天宮海灘飯店

Остановились в этом отеле на двое суток. Бюджетный номер на первом этаже. Бронировали через Букинг. Оказалось, что напрямую на месте было бы в полтора раза дешевле. Плюсы: 2 минуты до пляжа, рядом продуктовый магазин и кафешки. Просторная комната, чисто. На территории есть помещение, где при большом желании можно готовить на газовой плите, там же есть общий холодильник. За 300 рупий нам готовили завтрак , 2 порции: омлет, тосты с маслом и джемом, свежевыжатый сок, кофе. Вежливый, доброжелательный персонал. Минусы: Комнаты на первом этаже достаточно тёмные, на окне помимо металлической решётки ещё и пыльная металлическая сетка от насекомых. Приходилось постоянно держать открытой входную дверь, иначе душновато в комнате. На первом этаже из номера вид на стену. Электричество отключали несколько раз в течении 2 дней нашего пребывания. В других местах в это время электричество было. Впоследствии переехали в соседний отель, не хуже, почти в три раза дешевле.

After months of calibrating what I wanted, I finally settled for Sky Palace. I am happy I did. The place is run by two colleagues who perfectly complement each other. Wilfred, who handles mails, communications primarily responded to my mails almost immediately and satisfactorily. Their number on google belongs to the previous business owner so you should not use it until it is changed and instead use +91-99614 31746 (Wilfred) and +91-98955 10197 (Christopher). Be prepared, You cannot drive upto any of the Kovalam beach hotels near Lighthouse, which is where you want to stay. Sky Palace made sure we were met at the parking and were ushered and checked-in without any looking around. The place is perfectly located in a cool alley (extremely valuable at Kovalam where it is always summer) but can be on the beach virtually as you get out. Ideally, you shouldn’t stay ON the beach-front which faces west, because of direct sun, noise and if you prefer privacy. Sky palace is just right, not to too big so the team can give personal attention but still is spacious and like a small bungalow. It being Dec-Jan we stayed in the non-AC ground floor. The rooms were in good shape and kept really clean. Room-front seating separated by bamboo chiks offer an option of privacy or to interact with friendly neighbors if you choose to. They provide running hot water, basic shampoo and soap and nice clean towels and linen, and are flexible and generous with breakfast, tea and coffee and you can vary between South-Indian or bread-butter, omelette and juices which is all fresh and yummy  The ambience is a mix of easy-going and friendly yet efficient. On being requested, Christopher helped me arrange the sight-seeing with his inputs. I later discovered that it was all great value for money suggesting auto-rickshaw or taxi, as appropriate. Christopher didn’t just arrange, but also followed-up and coordinated while we were on the trip if we found that something was amiss. The fact that Christopher is a qualified auto-driver with his own “tuk-tuk” on stand-by which comes in handy in emergencies like the time he drove us early morning for our return journey. Since we had a long stay (over 10 days), we got to see many aspects of their personalities and had the privilege of meeting and knowing about their families and even some guests who they know from past and came to visit them. Christopher and Wilfred are great people, perfectly suited for working in hospitality, very different from professional yet impersonal touch at the establishment run by employees and not business owners. My mom, who is almost an octogenarian, was showered special attention and she comes back with great memories of her stay. They fit in well with the whole range of types of travellers, adapting to their unique need for close attention or privacy. We had ample time to look around the area, and loved our choice of staying at Sky Palace even more. I would like to be back if I got a chance, and wish them all

Nice place to feel at home at in the midst of Kovalam. The owner is so friendly and nice. I was arriving in the middle of the night and he came and met the taxi and guided me right. Even though the hotel is in the midst of everything I was not disturbed at night from people walking by or from the beach front activity. It has just the right location. The bed is nice, softer than Indian standard , which I appreciate. Air conditioning has a good quality. Pretty new and air is good. I slept with open windows though I did not have it on. As always in India it can be a bit random with hot water ( when it comes at Sky palace it is really hot and good) . When it comes to cleaning the zink and the mirror above , there is room for improvement. But I have found the same in other small hotels and guesthouses in India. Next time I will bring my own scotch brite! In all a nice and big room in a friendly atmosphere.

The best aspect of the stay was the hosts who were wonderful and very accommodating. We benefitted from being taken in a tuk tuk to see various areas of interest in the area by one of the owners, it was great. The room was very basic but comfortable.