kerala

mikes

Hi,

Basically looking for information about kerala for next xmas and looking for reccomendations for accomadation, uk tour operators, best beaches & accomadation also will the weather be more or less the same as in goa at the same time.

Ideally looking for decent hotel next to a quiet decent beach thanks for any forthcoming tips.

Serena

Like other members said to me, I think you will find a lot of stuff and useful information in the Forum section Kerala.

However, at Xmas also me and my husband will be in Kerala.
Hope we could meet!

mikes

Hi Serena,

It will either be goa or kerala for xmas, hopefully kerala as i was in goa last xmas, basicaly i was looking for information on accomadation in kerala and i have looked at most of the postings on kerala on this forum site <unless im looking in the wrong places> but most of the accomadation seems to be for back packers by train stations etc etc.

The accomadation im interested in is around the beach areas and will be going with a tour operator and the accomadation im looking at are the 'travancore heritage' in chowara and the 'marari beach resort' in marari.

Rest assured serena as soon as i book i will get in touch and hopefully will meet up for a drink or two

watch this space

moosone

The weather in Kerala around Xmas is normally quite good- clear skies, sunny days and cool nights. I guess Goa's like that too at that time of the year.

I'm not too certain if Travancore Heritage is really beachside - if i remember you need to walk for a few minutes to get to the beach. If you are looking at the trivandrum area you could look at Surya Samudra - which is really on the beach. It's a wee bit expensive, especially around Xmas.

If you are willing to experiment a little and can do without air-conditioning and televsion there's a really good homestay right on the beach. it's called the Karikkathi Beach House and is right next to Surya Samudra. it's a tiny place - just 2 rooms. a beach cottage really. the only hitch is that if you don't hire the entire house then you''ll end up sharing the facilities. there's a cook on call through the day. and the sea's a stone's throw away. the really great thing is that it's rather private, and quiet, with local people and the occasional tourist being the only people you'll see. however, to get there you will have to walk for a few minutes through a coconut grove - there's no direct car access.
they have a site - www.pulinkudi.com for more info.

i don't know too much about Marari beach resort, but the marari beach is a really good one, and used to be rather quiet a couple of years ago.

hope this helps and have a lovely time in Kerala.

mikes

Hi Moosone,

Many thanks for your valued information, but unfortunately on enquiring about those two named accomadation have just found out that there is no availability <must be popular>

so at the moment i am looking at the area of kovalam and in particular looking at the uday sumudra beach hotel plus a few others as well, im not sure if thats the same one as you mentioned?.

I will also have a look at the other one you mentioned but wouldent be surprised if it was already booked.

Sorry to go on, but do they have the beach shacks as they do in goa?

Once again thanks

Serena

moosone

All the questions, no problem at all

No, Udaya Samudra is quite different from Surya Samudra - which is what i'd talked about. Actually you'll find the term samudra used quite a bit - it means 'sea'.

yes, the one's i'd talked about are quite popular and more important Xmas time is really 'peak' tourist season here in Kerala. I'd be pretty surprised if you find a room at any of the good hotels around then, so on second thoughts i'd say take what you get - that is if you want to visit in December 2004.

Yup, there are beachside shacks in some parts of Kovalam, so if that's what you are looking for you need to look at places like 'Udaya Samudra', Le Meridien or plain 'Samudra'. A place like Surya Samudra or even Travancore Heritage will be quite far away from the beach where all the shacks are.

The beachside shacks - some of them are more permanent than shacks - that sell all sorts of things - food, drink, trinkets, books etc are along what is called the Hawa Beach and the Lighthouse beach. Many of them are cafes that offer a variety of cuisine. Much of the budget accomodation in Kovalam is also around here. There are a couple of okayish hotels around here including one called Sea Face that's bang on the Hawa beach.

as you can imagine this is the relatively more 'busy' part of Kovalam. unfortunately the quieter beaches are farther South, but they're also not so strong on the shacks. You could also look at ging north of Trivandrum to Varkala, which may offer the benefits of quieter beaches with the accompanying shacks - though not of the Goa standards perhaps

mikes

Hi Moosone,

It looks like the 'uday samudra beach hotel' will be the one we pick as i have seen the other hotel samudra and very nice it looks, but unfortunately its trying to find a tour operator that goes into kerala using that hotel.

Varkala beach looks the best of them all, but once again its trying to find a tour operator that uses it, i realise i might be on the lazy side in not going independant but i know the wife wouldent be at ease building up to the holiday if we was to do it independantly.

Another question is it the same as goa in reference to mosquitos and malaria, to be honest i did not bother taking tablets when i was in goa and the three other people who took them was repeatedly bad whilst in goa,would you know if it was better or worse than goa
regards

moosone

Well, there are times when malaria breaks out in Kerala's costal region. But i'm not too certain how it is compared to Goa. Best suggestion is to bring along a good mosquito repellant and use it regularly, especially evenings... not too sure about the tablets though.

charlie

Hi Mikes,

Have been lurking in this forum without contributing for a long time - just using the great information. However, I feel i can contribute greatly to this thread so time I registered .

Spent 3 weeks over Xmas/new year 2003/2004 at uday samudra beach hotel so I suppose i am the man for your detailed questions. Please feel free to e mail me directly if you wish.

Tour opererators if you want to do it not as the backpacking option - www.manos.co.uk (part of the mytravel group so that is where your browser will be redirected to).

Just looked prices today - pennies less than £1k for 3 weeks leaving 12th december 2004. This includes B&b plus the flights/transfers. Please note the flight is by the smallest plane I have ever gone that distance in - a Boeing 757 - stops at Bahrain for petrol . Its no fun believe me.

It is very similar to Goa - but was quieter while i was there. The beach near UDS hotel is pretty poor but nicer ones within 10 minutes walk. 6 or 7 "shacks" within 100 yards of hotel. Tuk Tuk to Kovalam takes 5-10 minutes (costs 125 rp) where you will find dozens of eating places. You can also walk it in 15-20 mins.

It is more relaxed that Kovalam.
Apologies to the purists but my own backpacking days are gone and I found this the easiest replacement option.

Hope this helps.

mikes

Hi Charlie,

Just about caught your post as i am off for the weekend, so i will give you a e-mail on monday if you dont mind and thanks for the information, but i take it that the hotel was ok and as you say i can walk to the decent beaches.

reguards

charlie

Yep.

Service a bit slow - but you are only on B&B so not a prob.
The staff are great otherwise.
They were just finishing an extension to the hotel - another block plus another swimming pool. Its top class value for money over the Xmas/new year period - just try and find a flight for around the same cash - I have already tried.

The beach outside the hotel is pretty small but walk up the beach 300 yards you have a marvellous beach all to yourself. Over the hill behind the other big hotel is the best beach in Kovalam. Anything else feel free to ask.

ilovehp

You can also check out http://www.casinogroup.com. I have learn't that they provide authentic kerala experience.

-psn