Ameya Kerala

Nestled amidst the tranquil backwaters of Alleppey, this boutique property is a hidden gem that offers a quintessential Kerala experience. From the moment you step into this traditional resort, you're enveloped in a world of serenity and authenticity. The resort features a collection of exquisitely designed cottages and villas, each one a perfect blend of traditional Kerala architecture and modern amenities. The spacious rooms are tastefully decorated with local elements, creating a warm and inviting ambiance. The private balconies or patios offer stunning views of the backwaters, providing the perfect spot to unwind and soak in the natural beauty. Overall, Ameya Kerala is a perfect destination for those seeking a tranquil and authentic Kerala experience. Its serene backwater setting, traditional accommodations, and warm hospitality create an unforgettable retreat that will leave you rejuvenated and inspired DINE + DRINK: Excellent home-style meals prepared by the skilled chef and his staff. No Bar on the property but you are allowed to BYOB. ROOM: We stayed in the cottage on the first floor with a lovely big Balcony, so this review is based on that; SIZE: Spacious enough for 2 adults and simple baggage; VIEW: Beautiful views of the lovely lake in the front; AIR-CON: One of the downsides of the place - a very weak Air conditioner that struggled to keep the whole room cool and it was quite unbearable due to the high humidity and heat during our stay!; BED: Comfortable bed that played the expected part of putting us to sleep; BATHROOM: Charming open-air bathroom that was tastefully furnished with antique souvenirs and came with a Stand-in shower; TOILETRIES: Good quality toiletries FACILITIES: No Gym on site, but the outdoor swimming pool with spectacular lake views was a stunner! SERVICE: The staff at Ameya Kerala truly embodies the warm hospitality that Kerala is renowned for. From the moment you arrive, you're greeted with friendly smiles and exceptional service. The staff goes above and beyond to ensure that every guest feels welcomed and well taken care of. HOW WIRED YOU WILL BE: Free Wi-Fi that works well all over the property, and the speed is good! No Television in the room, so be prepared if you would like to stay connected via OTT and news channels!

This place is magical. We spent five incredibly relaxing days here for an extended family holiday with six adults and four children. The rooms and communal spaces are beautifully done, the gardens are lovely and there’s a stunning view over the lake- from your private terrace or from the pool. The food (we chose to have many variations of extremely local fish and vegetables) is fantastic. Most of all though it’s the staff who really make the experience memorable. Anish, the manager, and his team are warm and welcoming, never intrusive and, if you’re curious, full of insights into Keralan life. If we could go back to Ameya tomorrow, we all would.

Things got off to a bad start. We arrived at about 4.30 pm. We waited a long time in the sun outside the locked gate and then check-in seemed to take an eternity. When we at last reached the room, we found it swelteringly hot, as no one had bothered to turn on the AC. The room only finally reached an acceptable temperature in the early hours of the morning! They said that they hadn’t turned it on because we hadn’t replied to their message, asking what time we planned to arrive. This was unsurprising as their WhatsApp text (sent a few hours earlier when we were on the move) only came through when we connected to the hotel WiFi. Like most foreign travellers we only have data access when there is WiFi, so to message us in this way at the last minute was not very imaginative. The room – the Shanti Lake View Villa – had looked delightful on the website but is showing signs of unattended wear and tear almost everywhere you look. The twin beds were agreeably big but firm to the point of being a bit unforgiving. The pillowcases on the spare pillows in the wardrobe looked dirty. The safe was locked on arrival, so we just hid our valuables. Normally we would have called someone over but there are no telephones to speak to reception and we had already made enough trips to and fro to deal with other issues. The location and views of the lake are delightful and the gardens at least are well maintained. We had a pleasant swim in the good-sized pool. They wanted to serve us dinner at 7 pm but we insisted on deferring this to 7.30. Likewise they wanted to make us wait until 8.30 am for breakfast but we pushed this to 8. Their whole regime seems geared to giving the staff a 12 hour break, rather than giving guests a good experience! Meals were served on a private covered deck outside the villa which was a nice concept but the fan overhead was tiny and totally inadequate for its purpose. They were obviously hoping that we would make do with paper napkins already put out on the table but these had all blown around the decking. Eventually they produced some cloth ones that matched the place mats but again they couldn’t be bothered to bring these until asked. We were disappointed to be told that dinner would be just a main course and dessert, with no starter. The menu in the room showed a selection of soups and starters so it was difficult to see why this couldn’t be offered, even at an extra charge. It seemed once again that they just couldn’t be bothered. The food itself was pretty mediocre and the rice chapati-style bread (I couldn’t catch the name) which they served to address my gluten-free requirement was disgusting, tasting powdery and uncooked. (The same item subsequently tasted across the water at Vismaya was excellent, so it wasn’t just a matter of it being an acquired taste.) It was disappointing that they had red wine but no white. They told us that white was unobtainable. However, nearby Vismaya the following evening did have white because the

Excellent service, lots of activities (yoga, spa, swimming, boat ride, cycling). The pictures are true and the place is beautiful. The staff is very kind and helpful, and the whole experience is luxurious. I had a wonderful time and would love to come back every year.

I fell in love with this place. We were so lucky to have a lake view cottage. I loved just sitting on the terrace and watching the birds, the big lizard and feeling truly relaxed. The staff were fabulous - friendly and very attentive. Lovely Sudha even taught me some Malayalam. I loved the pool area and would recommend an early morning swim before breakfast. So peaceful. We had a tuk tuk ride to go on a two hour boat trip which was lovely. We also had a massage. Quite simply - a truly wonderful way to spend Christmas Day. I can’t stop thinking about it and wish we had more than two days.

Today I was sad to leave Ameya villa…it felt like home here, not to mentioned all really lovely, attentive staffs here…especially Anish, who is a villa manager. He has been so kind to me helping arranging everything I asked for, a boat ride, taxi, cooking class etc…This place has a character and attention to details in every Conner. I had nothing but the best from here. Highly recommended!

Absolutely delightful stay at this resort! Impeccable service, breathtaking views, and luxurious amenities. The staff went above and beyond to ensure a memorable experience. From the pristine pool to the well-appointed rooms, every detail exceeded expectations. A perfect blend of relaxation and indulgence. Highly recommend!"

Lovely stay in the Backwaters + The incredible staff, food and facilities. We had the most amazing stay at Ameya Kerala. The staff were so lovely and we couldn’t have asked for better food during our stay. The pool on sight was warm and clean. The room was huge and very clean. We really loved the balcony and getting to eat all meals from the balcony. - nothing

We checked in for 2 nights 27th to 29th October to bring in my birthday. The arrival experience and location was brilliant, however what followed was horrible. We had booked their most expensive cottage room as it was a special occasion however at 3 am we heard some noises in the room and we found 2 rats running around the room and on the ceiling beams. Needless to say, we were shocked and could not sleep anymore. If this wasn’t enough we discovered bugs on our bedsheets as well. We had enough and cut our stay short and checked out at 6 am and shifted to Coconut Lagoon! There were no staff on premises when we were leaving and the response was so cold from their team as if they are used to having these complaints. A sleepless start to my birthday! Disappointing and will definitely not recommend this hotel to anyone! They need to get their hygiene and pest control practices in place.