We stayed in Kovalam for 3 weeks and toured all around Kerala from here. There are lots of taxis around to take you out and about. We also found some great restaurants to eat in. I did a full very detailed trip report when we returned which was jan 2007 if you can find it. I also gave info on what we paid for everything from food, drinks and trips. We were thinking of returning in 2009/2010

Hi Les127 we went to Kerala last year and after touring around i would stay again at Lighthouse
Beach it was by far the busiest of the resorts ,where most of the shops and places to eat were.
The best trip we did was to the backwaters and spending the night on a rice barge,staff of 3 to
look after 2 of us wonderful meals and a very nice en-suite bed/bathroom,we also did the overnight
trip to Lands end ,the tip of India and saw the wonderful sunrise and sunset our hotel overlooked the
sea ,and reception give you a wake up call to make sure you don,t miss the fantastic sunrise, well
worth the trip hope this will help.
ann

Ann & BrenLiz, which tour operator did you travel with or did you D.I.Y?

I don't know if you have seen my other post, but F.C. apparently are no longer selling holidays to Kerala.

Hi Sydney, we went with Manos who were very good. I am surprised FC are not going there any more, I also thought Kerala was becoming more popular and are hoping to return there in 2009/2010. Hope you find what you are looking for. My friends have been going with FC for the last 3 years, they will be very disappointed. Manos have quite a good selection of hotels to stay in.

Perhaps T.O. such as First Choice are going to cut out the once every two weeks flights such as Kerala. Perhaps if there was more of a demand they may reinstate holidays there.

We would still go with Manos, they were a lot cheaper. My friend goes for 3 weeks over Xmas and New year, our hotel was full when we went for Xmas and new year, we also went for 3 weeks, so unless things have dropped off over the last year I don't understand their reasons. I don't mind so long as I can get there, I like quiet places.

Hi sydney we booked through T/COOK but the flight was with Mytravel one of the
bigger planes with down stairs toilets, good flight
ann

Thank you BrenLiz and Ann.

I suspect that FC have cancelled all their allocation because they are the same group as Airtours/manos now and as they have such a large amount of accommodation they no longer need as much availability. The trouble is everyone owns everyone else these days - no competition.

kovalam is a good place and light house beach is the busiest,we went in november last year then went back seven weeks later.if you dont like steps make sure your hotel is on the beach front,the first time we went we stayed at the uday samudra which was a very nice hotel right on the beach at the quiet end which meant you have to get a taxi or tuc tuc to light house beach but ther are restuarants next to that hotel. the only thing is you have to travel to do the trips .hope you enjoy your holiday to india .

Hi, we went to Kerala 3/4 years ago, after a few Goan holidays. We found it to be as Goa was many years ago, incence and candlelight, unlike much of Goa now, neon lights and karaoke. We stayed in the Jasmine Palace Hotel, Kovalem with Manos. It was basic but nice. We are in the process of booking again and are looking at Jeevans resort,Kovalem.
Kerala has stunning scenery, we went on trips to Cochin (brilliant) backwater boat trip etc and loved it there. Most of the resort retaurants are accessed on the beach itself (Lighthouse beach). We went along to a beach within walking distance a few times and at night took a taxi there to have a change of scene. Nightlife is very low-key and some places don't have an alcohol license, which is quaint as they serve beer in a teapot or put it in a brown paper bag under your table!! that fools everyone!!
We found it inclined to rain a bit more than Goa at the same time of year (early December), but I think it just shades Goa on the cuisine on offer and the prices. Overall a lovely holiday.
We are dissapointed too that FC are no longer flying there, as we prefer the comfort on their planes, but hey ho, it's only 10 hours out of your life.

We stayed at the Jasmine Palace too but upgraded to a superior room. The rooms were first class and I would really recommend you do this. We hope to go back next year.

hi moles-when you say kerala shades goa on cuisine and prices do you mean its a bit cheaper? that would be interesting as every one is saying the prices are going up in goa because this season has been so quiet!

Yes, as I said we went a few years ago and this was the case then. However we went in Nov/Dec and stayed at the Jeevans, but prices had gone up, (more touristy in Kovalom now). You also have to pay for using the beach sun beds, unlike most places in Goa. After the second time to Kerala now, we probably won't go again, as although the trips are lovely and the backwaters beautiful, we didn't feel as free to travel from place to place independantly as we can in Goa, where it is much easier and more common to hire scooters. Having said that, it was still cheap by western standards to eat out and some restaurants were excellent.

We have just returned from Kerala yesterday, we had a super holiday it was 7 years since our last visit and yes it has changed a little but not too much.The restaurants are good lots of really good fish and seafood, there are 5 beaches all within walking distance.We go for at least 1 month to Goa each year and we found that the taxi drivers and rickshaw drivers there are quite harassing, in Kerala they were not half as bad, also there a far few sellers and they are less pushy. Kerala is much quieter than Goa and the evenings are centered around the restaurants and although it is a DRY state you can get a drink although many hotels do not sell drink, however there is a government shop selling spirits and close by a beer shop. Kerala is more like the real India than Goa and there are many good trips to go on, the city of Travandrum, Lands end (the very tip of India), tea plantations and a hill station, not forgetting the back waters.

im very interested in Kerala but would like some more info on it being a DRY state. What does this mean for normal tourists? Can you not get drinks with meals in restaurants etc? Is there beach shacks like in Goa? If so, are they alcohol free? any info much appreciated.

In Kovalam only certain hotels have an alcohol licence, but all the restaurants serve it, it may be served in a mug and the bottle will be placed on the floor, the beer shop is only 500 mts from the beach and the government spirit shop is about 1000mts away this is where you can purchase drink. There are no shacks on the beach as in Goa but there are many eating places along the main beach, Kerala is much quieter than Goa with most restaurants closing around 10-30 -11ish, also you have to pay for sun beds and umbrellas on the beach for 2 beds and an umbrella the price varies from 200-300 rups.We really enjoyed our break in Kerala and hope to return.

Thanks for the info - sounds fantastic! Looking at Jeevams in Kovolam - can I ask where any others have stayed?

Just bumping this as we're looking at Kerala for next March and also looking at Jeevans beach resort - is it close by to all the restaurants or in the quieter end? We went to Goa last year and although we liked it I felt it was a little too touristy and the pushy taxi drivers and sellers started to get to me after a while - hoping Kerala will have all the good bits of Goa with less of the bad.

Also might sound a daft question but is there easy to find internet access in Kerala?