Kerala & around in 2 weeks: New Traveller - where to go?

pundabee · May 8th, 2008, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by htid

but we're a bit worried about the latest 2 reviews for Chrissies on tripadivsor, not too good.

This was something I wanted to ask actually...on the review it said don't get Chrissie to book you anything in Periyar as she overcharges, it's better to do it yourself. How does one go about that? Should I book now, on the Periyar website? There is an e-mail address to do so.

Personally, I would never trust individual Tripadvisor users. Look at the average (assuming many reviews), listen to people you trust and draw your own conclusions.

The review in question didn't refer to booking trips, but booking a rickshaw, and I am almost certain that the reviewer in question hasn't quite understood what happened. I have never heard of anyone charging per person for a rickshaw in India. You hire a rickshaw and squeeze in as many people as the driver allows (8 people is my personal record). The charge of Rs. 40 is likely to be the charge for a rickshaw (one person, half full, full or bursting) to the boat jetty although the actual destination, unsurprisingly, is unclear from the review. The boat jetty is 4km from Chrissie's, and the charge is Rs. 10 per km.

I would, in general, recommend booking your treks etc. from the Forest Department (when you exit Chrissie's turn right, continue for 500 metres till you get to Ambadi junction, turn right and you should see the Forest Department, or Eco Tourism Centre, on your right. It is a building with straw roof). You generally don't need to book anything more than a day in advance (except the Tiger Trail).

Bamboo rafting highly recommended.

Considering your ATM question: There are 3 in Kumily.

htid · May 8th, 2008, 21:01

Thanks again for the very useful info Pundabee

tstfs · May 8th, 2008, 23:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by pundabee

Personally, I would never trust individual Tripadvisor users. Look at the average (assuming many reviews), listen to people you trust and draw your own conclusions.

The review in question didn't refer to booking trips, but booking a rickshaw, and I am almost certain that the reviewer in question hasn't quite understood what happened. I have never heard of anyone charging per person for a rickshaw in India. You hire a rickshaw and squeeze in as many people as the driver allows (8 people is my personal record). The charge of Rs. 40 is likely to be the charge for a rickshaw (one person, half full, full or bursting) to the boat jetty although the actual destination, unsurprisingly, is unclear from the review. The boat jetty is 4km from Chrissie's, and the charge is Rs. 10 per km.

I would, in general, recommend booking your treks etc. from the Forest Department (when you exit Chrissie's turn right, continue for 500 metres till you get to Ambadi junction, turn right and you should see the Forest Department, or Eco Tourism Centre, on your right. It is a building with straw roof). You generally don't need to book anything more than a day in advance (except the Tiger Trail).

Bamboo rafting highly recommended.

Considering your ATM question: There are 3 in Kumily.

very informative

tstfs · May 10th, 2008, 01:16

leaving for Delhi today, in an hour or so, will carry on to Cochin on Monday. Time flies fast.

All the best HTID

htid · May 10th, 2008, 13:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by tstfs

leaving for Delhi today, in an hour or so, will carry on to Cochin on Monday. Time flies fast.

All the best HTID

We're leaving for England (I'm in Germany now, flying back to England to go to India as it's cheaper from England) at 7pm tonight. Our flight to Trivandrum goes at 11am tomorrow and we arrive Monday at 5am...scary!

All the best if you haven't already gone! (It looks like you're still online)

tstfs · May 10th, 2008, 14:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by htid

We're leaving for England (I'm in Germany now, flying back to England to go to India as it's cheaper from England) at 7pm tonight. Our flight to Trivandrum goes at 11am tomorrow and we arrive Monday at 5am...scary!

All the best if you haven't already gone! (It looks like you're still online)

ny train to delhi is a couple of hours

tstfs · May 19th, 2008, 22:14

how are you doing?

htid · May 24th, 2008, 14:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by tstfs

how are you doing?

Good! Unhappy that we'll miss the monsoon now, I was quite looking forward to seeing it, would be a unique experience but they say 28th now

Anyway can't say much as we're paying 100rs (ex taxes) per half hour here at the Leela, rip off or what! Hope everytyhing went ok for you!

tstfs · May 26th, 2008, 20:46

wont use their internet at all, am at varkala at the moment. the trip is great. best of luck with ypur [plans

snonymous · May 31st, 2008, 22:01

We're just back from our fantastic Kerala trip which far exceeded our expectations. Will post a report bye and bye.

Nick-H · May 31st, 2008, 22:23

Looking forward to reading it

htid · Jun 2nd, 2008, 20:46

We're back too, have been for a few days but been too busy to come online.

Apart from us both getting food poisoning, a cold, me getting bitten by a leech, a mini car crash and my credit card suddenly not working, it was great

Seriously though was really good, the good definitely outweighed the bad.

I would write a report but I don't know if any one cares about what we did on holiday

: I kept a diary of what we did each day and my thoughts, but it's rather long. I was thinking of writing it up online, but I'm not sure.

I'll certainly write hotel reviews for the Hotels section though

Glad to hear you had fun synonomous!

theyyamdancer · Jun 2nd, 2008, 21:01

Please write about your trip. The good and the bad!

grizzlyofalaska · Jun 2nd, 2008, 21:19

hello Folks,

I have a question. What is it like in kerela, i am thinking of staying at sivananda ashram for a week and then goto kovalam and verkala. Please advise on the following?

What is the weather like during june in these three places?

How much discount can i expect in beach side hotels as it is off season?

Will there be a lot of mosquitoes and lizards in my room?> I have heard they are a pain in the rainy season.

I am currenlty in rishikesh and the weather is too hot to deal with here. And i have four lizards in my room which are keeping me up at night lol Sorry but i don't trust animals

pls advise me what i can expect in kerela this time of the year.

Nick-H · Jun 2nd, 2008, 21:48

Rain and temperature around 30-35.

According to my newspaper, monsoon started there just a couple of days back. It'll be humid.

The indoor lizards, gekkos, are no problem (actually, the outdoor ones aren't either, just they're bigger!) and may even eat some of the mossies.

There will be mossies.

May 10th, 2008, 01:16	#139
tstfs Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: India Posts: 70	leaving for Delhi today, in an hour or so, will carry on to Cochin on Monday. Time flies fast. All the best HTID Last edited by tstfs : May 10th, 2008 at 13:26.

May 31st, 2008, 22:23	#146
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,609	Looking forward to reading it __________________ . Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Jun 2nd, 2008, 21:19	#149
grizzlyofalaska Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: lONDON Posts: 140	Kerela in June hello Folks, I have a question. What is it like in kerela, i am thinking of staying at sivananda ashram for a week and then goto kovalam and verkala. Please advise on the following? What is the weather like during june in these three places? How much discount can i expect in beach side hotels as it is off season? Will there be a lot of mosquitoes and lizards in my room?> I have heard they are a pain in the rainy season. I am currenlty in rishikesh and the weather is too hot to deal with here. And i have four lizards in my room which are keeping me up at night lol Sorry but i don't trust animals pls advise me what i can expect in kerela this time of the year.

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May 8th, 2008, 21:01	#137
htid Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 129	Thanks again for the very useful info Pundabee

May 19th, 2008, 22:14	#142
tstfs Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: India Posts: 70	how are you doing?

May 26th, 2008, 20:46	#144
tstfs Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: India Posts: 70	wont use their internet at all, am at varkala at the moment. the trip is great. best of luck with ypur [plans

May 31st, 2008, 22:01	#145
snonymous Maha Guru Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mumbai Posts: 511	We're just back from our fantastic Kerala trip which far exceeded our expectations. Will post a report bye and bye.

Jun 2nd, 2008, 20:46	#147
htid Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Sheffield, England Posts: 129	We're back too, have been for a few days but been too busy to come online. Apart from us both getting food poisoning, a cold, me getting bitten by a leech, a mini car crash and my credit card suddenly not working, it was great Seriously though was really good, the good definitely outweighed the bad. I would write a report but I don't know if any one cares about what we did on holiday : I kept a diary of what we did each day and my thoughts, but it's rather long. I was thinking of writing it up online, but I'm not sure. I'll certainly write hotel reviews for the Hotels section though Glad to hear you had fun synonomous!

Jun 2nd, 2008, 21:01	#148
theyyamdancer Maha Guru Member Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Crete Posts: 663	Please write about your trip. The good and the bad!

Jun 2nd, 2008, 21:48	#150
Nick-H Loud-mouthed, Noisy Bird Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 24,609	Rain and temperature around 30-35. According to my newspaper, monsoon started there just a couple of days back. It'll be humid. The indoor lizards, gekkos, are no problem (actually, the outdoor ones aren't either, just they're bigger!) and may even eat some of the mossies. There will be mossies.

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