The best accommodations Kerala

Budget & Tips

Taxes. Levies on services and luxury goods such as large hotels and alcohol vary from state to state. In Tamil Nadu, for example, the posted rate for a night in a luxury hotel will include an additional 35% tax imposed by the government. Even if you get a discount on the room rate, you'll have to add a large and unexpected tax.

It's naturally more expensive to sleep in the city than in remote areas. Hotels can also be expensive in medium-sized, less touristy towns. On the other hand, it's easy to find a room for Rs 800 in small towns frequented by Western tourists. Generally speaking, hotels are slightly more expensive in the south of the country than in the north.

General information

The major tourist cities offer a vast choice of hotels. There really is something to suit every budget and taste. Our price classification refers to double room rates. Generally speaking, the cleanliness of budget hotels has improved, especially in establishments catering mainly to foreign tourists. In the most popular tourist areas, however, it is striking to note that rates have risen considerably in recent years, and it is often difficult, if not impossible, to bring them down, especially in the high season. Some budget hotels are a little too expensive for the quality of their services. In all categories, the abundance of new establishments has given rise to healthy competition among hoteliers, in terms of both price and comfort. It has become easy to find charming hotels with well-kept surroundings at reasonable prices. As for luxury hotels, a few large specialist hotel groups share the segment, or former palaces or dream properties are transformed into hotels. It's difficult to define the quality of a hotel by financial criteria alone. Accommodation that may seem good value for money here may appear rudimentary elsewhere. It's harder to find a good-value room that meets even modest Western standards in the big cities. You'll need to pay at least Rs. 1,000 a night in Mumbai to get a room with a very basic level of comfort. Some cities, however, lack world-class hotel infrastructure, so it can be difficult to find something satisfactory. Sometimes you'll have to splurge and opt for a higher category of accommodation, or agree to drop down a few rungs and spend a night or two in hotels for Indian travellers, who are not the type to play around. That's part of the trip too! Restaurants generally offer both European and Indian cuisine. Their quality is often linked to the quality of the establishment. The higher you go, the better, but some budget hotels also offer delicious Indian cuisine. Travelers will also find a number of beach resorts, palace hotels, country retreats and hotels on important historical sites, all owned by international groups. Prices at these luxury hotels are generally lower than in the West. However, they are subject to various taxes, including a luxury tax, and variable service charges (often 10-15%).

Formalities

When you check into your hotel room, you'll be asked to fill in an entry form: full name, address, passport and visa numbers, date of arrival in India, last city visited, next destination. You'll also need to present your passport for copying. Make sure you receive it promptly. Many lower-end hotels don't have photocopiers, so you'll have to go to the nearest store that does. These formalities are compulsory, and the hotelier will refuse you a room if you don't comply.

Categories

Good and cheap. For each city described, we've looked for the cheapest addresses offering a satisfactory level of cleanliness, to satisfy even the most modest budgets. We have also included establishments that are a little more expensive, but still very affordable. For destinations offering sufficient choice, we have deliberately left out hotels that are too dirty, or in neighborhoods that are too noisy or uninteresting. For the most part, "good and cheap" accommodation is to be found in city centers, near train stations or places of interest. Prices can vary considerably from city to city. They range from Rs. 350 to Rs. 1,000 for a double room with bathroom (Rs. 300 to Rs. 800 for a single room). Always take the time to visit the rooms (and bathrooms!) before settling in. Check that the fan is working, that the water is running, and that the room has at least one working socket. Room furnishings may be limited to a bed, sometimes with a table and one or two chairs. Most of these establishments do not provide sheets, only a protective sheet over the mattress, which is sometimes of dubious cleanliness, and a blanket in winter. You'll need a sheet, sleeping bag, dhoti or shawl, and a pillowcase. The bathroom generally includes a washbasin, shower and, rarely, hot water. Toilets are usually Western-style, but in hotels with few foreign tourists, they may be "Turkish-style". Don't hesitate to haggle, especially if you're staying several nights. The tourist offices have hotels in all the tourist sites.

Check-out time is generally noon (sometimes 10 a.m. - ask locally), regardless of your arrival time the day before. If you arrive later than this, you'll have to pay for an extra night. In most hotels, reception is very understanding and, if you ask, you can stay a little longer. Near train stations, you'll find hotels that offer 24-hour rental. If you arrive at 6pm, your check-out time will be 6pm the next day.

Comfort or charm. Hotels in this category can be either modern buildings, with no real charm but clean, comfortable and run by friendly staff, or character houses with equipment too rudimentary to be classified as "luxury". Rates fluctuate between Rs. 1,500 and Rs. 7,000. Here again, you can bargain, especially outside the tourist season. Some rooms have a simple fan, others have air conditioning (AC) and are more expensive.

Furnishings and decor (local art, wall hangings, wood panelling, etc.) are often well thought-out, not always in the best taste, but comfort is the order of the day. Some bathrooms have hot water and Western-style toilets. Many of these establishments have a restaurant serving Indian or continental cuisine.

Luxury. These often recently-built establishments belong to large Indian or international hotel groups. They are generally located outside the hustle and bustle of the city, in cantonments not far from railway stations or on the way to airports. Comfort is similar to that of a 4 or 5 star Western hotel, service is generally impeccable and luxury is sometimes even ostentatious. Of course, all this comes at a price, starting at around Rs. 7,000 for a double room. These hotels offer well-furnished and superbly decorated rooms, suites, a bar, various restaurants, boutiques and, if required, a swimming pool, tennis court and gym. Once again, you'll need to book several days or even weeks in advance. The best-known chains are Taj, Oberoi, ITC, Ramada, Leela, CGH and Lalit.

Youth hostels. Prices range from Rs. 150 to Rs. 500 per bed. These hostels can be a good choice, but you need to go and see for yourself, although they are the same in almost every city. You don't need to be a member. The downside is that they have separate rules for men and women. You can't sleep with your sweetie. When you arrive somewhere, ask if there's a YMCA or YWCA in town.

If you're planning a long stay in a hotel, negotiate hard for a discount. You can usually get a better price than the regular rate, even in luxury hotels.

If you plan to work in your hotel room, ask for a room away from the swimming pool or restaurant - because of the noise, of course.

If you've made a reservation and have proof of it, but the hotel is fully booked, you're entitled to make a free long-distance phone call to your office or family to inform them of your change of address, but also to demand that they take you free of charge to the nearest hotel to spend the night (without paying a cent, of course, if it's a hotel of the same standard). You can also ask for a coupon for free accommodation for a weekend.

To be booked

We strongly advise you to book a room in the city of your arrival before you leave, to facilitate your arrival. What's more, you'll be asked for the address and telephone number of your accommodation at the airport when you pass through immigration.

What's very local

Gratuities. Large and medium-sized hotels include a tax in their prices, which appears on the bill and corresponds to the usual 10% service charge. In smaller places, where this tax is not included, it is customary to leave a few rupees as a tip, which does not have to be calculated on the bill. Generally, doormen and bellboys expect a little something ranging from 10 to 50 Rs. Money in general and tips in particular have the virtue of speeding up most processes and getting you regarded with a certain amount of respect. Baksheesh is more a way of ensuring the quality of an employee's service than a way of thanking him or her for a service rendered. If this system annoys you, take comfort in the fact that it's not as much of a "tourist trap" as you might think: Indians themselves abide by this habit and always give a small tip. Without a tip, you'll probably have to deal with grumpy, depressed doormen/drivers/guides... Having said that, let's not forget that most of the people who serve you here live mainly on bread and water, as it were (here, it's more like rice), and that your contribution will be greatly appreciated, without ever impoverishing you. Also, try to reward the drivers, guides and hotel staff who have gone out of their way to make your stay enjoyable. In Indian society, where the baksheesh system is omnipresent, tipping is seen as an attempt to redistribute wealth to the lowest rungs of society.

For food lovers

Mid-range hotels often offer breakfast, mostly Indian breakfast with some continental options (eggs, toast, jam, fruit, cakes). Larger hotels offer full and varied buffets of excellent quality.

Smokers

Smoking is prohibited in public places. If you smoke in your room, you'll pay a hefty fine. Some hotels have outdoor smoking areas.

Tourist traps

Beware of auto-rickshaw touts who want to take you to a guesthouse or hotel at an "unbeatable" price: they always take a commission, and this will be added to the room rate.

Some readers have noted a wide disparity between the rates quoted in our guide and those charged locally. While most of the hotels in the "Luxury" and "Comfort or Charm" categories have rates posted on their websites, this is not the case for those in the "Good and Cheap" category. Despite a scrupulous on-site survey, it's important to know that smaller establishments charge prices "à la tête du client". The price of a room will vary according to the hotel's occupancy rate, the season, the mood of the owner or the amount of the last electricity bill. We do our utmost to give you fair prices, as communicated by the hotelier, but nothing prevents him from multiplying his rates by 2 or even 3 according to his whim. We regret this lack of honesty and do our utmost to make hoteliers understand the importance of providing reliable rates.