Tips for cochin, Varkala, Munnar, Allapuzha, Kovalam

yoni_sa

Hi All
In about a week, my girl and I are coming to Kerala.
We would spend few days in cochin, Varkala, Munnar, Allapuzha, Kovalam.
I am looking for tips -
1. Any suggestions for good accommodation?
2. Where and what to eat (Any great local restaurants / must-eat-dishes)?
3. What to do?
Thanks for any reply.

boboindiapepe

Kovalam

Good hotel : Rockholm and ask for a room non A/C but fan in the main building.
Good food : Malabar restaurant and ask for Johny and he will give you the best service of the seafront

boboindiapepe

Good stay : Napier house home stay , it is really a home stay, the staff will do anything to please you.
Good Food : Addy's just around the corner at Napier House , live music weekend's
What to do : Call Johnson the motorickshaw driver and he will show you the Cochin you would never see without him . Mobil 9447574247

Nick-H

Please browse the site: you'll find plenty of information on these popular Kerla destinations here already.

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Just one member of the IndiaMike Mod Team

Indizen

Fort Kochi is the tourist/heritage zone of the city
Take a boat trip from the customs jetty to Ernakulam / visit M G road for a beer at Hotel Grand's Cochyn pub/bar
From Ernakulam to Vypeen / Cherai beach
From Vypeen to Fort Kochi / Chinese fishing nets and heritage buildings
Ernakulam to Willingdon island - coffee at Taj Malabar
Stay near Princess street/ Vasco da Gama square
Have breakfast at Kashi art cafe on Burger street
Avoid the pavement restaurants along side drains infested with huge rats
Drink in a regular bar instead of the illicit beer in a tea pot places.
Go for a Keralan therapeutic massage

anar

1. cochin - old harbour hotel; varkala - villa jacaranda; munnar - olive brook hotel; alleppey - raheem residency; kovalam - avoid.

2. cochin - delite cafe (fried fish); varkala - somatheeram restaurant on main beach (fish in coconut sauce).

3. visit the jewish synagogue, mattancherry (or dutch) palace, browse the antique warehouses of jew town, watch the chinese fishing nets being operated.

have fun!

yoni_sa

I have spent the last two days reading the forum back and forward, but what I miss was exactly few separate treads, one for each location in Kerala, with tips regarding accommodation, restaurants, food in general, and things to do in each location. Threads that could be searched by title, or even better, would be “sticky”. Threads that will not include any other topics but other travelers’ tips. This is what a forum, any forum, is all about.
So, instead of trying to “arrange” the forum all the time, just let it be… Who knows, maybe all the wisdom spread here (and there are good tippers here, like Dr. Gajaprishthakara with his great restaurants’ tips) would become more accessible and actually user friendly.

And to the ones who have replied so far – thanks a lot. Keep up the great work!!!

Nick-H

Your idea is not a bad one, but this is a moderated forum, and it works well.

jinjapaleskin

have to agree with yoni sa, Nick H.
You guys do a great job and help dircct folk around but sometimes it can be hard to find just what you want, and there are a lot of folk that can impulsively and informatively lend assistance, like anar.

On a similar note, why are there so many folk that feel the need to post unhelpful, scoffing-at-ignorance posts.
Just lend a hand- or be positive or leave it alone- not big or clever.

pquekel

Oh yes!!! right out of my heart...some posters (and moderaters not in the least) tend to treat this forum as their own back yard, with a lot of inside jokes going on and on, and when more "naive" users 'tresspass' they are more or less friendly summoned to back off...let's all try to be friendly and polite and as informative as we can...

Nick-H

pquekel, you have quite a record of contributing to the site over many years. You should know that you are welcome to contribute anywhere.

As commented, the site is moderated. Sometimes we will keep a thread on topic, others become more general/chatty/community threads. We do reserve control and, over the years, with a changing team of moderators, it is, we believe a good formula.

If anyone is unhappy with any particular decision, the Contact Us link on the home page will allow them to communicate with Nadreg, the boss. We do make mistakes.

This is generally said to be one of the friendliest forums on its subject. Anyone who has been around a while will have seen the same questions asked over, and over again, and maybe even answered them quite a few times. Many sites would jump on the newbie. We try not to --- but will encourage seekers to browse and search before asking.

That is my view as just one of the moderating team.

That said, we will now keep this thread to topic. Any further posts not to topic will be deleted.

machadinha

We look forward to your contributions on your return, it's what the forum is all about.

In the meantime, you had started four identical threads asking the same question on the same region, the only difference being the cities in question. This is discouraged and in fact not allowed on this site and many like it, as it makes for bad if not impossible reading and will frustrate people who have good comments trying to answer you, or others looking for answers to the same questions later.

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Reading tips, all picked up at IndiaMike : INDAX's A Comprehensive Guide To India / Dinoj Surendran's Desi Humor / ITHVC on Culture Shock & Travel Health / JetLag Travel Guides For the Undiscerning Traveller / India Travel Links

Saracina

Cochin : Koder house, Branton Boatyard and Malabar House are excellent hotels. I stayed at Koder house in a fantastic, spacious suite, but visited and had meals at the other two hotels as well. Very recommended.

Kovalam : The Leela - real five star luxury, but for a moderate price.

Avoid at all costs : Raheem Residency, Alleppey - unless you enjoy getting ripped off and fighting swarms of hungry mosquitoes at night. One of the owners, a greasy short rotund bloke, cheats customers and lusts after single female travellers. Don't belief the good reviews. I am positive they are writing them themselfes.

vandy

Hello Saracina,

I am disturbed by your Extremely Negative Review
regards Raheem Residency in Allepey.

Your complaint is the first and only one I have
come across rgds this Establishment.

Did you make a Formal Complaint when you left.?

rgds

vandy

Saracina

Hi Vandy,

You can read the full story here:
Scam Warning : Raheem Residency, Alleppey, Kerala

Several people in Cochin strongly adviced me to report the man to the police. Regrettably, I did not go to the police at the time, because I did not want to travell back to Alleppey and waste another day of my already ruined holiday.

The owner is a personal friend of yours ???

Have a lovely day,
Saracina

P.S. I have posted two images to accompany the story, see member galleries