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| | Isola Di Cocco Resort
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Kerala |
| India |
| Star Rating: 3+ |
| Telephone: |
| Website: http://www.isoladicocco.com/ |
| Number Of Rooms: 52 |
| Number Of Floors: 1/2 |
| Number Of Lifts: 0 |
| What The Brochures Say: |
| First Choice 2006 |
| Set in 30 acres of coconut groves and lagoons, this relaxing retreat has a unique backwater and oceanfront setting on the banks of the River Poovar. Meaning 'Island of Coconuts', it enjoys beautiful panoramic views, traditional ayurvedic treatments and flower-filled gardens |
| Holiday-Truth Readers Reports |
Laight from Harrogate travelled to Isola Di Cocco Resort with
Manos
on a family holiday.
There were 2 adults and 2 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2008 | rated the Isola Di Cocco Resort as follows:| Cleanliness |  | | Location |  | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: The use of the word 'resort' is misleading as it feels more like an eco lodge development with relatively small scale buildings set amongst a densely planted and natural feeling site. However, if you are looking for peace and quiet in a natural setting with good local food and excellent Ayuverdic facilities then the Isola Di Cocco will not disappoint.
The accommodation on offer varies from large standard rooms in 2 storey blocks to various more characterful bungalows and a tree house. We had no choice but to take a standard room as a large group of trainee Yoga teachers had taken all of the bungalows. Everywhere is very clean and well maintained by Indian standards. Air conditioning is gently effective and supplemented by wall fans.
The central facilities are limited to an attractive restaurant, large pool with spa jets at the shallow end, poolside bar, pool table and small gift shop but the Ayuverdic centre stands out. This is very well staffed and equipped offering a wide range of traditional health treatments as well as beauty treatments.
Staff throughout the Isola are friendly and courteous, service was relaxed rather than slow or inefficient, I suggest you go with the flow and relax to their pace rather than timing how long it takes to get a drink or a sandwich. Do not be surprised if they run out of beer, alcohol is not a priority to the locals, unlike us sad stressed westerners, and they will get some more just as soon as the boat gets here.
There are two adjoining hotels, which you would not be aware of unless you sought them out, the Estuary Island and Poovar Island. The Estuary is a large conventional hotel building on a much smaller plot than Isolla Di Cocco and the Poovar is a much larger development of varying building types with very well tended gardens. All three are quite different in character.
There are also two floating restaurants just off the river frontage of the Estuary Island and Poovar Island. We ate at Stephen's one night and had excellent fish, (Barracuda), again very friendly and well recommended. Stephen's keep a small boat waiting at the river wall of the Isola between 6.30 and 9.00 rather than just relying on torch waving.
Some of our fellow guests ventured into Kovalam and likened it to typical Spanish Costa commercialism. If you want this kind of tack then I suggest you stay in Kovalam rather than go to the Isola and complain there is 'nothing' there. Some of us are very glad that there is 'nothing' there.
We took two of Thomas Cook's own trips; one to Kanyakumari, (Land's End & Gandhi Memorial), Suchindrum Temple and Padmanabapuram Palace; the second to Ponmudi Tea Plantation and a spice plantation. All were well organised, limited to 8-9 people, well away from tourists and excellently lead by local guide Muyti. Each cost around £20pp which included entrance fees and lunches. Lunch at the spice plantation was excellent.
The hotel organised a 1 hour canoe trip around the local backwaters for us for 500 rupees. The staff member who punted us around was very helpful and we saw three different kinds of Kingfisher as well as various Eagles and Kites. The Isola's grounds are home to a large population of crows and chipmunks, both of which will take any food left outside, even around the pool. In addition to the crows, there are many other birds whose night calls give the grounds a suitably tropical atmosphere.
Our weather was hot with two or three 'unseasonal' evening thunderstorms. This did not affect what we did although we were stuck in the bar until the rain subsided enough to walk to our room.
To sum up, don't try to impose European values on India and enjoy this wonderful continent and people for what they have to offer. If you want a tranquil base from which to see the very southern tip of this fabulous country then the Isola is well recommended. Otherwise, if you want tourist traps and western 'facilities' then I suggest you stick to somewhere closer to your cultural home.
Click here for more information on this hotel, resort and region
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misterc+missc from London travelled to Isola Di Cocco Resort with
Independent
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 01 2007 | rated the Isola Di Cocco Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food |  | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: We’d read positive reviews of Isola di Coco and decided to spend a week here as part of our stay in Kerala. We arrived a day late due to delays on internal flights and were welcomed with a hot flannel and a cool drink. A tad worried of our late arrival, we were told we wouldn’t lose a nights accommodation and we’d be able to check out a day later than originally planned. Our stay here was memorable, we were booked into one of the cottages and were overwhelmed with the size of bed, space in the room and the amazing bathroom outside.
The only downside to the room was the occasional noise you would hear of rats scurrying on the roof – the tell tale signs were bars of soap disappearing overnight..we even spotted one of these little buggers. But don’t let this put you off, the grounds of the hotel are amazing, from the fabulous swimming pool, to hammocks down by the waters edge, the boat that takes you across to the beach, and the vast choice of ayurvedic treatments available.
Food on reflection was OK, though saying that, during our 5 month stay in India we did not find a vegetable biryani as good as the one here. Bar prices were on the high side (if you’re used to Goa prices), so we went to the liquor shop in one of the villages and stocked up our supplies of beer and honeybee.
A week here is sufficient, if you do two, we’d recommend taking a 5 night tour incorporating Munnar, Cochin and a houseboat.
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Niamh Hodson from Norfolk UK travelled to Isola Di Cocco Resort with
First Choice
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2006 | rated the Isola Di Cocco Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: Wow - what a truly amazing place. We went to find some respite from stressful jobs and we found it. Isola di Cocco is located on the shores of the river Poovar, and just beyond the sand-bank is the Arabian sea, where night fishing boats glimmer like pearls.
The staff are a joy - always smiling warm and helpful. As you lie by the full-size freshwater infinity pool, brahminy kites and fishing eagles swoop overhead to catch thermals. The heritage room we stayed in was in carved mahogany, with an open-air bathroom so you woke in the morning and stepped out into glorious sunshine, which was like an injection of energy.
Every day the staff would lay fresh flowers on our bed. The ayurvedic centre was an almost spiritual experience, and the yoga stage looks out over the water, focusing the mind. Everyone we met, all the people we met were wonderful and added to the enchantment of the place. We have already decided to go back as soon as we can - just magical.
The kothakali dancers - visits to hindu temples and the carved palaces - cape kumari - varkala and the spice plantations - the rice boat tour on the paddy-field backwaters - riding on elephants - all were simply breathtaking experiences and highly recommended.
Don't book the tours with First Choice though as these never delivered what they promised - walk to the gate and book independently with Ari or one of the locals there - much better value, and they deliver on their promises.
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Shirley Kirkman from Derby travelled to Isola Di Cocco Resort with
Manos
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 03 2006 | rated the Isola Di Cocco Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: My Husband & I have just returned (24th March 2006)from The Isola di Cocco after a wonderful two week stay.
The location is just perfect if you want a peaceful & relaxing holiday and the view from the restaurant overlooking the Arabian Sea is superb.
We stayed in one of the Deluxe Rooms which was spacious, had a large balcony, bathroom and was spotlessly clean. Bed linen and towels were changed every day and were brilliant white and smelt fresh and clean.
The hotel staff were very friendly, polite and helpful and it was a nice touch to return to our room after dinner and find the sheets on our bed turned down, pillows arranged and flower petals scattered on the bed cover.
Restaurant had a good choice of food, breakfast (buffet), lunch (a la carte or snack menu)& dinner (buffet or a la carte).
No evening entertainment.
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Mr Williams from Brighton East Sussex travelled to Isola Di Cocco Resort with
Manos
on a couples holiday.
There were 2 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 01 2006 | rated the Isola Di Cocco Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment |  |
| said: Arrived 30/12/2005 for 2 weeks, stayed in standard room.
The hotel is largely made up of Heritage cottages in 30 acres of grounds. Room was a good size, very clean with good facilities, big bathroom and good sized balcony which had a large round wooden table and chairs and recliner. Also the Air Con is very good and a good choice of movies/sport on the Satellite TV.
Price wise you will pay 120 rupees (£1.50) for a large Kingfisher/double spirit in the hotel. The lunch menu has a snack menu for sandwiches/pizza etc and full menu - a pasta dish is around £2. Evening meals were 800 rupees for the buffet which is just over £10 for 2 adults.
The hotel is 3 years old so still in good condition, pool is nice with a separate kiddie area, there is a man made beach area down the steps with hammocks and sunbeds if you want to get away from the pool area, the boat ride to the beach is free and runs when you walk down to the pick up point, it is only 30 seconds (400 yards to get there), Sunbeds are provided.
Food wise there is not much choice around although whilst at the beach you can often meet a rep/cook from 1 of the 2 floating restaurants located in the river - good food/good prices - the hotel will try to put you off but don't be. Give the NYE Gala dinner a miss at £32 a person - we were almost told we couldn't leave NYE when we went to board the boat for the floating restaurant but don't stand for it!. Service and food OK but they do expect to keep any change, I paid cash as I went as they want you to sign for every order of food/drink, keep every bill receipt as on checking out we had someones dinner bill for 6 in the seafood restaurant put on our room.
Overall a good place for a relaxing stay but you will need to get a taxi to go anywhere else. Food in general is good and staff seemed polite enough, when I went there was a mixture of Italians/French/Germans as well as English. Wouldn't rate the head massage in the ayurvedic centre, my wife does massage for a living and wasn't impressed, didn't try anything else after that.
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Peter Tiernan from London travelled to Isola Di Cocco Resort with
None
on a friends holiday.
There were 3 adults and 0 child(ren) in the party. The travel date was 12 2005 | rated the Isola Di Cocco Resort as follows:| Cleanliness | | | Location | | | Staff | | | Food | | |
| Entertainment | |
| said: This hotel's best features are its pool and views to the adjacent lagoon and beach. Access to the beach is however by boat. The beach is very exposed with no shade.
The hotel is in the middle of nowhere, and access to the local towns and villages is by taxi only. You can't simply pop out to the local towns and villages to stock up on water, food etc.
Other hotel resorts entertainment can be heard from this resort and during our stay, loud music was played throughout the night (including Christmas night).
Having stayed at other hotels in Kerela, including its state capital, Trivandrum, I would advise that this hotel is not cheap so be prepared to pay London prices for everything - food, drink, taxis etc. Food was medicore especially considering the price. After dinner, there was no where to relax for a drink. At around 10:30 to 11:00 pm, staff at the hotel were eager to move you on (moving tables, sweeping under your feet etc).
Although the entertainers did their best, evening entertainment was poor.
Watch out for hidden extras being added to your bill when checking out, especially in regard to the mini bar. Reception staff were on the uncooperative side and universally appear to work on the assumption that any change is to be offered up as a tip. I would add that generally speaking, service levels at this resort would not warrant tips.
Our stay at this hotel left a sour taste in our mouths, and very empty wallets. This resort can be summed up in two words, 'tourist trap'.
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