Villa Naina by Granary Stays, Marari beach

Villa Naina war ein traumhafter Ort zum ausruhen. Anil und Chetti waren perfekte Gastgeber. Sie haben uns jeden Wunsch erfüllen . Der Sonnenuntergang war atemberaubend schön zu sehen. Wir werden sicher zurückkehren an diesen besonderen Ort.

Great location, beautifully done villa. Staff were helpful

The bathroom could have been nicer, and towels and sheets smelled dusty and moldy

We had a wonderful stay in this charming house built in a traditional Hindu style, featuring beautiful, high-quality old wood throughout. The rooms are very spacious, spotlessly clean, and full of character. The lovely veranda with classic Kerala-style lounge chairs was one of our favorite places to relax. In the evening, the sunset is absolutely stunning, and in the morning, the sun rises behind the house, creating a truly breathtaking view. Akhil was an exceptional host. He explained everything in detail and was always ready to help with even the smallest request or any information we needed. Thanks to his strong local network, he was able to organize a houseboat day tour for the four of us. This was extremely helpful, as online bookings nowadays are often overpriced and communication can be difficult. The food was excellent. It was freshly prepared next door according to our wishes. Each evening, we were asked about our preferred breakfast dishes and timing, and everything was prepared accordingly and served on time. Overall, we had a fantastic experience and would highly recommend this place to anyone looking for an authentic and peaceful stay.

Akhil also reassured us about the many dogs on the beach. At first, we were a bit hesitant in the morning, but they are completely harmless. They simply approach new visitors briefly out of curiosity, sniff a little, and then continue playing with the other dogs. So may be for people who are afraid of dogs, it might feel a little uncomfy outside.

Overall, I had a great stay in Kerala and enjoyed my time at Villa Naina. The room was spacious, comfortable, well maintained, and the air conditioning worked perfectly. The attached bathroom was also clean and in good condition. The biggest highlight of my stay was the staff. Latha and Anil were incredibly kind, helpful, and always willing to assist. Latha is an excellent cook—every meal she prepared was delicious. They truly made me feel welcome throughout my stay. The location offers easy access to the beach, though the beach is not exactly as advertised.

The Booking.com description is misleading because it gives the impression that guests rent the entire villa. In reality, you only rent a private bedroom and bathroom while sharing the living room and all common areas with other guests. Future visitors should be made aware of this before booking. Although the staff were wonderful, it would be helpful if the management ensured that at least one staff member on site could communicate in English and/or Hindi, the two most widely spoken languages for travelers in India. Breakfast options were also restrictive. Even when there were two guests, both had to choose the same main breakfast dish. For example, it was not possible for one person to have idli-sambar while the other chose appam with kadala curry. This became inconvenient during a five-day stay. During my entire stay, no one asked whether I wanted housekeeping, fresh towels, or room cleaning. The bathroom mirror was mounted far too low, making it impossible to see my face unless I bent down. Although there is a kitchen, guests are not allowed to prepare their own food. Unfortunately, both the refrigerator and the microwave were out of order throughout my stay, so we had to rely on Latha even for very small things that could easily have been managed ourselves. The Bluetooth speaker was only partially functional and had several technical issues. The beach directly in front of Villa Naina is actually part of Kattur Beach, while the main Marari Beach is about 3 km away. Travelers looking for peace and tranquility should know that the beach can be quite lively, especially in the evenings, with local teenagers and young adults gathering nearby, playing loud music, chatting, and making videos. It became quieter later in my stay but was never completely peaceful. The beach was also less clean than expected, with plastic litter in places and, at times, the smell of rotting fish. Considering the price, I do not feel that Villa Naina offers good value for money.