The Palmshore is on a small headland above some steps leading down to Rockholm Bay a sandy very secluded beach.

The hotel is peacefully situated at the top of a small hill that leads down to the main big beaches of Kovalam, Lighthouse and Hawah. The hill is an easy stroll down, quite steep going back unless you're young and/or fit (it would be fine if it wasn't so hot) but its easy to get a motorised rickshaw for just a few pence. Because it's at the top the Palmshore gets any breeze going, we thought its situation ideal. In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami there were some pretty high tides around Kovalam and I got some comfort from knowing we were up well above sea level. Just opposite the hotel are two tailors,a couple of travel office type places and a few shops.

The hotel has a nice restaurant which serves up a good breakfast - eggs toast omelette's etc - but has little atmosphere in the evening, possibly in part because it has no liquor licence. We went there on our first night because we were so tired and the food was absolutely fine. We also dined chez Palmshore on New Years Eve because they had a Gala Evening. This was a mistake, the entertainment was absolutely dire; this was just a few days after the tsunami and I believe all the hotels were keeping it low key. It didn't matter to us, we had 2 bottles of duty free Dom Perignon and shared it with a Scots couple who had a bottle of single malt, & we were all 4 of us grateful to be alive.

All areas of the hotel were kept spotless by the staff. The rooms were fine, they had aircon, ceiling fans and fridges, nice big terraces and TV. Would recommend ask for an upper ie 3rd floor room, better view, bigger more secluded terraces; the lower floor room terraces are fully visible from the rest of the hotel (though are more accessible if anyone has mobility probs). Some of the electrics were a bit eccentric, for some reason whenever I turned on my hairdrier the fridge used to cut out... The bathroom was basic but clean, it had a loo shower and basin and that was it. Clean bedlinen and towels every day.

The staff were unfailingly pleasant and helpful, from the general manager to the boy who delivered the laundry. In that heat clothes get very damp & grubby very quickly, we were glad of the laundry service, it was very cheap indeed, and in fact when we came home I was very lazy, sent everything down to be washed and ironed, and for a larger than usual tip the laundry boy packed it all for us.
Like I said the hotel isn't licensed, but there's no problem bringing in your own, or the staff will get it for you (but will add on a fee of course).