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Many visitors to Kochi (or Cochin as it is still commonly referred to) will head right to the historic and quaint Fort Kochi. This is what we did on our first time in the capital of Kerala and loved our time there. After four weeks in India, we chose to spend our last night in the bustling and cosmopolitan mainland before our flight out of India. We chose the Kochi Marriott, as a special treat to ourselves for surviving our first trip to India. Here is our Kochi Marriott review – what we liked and what we disliked (hint: there really wasn’t anything!).
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Contents
Kochi Marriott Review
After a month of staying in home stays and small hotels, it was so nice to be in a large international hotel that knew exactly what we wanted. The hotel is modern and elegant and our first impressions were very positive as we were greeted immediately with a traditional greeting by a friendly hostess dressed in a luxurious sari. As we relaxed in the lovely air conditioning we were served our welcome drinks and checked in for our stay.
Our Room
We had a deluxe room with 2 double beds and were lucky enough to be assigned a room on one of the higher floors offering a fantastic view over Kochi. The room was immaculate, clean and modern and what you would expect from the Marriott brand. The beds were ultra comfy with fluffy pillows and cozy duvets. We loved how spacious the room felt and the huge glass windows to look out over the city. The bathroom was luxurious with a rain shower, giant tub and great soaps. The kids were so impressed by the lighting and curtains being automated. The adults enjoyed the complimentary tea and coffee and there were snacks and non-alcoholic drinks to purchase in the mini-bar.
Facilities
As soon as you enter the hotel, you are greeted by a welcoming lobby with friendly staff. It is very open concept with the restaurant opening onto the lobby. The hotel feels very new and exceptionally clean.
The hotel has a lovely roof top pool and a small hot tub area, that was the same temperature as the pool. The lounge chairs were super comfy and the pool attendant very helpful. We ordered room service to the pool and it was a great place for a nice lunch. There is also a fitness area and a spa on this level.
The wifi worked great from our room and all public spaces throughout the hotel. It is available for purchase for 650 rupees a day.
Service
The service at the Kochi Marriott was truly impressive and definitely contributed to our stay. The staff went out of their way to offer assistance in a natural and non-obtrusive way. You could tell they had been trained really well and were very focused on delivering exceptional service. All employees we interacted with spoke excellent English and were very professional. We even found that they remembered our names at the front desk.
We had an evening flight and we requested late check out. They gave us an extra hour in our room and then gave us access to the Executive Lounge. This was a great place to relax with comfy couches, televisions, and snacks and drinks.
Location
The hotel is 23 km from the Cochin International Airport (COK) and conveniently located right in the heart of the city. They can organize airport transfers for you at 900 rupees. Right next door is the largest mall in Kerala, Lulu Mall. The hotel provides a complimentary shuttle to the mall, although it only takes 5 minutes to walk to the front entrance. Inside you will find all the high end retailers, as well as a mini amusement park for kids, grocery store and lots of restaurants.
Food & Beverage
Our nightly rate included breakfast and it was a truly impressive buffet spread. There was a great mix of western favorites like eggs to order, waffles and pancakes, yogurt and fruits and lovely pastries. There was also beautiful Indian breakfast items to sample. Fresh squeezed juices, hand made coffees and even coconut water were on offer.
We were so impressed with the breakfast buffet, that we opted for the evening buffet as well. It also offered a ton of choice between Western and Indian dishes and was of a very high quality. It was my daughter’s birthday and she was delighted when the staff brought her out a cake with birthday candles.
We also ordered room service for lunch and were happy with the pizzas and kids meals.
Be warned that the hotel does not serve any alcohol in keeping with Indian traditional values. This did surprise us from an international hotel chain.
Cost
We felt like the room rate was very reasonable for the level of service and quality of the hotel. If you were in a developed country, this hotel would be many times the rate. Make sure your breakfast is included in your rate since it is a very impressive breakfast buffet.
Family Tip
The rooms with 2 double beds are perfect for families and offer plenty of space. Our 3 kids bunked together in one bed, which worked out completely fine. We did have to pay extra for one additional breakfast, but it was definitely worth it.
Verdict
We absolutely loved this hotel and would definitely recommend it. The facilities and rooms are top notch and the service exceptional. We often avoid eating at hotel restaurants, but we were blown away by the food at this hotel. You can clearly see how popular this hotel is with tourists and locals, as it is often the site of huge weddings on the weekend. It’s great reviews on Tripadvisor are definitely warranted. We loved spending our last night in India at the Kochi Marriott and hope to return again soon for a longer visit.
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