Marari Austin Beach Villa
Beach Front, SH66 Mararikulam North P.O, Mararikulam 688523 India
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About
#7 of 26 guest houses in Mararikulam
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very nice beach is awaiting your presence come on and enjoy. Fresh vegetable soup, and Vitamin rich foods are offered you as your breakfast Free internet facility over the entire property is available
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Property amenities
Free parking
Free internet
Free breakfast
Beach
Bicycle rental
Pets Allowed ( Dog / Pet Friendly )
Airport transportation
Massage
Wifi
Bar / lounge
Breakfast in the room
Outdoor dining area
Special diet menus
Canoeing
Fishing
Car hire
Baggage storage
Mosquito net
Newspaper
ATM on site
24-hour front desk
Express check-in / check-out
Private check-in / check-out
Dry cleaning
Laundry service
Ironing service
Room features
Soundproof rooms
Air conditioning
Dining area
Housekeeping
Room service
Flatscreen TV
Bath / shower
Complimentary toiletries
Seating area
Clothes rack
Iron
Wake-up service / alarm clock
Good to know
HOTEL STYLE
Great View
Modern
Languages Spoken
English, French, Spanish, German and 1 more
Location
Beach Front, SH66 Mararikulam North P.O, Mararikulam 688523 India
Getting there
Somewhat walkable
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
Grade: 74 out of 100
74
Kochi Airport
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Detailed Reviews
The days we spent at Austin's homestay were undoubtedly the highlight of our holiday - the destination is perfect (right on the beach edge), the people are wonderful and the food is sublime.
We stumbled across Marari after a recommendation from the owner of another homestay and were a little apprehensive about going somewhere completely random. The homestay itself is in a small beach-side village and is a fantastic secluded spot void of the hussle and bussle of other parts of India. Our days with Austin were spent wandering along the most wonderful beach, seeing what the fishermen had caught, playing cricket with the locals, exploring the local area, meeting some of the villagers, etc. In some sense this is the closest we came to seeing the "real" Kerala.
Austin and his family are the nicest people you'll ever meet and we were delighted to find that he speaks perfect english and works as a tour guide part of the time - so that he can advise you on whatever you'd like to do.
So, to summarize, visit!
We stumbled across Marari after a recommendation from the owner of another homestay and were a little apprehensive about going somewhere completely random. The homestay itself is in a small beach-side village and is a fantastic secluded spot void of the hussle and bussle of other parts of India. Our days with Austin were spent wandering along the most wonderful beach, seeing what the fishermen had caught, playing cricket with the locals, exploring the local area, meeting some of the villagers, etc. In some sense this is the closest we came to seeing the "real" Kerala.
Austin and his family are the nicest people you'll ever meet and we were delighted to find that he speaks perfect english and works as a tour guide part of the time - so that he can advise you on whatever you'd like to do.
So, to summarize, visit!
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Date of stay: March 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What a fantastic homestay đź’š. We came to Marari beach for a few days and extended our stay for several reasons -
1. Accommodation is situated on the beach front. You can hear the waves crashing against the shore & watch the sunset from the luxury of your private balcony or room.
2. Family - Austin, Jasmine, Ann Mariya, Brian, Amma ...grand mother & Chuckie (the kitten) are just wonderful. They cannot do enough for you. Very helpful 24/7. Thank you so much.
3. The food was excellent. We asked to sample the local fresh fish & for 2 nights they bought in fresh fish judt for us and cooked it. Highly recommend the tiger prawns...yummy.
4. We wanted to hire a moped to take a trip to Alleppey/back waters...again this was no problem. "You can have my bike" Jasmine said. What a sweetheart & very generous of her.
5. Their 2 beautiful children were so well mannered, friendly and a pleasure to have around but they didnt impinge on our privacy.
6. Excellent value for money.
1. Accommodation is situated on the beach front. You can hear the waves crashing against the shore & watch the sunset from the luxury of your private balcony or room.
2. Family - Austin, Jasmine, Ann Mariya, Brian, Amma ...grand mother & Chuckie (the kitten) are just wonderful. They cannot do enough for you. Very helpful 24/7. Thank you so much.
3. The food was excellent. We asked to sample the local fresh fish & for 2 nights they bought in fresh fish judt for us and cooked it. Highly recommend the tiger prawns...yummy.
4. We wanted to hire a moped to take a trip to Alleppey/back waters...again this was no problem. "You can have my bike" Jasmine said. What a sweetheart & very generous of her.
5. Their 2 beautiful children were so well mannered, friendly and a pleasure to have around but they didnt impinge on our privacy.
6. Excellent value for money.
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Date of stay: January 2017Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Response from Austine S, Owner at Marari Austin Beach Villa
Responded 17 Jan 2017
Dear Sir and madam, Thanks a lot for your valuable comments.Your words encourage us to better our services.Moreover, your humble manner and cooperations with our amateur village life that make your stay excellent...
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This response is the subjective opinion of the management representative and not of Tripadvisor LLC.
We flew south to Kerala after 10 days in Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Udaipur. We found that one day/night was enough time to see the main sights of Fort Kochi and took a taxi (Rs950) to Marari Beach, less than an hour away.
Firstly, on a practical note, Austin has both AC and non-AC rooms available, some on the beach and others a 50 metre walk away. The rooms are basic, but that's exactly what we were expecting. As we left, he was putting the finishing touches to a new tree-level 'suite' that had fantastic views through the palm trees and onto the beach.
I would thoroughly recommend staying here. The family looked after us and prepared a feast of food every evening (for a very modest charge), as well as breakfast every morning (included). They were incredibly attentive, but equally happy to just let us relax on the veranda (Austin even waited to commence work on the new room each day until all the guests had walked down to the beach, so as to not disturb). The beach itself was stunning (and the sea was, of course, warm) and there were so few people on it when we were there (Christmas 2012) that it felt like we almost had the place to ourselves.
When we wanted to venture further afield, Austin's brother organised transport for the appropriate price and with drivers that he knew. We took a tuk tuk into Alleppey (R400) and the driver joined us on our three hour tour of the backwaters.
One of the best things about travelling across India is the interesting and varied people that you meet along the way – and that was no different here. On some nights we had dinner with our fellow travellers, but equally we didn't feel like we were being antisocial eating on our own on other nights, just looking out over the beach.
On our last day, Austin told us about his plans to expand his business, and we hope to return in a few years time to see how this has progressed.
Firstly, on a practical note, Austin has both AC and non-AC rooms available, some on the beach and others a 50 metre walk away. The rooms are basic, but that's exactly what we were expecting. As we left, he was putting the finishing touches to a new tree-level 'suite' that had fantastic views through the palm trees and onto the beach.
I would thoroughly recommend staying here. The family looked after us and prepared a feast of food every evening (for a very modest charge), as well as breakfast every morning (included). They were incredibly attentive, but equally happy to just let us relax on the veranda (Austin even waited to commence work on the new room each day until all the guests had walked down to the beach, so as to not disturb). The beach itself was stunning (and the sea was, of course, warm) and there were so few people on it when we were there (Christmas 2012) that it felt like we almost had the place to ourselves.
When we wanted to venture further afield, Austin's brother organised transport for the appropriate price and with drivers that he knew. We took a tuk tuk into Alleppey (R400) and the driver joined us on our three hour tour of the backwaters.
One of the best things about travelling across India is the interesting and varied people that you meet along the way – and that was no different here. On some nights we had dinner with our fellow travellers, but equally we didn't feel like we were being antisocial eating on our own on other nights, just looking out over the beach.
On our last day, Austin told us about his plans to expand his business, and we hope to return in a few years time to see how this has progressed.
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Date of stay: December 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Service
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We did not get the chance to stay in this location because even though we had a booking number from our tour agent, the owners of Marari told first there is no reservation on our names, and then they changed their minds saying there was a reservation, but they did not receive the payment. We paid for beach front room, instead they offered a workaround, with rooms faar from the beach, small and not at the same value as the one we've booked (around 6500 INR). The disappointment came with the fact the lady who owns the place did not even wanted to talk to our agent, she was passing the responsibility to us, and making us the intermediates. We believe this is not they way customers shall be treated. As a customer, after spending 10 hours getting there, the last thing I need is to be the one talking to both the owner and the agent to get us stay in the room we've booked. In the end we had to search for another hotel at 10 pm since they kept changing their minds, saying next day they will give us the room we've booked, to the fact they don't have it available at all. My expectation was to get a room at the same value, not less.Hope nobody will go though this again.
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Date of stay: May 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We chose this home stay as we wanted to stay on the beach. The owner Mr Austin was very welcoming. Food was okay. Vehicle arrangements were good, The location was nice with the sea view. The beach was very silent but had many crabs which was scary.
We weren't happy with the service. There was no water in the bathroom and it happened two to three times in one night stay. When we got water there was no hot water for shower. We were informed that other guests wasted lot of water and that's why there was a water shortage. The floor near the stairs was wet and my husband slipped on the floor (Luckily he wasn't hurt). There were no restaurants nearby. The nearest one was like four kilometers away. We went there and the guy didn't have most the things from his menu. The other restaurant suggested by Mr Austin was closed. Finally we had to go to a bakery and manage with some snacks. The dinner was made by Mr Austin's wife which was okay.
The room was very basic. There were only bed sheets and no blankets. We had to ask for one which wasn't big enough for two of us.
We recommend this place for the location if you wish to spend your holidays on the beach.
We weren't happy with the service. There was no water in the bathroom and it happened two to three times in one night stay. When we got water there was no hot water for shower. We were informed that other guests wasted lot of water and that's why there was a water shortage. The floor near the stairs was wet and my husband slipped on the floor (Luckily he wasn't hurt). There were no restaurants nearby. The nearest one was like four kilometers away. We went there and the guy didn't have most the things from his menu. The other restaurant suggested by Mr Austin was closed. Finally we had to go to a bakery and manage with some snacks. The dinner was made by Mr Austin's wife which was okay.
The room was very basic. There were only bed sheets and no blankets. We had to ask for one which wasn't big enough for two of us.
We recommend this place for the location if you wish to spend your holidays on the beach.
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Date of stay: October 2014Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Room Tip:Â Room on the first floor has nice sea view
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We arrived at Marari beach jan 2011 expecting it to be secluded, but for there to be some accommodation choices. When we got there we realised it is really quite remote and there are three choices: 1. Stay in a five star resort 2. Mid range bungalows 3. Austins home stay. We went for the latter because we had no choice due to availability of the bungalows and extortionate prices of the resorts. BUT we were absolutely delighted by how welcoming Austin (an english teacher) and his wife were. It is a small, basic block, split into two rooms with en suites, and a small veranda. There is also a roof where you can have a beer. At the time of visit Jan 2011, there were no shops, pharmacies, Internet cafes in the area or any individual restaurants. We ate all our food at another hostel about a ten minute walk up the road. Austins brother took us on some excellent tours. We would recommend this if you are looking for back to basics non touristy coastline and getting to know and supporting a family who are starting a new business.
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Date of stay: December 2011Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were given a recommendation for this place and turned up not knowing what to expect. We were greeted by Austin, the owner, who insisted on carrying our bags (both of them and they were BIG), in 35 degree heat across the sand! He took us to our room which was clean, extremely tidy and air conditioned.
We had a porch which looked out directly at the sea and was shaded by beautiful coconut trees. The homestay is located within Marari Village, which is fantastic as the people are all very very friendly and love to come and say hello. We also felt extremely safe here, not once worrying about anything.
Our stay was absolutely fantastic due to the surroundings and also Austin and his wife Jasmine. Their hospitality was second to none, speaking the best English we had come across. They provided us with stunning food every night and even taught their children (Anna-Maria and Brian) to sing happy birthday to me on my birthday. They also dressed the garden with balloons, decorations and even a birthday cake, needless to say I was gobsmacked!
This part of our trip will remain in my heart for a very long time to come. You will not be disappointed by a stay here. I can only hope that one day I have the opportunity to return.
We had a porch which looked out directly at the sea and was shaded by beautiful coconut trees. The homestay is located within Marari Village, which is fantastic as the people are all very very friendly and love to come and say hello. We also felt extremely safe here, not once worrying about anything.
Our stay was absolutely fantastic due to the surroundings and also Austin and his wife Jasmine. Their hospitality was second to none, speaking the best English we had come across. They provided us with stunning food every night and even taught their children (Anna-Maria and Brian) to sing happy birthday to me on my birthday. They also dressed the garden with balloons, decorations and even a birthday cake, needless to say I was gobsmacked!
This part of our trip will remain in my heart for a very long time to come. You will not be disappointed by a stay here. I can only hope that one day I have the opportunity to return.
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Date of stay: March 2012Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We stayed here for 2 nights in an AC room on the first floor. The room was big and the balcony was nice with a lovely view of the sea. However, the price of the room was quite high considering that a lot of the room was quite run down and in need of a facelift / clean.
The property itself is set back about 50 metres from the beach, but has a clear view with just a few palm trees in the way. The rooms are big, with plenty of cupboard space. The AC and fan were both very good. (The non-AC rooms only have a standard desk fan, but may be better value for money)
The balcony is shared with the neighbouring room, but there’s a nice little wooden divider you can pull across to give you a bit of separation. We were lucky not to have neighbours when we stayed, and so were able to book private yoga teacher to teach us on our balcony.
Jasmine, her family and all the staff were so friendly and helpful. Breakfast was lovely.
However, it wasn’t great value for 3,500. We were fine with the room and don’t mind a bit of rust and dust around a place. But it’s only since we’ve stayed in 4 or 5 other places around Kerala that we realised how expensive this place was for what you get. As it was the first place we went to we didn’t know otherwise. The floor and bedding etc were perfectly clean, but other things like the ceiling fan and bathroom windows were caked with dust.
We think it’s probably one of the higher end places to stay in Marari as all the other places we walked past on the beach looked more basic. (Apart from the big expensive resort) And there isn’t as much competition in Marari, so that may be why prices are higher.
There wasn’t any food available in the evenings so we walked to their friend’s restaurant which is about a 7 min walk towards the main road, but after that we went to places along the beachfront.
Overall, we had a nice stay in a very nice spot on Marari Beach. Just adjust your expectations downward if you’re expecting something you could get for 3,000 in another part of Kerala.
The property itself is set back about 50 metres from the beach, but has a clear view with just a few palm trees in the way. The rooms are big, with plenty of cupboard space. The AC and fan were both very good. (The non-AC rooms only have a standard desk fan, but may be better value for money)
The balcony is shared with the neighbouring room, but there’s a nice little wooden divider you can pull across to give you a bit of separation. We were lucky not to have neighbours when we stayed, and so were able to book private yoga teacher to teach us on our balcony.
Jasmine, her family and all the staff were so friendly and helpful. Breakfast was lovely.
However, it wasn’t great value for 3,500. We were fine with the room and don’t mind a bit of rust and dust around a place. But it’s only since we’ve stayed in 4 or 5 other places around Kerala that we realised how expensive this place was for what you get. As it was the first place we went to we didn’t know otherwise. The floor and bedding etc were perfectly clean, but other things like the ceiling fan and bathroom windows were caked with dust.
We think it’s probably one of the higher end places to stay in Marari as all the other places we walked past on the beach looked more basic. (Apart from the big expensive resort) And there isn’t as much competition in Marari, so that may be why prices are higher.
There wasn’t any food available in the evenings so we walked to their friend’s restaurant which is about a 7 min walk towards the main road, but after that we went to places along the beachfront.
Overall, we had a nice stay in a very nice spot on Marari Beach. Just adjust your expectations downward if you’re expecting something you could get for 3,000 in another part of Kerala.
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Date of stay: April 2019Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had a lovely week on Marari Beach as usual, it is definitely one of our favourite holidays spot.
But having tried different options around throughout the years, we are not that green anymore when it comes to accomodations and activities.
So, we loved the location, and looking at the ocean from our bed.
But we were disappointed at several things such as the overall value for money. The shower was dripping a few drops and termperature of the water was always very unsure. The A/C and the Wifi were pretty much of the same sort, working for one hour then out of function for a long while, I understand this is the beach side, this is Kerala, this is India. But with a certain price comes a certain level of service. And there it was all to the minimum. On top of that we constantly felt like being a bother. From the day we booked and had troubles having answers to our simple questions from Austin, until the day we left and felt a bit like everyone was releived, which we never felt anywhere else before... Last comment: the front of the house is a bit of garbage, a bit of firepit, a bit of laundry drying place and is not at all what you would expect from a place where once again you pay 60€ a night for basic service but supposedly a splendid view. It does actually sort of ruin it.
All in all we had a great time because we were so happy to be back to that place we love that is Marari, but it could have been a whole lot better.
But having tried different options around throughout the years, we are not that green anymore when it comes to accomodations and activities.
So, we loved the location, and looking at the ocean from our bed.
But we were disappointed at several things such as the overall value for money. The shower was dripping a few drops and termperature of the water was always very unsure. The A/C and the Wifi were pretty much of the same sort, working for one hour then out of function for a long while, I understand this is the beach side, this is Kerala, this is India. But with a certain price comes a certain level of service. And there it was all to the minimum. On top of that we constantly felt like being a bother. From the day we booked and had troubles having answers to our simple questions from Austin, until the day we left and felt a bit like everyone was releived, which we never felt anywhere else before... Last comment: the front of the house is a bit of garbage, a bit of firepit, a bit of laundry drying place and is not at all what you would expect from a place where once again you pay 60€ a night for basic service but supposedly a splendid view. It does actually sort of ruin it.
All in all we had a great time because we were so happy to be back to that place we love that is Marari, but it could have been a whole lot better.
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Date of stay: February 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were two families of four staying at Austin's place for 3 days over New Year's. It was beautifully clean accommodation, with lovely staff and Austin and his family were really great hosts. The fireworks on New Year's Eve were a great way to bring in the New Year. Many thanks to Austin and his wife who were incredibly helpful in every way. I would highly recommend this as a place to stay.
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Date of stay: December 2016Trip type: Travelled with family
Location
Service
Sleep Quality
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Same happened to me. It’s the wrong place. Jackson is a different one. We needed up calling to book a room instead of
Extremely safe. I walked on the beach alone.
We didn't see any.
Hola , nosotros llegamos al lugar , nos enseñaron las habitaciones y nos quedamos con la que nos gustó ( por precio ) . Son habitaciones básicas pero con todo lo necesario para una estancia agradable . Creo que todas tienen vista a la playa . La familia anfitriona es encantadora .
Espero haberte ayudado
LOCATION
IndiaKeralaAlappuzha DistrictMararikulam
NUMBER OF ROOMS
8
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Frequently Asked Questions about Marari Austin Beach Villa
Which popular attractions are close to Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Nearby attractions include Marari Beach (0.3 km) and Marari Handicrafts Emporium (0.5 km).
What are some of the property amenities at Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Some of the more popular amenities offered include free breakfast, a lounge, and free parking.
Which room amenities are available at Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Top room amenities include air conditioning, a flat screen TV, and a dining area.
What food & drink options are available at Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Guests can enjoy free breakfast, a lounge, and an outdoor dining area during their stay.
Is parking available at Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Yes, free parking is available to guests.
What are some restaurants close to Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Conveniently located restaurants include Fisherman cafe mararibeach, Cafe Dolphin Marari, and Cafe Cloud 9.
Does Marari Austin Beach Villa have airport transportation?
Yes, Marari Austin Beach Villa offers airport transportation for guests. We recommend calling ahead to confirm details.
Are any cleaning services offered at Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Yes, dry cleaning and laundry service are offered to guests.
Are pets allowed at Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Yes, pets are typically allowed, but it's always best to call ahead to confirm.
Which languages are spoken by the staff at Marari Austin Beach Villa?
The staff speaks multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, and Italian.
Are there any historical sites close to Marari Austin Beach Villa?
Many travellers enjoy visiting Alleppey Light House With Museum (11.8 km).