Nice location but in need of a good clean and updating. Staff very helpful

Nice location but in need of a good clean and updating. Staff very helpful

I'd seen that Lonely Planet suggested this place to stay before any others, so I booked it last-minute once I'd arrived in Kerala. I booked a standard non-A/C cottage, so I can't compare it to their other rooms. I arrived at 8am and was shown to my cottage right away, which was nice of them. At the entrance and inside, it was infested with small ants. The man explained that this happens occasionally and only lasts a day; then they're gone again. A woman kept sweeping the ants away and the man returned with a bug spray to spray all over. Inside, I needed to take matters into my own hands and use my bug spray I'd packed for the trip. I must have killed a thousand of them. I didn't enjoy doing it, but I wouldn't have been able to sleep knowing they were all around my bed. That more or less took care of the immediate ant problem, and as the man said, they weren't there the next day. It was a nice little cluster of cottages. There was an air conditioner in the room actually, but there was no remote control for it. So I guess if you pay the extra $10 for an A/C cottage, you get the exact same cottage, except they leave the remote in the room. It had been warm in other parts of India too, but this area was humid, which is less comfortable than just heat. So I'd recommend an A/C room if you stay here at this time of year. They served breakfast to a little table on the front stoop area, and allowed me to store my luggage at the office while I explored the area.

I'd seen that Lonely Planet suggested this place to stay before any others, so I booked it last-minute once I'd arrived in Kerala. I booked a standard non-A/C cottage, so I can't compare it to their other rooms. I arrived at 8am and was shown to my cottage right away, which was nice of them. At the entrance and inside, it was infested with small ants. The man explained that this happens occasionally and only lasts a day; then they're gone again. A woman kept sweeping the ants away and the man returned with a bug spray to spray all over. Inside, I needed to take matters into my own hands and use my bug spray I'd packed for the trip. I must have killed a thousand of them. I didn't enjoy doing it, but I wouldn't have been able to sleep knowing they were all around my bed. That more or less took care of the immediate ant problem, and as the man said, they weren't there the next day. It was a nice little cluster of cottages. There was an air conditioner in the room actually, but there was no remote control for it. So I guess if you pay the extra $10 for an A/C cottage, you get the exact same cottage, except they leave the remote in the room. It had been warm in other parts of India too, but this area was humid, which is less comfortable than just heat. So I'd recommend an A/C room if you stay here at this time of year. They served breakfast to a little table on the front stoop area, and allowed me to store my luggage at the office while I explored the area.

Room and surrounding

Room and surrounding

The room I stayed in was situated well with an outside deck area with fan (very useful). It is nice and shaded with trees and plants. Easy access to varkala cliff and beach. The staff were all exceptionally nice.

The room I stayed in was situated well with an outside deck area with fan (very useful). It is nice and shaded with trees and plants. Easy access to varkala cliff and beach. The staff were all exceptionally nice.