Kovalam

ruthie808 · May 11th, 2005, 18:41

Hello everyone,
Hows your day going?

I've been doing a bit of searching about accomm in Kovalam... Have any of you ever stayed at the Whitehouse Beach resort or the Bakers Resort in Kovalam, Kerala?

Cheers

Ruthie

onajourney · May 11th, 2005, 19:33

Hi Ruthie,

Well Kovalam is one place where you can find a lotta hotels.. the number is so large tht the names don't stick to u for long.. again, it'd be much cheap to get an accomodation in the city rather than go for beach side hotels.. the city is just a half an hours drive.

ciao,
krrissh

sudheer poppa · May 11th, 2005, 19:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by Krrissh

it'd be much cheap to get an accomodation in the city rather than go for beach side hotels.. the city is just a half an hours drive.

I would not quite agree with the above. The total number of rooms available in Kovalam is infact more than what the downtown offers. And for foreinger, many hotels in the city charge a premium...

In Kovalam, you get decent hotels at Rs 150-Rs 400 during off season time, similar quality at this range would be hard to come by in the city.

Few weeks back, I stayed in "Hotel Golden Sands", which comes with a good swimming pool and good facilities at Rs 400 per night. There was a decent hotel named "Hotel California" close by which was quite good but without a pool @~Rs 250.

gs_uppal · May 11th, 2005, 20:31

even i have been doing some research for my trip to kerala end monsoon or post monsoon
look at following link for list of hotels with price range, websites, and telephone nos.
http://www.kovalam.com/kovalam/touristdesk.htm

DoDi · May 11th, 2005, 22:50

I suggest you skip Kovalam altogether. After seeing it I don't understand why people go there... the beach itself is mediocre, the place is full of annoying touts, and don't think the Kovalam businesses aren't ripping you off with exhorbitant price hikes.

Especially when not too far away are thousands of miles of heavenly beaches all along the Tamil Nadu coast that look like a true tropical paradise.

ruthie808 · May 12th, 2005, 15:54

hi everyone, thanks a lot for your comments,

ive been browsing through loads of threads here about kovalam and varkala, it seems that alot of people are divided on which is the better place hopefully il get the chance to see both,

is it easy to travel between the two places within a day? is it a good idea to stay in trivandrum for a couple days and do side trips to kovalam and varkala?

R

docgirl2005 · May 12th, 2005, 16:41

HI Ruthie,

Oh I dont agree with the people who said they dislike Kovalam. Going to Kovalam was the best thing I ever did! It was absolutely stunning in every way..just a lovely place..we had a private beach.. We stayed at the Taj Green Cove Resorts..Its a new property and just amazing and luxurious service. The Taj has its OWN beach..we hardly left the property except to eat at local fresh seafood joints yummy!...Oh dont miss Kovalam..Varkala..I dont have an opinion about it. I know Kovalam is less crowded though.PLease DO NOT stay in Trivandrum. No offense to our Trivandrum friends but its kind of dumpy. Well..according to the frommers guide. Its just a sticky noisy city. Why stay there when you have paradise an hour away??? Hope you have a great time...Kerala is really heaven on earth..Check out my Kovalam Pics from the Taj Hotel...

kiranlal · May 12th, 2005, 16:56

i have comment regarding the accomadationin kovalam
there is more than 2000 rooms availabl in that area,
and it is the most chepest place to get a room inthe world i think , you can get good spotlessly clean room for 100 rs some times even in season time .

Nick-H · May 12th, 2005, 16:59

With respect, Docgirl, I don't think staying at a posh hotel with a private beach is the same as seeing the place in general, 'though the Taj hotel you stayed in does indeed sound great.

However...

It's true there are touts, it's true that it is unashamedly touristy, but (unless you really hate that sort or thing) what's wrong with a day or two of sea, sand, gift shops and cafes? I also would also say: go there!

Trivandram is only 20 minutes away for your city shopping, but how much nicer it is to be in a hotel near the sea than a city place. Just how nice depends on how much money you have to spend!

docgirl2005 · May 12th, 2005, 17:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick-H

With respect, Docgirl, I don't think staying at a posh hotel with a private beach is the same as seeing the place in general, 'though the Taj hotel you stayed in does indeed sound great.

However...

It's true there are touts, it's true that it is unashamedly touristy, but (unless you really hate that sort or thing) what's wrong with a day or two of sea, sand, gift shops and cafes? I also would also say: go there!

Trivandram is only 20 minutes away for your city shopping, but how much nicer it is to be in a hotel near the sea than a city place. Just how nice depends on how much money you have to spend!

Nick,

I seriously believe its an individual thing. As I have said many times, I dont think staying at a luxury resort means I havent "seen" the place. My husband and I love to go around the town and visited lighthouse beach etc..The theory that ONLY backpackers or low budget travelers see places and other tourists dont is unfair. Besides going to India for me as a person of Indian descent might be totally different than going to india as a foreign tourist.

For me, its about relaxation, visiting family and friends, shopping, seeing the sites without sweating (I am on vacation so I take an AC car) and experiencing the luxury I cannot afford here in the States that I can afford there in India. There are so many times I have stayed at a resort here in the States, and for whatever reason the service and the respect I recieved was subpar making me feel like I wasted my hard earned money. So when I go to India I want to experience the good life...India is different to different people...Some foreign friends might feel well "docgirl, India is a developing country how can you justify spending so much?"..well my answer is I gave my medical services in nagapattinam for the tsuanmi effots in December, I try to do my help for my India, and I give back to the economy greatly by staying in plenty of expensive hotels which in turn helps the locals working in those hotels...etc etc...Just because the country is not the richest in the world, doesnt mean we cannot live a bit luxurious there..And there are plenty of sides to India not just the lower class side..we can experience the real India (frankly I dont know what that is but it seems to be some wide eyed definition given by foreign tourists) anyway we see fit..Anyways no offense taken..just wanted to give my view..Have a good day! hope Chennai is not too hot for you these days!

Nick-H · May 12th, 2005, 18:58

Docgirl, no offence intended, most of my India travelling up to the last couple of years (no more job!) was done in exactly the style you describe. Maybe more 3* than 5*, but I have stayed in a Taj joint and a couple of Casino's Kerala hotels (Coconut Lagoon: Heaven

). I'm not a backpacker! As far as I'm concerned luggage is what goes in the back of the car and the car should be AC

.

I guess I read too much into your

Quote:

we hardly left the property except to eat at local fresh seafood joints

or perhaps I didn't stop to think that might have been every day and that you must have seen the place on the way. Sorry.

So, anyway, we are agreed: visit Kovalam!

I don't have a problem with spending money in India. I have a problem with those who do have it trying to get everything cheaper than cheap!

The weather here is.... well, according to The Hindu it hot 41C yesterday. Unusually (now the hot weather has come) I was out exploring in the day. The lanes of George Town were fascinating, but I think I sweated a kilo!

GoanCanuck · May 12th, 2005, 19:27

>> The Taj has its OWN beach <<

There is no such thing as a private beach in India. No company however big is allowed to BUY a beach. A 5 star hotel can make access to a beach difficult but it has no authority to evict a person who may come to the beach
by boat or any other means.

May 11th, 2005, 18:41	#1
ruthie808 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ireland (its too cold!) Posts: 69	Kovalam Hello everyone, Hows your day going? I've been doing a bit of searching about accomm in Kovalam... Have any of you ever stayed at the Whitehouse Beach resort or the Bakers Resort in Kovalam, Kerala? Cheers Ruthie

May 12th, 2005, 15:54	#6
ruthie808 Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Ireland (its too cold!) Posts: 69	kovalam or varkala hi everyone, thanks a lot for your comments, ive been browsing through loads of threads here about kovalam and varkala, it seems that alot of people are divided on which is the better place hopefully il get the chance to see both, is it easy to travel between the two places within a day? is it a good idea to stay in trivandrum for a couple days and do side trips to kovalam and varkala? R

May 12th, 2005, 16:41	#7
docgirl2005 Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: usa Posts: 443	HI Ruthie, Oh I dont agree with the people who said they dislike Kovalam. Going to Kovalam was the best thing I ever did! It was absolutely stunning in every way..just a lovely place..we had a private beach.. We stayed at the Taj Green Cove Resorts..Its a new property and just amazing and luxurious service. The Taj has its OWN beach..we hardly left the property except to eat at local fresh seafood joints yummy!...Oh dont miss Kovalam..Varkala..I dont have an opinion about it. I know Kovalam is less crowded though.PLease DO NOT stay in Trivandrum. No offense to our Trivandrum friends but its kind of dumpy. Well..according to the frommers guide. Its just a sticky noisy city. Why stay there when you have paradise an hour away??? Hope you have a great time...Kerala is really heaven on earth..Check out my Kovalam Pics from the Taj Hotel... Attached Thumbnails

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May 11th, 2005, 19:33	#2
onajourney Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: USA Posts: 74	Hi Ruthie, Well Kovalam is one place where you can find a lotta hotels.. the number is so large tht the names don't stick to u for long.. again, it'd be much cheap to get an accomodation in the city rather than go for beach side hotels.. the city is just a half an hours drive. ciao, krrissh

May 11th, 2005, 20:31	#4
gs_uppal Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Mumbai Posts: 391	even i have been doing some research for my trip to kerala end monsoon or post monsoon look at following link for list of hotels with price range, websites, and telephone nos. http://www.kovalam.com/kovalam/touristdesk.htm

May 11th, 2005, 22:50	#5
DoDi Nodal Agent Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: I live in my cube. Posts: 215	I suggest you skip Kovalam altogether. After seeing it I don't understand why people go there... the beach itself is mediocre, the place is full of annoying touts, and don't think the Kovalam businesses aren't ripping you off with exhorbitant price hikes. Especially when not too far away are thousands of miles of heavenly beaches all along the Tamil Nadu coast that look like a true tropical paradise.

May 12th, 2005, 16:56	#8
kiranlal The only one of its kind Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Trivandrum,Kerala,India,Malaysia,Singapore Posts: 530	i have comment regarding the accomadationin kovalam there is more than 2000 rooms availabl in that area, and it is the most chepest place to get a room inthe world i think , you can get good spotlessly clean room for 100 rs some times even in season time .

May 12th, 2005, 16:59	#9
Nick-H This is just a cameo appearance Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Chennai, India Posts: 36,189	With respect, Docgirl, I don't think staying at a posh hotel with a private beach is the same as seeing the place in general, 'though the Taj hotel you stayed in does indeed sound great. However... It's true there are touts, it's true that it is unashamedly touristy, but (unless you really hate that sort or thing) what's wrong with a day or two of sea, sand, gift shops and cafes? I also would also say: go there! Trivandram is only 20 minutes away for your city shopping, but how much nicer it is to be in a hotel near the sea than a city place. Just how nice depends on how much money you have to spend!

May 12th, 2005, 19:27	#12
GoanCanuck Maha Guru Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Vancouver Posts: 3,395	>> The Taj has its OWN beach << There is no such thing as a private beach in India. No company however big is allowed to BUY a beach. A 5 star hotel can make access to a beach difficult but it has no authority to evict a person who may come to the beach by boat or any other means.