Travel Answers

Hi all,
I'm doing a solo trip to Kerala and will be staying a total of 3 weeks.
I was wondering if anyone has been to these parts of Kerala and can suggest an itinerary in terms of the best cities to visit. I'll be landing at Cochin Airport and doing a homestay in Cochin (any recommendations?) for 3 days. Thereafter I can't decide whether to go to Idukki or Allappuzha.- which is more scenic? I'm interested in picturesque places, something like Munnar (which I've been to). After Idukki / Allappuzha, I will most likely do a homestay in Kollam/ Pathanamthitta. Thereafter I'll be spending my final week in Trivandrum with some friends, before flying home to Singapore. Would appreciate tips on scenic places to visit in these areas travelling downward from Cochin and also suggestions on homestays for singles. Thanks!

Can anybody suggest for a good travel spot in Kerala? I am from Kochi and would like to travel to nice, calm and quiet place….

A friend of mine with her mother would be traveling to Kumarakkom or Allepey in the month of April. Could someone suggest a safe home stay or a reasonably priced and clean hotel accommodation?

Hello, I am from Maldives. I need your assistance. I have to go to Coimbatore (Ganga Hospital) for my 4 year old daughters surgery. Actually I am very much confused on how to plan the trip, because of my previous experience. My husband, my daughter and I went to Coimbatore this year in June. We flew to Chennai and from the airport we took a taxi to Coimbed Bus station, and then we went on Bus to Coimbatore. It took almost 12 hours :O. My daughter was on my lap most of the time and i had body pain for almost 2 days because of sitting on the chair for so long. So this time I searched internet a bit to check on the nearest place to Coimbatore that I can fly to from Maldives. I got the idea that Cochin was nearest to Coimbatore.(According to Google Map its a journey of around 3 hours by car). So, I have confirmed our air tickets to Cochin for 21st November (next Wednesday). We would arrive at Cochin in the evening around 15:30. This time My Mother will be accompanying my husband, me n my daughter. Now, I would like your help in choosing the most convenient and price worthy way to reach Coimbatore from Cochin by road. Should we hire a taxi or should we go for the bus or train? I am just very confused because I do not want the trip to be very tiring like the one before. I need to be in good health and perfectly fit and prepared for my daughters surgery when we reach there. I hope to get good ideas on how i should plan my trip.

We (2Ad) are thinking of arriving Kochi to at Christmas time. I read Kochi has Christian majority and is wondering how Christmas is celebrated there. Any progr to enlighten? 1. Which hotel has Christmas celebration? 2. We arrive 12.10am 24 Dec. I think maybe we better stay in a hotel near airport? Any to recc.? 3. We intend to travel on our own in Kochi for 2D before hiring a car & driver to go further out. Will most of the sights be closed for Christmas? 4. After that we will journey elsewhere and end in Thiruv. to sighsee and fly back home

Hi, I need advise rather urgently becos we hv not decided whether to land in Kochi or Trivandrum. My husband and I intend to fly in about 25 Dec - 3 Dec. (our dates are flexible) 1. Sh we fly in to Kochi and out Trivandrum? How many days for each? 2. Sh we hire a car & driver? 3. We like to have some Ayuv. treatment - pl. recc 4. Hotels to recc. also 5. Houseboat - it seems 1N would be more than enough?

Hi I will be heading to Kerala mid October and would like to do two things there. One is find a teacher in Kalaripayattu, an ancient Indian martial art and number two visit the backwaters I've heard so much about. As far as the martial arts, I've been training in traditional martial arts for over 30 years and have owned a few schools over 15 years in my past. While I'm still teaching in Canada it's on a smaller scale now. I've heard quite a bit out Kalari and if anyone knows a good teacher in Kerala I would appreciate passing the contact information on to me and any info on a decent backwater tour. Thanks so much, TJ

Dear all, we[couple] wish to visit Kerala-Kanyakumari for 12/13 days in Feb.2013, Honestly we have heard lot about Kerala, but dont know exactly which spots we MUST cover, & how many days we should spend for particular spots considering Travel distance+Beauty of spot. So plz guide us by sending suitable itineraries . we will be Arriving on Trivandrum Airport fromMumbai/Nagpur & willing to exit from Kochi OR Kozhikode towards Nagpur. Thanks in advance.

Hi we require some help here , we have visited goa calangute , baga, candolim , mapsua mumbia and we have also visited Mysore in the past year , but we would like to try perhaps Kerala state , how would we get to this part of india , i am not really fancy doing a night train or sleeper has i am not really good at sleeping on the top bunk , so perhaps the plane is best but this will proablly be the last time we visit india has we are wanting to visit new places so all advice welcome thanks

Need an A/C bus to goto Kodungalloor from alleppey and return on 22 aug. 2012

Hello, Hoping to visit South India (Kerala) in December and wondering if you can give suggested tours that would be a good mix of seeing the main attractions combined with a few relaxing days on a quiet beach. Many thanks Jay

We are planning trip to a hill station on August 18 2012. need advice on how to start and finish my trip?

Hi, I have heard that there are 'floating restaurants' on the backwaters at Kovalam. can anyone confirm this and , if so, give some details etc, if poss. Also, how far is Kovalam Junction to the nearest beach and is it safe enough to walk? thanks

Hi, We are looking for a good ayurvedic experience with board and lodging included. Can anybody recommend a place to us please. Thanks

I am travelling to Kearal for 7 days. We are a family of five including 2 kids. Pl. advise 1. After covering Munnar I want to go to Trivendram but after covering a Backwater for overnight. I am not clear whether on the way, is it possible or I need to again come back to Kochi for a BW and then go to Trivendram ? that means like After Munnar come back to Kochi then cover a BW for one night then again come back to Kochi and start for Trivendram. My idea was to cover BW on the way from Munnar to Trivendram. 2. Can you advise a good back water (place / company) and what are the normal charges for that for staying overnight for the family (of 5) ? 3. What are the places of interest in Trivendram or surrounding areas. I will be staying only for two nights ? 4. How long does it take to reach from Kochi to Trivendram by Road ? And is the road scenic ? 5. What is the best way to travel from Trivendram to Kanyakumari ? Any advise will greatly help but as soon as possible pl.

I am travelling to Kochi this week. I want to know: 1. What are the places of interest in Kochi I will be staying only for one night? 2. What is the best way to travel to Munnar with a family of five (inc. 2 kids)? 3. Is the road to Munnar is hilly/ curvey/ sloppy ? How long does ita take to reach Munnar / Chinnakanal by a Tax ? 4. After Munnar I want to go to Trivendram but after covering a Backwater on the way, Is it possible or I need to again come back to Kochi for a BW and then go to Trivendram? Any advise will help but as soon as possible pl. Thanks in advance. Rgds

We are planning an 8 day trip to Kerala. Thekkady -- 2 days Kumarakkom -- 3 days Ashtamudi -- 3 days Trivandrum -- 1/2 day(before we take our return flight) Need the following suggestions 1.Where can we do a boat ride?long one that would take us from one place to another? 2.Any off the beaten track tips regarding these places? 3.Where to buy an Aranmula Kannadi?is Trivandrum the best place to buy?If so any suggestions on shops? 4.Where to buy a good kerala mural painting?any shop suggestions would be welcome. thank you so much, seetha

I am hopefully going for a holiday to Kerala! (just had a spate of cancellations!!) We propose to stay for two days in thekkady and then have a gap of three days, after which we have bookings in ashtamudi. Could I have some suggestions on where to stay on those three days. It will be in the first week of June. We want it to be enroute to Ashtamudi from Thekkady. Thank you,

Can someone post information of a single Room with attached bathroom,as i intend setting up business in Kochi and will be travelling frequently probably spending atleast 4 nights every second month,it makes no sense to stay in a Hotel.Look forward to some info of economical clean and decent Accomodation

Namaste hello everyone, I m looking to rent a house in kovalam for two months, anyone has an house to rent in july/august? thank you

Hello I'm arriving this Tuesday at Kochi airport and need to get to Coimbatore. What would be the best way? By Bus or Train? And how do I get from the Kochi airport to either Bus Station Or Train Station? (I'm guessing by taxi?) Any other suggestions about Kochi to Coimbatore trip? (im a woman & it's my first time in India) Thank You

I'm visiting Kasargod early in January. I heard the best time to see Theyyam dance is from Dec-Mar. Can somebody let me know when (which time of the day) will Theyyam performances take place in Temples? Can you name some of the temples also?

I will be visiting Trivandrum this July and would like to photograph the white Buddha in the Napier Museum. Cameras are forbidden and I have been unable to find an email address for the director. Has anyone any suggestions? Thanks, Chris

Hi ALL, i M PLANNING A TRIP FROM MUSCAT-COCHIN-GOA. I m traveklling with wife and son 13 yrs. Kindly suggest mode of travels, package tour operators. I intend to travel by Feb 15,2012. Will appreciate the input. Ravi

Hi, I have again come up with few questions that I require your help of. We (2 of us)are visiting Kovalam, Kanyakumari, Munnar and Cochin in Feb end. We will be spending 4 days in Kovalam and Kanyakumari and after that I will be on my way to Munnar. My questions are- (1) How should I split my days in Kovalam and Kanyakumari? (2) Which of these 2 places would be the most convenient option to start my journey towards Munnar and how many hours will the journey take? (3) Is there any luxury bus services available from Kovalam/Kanyakumari to reach Munnar? If yes how should I book it? (4) How to reach Cochin from Munnar(again is there any luxury bus services available)and how long will it take? Please help...I am on it for more than 2 months now and still clueless... Thanks a ton as always.

Hello I am travelling to kerala in the begining og december. I am flying to cochin airport. I have not booked anything other then flight. I was just wondering is it possible to find better deal upon arriving at cochin airport? are there any tour operators/agents at airport available where you can negotiate better deal? please let me know if anybody have done like this

Hi, I will be in Kozhikode a few days. I was told that there is a Dolphine Point- are there Dolphines indeed? And some more questions: Are there Swimming Beaches in Calicut (just to swim there)? And can I have Elephant Rides somewhere in Calicut? Leo

Hi Guys, Im going to an Ashram in Kerala around Christmas time and I would also like to spend 1 or 2 days in a boathouse doing the backwaters, is there any females up for it? that way we can share costs and have some companion, drop me a line if you are interested. Thank you D

Looking for a good price on a flight from New York City to Calicut in January. Prefer to stop overnight in the Gulf. Also if a Calicut member can give me a lead on renting a furnished space for 6 weeks.

We are trav. to India - dec 2011. family of 4. We are now well informed as to the sights and information of the destinations. VT members have been extremely helpful. The most cost effective guide in terms of mostly internal flights/road or rail travel is needed. We arrive in Mumbai and depart from Mumbai. We intend visiting Mumbai - 2 nights Darjeeling - 2/3 nights Jodhpur - 2 nights Jaisalmer - 2 nights Ooty - 2 nights Pondicherry - 2 nights Thekkady - 2 nights Periyar - 2 nights Kumarakom - 1 night Sincere appreciation and thanks.