Taj Bekal Resort & Spa, Kerala

There is a certain simplistic feel to the place, where you will find yourself reminded of a time when life was slower, closer to nature and brings a distinct old world charm to our usually busy lives. Beach, Backwaters, Beautiful surroundings come together to create a sense of serenity, uniquely leveraging the culture, cuisine, craft and care that Kerala offers. Taj has been always a preferred choice for me for a hotel, given my childhood at Jamshedpur and when we were looking for a year-end break at a beach, Kerala was our first choice this year (as we were at Goa last year). Taj Bekal ticked all boxes for us- easily accessible beach, all range of cuisine that could ensure our kids don’t have a challenge, natural surroundings and the coming home feeling that we get with the Taj. Gently swaying palms, lazy flowing river, variety of birds chirping in the background, a peaking beach inviting you to watch a serene sun setting in the clear skies- and you can be transported to a time where you may forget what day it is. I absolutely liked the idea of a high-tea that the hotel has- brings together all guests to a beautiful evening where they serve tasty local snacks and energise you with tender coconut water or tea/ coffee/ hot chocolate It is a quint-essential Kerala experience- coconut trees in abundance, beautiful backwaters, beckoning beaches and I would not want to miss mentioning the delectable treats that the restaurants offered. The staff is very knowledgeable, well trained, courteous and have the unique touch of the Taj ! Spread over a large area one can just walk around soaking in the surroundings, or use the buggy service the hotel offers to ensure guests do not have a challenge moving around. Children have plenty to enjoy - either in the indoor activity room, or a nice swimming pool overlooking the river I really appreciate the fact that Taj Bekal is using Kettuvallam technique for the building which on one side give a distinctive look to the resort and at the same time keeps the tradition alive and supports the Kettuvallam builders- as the natural materials require regular maintenance. Specific thanks to Yashoda, Shibani and Ankita at the restaurant for taking great care of us at ‘Backwater Cafe’ An issue- which I have not considered for lowering the rating- but would like to point out- the internal telephone in our room went out one of the evenings. I used my mobile to call the front desk and informed them- but no one turned up for at least half an hour. Called the front desk again- as we were not able to place room service order for dinner- the front desk connected to the room service but no one answered. It was getting delayed and hence had to walk up to the front desk to place the order. Now- here is what ideally should have been done: 1) If a guest has raised a complaint the attending staff should ensure it is followed up and closed 2) Take a feedback if there is anything that they can help with immediately

We had an incredible experience at the Taj Bekal resort and spa! Their renowned hospitality and attention to detail always make for memorable stays. The serene and lovely location and warm service truly make it hard to leave! Maybe it's a sign to plan a longer visit next time to fully soak it all in!

India has always been known for its 'Hospitality' and Taj Hotels have been a torch bearer from the beginning to withstand and prove it time and over again. Our stay this time as well was a great experience. The location is so well placed that it has got the best of the region with a perfect ratio of controlled forest, perfect view of backwaters topped by beach side with gently and carefully placed pockets of luxury elements. I am more than 100% sure that it is nearly impossible to get a property for stay at such serene, peaceful and luxurious stay to make it a perfect holiday stay. Me and my family had a wonderful time spent together during our stay which shall compel has to be back soon. Many thanks for all the care and arrangements. See you soon!!

Outstanding resort with fabulous food, amazing spa and great staff who will look after every need. GM Shri Dinesh Varma is a very gracious and welcoming host (he was himself present to receive us) and runs a very efficient and yet extremely relaxing resort. the natural beauty is mind-boggling, where you have backwaters, sea and beach. The villas are gorgeous. Everything is just a call away and the tiredness of our long road journey (excellent roads) was quickly forgotten. The spa is the centre piece of the property and the spa staff is superb. there is a chaikadda for high tea which has a different spread every day. there are a whole host of water and other activities. the food is outstanding. the diwali sweets were so innovative and the diwali feast at night was a mind-boggling feast. but the best thing was the saadhya for lunch. Thank you Chef Sobin for an outstanding saadhya experience and also the awesome seafood. Many thanks also to Dipankar Sadhu for his constant help. And Devika who was always around and helped with my lost laundry.

Property is beautiful however service is poor and cleaness is not maintained. Fish pound near reception was not cleaned. Water flower decoration was full of fungus. Room service was bad. Check experience was not as per Taj stander. Staff are very friendly.

This property is absolutely beautiful, nestled between the sea and backwaters. It is truly a sight to behold and you have to see it to believe it. Incredibly private experience of tropical nature and the beach. It is unbelievable how beautiful this place is. Beach on one side and the backwaters on the other, is incredible. We really enjoyed early morning walks to the beach and sitting by the backwaters to read. It's super quiet with sounds of birds and other nature sounds. Ofcourse, all of this is topped with Taj hospitality, which is unmatched. The staff took great care of us, and I want to specially mention the below staff. Starting from our check in - I want to mention Pavitra and Srilakshmi. Ramakrishnan at the beach looked after us very well. By the Bay is their signature restaurant is worth an experience. Exceptionally good food and beautiful ambience. They had live singing also which was just amazing. Here I want to mention Prem, Ashwin, and Dipankar. Coming to breakfast and a few other meals that we had at Backwater cafe were amazing too. I want really thank Chef Abdul and Chef Santu. They're not only incredible chefs but also took great care of us. They made us feel special and really pampered us. I want to thank Chef Abdul for the chicken ghee roast once again, it is to die for. Also want to thank Avinash, Chef Sahoo, Soumajit, Khushi, and all the staff at Backwater cafe for their hospitality. Lastly want to thank Ram from the horticulture department. He maintained the greenery beautifully in our villa. That brings me to the accomodation itself, which was a villa with courtyard. It was worth the splurge and my god what an experience that was. Such privacy in the middle of paradise. Lastly I want to mention Feli at the spa.