Kodaikanal Escape: Luxurious Hotel Vetrivel International Awaits!
Kodaikanal Escape: Vetrivel International – Does Luxury Truly Await? (A Messy, Honest Review)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I just got back from a stay at Vetrivel International in Kodaikanal, and let me tell you, the "luxurious" tagline? Well, that's where things get… interesting. This isn't a polished brochure, folks. This is the raw, unfiltered truth from someone who spent a few days inhaling the mountain air and, let's be honest, a few too many dosa.
First Impression… and the Elevator of Doom
Getting there was a breeze, thanks to their airport transfer. (More on that later – it felt like a secret agent mission, in a good way.) The hotel itself looks the part, with a grand exterior and a lobby that promises opulence. Then came… the elevator. Let's just say it's an experience, not a mode of transport. It's slow, it's a bit cramped, and you might find yourself mentally composing a will while you wait. (Accessibility: Elevator is present, but the experience could be better for those with mobility issues. I’d rate it a 6/10.)
Rooms: From Cozy to… Well, Cozy
My room? It was… comfortable. (Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, alarm clock, bathrobes (yes!), bathtub, blackout curtains, carpeting, closet, coffee/tea maker, complimentary tea, daily housekeeping, desk, extra long bed, free bottled water, hair dryer, in-room safe box, internet access – LAN, internet access – wireless, ironing facilities (thank god!), laptop workspace, linens, mini bar, mirror, non-smoking, private bathroom, reading light, refrigerator, satellite/cable channels, seating area, separate shower/bathtub, shower, slippers, smoke detector, socket near the bed, sofa, soundproofing, telephone, toiletries, towels, umbrella, wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], window that opens.) The view was spectacular, which is a massive plus. The bed? Ah, the bed. It was almost too comfortable. I may or may not have spent a considerable amount of time snuggled under those fluffy blankets. The design was maybe a little dated, but everything was clean. Absolutely spotless. (Cleanliness and safety: Anti-viral cleaning products, rooms sanitized between stays, daily disinfection in common areas, staff trained in safety protocol, and they offer an option to opt out!) So, kudos for that. The in-room Wi-Fi worked, which is a lifesaver when you're trying to upload those Instagram-worthy pics of the hills! (Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet services, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!)
The Amenities: A Mixed Bag
Okay, let's talk fun stuff. The (Swimming pool [outdoor]) pool with a view? Stunning. Seriously. I'm talking Instagram-worthy. I spent hours there, just soaking up the sun and pretending I was a glamorous movie star. The (Spa/sauna, Spa, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage) spa? I indulged in a massage - pure bliss. My masseuse was a wizard with her hands, and I walked out feeling like a limp noodle in the best way possible. They have a (Fitness center, Gym/fitness) gym, but I'm pretty sure I spent more time eating than exercising, but hey, no judgement! (Pool with view)
The Food: Dosa Dreams and Western Whispers
Now, the food. This is where things get really interesting. (Dining, drinking, and snacking: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant) The breakfast buffet? Epic. Seriously, the dosas were the stuff of legends. I ate approximately six every morning. Okay, maybe seven. Don’t judge. It was a dosa heaven. The (Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop) coffee was good, too, and the friendly staff kept the refills coming. For other meals, the a la carte and buffet options are varied. They have Asian, Western, so many options.
The Downsides (Because Let's Be Real)
- The elevator. (Did I mention it already?)
- The hotel felt a bit… empty at times. I’m not sure if it’s the time of year (or post-covid) but I didn’t get that buzzing, lively atmosphere.
- The bar could be a little better stocked. (I’m a simple creature. I like my margaritas.)
Accessibility & Safety: They're Trying!
Vetrval International is trying to be quite accessible. The hotel offers (Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests) Some of the rooms are accessible, and they do their best.
Accessibility: (Wheelchair accessible) They mention wheelchair accessibility, but I'd recommend contacting them directly to confirm specific room features and ease of navigation throughout the property.
Service & Staff: Kodaikanal Kindness
The staff, though, were absolute gems. Everyone was warm, welcoming, and genuinely helpful. From the front desk to the restaurant staff, they went above and beyond. (Staff trained in safety protocol) and (Doctor/nurse on call)
In Conclusion: Should You Book?
Okay, so is Vetrivel International “luxurious”? It depends on your definition. Is it impeccably modern, with over-the-top amenities? Maybe not. But is it a comfortable, clean, friendly hotel with fantastic food, stunning views, and staff who genuinely care? Absolutely. I had a wonderful time, and I would recommend it. Plus, with the mountain air and the dosas, your soul will thank you.
My Very Opinionated Recommendation
- Book it if: You want a comfortable, clean hotel with incredible views, amazing food, and friendly staff. You're not expecting ultra-modern design or a super-buzzy atmosphere.
- Maybe skip it if: You're extremely picky about elevator speed, prefer ultra-modern design, or can't live without a bustling nightlife scene.
Kodaikanal Escape: Luxurious Hotel Vetrivel International Awaits! – Book Now & Get 15% Off & Free Breakfast!
Are you ready to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and experience the breathtaking beauty of Kodaikanal? Hotel Vetrivel International is calling your name! Imagine waking up to stunning mountain views, indulging in mouthwatering dosas and savoring a relaxing massage.
For a limited time, book your stay at Vetrivel International and receive:
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- Unforgettable Memories
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[Insert Link to Vetrivel International's Booking Page Here]
P.S. Don't forget to pack your appetite for those dosas! You'll thank me later. ;)
Indonesian Paradise: OYO 93468 Syariah Hotel in Padang Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my Kodaikanal adventure at the oh-so-grand (and hopefully, grand enough) Hotel Vetrivel International by Browntree Resorts. Forget pristine itineraries, we're talking messy, real-life travel chaos, complete with my anxieties, my bad decisions, and the questionable wisdom that's become my travel signature.
Day 1: Arrival & Holy Cow, That's a View! (and Jet Lag's Evil Grin)
- 7:00 AM (or thereabouts… my internal clock is a joke): Ugh. The Chennai airport. Already, the air conditioning war is raging. And I'm losing. Why can't I ever be a proper traveler who's excited to fly? More like, "Oh god, another flight, and another chance for a toddler to kick my seat for six hours straight." (Spoiler alert: It happened.)
- 10:00 AM: Finally! Land in Madurai. The pre-booked taxi is thankfully not a rogue rickshaw driver trying to fleece me (major win, I'm calling it!). The drive to Kodaikanal… oh god, the drive. Winding roads, heart-stopping drops, and the driver using the horn as a full-time instrument. I'm fairly certain he honked at a squirrel.
- 2:00 PM: Check-in at Vetrivel International. Okay, first impression: it's… surprisingly nice. The lobby is less "sterile hotel room" and more "grand, slightly faded colonial charm." And then I see it: the view from my room. Holy mother of all that is scenic! The rolling green hills are draped in mist, a proper postcard moment. I actually gasp. I gasp! Maybe this trip won't be a total disaster.
- 3:00 PM: Jet lag hits me like a rogue coconut falling from a palm tree. So, a mandatory nap. Which turns into me waking up at… wait for it… 6 PM. Epic fail.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel restaurant. The menu promises authentic South Indian cuisine. I, being a culinary daredevil, opt for… chicken biryani. Judge me if you must, but sometimes reliable is necessary when you're operating on minimal sleep. The biryani itself? Passable. The garlic naan? Glorious.
- 8:00 PM: The whole "exploring Kodaikanal" idea gets thrown out the window in favor of a cup of hot tea, a bad travel novel, and a serious debate with myself about whether or not to raid the minibar. (I lost the debate.)
Day 2: Coaker's Walk & the Unspoken Rule of Tourist Traps
- 8:00 AM (ish): Wake up. The view is still magnificent. The world is good. Mostly.
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast: "Continental Buffet." Let's just say, "continental" is a generous term. The coffee tastes suspiciously like brown-tinted water. But the idli and sambar? Chefs kiss. I devour three.
- 10:00 AM: Coaker's Walk! Ah, the obligatory tourist pilgrimage. The walk itself is… lovely, actually. The air is crisp, the scenery breathtaking. Then the vendors arrive like vultures circling carrion. "Madam, look! This is a special offer!" "Sir, you must buy a photo, very good view!" Suddenly, I'm in a swarm. I manage to escape with only a miniature (frankly, ugly) snow globe and a headache.
- 11:30 AM: Dodging the hordes, I wander off the beaten path and stumble upon a tiny, hole-in-the-wall coffee shop. Best. Coffee. Ever. The owner, a woman with a warm smile and eyes that have seen a thousand sunrises, makes the coffee with such care. This is what travel is supposed to be about. The unexpected, the authentic. The little places that aren’t crammed with selfie sticks.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch at a local restaurant. Dosas, more dosas, and even more dosas. My stomach is happy. My wallet is also happy. I start plotting to move to Kodaikanal and open a dosa empire.
- 3:00 PM: Kodaikanal Lake. Okay, fine. It's pretty. I take a picture. But the boat rides… nope. Tourist trap alert! I watch the overcrowded boats bobbing on the water and decide to spend my time wisely, judging from afar.
- 4:00 PM: Back to the hotel. My legs are starting to ache. I decide to hit the "fitness center" (aka, a room with a treadmill that looks like it’s older than me). After 5 minutes, I start to feel the jet lag again.
- 7:00 PM: Hotel restaurant. Again. I've become a creature of habit. Tonight: Masala Dosa. Still good. Still cheap. Still no chance of me actually leaving the hotel tonight.
Day 3: The Grand Finale: More of What I Love, and Embracing the Mess
- 8:00 AM: Wake up. The view… is the same, but it has a different feeling. I feel a sense of peace, as if my whole soul has been revitalized.
- 9:00 AM: The hotel breakfast, I'm starting to like the buffet. I wonder what the hotel cook is like, I want to tell him his food is great.
- 10:00 AM: I go to see the nearby waterfall, it's a tourist spot. The water is freezing, and I love it! The place is buzzing around and I realize, I'm a tourist.
- 12:00 PM: Back to the hotel. I spent the rest of the day lazing around my room and ordering room service, I truly think I got used to the hotel.
- 6:00 PM: I go to the restaurant, and sit at the same table. I ordered the same thing, "chicken biryani," I love it.
- 9:00 PM: I go to bed, with a smile on my face thinking, the hotel is so home.
Final Thoughts:
So, was it perfect? Hell no. Did everything go to plan? Absolutely not. Did I eat too much? Probably. But would I do it all again? In a heartbeat. Kodaikanal, with its misty mountains and its slightly chaotic charm, wormed its way into my heart. And Hotel Vetrivel International? It was a surprisingly lovely basecamp for my messy, glorious adventure. I think I'll miss it a little. Maybe next time, I'll actually try to be a proper traveler. But, you know… probably not.
Escape to Paradise: GreenTree Inn Suzhou Awaits!
Kodaikanal Escapade: Vetrivel International - FAQ (Because Let's Be Real, You Have Questions!)
Okay, spill the tea. Is Vetrivel International REALLY as luxurious as they claim?
Alright, alright, let's get this straight. Luxury? Depends on your definition. It's not like, *Dubai* luxury. Think more…polished Kodaikanal luxury. The rooms? Spacious, sure. My balcony offered a view that could melt even the grumpiest heart – seriously, the sunset one night was unreal. But…and there's always a but, isn't there? The "luxury" bathroom had this *unique* tile design. I swear, I spent a solid five minutes trying to figure out if it was supposed to be a pattern or just… art gone wrong. (Spoiler alert: I still don't know.) The shower pressure? Let's just say I've experienced more invigorating garden hoses. But hey, the hot water *was* hot, and after a freezing day of trekking, that's a win in my book.
What's the food situation like? I'm a picky eater.
The food... this is a complicated one. The breakfast buffet had a *lot* of options. Like, enough to make my indecisive brain short-circuit. Dosas, idlis, and what I *think* was a vaguely-curried potato dish…okay, the potato dish was actually pretty bomb. I ate like four plates of it. The dinner menu, though… less extensive. But they had this *amazing* chicken biryani. Seriously, I dreamt about that biryani. I'm not kidding. Actually, I’m craving it right now. I remember one night, I ordered a club sandwich for room service... and I think it got lost in the translation between my overly-enthusiastic English and the staff's more reserved English. It was a little… different than expected. Let's just say it introduced me to a new appreciation for pickles. But hey, you're in India! Embrace the adventure, the unexpected flavors, and the occasional culinary curveball. Just maybe keep some emergency snacks in your bag.
Is it noisy? I need my beauty sleep (and I'm a light sleeper.)
Noise. This is a big one, people. Kodaikanal, charming as it is, is not exactly a silent zone. The hotel *itself* wasn’t overly noisy, thank goodness. The walls weren't paper-thin, which is always a plus. But... and this is crucial... the *outside world* is loud. Expect barking dogs (lots of them), the occasional rooster doing its thing at 5 AM (very enthusiastically, I might add), and the general hum of activity that comes with a bustling hill station. I recommend earplugs. Seriously. Pack them. My first night, I woke up convinced a pack of wild dogs were trying to break into my room. Turns out, it was just a particularly vocal canine choir. So… yeah. Earplugs. Trust me on this one.
What's the location REALLY like? Is it easy to get around?
The location is pretty good, actually. Relatively central. Walking distance to some shops and restaurants. You could, if you're feeling super energetic (and I wasn’t, usually), walk to the lake. But Kodaikanal is hilly, so be prepared for some serious uphill climbs! The hotel itself is tucked away, which is nice – you escape some of the main street chaos. But it also means you'll probably need a taxi or auto-rickshaw to get anywhere significant. The staff can arrange those for you, usually. Just be prepared for some… interesting driving. Let's just say I saw a few drivers take turns that I wouldn’t even try in a video game. And always, ALWAYS, negotiate the price beforehand. Trust me on that. Learned that the hard way *once*.
The staff - friendly? Helpful? Or, you know… "hotel staff"?
The staff? Mostly lovely. Seriously. They tried *hard*. They were generally polite, helpful with directions (even if I sometimes struggled to follow them), and always greeted me with a smile. There was this one guy at the front desk – I think his name was Rajesh? – who was just extraordinarily patient with my endless questions. I felt bad for him actually. I asked him about EVERYTHING. "Is there a good place to buy postcards?" "How far is that waterfall I read about?" "Do you think I should wear this jacket?" He never lost his cool. He even remembered my room number after a few days, which, considering I’m pretty sure I forgot it at least twice a day, was impressive. There were some language barriers, of course, and sometimes things got a little lost in translation. But their genuine effort to make your stay pleasant was palpable. And that, my friends, makes a huge difference. Made me feel like, hey, maybe I *could* navigate this whole crazy Kodaikanal adventure after all.
What about activities? Is there anything to *do* in Kodaikanal?
Oh, yeah, there's stuff to do. Hiking, boat rides on the lake (totally touristy, but kind of fun), visiting viewpoints… I did the whole shebang. But here’s the thing: Kodaikanal is chill. It’s not a place to go if you need non-stop action. It’s all about the views, the fresh air (which you’ll definitely appreciate after wandering around the city), and that feeling of… well, escaping. One day, I spent like, a solid three hours just sitting on a bench overlooking the lake. Just… staring. And it was actually perfect. I think I even dozed off for a bit, which is saying something because, you know, the noise factor. So: yes, things to do. But don’t feel pressured to cram everything in. Just relax, breathe in the crisp mountain air, and enjoy the ride. Or, you know, the occasional chicken biryani.
Would you go back? Be honest!
Hmm. Good question. Honestly? Yes, I think I would. Despite the slightly wonky tile, the occasional communication breakdowns, and the ear-splitting canine choirs. Because here's the thing: Kodaikanal, and Vetrivel, have a certain… charm. It's not perfect, sure. It's a little rough around the edges. Things went wrong, things weren't quite what I expected. But it's real. It’s authentic. It's an experience. And sometimes, those imperfect experiences create the best memories. I'd go back for that biryani (seriously, that's worth the trip alone), the sunsets, the views, the unexpected adventures, and maybe, just maybe, to finally figure out the mystifying tile design. So, yeah. I'd go back. And hey, if you go, let me know if you figure out the tile situationHoneymoon Havenst
