Must-see hotels in Kerala

  • Neeleshwar Hermitage

    Northern Kerala

    This fabulous, plastic-free beachfront ecoresort consists of 18 sleekly designed thatch-roof cottages inspired by Kerala fishers' huts, with voguish…

  • Rosegardens

    Munnar

    An award-winning, totally charming family homestay, peacefully located 12km southwest of Munnar, overlooking owner Tomy’s exquisite nursery and organic…

  • Old Harbour Hotel

    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…

  • Varnam Homestay

    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…

  • Reds Residency

    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…

  • Padmavilasom Palace

    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…

  • Tranquil

    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,…

  • Ashtamudi Villas

    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…

  • Marari Villas

    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…

  • Green Woods Bethlehem

    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…

  • Kaiya House

    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…

  • Green Valley Vista

    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…

  • Harivihar

    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,…

  • Graceful Homestay

    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…

  • Secret Beach Yoga Homestay

    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!)…

  • Green Palm Homes

    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…

  • Amaryllis

    Northern Kerala

    Amid coffee, fruit and spice plantations with sweeping reservoir panoramas, Amaryllis elevates the humble Kerala homestay into a luxury-boutique affair…

  • Ginger House Museum Hotel

    Kochi (Cochin)

    Above an astonishing private antiques collection, each of these eight exquisitely and individually themed design-meets-heritage rooms – with glossy…

  • Raheem Residency

    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…

  • Les 3 Elephants

    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…

  • Beach Hotel

    Kovalam

    All calming ochre tones, terracotta tiling and minimalist flair, this intimate German-owned seafront pick has eight ground-floor rooms finished with…

  • Kumarakom Lake Resort

    Kerala

    The queen of Kumarakom’s luxury accommodation is this 67-room Keralan-inspired beauty fronting Vembanad Lake, complete with ayurvedic spa, yoga, two…

  • Brunton Boatyard

    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…

  • Beach Hotel II

    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…

  • Canoe Ville

    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…

  • InDa Hotel

    Varkala

    Tucked away behind the North Cliff, this warm, highly regarded guesthouse throws boutique style into its impeccably kept gleaming-white rooms and six…

  • Lost Hostel

    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…

  • Windermere Riverhouse

    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…

  • Taj Green Cove

    Kovalam

    The Kovalam branch of this glitzy Indian group is nuzzled into lush grounds with direct seafront access. Individual thatched cottages come tastefully…

  • Soul & Surf

    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…

  • Malabar House

    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…

  • 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…

  • Waterfront Granary

    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…

  • Windermere Estate

    Munnar

    An elegant boutique-meets-country retreat, 4km southeast of Munnar, where 18 supremely spacious garden- and valley-view rooms are sprinkled around serene…

  • La Dame Rouge

    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…

  • Clayfingers Pottery

    Kerala

    For something uniquely creative, seek out these four palm-fringed 'art cottages' attached to an artisan pottery warehouse, which occupies a reincarnated…

  • Green View Inn

    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…

  • Grand Hotel

    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…

  • Ente Veedu

    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…

  • Nanni Backpackers Hostel

    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…

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