After spending two weeks on the road on the Kerala Blog Express project, I was ready to slow down and recharge my batteries for a few days before resuming my travels. When looking for where to stay in Kochi, I wanted a self-contained place where I could just have some quiet time but at the same time, a place that had enough to keep me from getting bored. With a very impressive pool, Kerala’s biggest spa and plenty of restaurant choices, the Ramada Resort by Wyndham Kochi looked like the perfect hotel in Kochi, Kerala for this.
Table of Contents
Location
Located in the outskirts of Kochi, about 40 minutes by car from Fort Kochi, Ramada Resort Kochi sprawls over 8 acres beside the picturesque lakes of Kumbalam, which are part of the Kochi backwaters and of Vembanad Lake, India’s longest lake.
The Resort combines the best of both worlds, being only a short drive away from the city yet far removed from its hustle and bustle. It is the ideal location to explore Fort Kochi and also as the departure location for Kerala tour packages.
The Rooms
The Resort has a total of 58 rooms spread around three sections, and they are divided into three types: Cottages, Superior Rooms and Luxury Rooms.
I was lucky enough to stay at the Ramada Kochi Resort twice, in two kinds of rooms. The first time, I stayed in one of the Cottages. The Cottages are perched on stilts overlooking the meandering pool and the breathtaking expanse of the backwaters beyond. Decorated in a modern and stylish way, they are very spacious and have a balcony which is ideal to sit in the mornings with a nice cup of coffee. The lovely bathrooms have a screen that opens up so you can have a bath and enjoy the view out of the balcony.
The second time I stayed, was in a Superior Room. Set within landscaped gardens within the resort, the Superior Rooms are cozy and extremely comfortable spaces, with a sitting area, a coffee table and a desk – all the amenities every traveller needs. With contemporary design, they are tastefully furnished.
The Luxury Rooms are equipped with all kinds of amenities including big-screen TVs with satellite channels, Wifi facility, solar-powered lighting, international direct dialling facility, mini bar, electronic safe etc. They offer luxurious comfort, with either a view of the gardens or the lake depending on the room location.
There is a Junior Suite and a Presidential Suite too, with all the facilities you would expect from this level of luxury and more – an office, kitchen, guest room with ensuite and the biggest bathtub I have ever seen. There is also a massage chair that you can enjoy as you take in the lake views.
The Pool
The pool is for me what makes this Resort stand out above everything else. It is the longest pool in Kerala and it edges the Cottages from beginning to end, with a lawn area and the lake on the other side, which can be reached by crossing a couple of small bridges with waterfalls. The pool depth goes from 4.3ft to 5.5ft. There is also a sunken pool bar called Strokes, which is open when the hotel is full, and a children’s pool.
The Restaurants
With a wide range of restaurants within the Ramada Resort by Wyndham Kochi, you don’t really need to leave for food if you don’t want to.
Fennel is the main restaurant, and it’s where the breakfast buffet is served between 7 am and 10.30 am. It is also open for lunch (12 pm – 3.30 pm) and for dinner (7 pm – 11 pm) with an a la carte menu of local and international dishes.
Pearlspot is their specialty seafood restaurant, and there is also a Mexican Restaurant called The Mexicana where you can indulge in Mexican staples such as burritos, fajitas, etc, and I can certainly recommend the beef burrito. Both restaurants open only in the evening, from 7 pm to 11pm.
There is also a lounge bar called Club 11 Hundred, with a very long Happy Hour, which will give you a complimentary drink between 11am and 8pm. It is open until 11pm.
The Spa
The Ramada Resort Kochi also has with an Ayurvedic medical centre and Kerala’s biggest spa, where you can visit an Ayurvedic doctor and have an extensive selection of holistic and Ayurveda treatments, as well as western style massages.
I had a very relaxing Abhyangam Ayurvedic massage where a herbal Ayurvedic oil was used to gently massage all my body, and Kshreerabala oil was used for my face and hair. Once the massage was over, I was able to take a shower within the spa, in order to wash off the oil off myself. After my shower, my masseuse rubbed a little bit of Rasnadi powder on my scalp. This is a medicinal powder used to relieve colds, headaches and sinusitis.
After the treatment, I sat on a day bed relaxing with a nice cup of green tea, until I was ready to face the world again.
Read about other Ayurveda experiences in Kerala
Other Amenities
There are also a number of different amenities within the Resort that include a well-equipped fitness centre that’s open from 6.30am to 8pm. The Gym is open to the public by advance booking only. There is also the possibility of attending yoga classes.
There are also three top-notch banqueting facilities of varying capacities, from 250 to 800 guests.
And to keep you from getting bored, you can rent kayaks or take a speed boat tour to explore the backwaters.There is also an activity room with table football, mini golf and table tennis facilities.
Conclusion
Overall, I loved my stay at Ramada Resort by Wyndham Kochi. The rooms, amenities and services were first class. Ramada is a huge name in the hotel game and a familiar name that I consider synonymous with luxury. Hopefully if I get to come back to Kerala soon, I can return to the Resort, but if not, I’ll definitely be considering a Ramada Resort in another location.
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Have you been to Kerala, India? What hotels would you recommend?
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Disclosure: A big thank you to Ramada Resort by Wyndham Kochi, who hosted me during my stay. As always, all views are my own.
Teresa is an award-winning travel blogger based in London. She’s on a mission to explore the world through responsible cultural and adventure travel, and through deeper, more meaningful local experiences. She’s a lover of adventure, the outdoors and everything food related, and she’s always looking for ways to make a positive impact through sustainable travel.
omgosh.. i love my room at Ramada. But unfortunetly i dont try the swimming pool.
It was an amazing resort to stay in! I was so happy to be going back after Kerala Blog Express! Shame you didn’t try the swimming pool, but maybe that’s a good reason to return! 😀
This was an amazing review, Ramada is one the best resort of india. Thanks for sharing this article keep share more!
Thank you. I’m really glad you liked it 🙂
Thanks for this blog. This info helps traveler to find more about this hotel
Thank you. I’m glad you found it helpful