Kochi (also known as Cochin) is one of the prominent cities in the Southern state of Kerala and is one of the well know commercial ports in the Arabian sea. It is called as the “Queen of the Arabian sea” and is one of the oldest and important ports in India. It dates back to the 13th Century, when the commercial activities started with Arabs, Chinese and European merchants. The architecture in the city still oozes out the influence of these civilizations in the form of colonial building, Chinese fishing nets and a vibrant and diverse culture.
My first visit to Cochin was way back in the year 2001, when I was visiting my uncle’s house. I instantly fell in love with this city and since then have been visiting this place on multiple occasions. Be it a trip to Kumarakom or Alleppey, Cochin was the gateway through which we used to reach these destinations.
This time around we took couple of days to visit this city and decided to stay at the Ramada. There is no particular reason we chose this place. Our main criteria this time around was to have a leisurely trip far away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Ramada Cochin provides a perfect getaway for people as it is close to the city but away from the madness.
The Plan:
This time around, we did not take our preferred mode of transportation i.e driving, and ended up flying to Cochin. My kiddo had been pestering me for a very long to fly and have a seat for herself and this provided a perfect opportunity. I am not someone who enjoys flying short hauls from Bangalore as it does not make practical sense. It takes us 1.5 to 2 hours to reach the Bangalore airport (duration depends on traffic), go through the 2 hour check-in and boarding process and then fly for an hours before getting into a cab and reaching the resort. Net-net, we usually end up taking the same time that it would have taken driving down. But, there are no compromises when your kiddo demands something 🙂
We took the flight at 10:50AM and landed in Cochin Airport at 12 noon. I had pre-booked a cab from the resort – a good idea on hindsight as it would be challenging to find a cab to take you all the way to Ramada. The resort is a good 35 kms from the airport and takes around 1-1.5 hours. To reach the resort, one needs to drive on the neatly laid 4 lane NH66 – which goes all the upto Kanyakumari. The resort is located by the backwaters and is close to the Kollam – Kottapuram waterway. One gets to see many small boats waving through these calm waters as this waterway is part of the busy backwater all the way up to Vembanad Lake.
The Checkin process was pretty quick and after having our welcome drink, we proceeded to our room. The welcome though was more like a business hotel and lacked the usual traditional touch. The lobby looks very contemporary and resonates the business hotel look and feel.
The Room:
The ideal room to have in this resort are the cottage rooms by the pool overlooking the backwater. We regretted our decision to not book this category of rooms. The room that I had booked was the superior room which is located in the main building block. The room was neat and clean, but did look a bit tired. May be it is about time the hotel looks to give this category an uplift.
The Resort:
The resort is very well maintained and is spread over 8 acres. The highlight of the resort undoubtedly would be the pool, which according to the resort folks is the longest in this part of the country. The pool is very well maintained and was the place where we ended up spending most of our time. The pool overlooks the backwaters and is one of the best place to hangout when the sun is out. The only possible area where the resort can do better here is to have additional loungers. For a pool of this size, the number of loungers available was pretty less.
Amenities available in the resort:
The resort has 3 restaurants and a pub serving great food.
- Fennel which is a multi-cuisine restaurant.
- The Mexicana, serving Mexican delicacies
- Pearlspot, which serves seafood
- Club 11 Hundred, which is the main bar
During our stay we had food in all the 3 restaurants. The food was tasty and to our liking. We especially loved our dinner at the Pearlspot, where we ordered fish from the fresh catch that was delivered. If you are a seafood lover, do not miss this place.
The resort also has a fully functional SPA which provides an extensive selection of holistic and Ayurveda spa treatments. Unfortunately due to the short duration of our stay (2 nights), we did not book a therapy session and thus cannot comment on the service.
The other facilities that the resort provides is a fully functional fitness center and a recreation room in the 1st floor of the main building. The resort also has a speed boat, which you can hire for 15 minutes, 30 minutes and an hour. The ride would take you through the backwaters and is indeed a great way to explore the famous waterways of Kerala backwaters.
Few recommendations:
- Do carry a sunscreen as the sun is pretty harsh
- Do carry a good mosquito repellent. There were many insects and mosquitoes once the sun went down
- Prebook your cab through the resort so as to avoid unnecessary hassle at the airport. Considering that the resort is pretty far from the airport, it will come in handy
We had a great time at the resort and would definitely recommend it if you are planning to have a relaxing vacation at Cochin. If you are planning to explore the city and do not have a commute of your own, this might not be the best option as the resort is pretty far from the city.
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