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 fabulous time at the Taj Bekal with the environment and the food were amazing. We ate in two of the restaurants and the fish restaurant by the beach was particularly good. All the staff were attentive, friendly and accommodating to our requests, which made our visit even more enjoyable and relaxing. I took part in the bird watching which was led by a very informative young ***. Watching the sunset on the beach was truly memorable and added to the overall experience.

The property was absolutely stunning! The private beach was the icing on the cake. They also give you a mat to take to the beach and sit. The rocks were breathtaking! The only issues we had were that the staff didn’t tell us how to use the fan in the gazebo, the room phones were not working, I had to call them twice to get it fixed. Lot of time wasted in fixing certain things which shouldn’t have been my issue when I arrived at 12 and the check in was at 2, they had enough time to check everything in the room.

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.