Going by the number of positive reviews here on TripAdvisor, we were really looking forward to our stay at Victory Home. The house itself is beautiful - a wooden structure, surrounded by coffee plantation and vibrant flowering trees and shrubs, with a certain old world charm. If you're going for a relaxing, no-sightseeing holiday, then this is a good option.
However, having stayed at other homestays in Gokarna, Chikmagalur, etc., I do feel the homestay experience was not up to the mark. For one, the location - Victory homestay is in Pollibetta, which is at a minimum of 45 km from anywhere in the Kodagu district. Unless you stay cooped up all day, any time you step out, you feel all you're doing is driving. It goes without saying, that with the heat and humidity, it can get tiring. In fact, it can get tiring even if you stay up in your room all day.
The food options are limited, and here again, I have to bring in the comparison with other homestays - generally, the price is inclusive of breakfast and dinner. Over here, you pay INR 3000 per person per day: breakfast is included, lunch is not offered and dinner is INR 400 per person, which is a little on the higher side if you think about it, given that you're kinda in the middle of nowhere. If you consider going out, you're back on the road, driving...Going by the number of positive reviews here on TripAdvisor, we were really looking forward to our stay at Victory Home. The house itself is beautiful - a wooden structure, surrounded by coffee plantation and vibrant flowering trees and shrubs, with a certain old world charm. If you're going for a relaxing, no-sightseeing holiday, then this is a good option.
However, having stayed at other homestays in Gokarna, Chikmagalur, etc., I do feel the homestay experience was not up to the mark. For one, the location - Victory homestay is in Pollibetta, which is at a minimum of 45 km from anywhere in the Kodagu district. Unless you stay cooped up all day, any time you step out, you feel all you're doing is driving. It goes without saying, that with the heat and humidity, it can get tiring. In fact, it can get tiring even if you stay up in your room all day.
The food options are limited, and here again, I have to bring in the comparison with other homestays - generally, the price is inclusive of breakfast and dinner. Over here, you pay INR 3000 per person per day: breakfast is included, lunch is not offered and dinner is INR 400 per person, which is a little on the higher side if you think about it, given that you're kinda in the middle of nowhere. If you consider going out, you're back on the road, driving miles and miles because there are no other (good) food options nearby. As for the food, all I will say is, tastebuds vary. We were a large group - a few of us liked it, the rest of us did not.
While I cannot say that I had an issue with our hostess' friendliness or hospitality - she was a great hostess - this is the first time that I felt I was intruding. I cannot pinpoint to why this happened, but of all the homestays I have stayed at, this is the one which gave me that nagging feeling at the back of my neck. To say I/we felt "unwelcome" is a bit harsh, and that is not what I mean - just a little uncomfortable. Like we're trespassing. But maybe that was just something our group felt. Could be a different experience for you.
What I liked were the lovely surroundings, the flowers and the plantation. We did not get a chance to take a tour, but I suppose that's something to try. There's a small play area for kids. There could be some mosquitoes during the night, but the house is fully proofed against them (so do not leave doors/windows open).
I'd recommend the rooms on the top floor over the one on the ground floor. This homestay is good for families/groups, or even if you're travelling solo, but probably not for couples or sightseers (by this, I mean, if your plan is to see Coorg - Madikeri would be a better option if this is the case). Also, I think it would be better if you have your own vehicle/cab; autos aren't allowed on the property and I'm not sure if it's easy to get a cab around here.More
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