Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Discover The Mundanad House, Thiruvananthapuram!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits? Okay, Let's Talk About The Mundanad House! (Thiruvananthapuram) - The Honest Review!
Alright, alright, settle in, because I'm about to unleash the TRUTH about The Mundanad House in Thiruvananthapuram. Forget those boring brochures; this is the gritty, unfiltered, does-it-actually-live-up-to-the-hype kind of review you've been craving. Honestly? I was skeptical. "Unbelievable Luxury" is a bold claim. But did it deliver the goods? Let's dive in, shall we?
First Impressions & Getting In (Accessibility, Oh The Joy!)
Okay, so first things first. Accessibility. This is HUGE for me. And while the Mundanad House does state "Facilities for disabled guests," it's still a bit… nuanced. The website isn't super clear. I'd recommend calling ahead and hammering out the details before booking. But the upside? Elevator! Huge win. Also, Car Park [free of charge] & Car park [on-site] are massive bonuses. Especially when you're lugging around enough luggage to outfit a small army. Finding the place? Easy peasy with Airport transfer & Taxi service. Thank heavens, because trying to navigate traffic in India after a long flight… well, you get the picture.
Cleanliness & Safety: Feeling Safe (Hopefully!)
This is where the Mundanad House shines, especially in this post-pandemic world. Cleanliness and safety are clearly a priority. They talk a big game about using Anti-viral cleaning products and having Daily disinfection in common areas. And hey, they even boast Professional-grade sanitizing services! I saw them actually disinfecting throughout the day – not just a quick once-over. Kudos! Rooms sanitized between stays is definitely a plus. I felt pretty safe doing the Room sanitization opt-out available. The Hand sanitizer dispensers were everywhere, and the staff? They're Staff trained in safety protocol. The First aid kit is there, of course. CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property add peace of mind. The Security [24-hour] seemed efficient. All the other stuff, like Fire extinguisher, Smoke alarms, and Smoke detector, make it feel pretty darn secure. I was happy to see Hot water linen and laundry washing and Hygiene certification on the website.
My Room: Because a Hotel Room Can Make or Break Your Trip!
Alright, let's get down to brass tacks. My room. Oh, the room! They say "Unbelievable Luxury," right? Well… it was pretty swanky. Let's break it down, baby!
- Air Conditioning: Check! (Thank GOD, Kerala is HOT!)
- Air Conditioning in Public Area: Double Check!
- Additional toilet: Not needed in my room, but nice it's available!
- Alarm clock: Useless to me, but okay!
- Available in all rooms: Check! (See above comments for any requirements.)
- Bathrobes: Yes! Big, fluffy, luxurious bathrobes. I basically lived in it.
- Bathroom phone: Didn't use it but okay! It was a fun thing to see.
- Bathtub, Separate shower/bathtub: I really enjoyed this setup.
- Blackout curtains: Essential for sleeping in late!
- Closet: Plenty of space for all my…stuff.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Yes! I'm a coffee addict!
- Daily housekeeping: spot on!
- Desk, Laptop workspace: Yes. (Working on vacation…sigh!)
- Extra long bed: Thank God!
- Free bottled water: Of course (and they even refilled it!)
- Hair dryer: Yes!
- High floor: Nice for views. (Though Kerala isn't exactly known for skyscrapers.)
- In-room safe box: YES!
- In-room safe box, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities: Yes, yes, and yes!
- Laptop workspace: Yes, right in the work area!
- Linens: Soft, clean, amazing!
- Mini bar: Stocked with goodies (and overpriced goodies, but hey, convenience.)
- Mirror: Everywhere! (Good for selfies, bad for self-doubt!)
- Non-smoking: Yasssss! (Thank you, Mundanad House!)
- On-demand movies: YES!
- Private bathroom: Of course. No sharing here!
- Reading light: Perfect for late-night bookworms (me!).
- Refrigerator: Keeps your sneaky snacks cold.
- Scale: Be warned!
- Seating area, Sofa: Comfy and perfect for lounging.
- Shower: Excellent water pressure!
- Slippers: Little fluffy things!
- Smoke detector: Hope it works!
- Socket near the bed: Genius! (Charging my phone while I'm glued to it!)
- Soundproofing: Fairly quiet, which is always a bonus.
- Telephone: Still a thing!
- Toiletries: Decent quality (though I always bring my own).
- Towels: Fluffy and plentiful.
- Umbrella: Always a necessity on vacation!
- Visual alarm: Not needed.
- *Wake-up service: Always a thing.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes! (And worked pretty well!)
- Window that opens: Air quality, yay.
Overall? The room was a solid win. It was clean, comfortable, and had all the amenities you could want. 10/10 would stay again.
Food, Glorious Food! (And Pacing Yourself!)
Okay, let's talk about the fuel source for your vacation: the FOOD! The Mundanad House has a lot of options.
Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant: They did a great job of it every day.
A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants: All there and all pretty awesome for a non-hotel buff guy.
Bottle of water, Breakfast takeaway service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants: All a bonus for my taste.
Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant: Yes, all the details I needed!
Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant: And more, they were all great options.
The Buffet (The Star of the Show!) The breakfast buffet was a force to be reckoned with. Omg. Seriously. The Asian breakfast was a standout. The dosas? Perfection. The sambar? My mouth is watering just thinking about it. They even had a guy making fresh parathas. And the coffee! Strong, flavorful, and the perfect start to the day. Western breakfast options were there too, but, come on, when in Kerala, you must embrace the local flavors. I did a Breakfast takeaway service to skip the crowds.
Other Food Adventures: Ate at the restaurant a few times. Asian cuisine in restaurant was good. Western cuisine in restaurant was a reliable and tasty option.
Things To Do & Ways To Relax: Spa Day Bliss!
Okay, this is where things get REALLY good. The Mundanad House has some serious chill-out potential.
- The Pool With A View: The Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor] was the perfect temperature, and the view? Stunning!
- The Fitness Center: Okay, I won't lie. I didn't actually use the Fitness center, Gym/fitness. Vacation = no gym, in my personal opinion. But it looked well-equipped and I'm sure it was great, but…
- The Spa: This is where I really went all in. I booked a full body massage. And let me tell you. It was pure bliss. The masseuse was incredibly skilled, and the space itself was serene. The Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Body scrub, Body wrap all added to the experience. It was worth every penny. Pure relaxation. I felt so much better after the massage. I can see why people like this.
- Foot bath: Yes!
- Sauna: Yup.
Services and Conveniences (The Little Things That Matter!)
A lot of the other stuff was great:
- Air conditioning in public area: A godsend.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: Check!
- **
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is… well, it's my attempt at surviving a few days at The Mundanad House in Trivandrum. Prepare for chaos, questionable decisions, and way too much chai.
Day 1: Arrival & Architectural Dreams (and Chai, LOTS of Chai)
- Morning (God, I Hate Mornings): Flight finally landed at Trivandrum International (or, as I now call it, “The Gate to Slightly Smelly Bliss”). The airport? Chaotic beauty. Think organized chaos with a dash of fragrant spices. Grabbed a pre-booked taxi. The driver, bless his heart, thought I was fluent in Malayalam. I am not. The twenty-minute drive to Mundanad House was a blur of honking, cows casually strolling across the road, and me trying desperately to look like I knew where I was going.
- Anecdote: Remember that time I tried to "act natural" in a foreign country? Yeah, this is the same. I'm pretty sure I spent the entire drive looking like a confused owl.
- Afternoon: At Mundanad House - Total Immersion: Arrived at the house. Honestly? Jaw drop. The place is stunning. The architecture! It's like something out of a magazine, all cool curves and elegant lines. I felt deeply inadequate in my travel-worn jeans and mismatched socks. (Okay, maybe I should have packed a little better). The check-in was smooth… suspiciously smooth. I fully expected a hidden camera crew.
- Observation: The staff are ridiculously polite. Like, suspiciously polite. Are they judging my inability to fold a napkin? Maybe. Probably.
- Afternoon continued: Settled in. The room is… perfect. Seriously, I'm pretty sure I could live here forever. Had a little freak-out session (thankfully, discreet) about the sheer elegance of the place.
- Late Afternoon: Chai Time, and the Bliss Begins: First official cup of chai. Oh. My. God. This is what heaven tastes like. Seriously, I'm already addicted. Spent a good hour just wandering the house, touching everything (oops, probably shouldn't have done that, right?). Fell in love with the courtyards that the buildings have. Took a bunch of photos, which will probably end up looking terrible.
- Evening: Dinner – Culinary Confidence… Crumbles: Dinner at the house. I ordered… well, I think I ordered something. I'm terrible with spicy food so I asked for something mild. The food was spectacular, but I burned my tongue on the first bite. Apparently, "mild" is a relative term here. I ate it anyway. Delicious agony. Seriously though, I should have asked for some cold milk.
- Emotional Reaction: Pure, unadulterated joy. And, okay, a little bit of sweat. And maybe some tears. Delicious, spicy tears.
- Evening continued: Sat on the veranda, watching the stars. Absolute silence. This is life. This is what I needed. And more chai. More. Chai.
Day 2: Beach, Book Shopping, and the Great Coconut Debacle
- Morning: Beach Bound – Sunscreen Fail: Decided to hit Kovalam Beach. Got completely lost trying to find a rickshaw (blame my terrible sense of direction). Finally flagged one down and the ride was… well, a rickshaw ride. Wind in my hair, the smell of diesel, the occasional near-death experience.
- Quirky Observation: I'm pretty sure the rickshaw driver was also doing a crossword puzzle while driving. Mad respect.
- Morning Continued: Beach. Okay, so the beach is beautiful, no question. I spent an hour attempting to apply sunscreen. I failed. Miserably. Got the perfect burn. Wonderful! Worth it.
- Afternoon: Book shopping!!! Got lost in a tiny, dusty bookshop. Discovered a few treasures. The joy of holding a book you know you're going to love. Pure happiness.
- Anecdote: Almost bought a very expensive first edition. Common sense (and my empty bank account) intervened. Damn.
- Afternoon continued: Back at Mundanad House. Decided to relax in the courtyard.
- Late Afternoon – Coconut Catastrophe: The great coconut water adventure. Ordered a fresh coconut. My attempts to look cool while drinking it resulted in a fountain of coconut water spraying everywhere. I think a bird may have been hit. I'm pretty sure the staff saw the whole thing. Mortified.
- Emotional Reaction: Mortification. Complete, utter mortification. Followed by a sudden craving for more coconut water. And a deep, abiding love for the bird population of Trivandrum.
- Evening: Dinner and a Secret Garden: Another delicious dinner (less spicy this time, thank you very much). Explored the gardens - a secret garden with some flowers. Perfect for a walk.
Day 3: Temples, Souvenirs, and the Epilogue of Chai
- Morning: Temple Day – Sensory Overload (In the Best Way): Visit to a local temple. The noise, the colors, the smells… sensory overload, in the best possible way. It was a humbling, awe-inspiring experience. And I had no idea what was going on half the time, but felt like I was part of something much larger than myself.
- Rambling: I stood there for a while, just watching the incense and listening to the chants. Totally lost in the moment. I needed to go to one.
- Afternoon: Souvenir shopping (and trying to haggle without looking completely clueless). Found some beautiful textiles, some spices, and a slightly-too-expensive wooden elephant.
- Afternoon continued: Back at Mundanad House. Packing. Reality looms.
- Late Afternoon – The Chai Epilogue: One last cup of chai. Okay, maybe two. I'm going to miss this. The peace, the beauty, and especially the chai.
- Evening: Farewell dinner. Feeling a little sad to leave. Already planning my return. Trivandrum, you have my heart (and probably my digestive system after all that spicy food). Farewell chai. Until we meet again.
Day 4: Departure
- Morning: Checked out after eating breakfast. Sad.
- Afternoon: Flight. Heading home. Time for a detox.
- Next time: I'm staying longer. And I'm bringing Pepto-Bismol this time. And maybe a translator. And extra socks. And a lifetime supply of chai.
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: The Mundanad House FAQ - From Someone Who Was Actually There (Mostly)
So, is it *really* as luxurious as they say? Bling bling everywhere?
Okay, the website photos? Yeah, they're pretty. But the *reality*? Dude, it’s a different LEVEL. I mean, I walked in and my jaw genuinely dropped. Not in a "WOW, a new painting!" kind of way. More like, "Did I accidentally wander into a Bollywood movie set?" kind of way. Seriously, I was expecting to see a herd of elephants and a prince on a white stallion any second. There's this massive chandelier that... well, let's just say it could illuminate a small city, and those marble floors? Forget sweeping; you're practically *gliding*. I had to DOUBLE CHECK that I wasn't wearing my comfy slippers because I felt so out of place. It's intense. Definitely bling-tastic.
What's the food situation? Michelin star meals every day, I presume? Or, like, just really fancy toast?
Okay, *this* is where things get interesting. They *do* offer incredible food, and yes, it's a cut above your average buffet. I have to be honest, before I arrived, the word "Michelin" was all I could think about. Now, the food.... well, I won't go as far as saying Michelin-star, but it was ridiculously good. Breakfast? Think like, ten different types of fresh fruit, plus pancakes, plus dosas, plus... I genuinely forgot the rest because I was in a sugar coma by 10 AM. Lunch? The seafood was off the charts. I may or may not have eaten, like, a whole plate of grilled tiger prawns by myself. (Don't judge!) My ONLY minor gripe? Sometimes, and I mean, SOMETIMES... the service felt a *tiny* bit overeager to please. Like, I'd put down my fork and BAM! A new plate appears. It got to be a bit much. But I'd probably go back JUST for the prawns... sorry, went on a tangent there.
The pool. Is it Instagram-worthy? Or just… wet?
Oh, the pool. *The* pool. Okay, prepare yourself. It's not just Instagram-worthy; it's, like, *magazine-cover* worthy. I'm talking infinity edge, views of the lush greenery, and strategically placed palm trees. It's designed for maximum showing-off, basically. The water was the exact right temperature. The only problem? Getting the nerve to actually *jump in*. I felt like I should be wearing a designer swimsuit and have a perfectly sculpted physique. It was actually so beautiful that it made me question my entire existence. I overcame it after a solid hour of internal debate, though (mostly thanks to the complimentary cocktails), and I'm glad I did. Floating there, staring up at the sky, felt... well, perfect. Except for the one time I accidentally splashed some other guests. Mortifying. But the pool? Absolutely worth it.
What's the vibe? Relaxed and chill? Or stiff and pretentious?
Okay, this is crucial. The atmosphere leans towards relaxed, but there's definitely an undercurrent of… *refined*. The staff is incredibly polite and attentive, which is great, but it can also feel a little… buttoned-up at times. You know, I think I’m at odds with this. I wanted to let loose and just be, but I couldn’t shake the feeling I should be a proper lady. I felt like I needed to adopt the "proper lady" pose at all times. Like, a casual stroll would involve me feeling like I'm on display. It eventually wore off, and the second I made the decision to be a bit goofy, I did. You’ll see people in beautiful clothes, but you definitely can get away with being chill too. So, it's a balancing act. You can definitely chill, but I wouldn't recommend rolling up in your pajamas for breakfast. Unless, you know, you're *really* confident. Which, I am not.
Were there any downsides? Anything that didn't live up to the hype?
Honestly? The only *real* downside I encountered… okay, this is embarrassing… was the Wi-Fi. It was spotty. I KNOW, I KNOW. First world problems, right? But you know how it is, you want to quickly post a pic of your ridiculously fancy breakfast on Instagram, and… *nothing*. Complete and utter digital silence. It did make me appreciate the peace, if I'm being honest. Disconnecting... *kinda* hard on the brain, though.
Would you go back? (Be honest!)
Absolutely. Without a shadow of a doubt. Even with the slightly flaky Wi-Fi and the occasional feeling of being underdressed, The Mundanad House... it's an experience. An experience that you *need* to have. It's a splurge, for sure, but it's a worthwhile one. I'm already plotting my return. Maybe I’ll get a designer swimsuit this time. Or not. Let’s be honest, I’ll probably still feel like a fish out of water. But I wouldn't trade it for the world. And yes, I’m still dreaming about those prawns.
Are there any local experiences? Can you escape the luxury bubble or are you fully cocooned?
Okay, this is where I think they actually excel. If you *want* to step outside the luxury bubble, you absolutely can. They offer excursions to local temples, spice plantations, and even cooking classes. I went on a guided tour of a spice plantation, and it was fascinating. I learned more about cardamom than I ever thought possible (and yes, I bought way too much). You can actually explore the local culture easily. It's not just about isolating yourself. The staff are also super helpful in arranging transportation and giving recommendations. They don’t make you feel trapped. This is great, because some of these places can be so... cloying.
What's the best time to go?
I went in the monsoon season! Or, the tail end of it. The weather was… well, it was wet. But, it was also magical. The greenery was unbelievably vibrant, the air smelled amazing, and there was a certain… coziness to it all. Plus, fewer crowds! The peak season is probably great too, but if you can handle a bit of rain, I highly recommend a visit during the monsoon months. If you hate humidity though, avoid it. The humidity is a true force of nature - seriously,My Hotel Reviewst
