Kerala in August

Dear friends,

Pleae commment on our destination

11/08 Arrive in Trivandrum, stay a night in the nearest hotel
12 - 15/08 then move for 3 nights to Kovalam
15-18/08 - missing link ????
18-19/08 from Kollam to Alleppey - on the house boat
19-21/08 Fort Kochin for 2 days
21-24/08 to Munnar
24/08 back to Kochin
fly out on 25/08

Any comments welcome.
We are traveling - family of 4 (2 kids nearly 10 and nearly 8)

Thanks
Iza

Missing link can be filled by Varkala !!

Kovalam is like Trivandrum's beach... If you want to go straight there, you could, no point in staying in the city.

Whilst in Trivandrum/Kovalam, take a day out to visit Wooden Palace and maybe as far as Kanniyakumari.

The weather will be mixed, there will be some rain and you could see some heavy rain, but there should be sunshine too.

The missing link can also be Thekkady/Idukki or Wayanad. Kids will certainly like/enjoy the Periyar Wildlife santuary and the hills. If you have chance to rearrange, you can do some thing like this, (Just clubbed the hillstations and moved all your kochin to the last segment so that you dont need return back)

11/08 Arrive in Trivandrum, stay a night in the nearest hotel
12-15/08 then move for 3 nights to Kovalam
15-17/08 - Thekkady 2 nights
17-19/08 - Munnar 2 nights
19-20/08 from Kollam to Alleppey - on the house boat
20-22/08 Varkala
23-24/08 Kochin
fly out on 25/08

Good luck.

I wont recommend Thekkady..I was there in March and was not able to spot anything but a Boar (Sp?)..and that to was almost invisible to the naked eye...

You're just missing the Nehru Trophy Boat Race; it happens on the day of your arrival in India

Kovalum is gonna be wet in the monsoon season.....it is off season and you can get rooms easily there..but not sure u will enjoy it because there will be no sun..but still is a nice place ...i was there in rainy season but still enjoyed it..couldnt get into the rough sea.
We had a drink at the sea shore in the night but when we came to the same place in the morning and it was drenched with water..then we found that a big wave washed away evrything sometime in the night damn

I was in Allepey (for the boat race) in 2004. There was some bad weather, but plenty of sunshine too, so I'd say that the Kovalam sunbathing will be a possibility. Best to have the umbrella handy, though.

Thanks for all those ideas.
We are arriving at 23:30 on 11/8 - no chance for boat trip watching :-(

I am also missing an info on taxi rates - say if we want to hire someone for 10 days to take us places - how do you agree on rates?
I gather they differ depends if we are moving or staying put.

I think I will only book 1 night - on the arrival as we are going to be exausted after over 24 hour jurney. Then we play by ear - and choose places suitable for weather.

I am having problems talking on the phone to hotels - as we would like 1 room (as kids are small) I don't want to book a normal 2x2 rooms but would prefer 1 room/appartmen for 4 of us.
" people put the phone down on me - I guess they didn't understand me ....

Should we take wellies with us?


Iza

Hi Iza, your itennary seems good, you should be able to catch
taxi straight from airport to kovalam, its about 30-40 mins max

Missing link should be varkalha as you are allready heading towards kolam, your priority is finding hotel in kovalam at this
point. Yes suggest hiring car & Driver, should be in the 5000 -
6000 rupees mark, certainly no more than 10000.Probably 10000 as you will need driver to meet you in Allepey after kolam houseboat and this price should also include Munnar trip.

Try contacting vijay from Great India Tour Company (GITC) whilst
in Trivandrum(Kovalam) and get price for car & Driver, make sure its not an old ambassador car, journey is too long for old car.Suitable vehicle could be Qallis ? especially with kids,
Don't forget insect repellent for houseboat journey. any further
queries send me PM ,also know of good homestay in munnar.

Rgds - vandy

Repelent is a must - as you can't be to carefull ....
I will contact you in afew hours to get Munnar homestay details