Became a member of country club mumbai last year so as to enjoy the clubbing facility at kandivali. I thought of using the vacations and try the resorts this year.booked country club rock spring cochin from 21 to 24 in cochin and country club valley vista 26 to 29 in kodaikanal.I had booked an a/c indica in cochin for 9 days the rates are 1200 per day with 150 km minimum travel this included every thing exept toll and parking charges.
Day 1 reached airport at cochin in afternoon , as we entered the resort I found it really nice from outside
The garden the lawn and surroundings of back water was very beautiful .but there was no one in the hotel.which made the place very scary for my family, there was just one family staying .we checked the rooms and the bamboo cottages . The bamboo cottages r bigger than the standard rooms .if u r 2+2 family take the bamboo cottage .decided to take a standard room opposite the restaurant room no 211. The bamboo cottages are good but stink a little.due to stale air.
As per my room, the room was really nice with ac wardrobe, dressing table, small refrigerator.it even had a bath tube. Very good and clean room .the staff was really nice and on its feet all the time ready to heip u. The water for bathing and washing hands was salty, I complained to the staff and they said it is borewell water and they also use the same water for bathing.the water was terrible .we checked the swimming pool but it was closed as the filter pump was not working .the maintenance conditions were pathetic , they said that they r renovating the place. The restaurant is ok but needs upgradation.
Other than stay there is nothing else in this place actually . As for the food it was nice .kind of home made food and reasonable too.but they didn’t have much choices .if u r fond of good fish then u need to tell them a day in advance.this place was really far from cochin 15 kms , you need a car all the time to stay here.in the evening went to cherai beach which is a 10 mins drive after that cochin m g road and marine drive
Day 2 city visit of cochin. All tourist place in fort cochi .mantecherry island hill palace museum, , the details of tourist places can be obtained from any site of cochin.
Dont miss the ferry ride at marine drive and don’t miss bolghatty island visit.the bolghatty palace hotel especially
.
Day3 went to allepy takes about 2 hrs to reach .wanted to go for house boat back water ride from 2 to 5 o clock but the tarriffs[ 4000 to 6000 a day trip] are too high.so took small sikara which is very comfortable.charges 350 per hour .
Day 4 visit to munnar 24 and 25 takes around 3 hrs to reach munnar
Stayed at elysium garden .it is near the town tariiff 2300 with bf and dinner . Rooms r big and clean
With a mountain view.
Day 5 visited ervikulam national park . There r no animals in the park exept for nilgiri thar (kind of mountain goat) the view is nice from the top if weather is clear .it is ok .other places in munnar are matupetty dam topstation and so on (details from munnar site)
Day 6 went to kodai from munnar(180km). If u book a kerala vehicle please get the permit from cochin itself otherwise u will have to go all the way to kumbly(thekkdy)to get permit to pass into tamilnadu and travel 100 km(3 to 4 hrs) more than the direct route from munnar to kodai
Reached country club kodai .the resort is 5 km from the main road. Same like cochin this place is also very far and secluded.the resort even worst than cochin .the rooms look very old and need paint .the entry donot have any tiling .it is worst hotel one can imagine in terms of its condition.the location is however good but no use when the hotel is not.decided not to stay and moved out.got accommodation at kodai gate hotel .its a scheme of row houses just 2 kms before kodai very good rooms it had a small living a bed room and a small kitchen . The food was also very good very tasty..all the rooms had a valley facing view .i paid 1600 for one room per night which was a good bargain
Day 7 whole day at kodai lake one can enjoy many activities here like boating , horseriding, cycling.cycling is fun one can hire a cycle and go around the lake which is 5 km road round the lake
Day 8 tour of kodai kanal points like observatory , devils kitchen, pillar rook, cave, valley view, silver cascade water falls etc
Day 9 left at 4 o clock for madurai to catch a flight to mumbai via chennai