My friend and I are looking for some accommodation in Kerala this December and we want to be on the beach.
Does anyone have any good suggestions for budget-yet-beautiful?
Thanks!
Anna
Reply to this Hi Anna,
Kerala is a state in India and as its along the coastline, it has a lot of beaches. Is there any specific beach youll would like to be at?
A famous beach is Kovalam and it has a lot of tourists. It is 16 km away from Trivandrum - the capital of Kerala.
I would recommend googling up beaches in Kerala, and should you find something that suits your interest, I should be able to suggest some accommodation options.
Hope this helps.
Reply to this I can also recommend Kovalam, though unfortunately can remember the name of the guest house I stayed in there! However, there is plenty of cheap, clean accommodation, you could expect to pay around 300 rs a night (high season) for a decent twin room. Anything actually along the sea front will be a bit more pricey, but if you go for the places in the alleys round the back youll save money and its still only a very short walk to the beach. It might be a good idea though to have something booked in advance, as December is high season and places can get booked out.
Another nice beach place is Varkala, its quite a travellers hang out with lots of cheap accommodation along the clifftop.
Reply to this Hi Anna,
I would recommend Varkala as its both gorgeous, lively and is right on the beach / cliff tops
Enjoy!
Reply to this Thanks everyone - all your tips are much appreciated! Yes, we
e definitely going to book before we arrive, hence our research now!
Another quick question: our searching is bringing up a lot of homestays rather than hostels. Are these a good idea or are guesthouses better? Or are they much of a muchness in this area?
Thanks again,
Anna
Reply to this Hi Anna.
I'm writing this sitting on the verandah of my hotel room here in Varkala. All I can see are coconut palms and the sea. All I can hear are waves and the squawks of crows. My hotel's the only one right on the beach (Varkala Marine Palace) and relatively expensive by Indian standards - Rs.2500 B&B in a huge room with kitchenette, shower, wc, etc. - but there are lots of small places at much cheaper prices up on the cliffs at either side. I'd advise against Kovalam unless you want wall-to-wall tourists. The beach at Varkala isn't terrific but it's quite clean and, although very salty, the sea is warm. There are lifeguards because of the undertow but the northern end of the beach is fairly shallow and seems quite safe.
We've stayed in some 'homestays' - at Munnar and Lake Periyar; they're generally very good but not necessarily very cheap. Their big advantage is that you get to meet some real people! Take a look at my recent blogs - but note that I'm not a backpacker, so some of the places I've stayed at may be out of your price range. I've also been travelling in a rented car with driver but there are good, if crowded, bus services. We've bumped into a German lady twice - at Munnar and here in Varkala - who is travelling alone by public transport and loving every minute of it.
You're going to love Kerala!
Keep smiling!
Mike
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