A vacation in God's own country Kerala is a bucket list for many. From lush coconut trees lining the long coastline to backwaters to sprawling Vembanad lake to coffee plantation hills & much more; it has on offer a wide variety for all kinds of tourism. I recently did a Onam vacation at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty; so read more on what all I experienced at this wonderful resort property.
What are the facilities at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty
The property is spread over 26 acres overlooking the backwaters of Vembanad Lake. You can enjoy various facilities on the property designed for a perfect holiday. There are things to do for everyone inside the property, from kids, to families to corporates, the hotel offers activities for everyone.
An outdoor swimming pool is perfect to chill out with the kids or you could do a few rounds in the indoor temperature controlled swimming pool. There is also a 24 hour fitness center and a yoga room to keep your fitness levels up & running.
The Santana Spa is designed nicely. You could take an Ayurvedic or international spa treatment or wellness packages in one of the seven treatment rooms.
An internationally acclaimed hair salon can be used for a vacation special facials and more.
What cuisine is available at Grand Hyatt Kochi Restaurants
There are different restaurants available at the property. The Malabar Cafe at the lobby level serves the traditional Kerala Cuisine; this is where I enjoyed the absolutely amazing and traditional Onam Sadya. Malabar Cafe also serves the daily breakfast spread which is complete with local and western options.
Thai Soul serves the Asian cuisine curated with specially imported Thai spices & ingredients. It is an amazing experience with the view of the the live kitchen giving out aroma of Asian dishes.
I absolutely recommend having the Mushroom salad, steamed sea bass, Thai green curry and chicken satay. You should also try the Tempura prawns, Pad Thai or Basil Minced Chicken.
Pair your food with some classic drinks or try some Thai cocktails. I loved the Swadika made with white rum, kafir lime and Thai spices and the one with jaggery and tamarind. Do keep some space for the desserts like fried banana with ice cream.
The Colony Clubhouse and Grill serves perfect seafood & grills paired with spiced cocktails. The cocktails are named on the main spice ingredient used and I just loved the Clove, Cinnamon and Green Cardamom preparations.
The Colony Clubhouse and Grill uses microgreens grown in house, buy the fresh catch from the local fish market, use Kerala forest honey and use local salt and pepper in their recipes.
For the food they give one of the most amazing Sourdough bread on the house; for the starters go for a hot or cold Mezze, Sliders & Bruschetta. The main course includes choice of Pasta, Catch of the day, Salads, Burger and number of other western dishes, made with local ingredients.
You can also lounge at the pool side bar or the Grand Lounge.
What are the different stay options at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty
Grand Hyatt Kochi is a lovely property with various kinds of stay options depending on your budget and number of people traveling. There are club suite rooms with outdoor seating & beautiful overlooking views or you could try one of the 2/3 bedroom villa with a private lounge pool.
The villa are ideal for families who are looking for some privacy.
What are the different experiences available at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty
I always love to enjoy local customs, traditions and cuisines when I travel. Grand Hyatt Kochi arranges for some of the most authentic local experiences which you should definitely book.
One of the star experiences I had was the fishing tour. The tour starts just after breakfast and takes you into the by lanes of the local fishing market. I could see the market buzzing with fresh catch of the day being auctioned to the highest bidder. Sometimes the whole boat load got auctioned, while at times buckets full of specific fish type were being sold. The auctions are done by assigned agents and contracts are all verbal.
Next I headed to Chinese Fishing nets; which have dotted the Cochin port since 1300's. These nets have work on basic principles using large stones to balance the nets. I could see both manual and automated nets attached which dip in for the catch. The fisherman even invited me to lend a hand and I loved doing a catch with them.
A trip to the old town of Fort Kochi was enriching; the island has a unique charm in different parts. I could see old heritage houses converted into restaurants and home stays; Portuguese museum, Dutch cemetery, INS Dronacharya, Jewish Synagogue and of course Mattancherry market which is a perfect place to shop some antiques.
My next experience was cooking local delicacies of Tawa Fried Prawns and vegetable stew along with the Grand Hyatt Kochi Chef's at their Malabar Cafe restaurant. It's so amazing to learn these local recipes right with the chef's who serve these delicacies at the restaurant.
There are many other experiences which the guests can book to have a very unique vacation.
A vacation in Kerala could not be complete without a massage. I chose to go for the Abyangyam, an Ayurvedic massage at the Santana Spa at Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty. This massage is done with herb infused oil which stimulates the blood circulation and helps nourish internal organs. This is followed up with a steam and warm bath; perfect to relax yourself. You could also try a Swedish oil massage and many other kinds of treatments at this amazing spa.
There are other experience options including a complimentary boat ride on the Vembanad Lake, so do check them out.
Overall it was a perfect 3 night 4 days vacation for us. We enjoyed the best of food, drinks and activities and I am back to work totally refreshed.
If you are looking for a short break, do consider Grand Hyatt Kochi, Bolgatty, I can promise you will enjoy your vacation to the fullest.
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