Well Fiona i cannot answer the Q yet but the wife and I will be in Kerala in March. Been to Goa 7 times in 4 years, and always love being there. Cant wait to be served 'tea' in the hotel.

Very hard for a foreigner to compare 2 places in the same country. Just a few thoughts, feel free to argue !

I liked Kerala but it's a lot more than a "beach place", and you need to travel to see the best of it.
British packages tend to go to the Kovalam beach area via Trivandrum (which is Goa 'ish'), but a 5 hour drive along the coast can take you to Fort Cochin, an incredible little oasis but very laid back. Ernakulam (Cochin city)
seems very advanced compared to Delhi and Mumbai, lots of money from Middle Eastern business links with a better infrastructure.
The backwaters are an obvious alternative attraction to the beach, but the tea plantations, hill stations and especially Munnar beat anything that Goa can offer for breathtaking experiences.

Kerala - Mainly Muslim, alcohol is accepted but you tend to be served beer in teapots outside, lots of emphasis on ayurvedic medicine and massages, lovely old Ambassador taxis, cheaper, rougher seas, not as commercial as Goa (yet), there seem to be more single men hanging around and single women have been known to be pestered more (probably because it's all new but partly due to the religious freedom of western women to do as they want)

Goa - mixed religions and more awareness of other cultures, high commercial and tourist awareness, great beach holiday infrastructure, better and more variety of restaurants(i found), though a touch overcrowded in some places now, greater number of hotels with facilities, more shopping.

Big Neil
Prices to Kerala are very cheap at the moment with Thomas Cook. I have just booked 2 weeks in March for the 2 of us for just over £800 total. Other tour operators are selling the same holiday for £1100. I do not think you will get a late deal any cheaper. Last year when I went to Goa last minute I had to pay over £900.

Chriss,

Thanks for your replies, great info'.

I'm glad to hear that there is a lot more to see in Kerala, was beginning to find difficult to find anything 'new' to see or do in Goa. I've done the beach thing (ok for a few days). I'm just getting into photography so I imagine I'm going to be spoilt.

Price of flight/package does not really matter as long as I/we get what we want.

Cheers

Neil

My only experience of Kerala was in 1998. We went to Kovalam and didn't like it at all so headed to Varkala where we spent a blissfull couple of weeks. The backwater trip is lovely although we did the 8 hour Kollam-Alleppy and I think it would have been better to do a short trip as you do get a numb bum sitting on the plastic seats on the boat. I would take Goa over Kerala (apart from Varkala-pure relaxation).

We found Kerela to be a great place to explore, but Goa a really good chill out holiday. There is much more to see and do in Kerela, but you have to be prepared to travel to see it. We did an 8 night tour as part of the holiday taking in Alleppy, Cochin, Munnar etc.

If we wanted an exploring holiday it would be Kerela.

Exploring... Sound great!

Since I have been to Goa 5 times I've done as much exploring North, South & East and getting a bit ..... well.... bored. Only so much time I can lie in the sun these days.

Presumably you can still relax after doing the trips!

We stayed at Poovar, about 20 minutes away from Kovalam and it was great. There was a boat that took you to the hotel as it was on the backwaters and they would take you or pick you up from the mainland anytime. There were several huge and expensive hotels springing up around the one we stayed in, and I don't think ours is available anymore as the owner said he was in discussions with an American to sell it. His nephew owned the place next door with floating bungalows.

It was great to go back to the peace and quiet after a long day (or days) out and you could go exploring around the backwaters, either walking along the edges or by boat. We absolutely loved Kerela, one of the most beautiful places we have ever visited.

We have just returned after 3 weeks and will post my diary shortly. We had a brilliant time. It is different to Goa, lots to see if willing to travel around. We are going back to Goa end of March for 8th time and will always go to Goa but are considering Kerala again for Xmas/New Year time.

Kerala is a dry state but we had no problem getting alcohol at al except for the hotel we stayed in for one night in Cochin. Drinks can be bought at the Government shops and we had G&T's and beer every night with our meals.

Oops thanks Brenliz I moved my post from here into the Kerala one in the India forum at the same time as you posted your reply.

Thanks for the help I will tell my friends.

BrenLiz has a great report on Kerala here

Last year, we took a flight to Cochin direct from Dabolim with Indian Airlines - but you can only do this if you came into India on a schedule flight. You are not permitted to fly anywhere else if you came in on a charter.

We had 3 days in Cochin staying at the Old Courtyard which is a heritage hotel - it's a beautiful old Portuguese town house. There is quite a lot to do and see, and we did a half day backwater trip.
Not much of a beach though.
However, in the evening you can buy fresh fish on the quayside and have it cooked at your choice of shack. There is much competition for your custom.

We did find Kerela much more humid than Goa.

max13biker

Sorry to disagree but i have flown into Goa on a charter flight, and later taken internal flights to Dehli and Bombay

You're right Lassigirl - I was meaning you can't fly home after going to Kerela, You have to return to Goa for your return.

several posts soley asking questions on Kerala have been moved to the Kerala thread in the India and Ocean forum.