Taj Garden Retreat Hotel

We actually didnt end up staying but have to tell the story anyway. We had been travelling in Kerala for 2.5 weeks and really wanted a upmarket hotel for our final couple of nights. We went to the hotel and had a look at one of the rooms, they were not that up market but they did have what we really wanted, a double bed not 2 singles pushed together that you get a lot of in India, the room they showed us was fine, and mainly had that double bed! we booked at the reception. Went back 2 days later, got shown our room which now had... more

We booked our honeymoon at this hotel through thomas cook where kuoni advertise a first class hotel. 3 weeks before we left we read the bad reviews on here and tried desperately to change hotel but had no luck. So we flew dreading getting to this terrible hotel, but after a heart attack inducing drive from trivandrum airport we were surprised that it looked so pleasant at the front. We were shown to our room which was musty smelling and had damp problems in the wardrobe (#215), we complained and were moved room immediately. We decided we... more

Unfortunately we had stayed at a lot of 5* hotels before we arrived at the Taj so it was always going to be a disappointment. Even though I had booked via the internet months before the trip, and the fact that I had phoned the hotel days before arrival, the suite that I booked was not available. We were told that the current occupants wanted to stay an extra night. I asked why they couldn't be moved to a standard room but this was laughed. The situation was handled very badly by the front desk staff and they didn't know how to deal with an... more

Trust the other reviews. It is about a 10 minute walk to the main shops and cafes. If you wanna walk down to the beach you have to walk through scrb that can not be done at night. You are not on the beach! The rooms are ok but old and the pool area is really run down. If you are looking for a nice hotel to spend a few days don't waste the money here!

We stayed at the Taj Varkala at Xmas 06. First impressions were that the hotel has seen better days, the place does need a revamp. The rooms did smell rather musty (but you got used to that), the fittings were rather basic and rather annoyingly there was no safe in the room. This Taj is certainly not of a similar standard to other Taj hotels (where we have stayed before). However the food at the hotel was excellent (buffets mainly) and very authentically South Indian and was indeed better than some of the local eateries in the actual... more

Point of View: my husband and I are from the States and frequently visit 3-5 star hotels and resorts. During our trip to south india, we went to both this Taj resort and Taj Cove Resort at Kovallam. The two resorts are night and day and it is hardly believable that they are the same chain. We arrived at the Taj Garden Retreat at nearly 4pm and were told our room was not ready and waited nearly 20 minutes for it to be cleaned. The Taj Garden Retreat is a blast from the past, and not necessarily a welcome one. The rooms are so... more

The Taj Group of hotels is recognied as being one of India's best but the rooms in this hotel were a great disappointment. When the bedroom door was opened the first thing that hit us was the dreadful musty smell. Both rooms we occupied were damp. Clothes placed in the storage area at night were damp when removed in the morning. Bedrooms are poorly furnished and bathrooms are antiquated. Sometimes bath towels were O.K., other times they were thin and frayed. Sheets on one bed were torn with the blanket sticking through. If you are... more

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday, staying at the Taj Garden Retreat in Varkala. This is a brilliant location if you want a quiet and relaxing holiday, set at the top of a cliff with beautiful views of the Arabian Ocean. We opted for a superior sea view room and did have a brilliant view. The hotel is very clean and, although some of the furnishings in the lobby bar, restaurant and pool look a little tired, we didn't find this a problem as it seemed right for the location. We didn't have a problem with the closed footpath... more

An hotel with an excellent location. Good sized and well appointed rooms and bathrooms. Avoid room 215 - there's no view and noise from machinery. Air conditioning and extractor fans can provide a general air of curry over the pool. Staff almost literally falling over each other but to little effect! Steps to beach closed at present, but with a little imagination the hotel could make a temporary path across the 'lawn' below the ayuvedic centre. We were disappointed with the quality of the food in the hotel. Staff did make every effort to... more

We stayed here for just one night at the end of our trip, and we wished we'd had more time there. The infinity pool was gorgeous and serene, the poolside restaurant tranquil, the food yummy, the service impeccable, and the room delightful. If you're looking for a small, romantic getaway, this is probably not it (it does have that big hotel/resort feeling), but it is truly a class act. I also had a wonderfully relaxing foot massage at the spa. True, the prices at the spa are higher than usual for India, but hey, that's what you get when you... more