Namaste Suja
I tried to load this info onto your FB page
But I think it needs your approval. If not.. Here it is…
I was looking for a personalised Kerala tour and sent a mail to two...
travel companies on line, one happened to be to Vihaar Hospitality and Leisure.
I received numerous phone calls from a wonderful lady called Suja, who asked many questions in order to gauge what we really needed for our trip. I extended the number of days, changed the agenda more than a few times and finally after many days we arrived at an agenda that suited our needs and timeframe. She was never angry that I asked more questions, if I wasn’t too happy about a hotel, she offered several other options, etc. etc. I never needed to call her back, she was always attentive and called when she said she would. I paid the deposit as agreed and then received immediate feedback about the balance payment and the “vouchers” to give to hotels, etc. A day after the due date, she called to ask if I had paid the balance, I was actually travelling but I had the check and was in the process of looking for the bank to make the payment when she called me. After the payment was made, I sent a photo of it and within an hour, I received a thank you mail to confirm the full payment was received as well as a phone call.
Several days before our trip began, Suja called to advise that as it was Easter time and very busy, we should think about buying our tickets in advance so that we would not be disappointed. She offered that an agent could do it for us, and provided a web link so that we could do it ourselves on line. This was very nice pro-active thought and much appreciated considering the crowds when we arrived in Munnar.
A day before the trip, as promised, we received indication of the car #, driver name and telephone number. After our arrival in Cochin, I received a call from Suja to ensure that our flight was OK and if we were with the driver (we were still in the airport at the time), after an hour of being in the car, she called to ask if the car and driver was OK, etc. etc. She called several times during our trip to ensure everything was OK.
I have never received such attention from any travel agent anywhere, and I mentioned, everything was great, but our car was particularly hot because it was a dark colour and because seats were dark and plastic, she immediately called the driver and asked him to arrange some cloth covering for the seats! This was done for the next day of travelling, which was great because although distances are small, it takes many hours to cover.
I would certainly have no hesitation to recommend Vihaar Hospitality and Leisure and in particular Suja for any Kerala holiday.
A HUGE THANK YOU Suja for making our Kerala trip even more memorable.
This is also a write up that I put for the Forest Glade Hotel.
Highly recommend a stay at this hotel. It is ideally located in the middle of the tea plantation area; the open veranda restaurant overlooks the tea plantations, we enjoyed our breakfasts and lunches looking out at the scenery. In the evenings we enjoyed the misty air coming in and then enjoying the clear views/full moon and lights from the village after the mist cleared. There is a great variety of food, and although I am a veggie, I am allergic to capsicum/peppers, I only mentioned it because I was unable to partake in the buffet, but it seemed that all the staff were instantly aware that I was allergic. Instead of the buffet, I selected a veggie combo meal, thinking it would be like a small Thali, however, it was like a feast for 2-3 people. I felt embarrassed as I was unable to eat even half of it. It was all delicious but just too much of it. It was certainly value for money.
All the staff are very polite, well-trained and friendly. The rooms are quite large, we stayed in a room on the upper floor which had a small balcony, and the lower floor rooms have little garden, which looked nice. The rooms have a safe and tea-coffee making facilities and they replenish the bottled water every day.
At the back of the hotel, from the top floor, there is a little walkway so that you can walk a little way into the forest area behind the hotel, not too far, but a nice little walk and to get a higher view of the scenery.
Another nice touch is that early evening 4.30-6?pm, the hotel offered free tea-coffee and snacks, we had a samosa, again, we enjoyed this on the veranda/balcony overlooking the tea plantations.
Another plus point is the hotel is just a few minutes walk (although be careful of the traffic) away from the Kathakali and Kalaripayattu performances held at 5 & 6pm most evenings.
Hope this is adequate.
Best fishes/Carole