning right onto a main road can be a death defying act. I have stayed in Cochin for 3 months for the past 7 years and still won't hire a bike or car! Hiring a taxi is relatively cheap (Rs1200-1500 per day which includes the drivers accommodation, food and fuel)and the driver will show you around the area. Maybe a week in Goa and then travel to Cochin by plane or train (good journey) might be an idea. By staying in Cochin you can hire taxis or travel by bus to Munnar, the backwaters, stay at Cherai beach for a few nights, visit Fort Kochi, see the Kathakali dancers, take a train down to Kovalam or better still Varkala. January is also the Temple Festival season in many parts and these can be exciting to visit with elephant parades and fireworks. |
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Jul 11th, 2009, 06:39
| #3 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kerala
Posts: 137
  | Come to goa or cochin from Mumbai during daytime through the Konkan path. That itself is a treat for the eyes. |
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Jul 13th, 2009, 17:15
| #4 |
| Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 9
| Re-considering......... Hi Clive and Kenney, And thank you so much for your responses. Well, it seems that we better drop the motorbike then. And the beaches off Cochin.... It came to me that we could perhaps take the flight to Cochin from Mumbai, stay 1 night or 2 and then head up north to the Malabar coast. Find some beach place in the Thalassery-Kannur area perhaps. Do some wayanad excursions from there and, then head back to Cochin, stay a couple of nights, and then head back to Bumbai again. Do you know of any beaches and/or hotels/hostels to head for in the Kannur area? How would you go there from Cochin? Is the road ok? Could long distance bus be something to consider or should we choose the train? Any wayanad places that you would recommend? Heard of Calpetta and Mysuru. Best regards, Per |
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Jul 13th, 2009, 17:52
| #5 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Kerala
Posts: 137
| There is a Beach House run as homestay – about 7 kms south of Kannur. The beach is fantastic for swimming and will be deserted during morning. The house is run by a couple. The accommodation is quite basic but clean and all the rooms have a beach view. The food is also fantastic. Check their site here - http://www.kannurbeachhouse.com/ Its always better to catch a train since most of them run on time and much more comfortable than a bus. In Wayanad you must check out the tree houses in Kuruva islands. |
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Jul 13th, 2009, 18:25
| #6 | |
| Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: London
Posts: 9
| Quote:
Try and make the trip during the day. The train journey is such a visually beautiful experience. | |
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Jul 13th, 2009, 18:54
| #7 |
| Maha Guru Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: PORTSMOUTH U.K.
Posts: 995
| I haven't been there but I have heard good things about the Costa Malabari - my wife has told me it is on her list of places to stay! Apparently it is a small resort with 5-6 rooms, close to a quiet clean beach and is about 10 miles south of Kannur. |
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Jul 15th, 2009, 20:18
| #8 |
| Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Posts: 9
| Thank you All for your suggestions, We will check out the places you suggested at the Malabar Coast as well as the Tree houses. Best, Per |
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Jul 17th, 2009, 13:19
| #9 |
| Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Bangalore
Posts: 15
| one place you could try is Vythiri resort. But Wayanad in rainy season, i am not sure a good idea. http://ullekha.blogspot.com/2008/03/vythiriin-land-of-gods.html |
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