Kerala Honeymoon- Feb. 7/8 days - Beaches & backwaters

mendiratta_1812

Hi All,
What a great website & great responses. Hope My search will end here..
I'm planning to have few gud days after my marriage(pun intended..:-)) in God's Own Country. I don't want to make it too hectic for 7-8 days. I'll be flying in from Delhi in Feb. 1st week and basically I'm interested in 2-3 days on beach, 1/2 day(s) on A/C House Boat Cruise, 3-4 days at (one/two) place to enjoy backwaters beauty, nature & life.
I don't want to go to Munnar or any other hill station to avoid travel time & moreover, my girl-friend gets sick on hills.
Pls advice about the following: -
1.Which beach will be best and goes best with the itinerary - Kovalam/Marari/Any other great Beach?
2.What all places to included from Kumarakom, Allepy, Thekkady, Periyar etc.
3.If you can also advice on 3-4 Star hotel/cottage there, it would be great!!
4.Will it be better to book the whole trip from a travel agent or it is wise to book for initial 2 days and then plan accordingly at the place once I've my plans together?
5. Any help on the names of travel agents/agencies that provide hassle free good service is highly appreciable.
6. Any other thing/place you may want to add, pls feel free to advice for anything.

Looking for lots & lots of responses to make this trip a lifelong nostalgia!!
!!Cheers!!

steven_ber

Hello Mendiratta and welcome to indiamike.com

I can't really offer any advice, but just a thought......

As much as I love Kovalam, I doubt it's a place for Indian tourists (wow, I'm already assuming you're Indian).

Kovalam is kind of like a home away from home for Europeans, and in the 8 or so days I spent there, the most disappointing thing I found was the food, it seemed to be 'adapted for European tastes' wherever I went.

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Nick-H

For peace and natural beauty I'd recomend Kumarakom. My favourite is Coconut Lagoon.

There's not really that much to do there! Which makes it perfect for a honeymoon, I guess! I've been there for a whole week

You could arrange your backwaters cruise from there too.

Thekkady, Periyar is not too far a drive away --- but it is up in the mountains. I'm curious about your lady getting sick on hills! I don't think anywhere in the Western Ghatts is high enough for altitude sickness...

I guess you could do Allepey in a day from Coconut Lagoon as well: or go there on your backwater cruise.

Where are you flying to? If Kochi, you could spend a day or two there: Bruntons Boatyard is pretty plush (and expensive...). You can watch the dolphins swimming past from your room

I agree with Steven about Kovalam: and, given that the tourists treat it just as if they were in Europe, you might find it a little hard to keep your eyes off the bikini-clad ladies. Save that one until you've been married a while

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CliveG

Hi Mendiratta,
I agree with the others about Kovalam- much too touristy and full of street sellers. You mentioned Marari - are you going to the Marari Beach resort? I prefered it to Coconut Lagoon as it is more laid back and you are right on the beach. It is also easier to visit other places than Coconut Lagoon where you have to take a boat to visit other places. We have stayed in an old planters house called Serenity on the Kannan Estate not far from Cochin. Beautiful house and very quiet - perfect for a honeymoon couple. I think I found this and similar places through Alistair Sawdays website.

sald

Kumarakom is a really nice honeymoon place. Staying options are many and varied. While Coconut Lagoon is one of the more popular ones, they go overboard with the 'Come-home-to-India-and-Kerala-culture" thing and I am not sure as an Indian (I'm assuming u r Indian too!!) how much will that interest you. But if you like 5-star comforts then Coconut Lagoon is the place. The Tj garden retreat is also a good option. Choose their Villas to stay in...expensive but awesome. The KTDC owned Waterscapes has the best location...closest to the lake.

You could go to Thekkady if you have interest in plant, animal and bird life. Towards February, wildlife sightings will also be deent. 'THE' place to stay in Thekkady for honeymooners is the Lake Palace set in the middle of the Periyar lake, which itself is in the middle of the Periyar Reserve. Plus with just 6 rooms, the place is never crowded and you have all the peace and privacy u need. The service is very friendly but not obtrusive at all. Meals are very nice but no 5-star spread. The tariff is a trifle on the higher side. For the same rates you could get a 5-star stay in Thekkady but no one can offer u the location Lake Palace has.

shahronakm

Punnamada backwater resort is the place where I had stayed during my honeymoon. It is at Alleppy.
http://www.punnamada.com/

Another place I loved the most is the tree house at Carmelia Heaven (Vandan Medu) 2 - 3 hrs drive from Thekady. I don't have their web address.

Ronak.

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Nick-H

Coconut lagoon is not 5*-plush in the same way as Brunton's Boatyard is: actually the rooms/cottages are fairly sparce, but they are beautifully built, much traditional woodwork is used and the entire place is very beautiful.