It was such a wonderful experience staying at Kayal Island Retreat. I'm flooded with wonderful memories and experiences I've had there as I write this. The property, staff, food & activities are all you need for a memorable stay and some more. The location, property and decor are all so serene, authentic and thoughtfully designed. Very rooted and yet classic. The staff is so so warm & helpful and begins to feel like family. It was our first time trying authentic Kerala food and we were in love to say the least. It's prepared in a home-cooked way and is pure joy for your taste buds. We did some fun activities too that helped us experience the backwaters in the best way possible. All in all, I'd say Kayal is simplicity & authenticity at its best. I'd choose Kayal in a heartbeat for my next Kerala trip. …
At the outset Thanking Maneesha and her team for the wonderful hospitality. We were picked up by the capitan on the mainland then taken by the boat to the island. The sun can be pretty hot, please use appropriate head gear for protection from the sun. Try and book the bigger rooms if possible. The bed is comfortable and rooms are done well. The showers and toilets are outside the room. We had beautiful experiences from picking coconuts to fishing with a line. The most amazing was the sunset canoe cruise, this is absolutely peaceful and we highly recommend this. The captain sings well as, this makes the experience like Venice...
My first stay after the lockdown for 7 days. Felt extremely relaxed after almost a year of restrictions. Great nature all around with one side entirely overlooking the backwaters. The cottage room is nice, neat with all essentials. All variety of great food over the 7 days, without repetition. Extremely great staff with special mention to Saiju, Srikanth, Abhijit, Vijay Lakshmi and Indira. Host Maneesha takes care of all details.
What an amazing experience our stay here was! From the boat ride to the island it was a magical time. The peaceful atmosphere was a treat but the activities offered were also unique. The early morning trip to the fish auction was amazing. The boat dining experience under the stars was something we will never forget and the village walk was so interesting. The manager and his staff were professional and nothing was too much trouble. A fabulous stay we would love to repeat.
When I asked our trip organizer to recommend a special place to start our journey in Kerala, the answer was - Kayal! And indeed, Kayal is a little paradise. The property is beautiful, the atmosphere calm, the rooms are large and comfortable (the outdoor shower is awesome!), and the Kerala traditional food was very tasty. We enjoyed the sunset boat ride and the walk to the village, the friendly and smiley staff, especially Saiju the manager who was a perfect host. I am sorry we only met Maneesha, the owner for a very short time. She is a beautiful and special young woman and I hope will meet again!
What a Gem,Kayal Island Resort is a hidden paradise ,It is so simple ,yet incredibly beautiful and very well done! The Staff were so helpful and friendly ,especially Saiju! The Food was delicious We went on some Excellent outings, the Sunsets were unbelievable !
I spent 3 days here and loved it - the spaces are beautiful, the backwaters are serene and the staff was the BEST. They took care of our every need, fed us delicious foods, took us on a walk to see the island village and took us on sunset boat rides. Amazing way to enter Kerala - HIGHLY recommend. Shout out to Saiju who is the best!
We stayed for two nights at this beautiful little retreat right on the water. Dining is under the canopy of the restaurant at a communal table (there were four other guests there during our stay), the food is good, but if you want alcohol you will need to take it yourself as they do not sell it. The food was very good and the service excellent. Try the traditional massage - local ladies sail in and they are really good value for money and a great experience! It is very quiet. Nice lawns with sun loungers if you want them and trips on the river and to the local village. At night, watch the local ladies swim up to the edges diving for crabs. Lovely place; take your books and relax, after our initial tour of the Golden Triangle and Varanassi it was just nice to unwind.
We stayed at Kayal for two nights. We were two families and with 3 children. Every moment spent there was priceless! Located at the tip of an island, you can reach there only by short ferry ride. The staff there ensures that you get a heady mix of being cut off from the world while taking care of you like family. Always smiling, the staff makes you feel at home. The food is local, organic and delicious. They will cook dishes as per your requirements so we were asked our preferences between different kinds of fish, prawns, crab and chicken. The food is so flavoursome that even the humble cabbage sings! The rooms are tastefully done. The beds super comfortable and the outdoor washroom and shower very well maintained. Thank you Maneesha and team for this little spot of heaven!
This review has been long pending. I had stumbled upon this property through Lisa Ray's insta page. The pictures were breathtaking that I was quick to Google the property up. So when a friend suggested Kayal for our girls gang get together, we did not have to think twice. Maneesha (Owner) was extremely friendly to talk with and she made all the bookings and arrangements perfectly. We felt the warm hospitality right from boat chettan, who took us in the blue boat to the property. The boat ride was so scenic and memorable and it was first for all of us in the typical kerala country boat. The place was so quiet, serene and beautiful, located on kakkathuruth. Maneesha's mom was the perfect hostess for us. Aunty made us feel at home. The chechis cooked homely, fresh food and snacks and the boat chettan taught us how to fish using he rod. The village trail was beyond words as we got to see a life so simple and ordinary. The people were warm and all smiles seeing us. This is the ideal place to unwind, if all u want is to gaze at the river, watch birds, listen to nature's sounds and relieve u from the stress of every day hectic life. This is the calm amidst chaos. And it is the love that we felt during our stay that will surely take us back again and again to this place.…
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