I think the problem this season will be getting there! unless you are going for more than two weeks, the hassle of indirect flights puts me off. First choice and Thomas cook have pulled out of direct flights and holidays. A good option if you can do it, is go to south Goa and then get a train down to Kerala. We know some people who did it last season and had a week in Goa, then a week in Kerala and then back to Goa for a week.

Qatar have some superb prices with a minimal stop over time in Doha, much easier than going by train...although I'd love to try it for the experience.
The big problem is getting accommodation. The last time we stayed in Kovalam we had 2 nights in the Uday Samadra which was a very average 3* but , although it was more than acceptable to our needs, they are now asking R6700 or Euro 130 per night. That is quite simply ridiculous, no matter how much they have changed the place in three years it can't be that much.
We later stayed at the Leela which is fabulous but they are asking R9500 plus tax, way over my budget now !

In the maze of lanes behind Lighthouse beach, there are loads of guesthouses, small hotels and state of the art 'log cabins' (fully furnished) for approx 1500-2000 per night, not per person. Also just up the slope from the lighthouse there is a lovely little hotel overlooking the next bay.

Any with a pool though ? The beach is OK but I find sand annoying as it gets everywhere !
Dave

Then it's got to be Jeevans right on the front. Excellent location, nice pool, but make sure you get a second floor room. Our ground floor one was awful, dingy and dark. You can upgrade or ask for an aircon room, which are quite nice.

Jeevans looks good thanks for the suggestion Moles. I'll attempt contact ! Dave

Hi Dave try Golden Sands in Lighthouse beach good size rooms and a nice pool ,very friendly
family run small hotel,think there were around 24 rooms.
annx

Thanks Ann. That looks pretty good too with some decent reviews. Again, the big problem is finding a contact e mail address or web site to make further enquiries.Dave

Sorry Dave can,t help there , when we went it was with Olympic Holidays package deal
flying with My Travel that was 2yrs ago
annx

Dave we stayed at the Jasmine Palace. It was in a great position between the two beaches. We upgraded to a superior room which was well worth it, proper bathroom as opposed to indian shower. I did a 3 week trip report in the Indian Ocean Forum dated Jan 15 2007 and I think I posted details of the hotel in the hotel reviews.

Gone for this one, a fabulous price for flights in March 2010.

Qatar are offering flights for £340 per person return to Trivandrum. You need to select the right day for travel otherwise the stop over is too long and would involve an expensive hotel stop. We travel out on a Friday and return on a Thursday. The stopover is 3 hours on the way out ( just enough time to have a stretch) and a very handy 35 minutes on the return.
You can get the same flight via Southall for £330 however, in this particular instance Southall can only offer 20KG's luggage plus 5 kg's hand baggage whereas Qater direct have 20 +7KG's so we have opted to pay £20 for the extra 4KG's. However, I have now joined their Q miles scheme which allows you to attain higher baggage allowance if you fly more often with them. I reckon twice a year on these routes would qualify for the extra !0KG's.

Brenliz thanks for the recommendation.

I need to start thinking accommodation seriously now.
On our previous trip we went on a FC tour. We had 2 nights Kovalam, 2 nights Kumarakom by the lake, 2 nights Perriyar,1 night Munnar,1 night Cochin, 1 night on a houseboat then back to Kovalam for 5 nights. A fabulous trip,
We are uncertain what to do with our 3 1/2 weeks . The must returns are to the beach resorts at the beginning and end so Kovalam which I know a little ( we stayed at the Uday Samadra then the Leela ( now beyond our budget by miles!!!!)) but any other suggestions welcome. Anyone been to Varkla ?
I also want to return to Kumily , proabably for 5 or 6 nights to explore the Perriyar area which is fabulous. We probably won't do the houseboat again for budget reasons ( a must experience once though), certainly won't bother with Cochin and probably not go as far as Munnar either.
I'm into wildlife photography whereas my other half likes to chill.
Any snippets of info very welcome.
Thanks Dave

Dave did you do the tea plantations? The scenerey around there is fantastic, cold in the evening though. We went up with car/driver and guide for 3/4 days, it was a fantastic trip and we stayed in some lovely locations all eco friendly.

Yes Brenliz we did. We stayed at Cloud 9 somewhere on the road to Munnar.The scenery is stunning, and yes chilly at night.
We were very lucky and our trip was one of the first booked with F.C. which allowed 2 rest days before setting off. Later bookings set off on their tour straight away ( which would have been a bit gruelling considering the flight times etc) and they all went in big groups on a coach. We ended up with just 4 of us. 2 went on the "luxury" accomodation option, we went on the "normal" level. We got to see and compare hotels and to be honest we didn't see the value in the upgrade because we had some fabulous ones ( bettter IMO on a couple of nights.) We had our transport a/c people carrier and a guide and a driver. I have kept in touch with the guide and hope he can sort out some extra details but I am trying to price it independantly where I can to compare.
Incidentally our FC trip was in early 2006 and cost us £1600 which we thought a bargain. The 5 nights in the Leela would cost almost that now !!!!
Dave

We stayed at Cloud 9 too. I am sure you will have a brilliant time again when you go out. We were thinking of going out again sometime before April next year. We have 3 weeks in goa over Xmas and new year first though. Thought we would wait to see what is around nearer the time as we can be more flexible with out dates at that time of the year. Like you we did lots of travelling around so will probably a more relaxed holiday next time. Loved the food though, never seen so much fish and no need to get taxis anywhere. When you stayed at the Leela did you go to the Pepperpot restaurant (or was it Lobster pot?)? If not you must go next time it is a brilliant night out, up in the hills behind the Leela.

The ticket prices right now are incredible value. We booked tickets to Goa on the 9th og July and the price was £729... they are now £1050 for the same flights in Nov/Dec.
I didn't want to miss these prices to Kerala so I have stuck my neck out and gone for it. The downside is that we pay the credit card in September !!!!
We will get two trips out of the VISA too !

When in Kovalam we ate at the 3rd Rock from the Sun , Samadra Beach most times but did try a couple in Lighthouse Beach which, although good didn't match the superbly romantic ( still young at heart !) waterfront (on the sea wall) location of the 3rd Rock which serves superb food too.
Other hotels we stayed at were:-
Backwater Ripples, Kumarakarom( excellent hotel, especially the infinity pool, food buffet style a little disappointing, especially when the German tour party attacked it first )
Taj Garden Retreat Thekkady. Fabulous location, rooms are cottages in the woods, fantastic BBQ in the grounds. Pool OK but too many leaves in it and needed a clean !
Cloud 9 Nr Munnar Excellent but no signs of serving alcohol in the dinning room. We put a multi order in for the room to compensate and save serving time !!! Stunning location, chilly outside at night. Great for a single night stop over. Food good but not memorable.
Casino Hotel Cochin. Looked a little dowdy but in actual fact was an excellent choice. Good pool area. As it's located in a dockland type area we didn't venture out at night but instead decided to try their seafood meals in the restaurant. They were rather doubtfully described as the best in Kerala. Amazingly, not a word of a lie IMO. Best seafood I have ever had !!!! They also had the only hotel shop I have ever been able to freely shop in without feeling ripped off !
Houseboat backwater cruise We had one night and it was brilliant. I would recommend a basic boat not one with A/C. Sleep under the mossie net, have the window shutter propped open and enjoy the sights and sounds of the river from dawn onwards. Fantastic food. Fantastic experience.
Uday Samadra, Kovalam. Believe it's been extended since. It was OK then, a basic 3 star hotel in an excellent location. I'm not prepared to pay the web site asking price of about £50 a night though. That's ridiculous. Best thing about the place was the attentive pool man who would remove reserved places ( ie towels and books) from sunbeds and allow someone who needed a bed to have one rather than letting it remain unoccupied for hours. When the owners returned he would then find them somewhere else. I wish all pools were like that !
Leela. Kovalam I have been lucky to have stayed at many superb hotels around the world, paid for by my employers, the best way to do it. The Leela can compete with any of them. Superb. We didn't eat in there as it was much dearer than the places around and about but the breakfast was amazing. I noticed one trip report by someone had referred to too many package tour travellers there. I don't know what they meant by that as I couldn't tell who was who although I guess if you were dressed in beachwear you might make the poor business traveller a little envious !
There you go a belated trip report.
We have since been back to North Goa twice and although we have enjoyed it , it doesn't compare with our Kerala trip. When we return to Goa in November we are giving the south a try, plus a 4 night trip to the Wildernest before returning to the Marinha Dourada. We'll see how that compares.
Until now I have opted for the best package deals ( favouring F.C/ Thompsonfly for comfort) but this coming winter prices have become so dear we are doing our own thing which gives us much more flexibility and appears so far to be much cheaper too !
Dave