Northern Kerala
This fabulous, plastic-free beachfront ecoresort consists of 18 sleekly designed thatch-roof cottages inspired by Kerala fishers' huts, with voguish…
Must-see hotels in Kerala
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Munnar
An award-winning, totally charming family homestay, peacefully located 12km southwest of Munnar, overlooking owner Tomy’s exquisite nursery and organic…
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Kochi (Cochin)
Overlooking a lush garden with lily ponds and a pool, the stylish Old Harbour is housed in a 300-year-old Dutch/Portuguese heritage building. The elegant…
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Northern Kerala
Surrounded by jungle and spice plantations, lovely Varnam is an oasis of calm 3km south of Katikulam in northern Wayanad. Varghese and Beena will look…
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Kochi (Cochin)
Hotel-quality rooms come with solar-powered showers and a true family welcome from knowledgable hosts Philip and Maryann at this delightful homestay. The…
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Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
The brainchild (and former family home) of local entrepreneur Archana Mohan, Padmavilasom tactfully reimagines a 150-year-old royal palace into a luxury…
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Northern Kerala
With a warm family welcome, this wonderfully peaceful and exclusive resort is pocketed away on an incredibly lush 1.5 sq km of working pepper, coffee,…
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Kerala
These charming lakeside cottages are easily the best choice for a relaxing, affordable stay in Kollam. Host Prabhath Joseph offers a warm welcome, with…
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Kerala
Marari stays don't get better than this: four intimate, independent boutique villas dotted along or near the beachfront, washed in dusty reds, whites and…
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Kochi (Cochin)
With a smile that brightens weary travellers, welcoming owner Sheeba looks ready to sign your adoption papers the minute you walk through the door. Down a…
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Varkala
Not your typical Varkala address, this gorgeously original hideaway is packed with art and antiques and topped by a breezy roof terrace. The five rooms…
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Munnar
Green Valley's views are superb, its rooms smartly up to date, and its welcome warm. Rooms sprawl across three floors, all facing the valley, and have TVs…
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Kozhikode (Calicut)
In northern Calicut, the restored 1850 home of the Kadathanadu royal family is as serene as it gets – a traditional family compound with pristine lawns,…
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Thiruvananthapuram (Trivandrum)
In Trivandrum’s leafy western suburbs, this lovely, serene family house amid sprawling gardens has four fan-cooled rooms, neatly furnished with individual…
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Kerala
The location is sublime at this peaceful three-room homestay, separated from a quiet piece of Kattoor Beach by a small lagoon (cross in a borrowed canoe!)…
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Alappuzha (Alleppey)
Around 12km southeast of Alleppey, long-running Green Palm Homes is a series of homestays in a picturesque village on a backwater island, where you sleep…
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Northern Kerala
Amid coffee, fruit and spice plantations with sweeping reservoir panoramas, Amaryllis elevates the humble Kerala homestay into a luxury-boutique affair…
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Kochi (Cochin)
Above an astonishing private antiques collection, each of these eight exquisitely and individually themed design-meets-heritage rooms – with glossy…
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Alappuzha (Alleppey)
Across the road from the beach, this thoughtfully renovated 1860s heritage home offers Alleppey's most character-filled accommodation. The 10 rooms have…
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Kerala
Hidden from the beach but with the backwaters on your doorstep, Les 3 Elephants is a soothing French-Indian-owned resort with boutique flair. The…
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Kovalam
All calming ochre tones, terracotta tiling and minimalist flair, this intimate German-owned seafront pick has eight ground-floor rooms finished with…
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Kerala
The queen of Kumarakom’s luxury accommodation is this 67-room Keralan-inspired beauty fronting Vembanad Lake, complete with ayurvedic spa, yoga, two…
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Kochi (Cochin)
On the site of a Victorian-era shipyard, this grand CGH creation faithfully reproduces 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century Dutch, British and Portuguese…
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Kovalam
Tucked into the southern curl of Lighthouse Beach, the 14 elegant and refreshingly spacious rooms at this stylish pad gaze out on the beach from private…
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Alappuzha (Alleppey)
In a peaceful lakefront setting 4km north of Alleppey, this welcoming, creative operation amid natural canals sleeps guests on a floating mini houseboat…
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Varkala
Tucked away behind the North Cliff, this warm, highly regarded guesthouse throws boutique style into its impeccably kept gleaming-white rooms and six…
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Varkala
Six-person, locker-equipped en suite dorms (some air-conditioned) and smartish private doubles with simple murals are the draw at this social budget hang…
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Kerala
Designed in the style of a colonial-era tea-planter's bungalow, Windermere's graceful, cream-coloured villa opens onto gardens reaching down to a gorgeous…
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Kovalam
The Kovalam branch of this glitzy Indian group is nuzzled into lush grounds with direct seafront access. Individual thatched cottages come tastefully…
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Varkala
Bold pink and turquoise design meets a homely, social feel at this boutiqueified British-run yoga and surf retreat spread across lush gardens atop the…
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Kochi (Cochin)
What may just be one of the most romantic boutique hotels in Kerala, Malabar flaunts its chic blend of contemporary design and original 18th-century…
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Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra
Kerala
Built into natural groves of mango, banana and banyan trees and offering A-list-style seclusion, luxurious Niraamaya's 33 glammed-up traditional Keralan…
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Kochi (Cochin)
The first thing you'll notice at the Waterfront Granary is the 1928 Ford vintage car in the lounge. This is a museum-hotel, where relics from the owner's…
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Munnar
An elegant boutique-meets-country retreat, 4km southeast of Munnar, where 18 supremely spacious garden- and valley-view rooms are sprinkled around serene…
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Kerala
Wrapped in greenery, 4.5km southeast of Cherai Beach, this blue-washed 250-year-old house makes an intimate, character-filled escape. French owner Marco…
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Kerala
For something uniquely creative, seek out these four palm-fringed 'art cottages' attached to an artisan pottery warehouse, which occupies a reincarnated…
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Munnar
Handily located near the main bus station, this popular guesthouse has fresh, clean budget rooms (the best on the upper floor), a friendly welcome, and…
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Kochi (Cochin)
This 1960s hotel, with its polished original art deco fittings, exudes the sort of retro glamour that contemporary hotels would love to re-create. The…
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Northern Kerala
Secluded and on an 80-year-old estate overlooking banana plantations, ginger crops and rice paddies, this charming homestay (which translates as My Own…
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Alappuzha (Alleppey)
A very good deal, this easy-going, homely and colourful backpacker hang-out sits 500m inland from the beach and 2km north of the train station. The two…
