Kerala ayurveda & yoga accommodation, India

Reviewed 21 Sep 2009 by Lisa Chothia

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

The pick up from the airport was very welcome, although the two hour drive a little scary at times but that is India for you. The staff were quite friendly and did try hard to make my stay as relaxing as possible... as long as I fitted in with their routine. The room was a good size and cleaned daily although I should have put ear plugs in my case as the electric switches quite noisily between generators at all hours. The treatment staff were friendly and on the whole good. A shame that on the last day they dropped the bottle during my head oil treatment so rather than being totally relaxed I was hanging off the ceiling!

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

The food was fair but the menu repeated on about day 3 so became quite monotonous and there was no explanation as to what it was or why we were eating it. Apart from the rice soup which has weight loss properties, I worked out how with this one; once you've had it 4 days in a row you just don’t eat it! The yoga was a joke and I stupidly didn't say anything sooner, the only other person at the resort stopped going but I tried to get the most out of it by asking questions and sharing my yogic goals but to no avail. We found out that for the yoga courses they do get someone else in.

I think if my expectations had not been set so high by Mr Menon in his speedy and incredibly courteous replies then I would not have felt so disappointed. If I had been told there was no yoga but only meditation in a strange Indian English, that they would rather you didn't speak/spend time with the other guests (sorry guest), that there was no real space for any sunbathing (the grass was over grown and down some perilous stairs), that during monsoon season the walk ways were dangerous and pipes leaked and had not been repaired, that there would be no explanation of any of the treatments, the food or indeed anything relating to ayurveda and there would be nothing to take home to read to remind you of what you had done and why, that there would be no information at the resort about the resort - that I would have to use the slow internet to check the resorts own website, that they say Yes there is a specialist shop rather than admitting it is not possible to buy local hand made goods in the area, and any trips would take about 5 days to organise and the prices would change daily... if I had known all that then I would not have been so disappointed.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

It certainly helped the local taxi drivers as the two trips we managed to get out on (which were disasters) supported them both times. In fact I requested to go shopping but only to a place that had local goods made by local people - I was taken to three shops all of which sold mass produced souvenirs, I was quite upset.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

Disappointing is the word that sums up my Indian holiday. Such a shame really as I had gone to great lengths to try to ensure that I was clear in what I was looking for before I had confirmed my booking. What I had been looking for: Relaxing, healing, experiencing new culture, meeting new people, sunbathing, learning and improving my yoga skills. Learning about ayurveda - to enable me to use this on my return to the UK. I am a student nutritional therapist so I thought it would be a bit of a bus man's holiday. This was certainly not what I received.

Read the operator's response here:

Reviewed 18 Jun 2008 by Kelly Newell

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?

Walking through a shrunken river.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?

If you are looking for a very basic holiday you are ok, but don't expect any luxury!

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?

I do feel it benefited local people as all of the staff were local and they didn't seem to impact on the environment in any detrimental way.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?

I would say average for what it was, as I said don't expect anything more than the basic amenities.