Originally Posted by
zip10001
Just came back from 2 weeks in Kerala and Tamil Nadu. We finished our trip by 3 days in Kovalam.
While the beach is nice (soft white sand, clear water but high waves), It is not at all the St-Tropez or Miami of Miami. More like a beach station stuck in the 80's.
Try
"TIDES" seafood restaurant inside the Leela Kovalam hotel.
Link below:
https://www.theleela.com/en_us/hotel...ing/the-tides/
Regarding the 'backwater boat ride', we did a half-day ride during the day. We found the ride very boring. Just my $0.02, perhaps there's more to see if you spend the night on the boat.
Bring plenty of books
I'm not wed to the backwater ride and definitely don't plan to overnight, how many hours was it and just how boring? Could always give it a miss. I am definitely not expecting Kovalam to be the St. Tropez of India, I have heard Kerala in general is pretty much asleep by 10pm. India overall isn't much of a party country. It's good to hear that the beach is nice and clean and the water is clear. What did you think of Tamil Nadu? I am in Varkala now and quite like it. The beach is pretty, and the setting with the cliff is striking.