Be assured of a Satisfactory stay

It has been a dull journey so far through various parts of Kerala (Munaar and Kumarakom) due to the summers which had left little options for sightseeing. However, we heaved a sigh of relief when we entered Uday Samudra beach hotel. Uday Samudra Kovalam or UDS as it is lovingly boasts of being one of the finest beach hotels in Kovalam with 3 swimming pools, 3 different types of restaurants namely – Grasshopper (for multicuisine), The Grill & The Snack Bar, ayurveda massage, spa, free wifi and more. The resort is adjacent to Samudra beach and walking distance from Kovalam beach.

View of the beds

The imposing entrance, courteous staff and buzz of tourists was welcome given the lean season. We fell in love with its ambiance the moment we stepped. However not all was well. We stayed in the Exotica category rooms which were quite disappointing. Though the rooms had a nice balcony, it was unlike the overall good category of the hotel which was a turnoff. The décor was quite poor, TV as well as reception quality bad, corridors and bathrooms stinked all the time and there were a lot of mosquitoes.

Balcony view from inside the room

The Age Old TV

Food was also disappointing. While breakfast had lots and lots of options in Buffet, none of them was worth an appreciation. We tried sizzlers at the Grasshoper which was the worst I have had till now. The snack bar was the only saving grace with some yummy hot dogs and sandwiches, and tea.

Nevertheless, our stay at the Uday Samudra was the most memorable part of the trip. For a day we just wandered in and around the hotel, exploring the facilities, and sitting at the Kovalam beach. We also tried their Ayurveda massage (Rejuvenation option) which my wife loved and rated as the best that she had till now. For me it was the first time i had such a thing but i was less than satisfied. I wanted to spend a day relaxing in the pool but alas time was less and we had to leave. Given the nice ambiance and tourist spots nearby the uday samudra beach hotel assures you a satisfactory stay.

Period of stay : March 2012