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Kochi homestay accommodation, Kerala, India

COUNTRY:
India
LOCATION:
Vypeen, nr Kochi, Kerala
PRICE:
From Rupee3500 per couple per night
MORE INFO:
Price is on B&B basis
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Kochi homestay accommodation, Kerala, India

Kochi homestay accommodation, Kerala, India

How this holiday makes a difference

All activities at our homestay are with a personal touch. It starts with receiving of our guests and preparing their food by hostess herself. We treat our guest as a part of our family and we will ensure you feel right at home. Hence we personally invite you to our home where history & traditions are alive even today, will be a home away from home to enjoy your holiday in Kerala, God’s Own Country.

All tourism related activities of our homestay are directly involving people of the local community, which result in the financial benefit of their families. Locals who work as house maids and gardeners at the homestay get financial support because of our activity. Locals who work as taxi drivers and tour operators who take the tourist on sightseeing/ package tours also get benefited because of homestay activities. Fruits and vegetables used at the homestay are locally grown which are directly picked up from the local market, where farmers from the locality directly come to sell their products. We get fresh fish right from our local fishermen who work on nearby Chinese fishing nets. These Chinese fishing nets are a part of tourist attractions of Fort Kochi & Vypeen.

We educate the local community on how to deal with the tourists in a friendly manner, how to help them, how to keep the surroundings neat and clean etc. We give information to our guests on dresses to be used for climate and culture. Local customs to be followed while entering Temples, Churches and individual houses and important local words which may be required during their stay at Kochi.

We support local community projects and charities through organisations like World Vision, Vincent de Paul etc. 10% of our income goes to charities, as per our policy we believe “do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing.”

At the homestay, we have rain water harvesting which helps in water conservation to maintain the water table in the soil. Organic gardening practices used. All bulbs used are long-life/low-energy CFL bulbs. The homestay build with old Kerala style of natural ventilation which allows maximum air circulation through each room in order to avoid the need for air conditioning, including bed rooms.

We avoid using plastic, which reduces generation of plastic garbage. We use waste to create manure and use in our garden. Plastics are given to plastic recycling centres. We use biodegradable cleaning agents even in our toilets. We request/educate guest about the need of minimising waste generation; also the need to segregate garbage at the source itself. We give two bins at each room; one for plastic and others for biodegradable waste. In our experience segregation of garbage at source reduces the time required for the waste disposal/recycle. All our guests so far have been co-operative as we explain the need of doing so.

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Kochi homestay accommodation, Kerala, India

Reviewed 09 Jan 2009 by Jaime Chamberlain3 star rating

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


Our traditional Keralan meal! Neema created a delicious banquet for just the 2 of us and the only disappointment is that we couldn't stay for any longer to enjoy more meals, or do a cooking course with her.

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


Stay at least 2 nights!

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


Yes. They used local produce (fish and vegetables) for their food, and all their staff were locally employed. Provided us with filtered water instead of bottle water. Proceeds of our stay also went to a local children's charity which was a great cause, and even more so justified us staying in a homestay instead of a hotel.

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


10/10!

Reviewed 31 Oct 2008 by Helen Esplin5 star rating

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


Staying in a beautiful house run by a delightful family. The photos don't do the house justice - the Bungalow reflects the atmosphere and history of Kochi having been built in the old styles. Guests have exclusive use of the first floor in spotless rooms furnished to a high standard with superb bathrooms. The family is welcoming and took great care of us. Neema is a great cook and gave us plenty advice on where to go.

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


This is as good as a luxury hotel. We chose to have our evening meals here as the food is home-cooked Keralan style at a fraction of what you would pay in a restaurant. Vypeen is 5 minutes from the ferry over to Fort Kochi (takes 4 minutes at 2 rupees and runs till 10pm). All the shops, cafes, restaurants are around the ferry stop there or a short rickshaw ride away. If you like boats Neema's husband is a ship's pilot and you can watch him bring in a tanker from the quayside. Children will have an immediate friend in Olivia aged 8 and the two Dalmatians.

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


Definitely - as stayed with a local family and either walked to places and/or caught the ferry.

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


Excellent value in a beautiful home.
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Accommodation Reviews

We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same holiday can have different views!

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