This was our first trip to India. Having spent almost 1 year working in Nepal with VSO we were in desperate need of a break. Some colleagues in Nepal recommended Kerala and in particular the area around Varkala where, as experienced travellers to India, they had stayed on a number of occasions.
We chose this hotel after looking at various options on the internet. We booked online and arranged an airport pick-up given that our flight from Delhi arrived 22:30 at night.
No problems with the booking and our driver was waiting for us at the airport as arranged in an air-conditioned 4x4 - it is still very warm in Kerala even in February at 22:30!. The drive to the hotel was about 45 minutes.
The hotel is located at the northern end of Kerala, just set back from the cliff top path that runs along the coast. This path gives you access to the beaches north and south of the hotel and to the bars, restaurants and shops which front the path.
We could not fault the rooms and service at the hotel which are in a different league to those we have experienced in Nepal. Staff here are friendly and attentive to your needs without being overbearing. As mentioned earlier, Kerala is hot in Winter, so air-conditioning in the room is not the extravagance that at first you might think you can do without.
Being set back from the cliff top path you are assured a quiet location but with easy access to the beach and restaurants. We found the beaches to the north to be much less crowded compared to those at the southern end. But having said that - this place is not crowded and so far has not suffered from over development. It is a very laid back relaxing place where you really have only eating and swimming to worry about.
My only regret is that we had to return to Nepal!

We arrived in Varkala on 28th December and had booked our 10 day stay at Le Mangalath a few months earlier based on the reviews it had been given on Tripadvisor.

I have travelled around India quite a bit and in comparison to many of the places I have stayed in Le Mangalath was great! The room was very clean, the towels and sheets were white (not mucky grey!), the bathroom looked and smelled clean always. The hotel itself is in pleasant grounds with a pretty lawn at the front. We were very happy to have this as our base.

They provide a decent enough breakfast, prepared in a hygienic kitchen but the restaurant was not open for lunch time or evening meals. It would have been helpful to be able to have other meals here. The restaurant building had been damaged by heavy rain I believe.

The most outstanding aspect of the hotel were the staff. My 5 year old daughter got food poisoning from one of the restaurants on the cliff and required hospital attention. Ravi (assistant manager) went out of his way to help us and escorted us to the hospital. He didn't leave until he had registered us and made sure we had a bed for the night.

All the staff were very welcoming and helpful.

The location was perfect for us as it is 5 minutes walk from the nicest beach (we didn't like the large beach), and it was peaceful. We wouldn't have wanted to be close to the cliff edge with 2 young children as it is not fenced off safely or at all in some places. Be prepared for this if you are taking young ones!

I would say that rather than offering the facilities of a resort hotel, Le Mangalath is an excellent bed and breakfast.

I agree with the previous review. The pictures and information on the website are very misleading. We chose this place because it was an ayurvedic centre but the centre no longer exists. They should change the name and be more honest about the fact that this is a simple guesthouse - not a beach resort !

Be very careful if you book this on the basis of the website.
There is no longer an ayevurdic centre on site - it is three kilometers away. Photographs on the website are of this new centre rather than Le Mangalath itself.
There is no longer a restaurant - it is "closed" and the building stands abandoned.
There are no longer beautiful gardens - the grounds are being prepared for a "project next year"
It is not a beachfront property - there are a row of buildings in front of you.
The staff are charming and helpful but we were so disappointed and were not prepared to stay once we discovered how dishonest the management had been in promoting something which is not at all what it claims to be.