The 3 Best Luxury Hotels in Kerala
How you experience Kerala depends on your hotel, and the luxury hotels in Kerala could hardly be more different: an art hotel in Fort Kochi, a backwater resort or an Ayurveda retreat above the sea. Our travel advisors personally help you choose. Book through suitespot and breakfast for two, a room upgrade subject to availability, hotel credit and VIP service come with it – worth over €500 together.
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The best-known hotels in Kerala
Planning a trip through Kerala and looking for the hotel to match? Below are the best-known addresses at a glance, with location, suitespot score and price per night. Our tip for a first visit: a few nights at The Malabar House Kochi, close to the Chinese fishing nets, then Ayurveda days at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra near Kovalam.
| Hotel | Location | suitespot score | Price from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty | Ernakulam | ★ 4.6/5 | 145 € |
| Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra | Kazhivoor | ★ 4.2/5 | – |
| The Malabar House Kochi | Fort Kochi | ★ 4.0/5 | 214 € |
Your guide to the best luxury hotels in Kerala
Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra · KazhivoorThe luxury hotels in Kerala play to very different strengths, and which of the best hotels suits you depends on your plans. For culture and evenings with music, stay at The Malabar House Kochi opposite St. Francis Church, where Carnatic music accompanies dinner in the courtyard. Families will find a children’s pool, villas with up to three bedrooms and a private jetty for backwater excursions at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty on Bolgatty Island. And if Ayurveda is what brings you to Kerala, head up to the cliff and Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, with ten dedicated Ayurveda rooms.At no extra cost: booking through suitespot costs the same as booking direct with the hotel – the benefits come on top, free of charge.
By the water, in the old town, on the cliff: how you stay in Kerala’s luxury hotels
At the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty the day begins by the water. The resort on Bolgatty Island has its own jetty, where boats set off on backwater excursions, as well as an amphitheater on the waterfront and a spice garden. You stay in one of the 264 rooms spread over eleven floors, in one of the 38 suites or, with family or friends, in one of four villas with two or three bedrooms; guests with club access have the Grand Club lounge. The hotel opened in April 2018 as the third Grand Hyatt in India, right next to the Lulu Bolgatty International Convention Centre.
The Malabar House Kochi · Fort KochiThe Malabar House Kochi in Fort Kochi is a different world: 17 rooms, six of them suites, on two floors, each furnished individually with antiques and art. The Dutch colonial-era estate doubles as a curated collection that shows Kerala’s culture between East and West. In the evening, musicians and dancers take to the stage in the patio, and the Chinese fishing nets are a three-minute walk away.
At Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra you sleep among coconut palms on a cliff above the Arabian Sea, in cottages in the style of traditional Kerala houses. Yoga is on the program on the beach, on the cliff and in pavilions. Our travel advisors will gladly help you choose the right accommodation there before you book.
These luxury hotels in Kerala have a pool – from a garden pool to the cliff edge
All three hotels have a pool, and each one is different. If you want to swim at a 5-star hotel in Kerala, you can choose between a resort pool, a garden pool and the cliff edge.
The Malabar House Kochi · PoolThe widest choice is at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty: a landscaped outdoor pool, a separate children’s pool and an indoor pool in the Śāntata Spa. Right by the pool on the ground floor, Thai Soul serves Bangkok street food – handy if you would rather not leave your lounger at lunchtime.
At The Malabar House Kochi the pool is deliberately small: a garden pool measuring 4 × 8 meters and no more than 1.25 meters deep, on the patio next to the Malabar Junction restaurant. Food and drinks are served right at the poolside.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
For a swim with a view of the sea, choose Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra: the infinity pool is carved into the cliff, and the Madira pool bar pours Indian and international wines, beer and mocktails.
Into the water with children
At the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty little ones splash about in their own children’s pool, and the villas with two or three bedrooms have room for the whole family. The Malabar House Kochi offers babysitting, and its garden pool is no more than 1.25 meters deep. Our travel advisors will tell you which category suits your family.
Spa & wellness in Kerala’s luxury hotels: Ayurveda at all three hotels
In Kerala, Ayurveda is part of the stay, and all three hotels offer it – as a full program or as a massage after a day in town. If you are looking for a 5-star hotel in Kerala mainly for a cure, take a close look at the spa before you book.
The Niraamaya Spa at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra is devoted entirely to Ayurveda. It has ten dedicated Ayurveda rooms, the therapists put together individual healing programs, and yoga, meditation and breathing exercises (pranayama) round out the offer.
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
At the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, the Śāntata Spa covers a good 1,000 m² (over 11,000 sq ft): seven treatment rooms for Ayurvedic and international treatments, hydrotherapy, relaxation lounges and the indoor pool; there is also a fitness area.
The Purespa Ayurveda at The Malabar House Kochi is small and personal: two massage rooms on the first floor and a double massage room on the second floor of the courtyard building, for Ayurvedic therapies and oil massages, with manicures and pedicures on request. It is open daily from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m., and yoga takes place every day at the Cochin Club. The hotel has no gym of its own.
Dining in Kerala’s luxury hotels: Malabar spices, dinner with music and a wine lounge
The Malabar House Kochi promises an evening with music. At Malabar Junction you dine in the open courtyard or the covered restaurant on Keralan and Mediterranean cuisine, made preferably with local and organic produce; during dinner, musicians play classical Carnatic or Hindustani music on the patio stage, and on some evenings there is dance. Before or after, head to Divine, a wine lounge, tapas bar and art space in one: Indian wines, wine and tapas tastings and a terrace above the patio, open daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra · DiningThe Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty relies on three kitchens. Malabar Café cooks Kerala recipes with Malabar spices from breakfast to dinner, Thai Soul by the pool serves Bangkok street food and Thai classics, and up on the rooftop Colony Clubhouse & Grill fires up the grill with colonial and Arabian influences and plenty of seafood. Our travel advisors will check which restaurants are open during your stay before you arrive.
At Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra you dine with a sea view: Café Samsara serves international, Keralan and pan-Indian dishes from morning to night, and the wine is poured at the Madira pool bar.
On the first of the month, glasses stay empty
The first of every month is a dry day: on that day the Divine wine lounge at The Malabar House Kochi serves no alcohol. Better plan the tasting dinner for another evening – our travel advisors will reserve your table at Malabar Junction along with your room.
Luxury hotels with history in Kerala: a merchants’ estate and relocated tharavads
The estate that houses The Malabar House Kochi, opposite St. Francis Church, can be traced back to 1755, when the Dutchman Jan Herman Clausing bought it. Later it belonged to spice and tea merchants, and in 1997 it opened as one of the first boutique heritage hotels in Fort Kochi. Today it is part of the Malabar Escapes group, which also includes Purity, Trinity and the houseboat Discovery.
At Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra you stay in a setting gathered from across the region: traditional Kerala homes, the tharavads, were moved to the clifftop site and restored, and the cottages follow a building style around 300 years old. The Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, by contrast, is a new build from 2018, designed by Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo (WATG) and built by Lulu Group International, which owns the hotel; Hyatt operates it.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
Awards: The Malabar House Kochi is a member of Relais & Châteaux and the Indian Heritage Hotels Association and received the Kerala Tourism Award for best heritage hotel. Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra also belongs to Relais & Châteaux and was honored at the Outlook Traveller Hospitality Awards 2023.
Where to stay in Kerala: Fort Kochi, Bolgatty Island or the coast near Kovalam – the right location for your 5-star hotel
Two of the three hotels are in Kochi, the third on the coast in the south of Kerala. To enjoy both, plan your trip in two stages.
In Fort Kochi, the historic center, The Malabar House Kochi stands on Parade Road, opposite St. Francis Church and a three-minute walk from the Chinese fishing nets. Our recommendation for the old town, art and evenings with music.
On Bolgatty Island in Mulavukad, the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty sits right on the water, close to historic Fort Kochi, with its own jetty for backwater excursions. Our recommendation for families, trips on the water and World of Hyatt points.
- Breakfast for two, every day
- Room upgrade subject to availability
- Hotel credit, e.g. US$100
- Early check-in and late check-out
- VIP service and personal advice
- Points and status in the hotel programme
At no extra cost: you pay the same rate as booking direct with the hotel – the suitespot benefits come on top, free of charge.
On the coast near Kovalam, at Vizhinjam in the Thiruvananthapuram area, Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra sits on a cliff above the Arabian Sea. Our recommendation for Ayurveda, yoga and peace and quiet.
Getting there: From Cochin International Airport to Fort Kochi it is around 45 kilometers, about an hour and a half; The Malabar House Kochi arranges a taxi transfer.
Our travel advisors’ insider tip
Split Kochi between two hotels. Start at The Malabar House Kochi if you want to explore the old town on foot, then move to the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty from 144 € for your days on the water: there the benefits apply from two nights, and a hotel credit of 50 US dollars is included. End your trip on the coast near Kovalam – Ayurveda and quiet make a fitting finale.
What a night in a 5-star hotel in Kerala costs – and what is included
Prices start at 144 € at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty; The Malabar House Kochi is at 214 € per night. For Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, our travel advisors will quote a rate for your travel dates on request.
| Luxury hotel | Location | From | suitespot benefits from | suitespot score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty | Kochi, Bolgatty Island | 144 € | 2 nights | ★ 4.6/5 |
| The Malabar House Kochi | Fort Kochi | 214 € | 1st night | ★ 4.0/5 |
| Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra | Kovalam | on request | 1st night | ★ 4.2/5 |
Included at all three hotels: daily breakfast for two, an upgrade subject to availability and a welcome gift. At the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty the upgrade is confirmed at booking, though not from a room to a suite; at The Malabar House Kochi and Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra on arrival. Only the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty has a minimum stay: the benefits apply there from two nights, at the other two from the first night.
On top of that, the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty adds a hotel credit of 50 US dollars, and early check-in and late check-out are possible subject to availability.
The Malabar House Kochi · Rooms & suitesPoints and status are only available at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty: give your World of Hyatt number when booking and you receive the regular points and status benefits. At the other two hotels, points are not part of the benefits; Relais & Châteaux is an association of hotels, not a points program.
How long to stay at a 5-star hotel in Kerala: two to three nights in Kochi for Fort Kochi and the backwaters, and as many again on the coast near Kovalam – longer for an Ayurveda program.
The hotels in Kerala at a glance
What sets the hotels in Kerala apart – from their opening year to the spa:
| Hotel | Opened | Pool | Spa |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty | 2018 | ✓ | ✓ |
| The Malabar House Kochi | 1997 | ✓ | ✓ |
Earn points & use your status in Kerala
In Kerala you earn points at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty with World of Hyatt: booked as a direct rate through suitespot, points and status nights count and your status benefits apply. Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra belongs to Relais & Châteaux, an association of independent hotels without a points account; there and at The Malabar House Kochi, breakfast for two, an upgrade and a welcome gift are your extras.
| Program | Hotels | Examples in Kerala |
|---|---|---|
| Relais & Châteaux | 1 hotel | Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra |
| World of Hyatt | 1 hotel | Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty |
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Frequently asked questions about luxury hotels in Kerala
What does a night in a luxury hotel in Kerala cost?
Prices start at 144 € at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty; The Malabar House Kochi is at 214 € per night. For Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, our travel advisors will quote the rate on request. Breakfast for two, an upgrade subject to availability and a welcome gift are included at all three hotels.
Which luxury hotel in Kerala comes with the most suitespot benefits?
The Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty: on top of breakfast, an upgrade and a welcome gift you get a hotel credit of 50 US dollars, early check-in and late check-out subject to availability, plus points and status benefits with World of Hyatt. The benefits apply there from two nights.
Can I earn points at Kerala’s luxury hotels?
Yes, at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty: with your World of Hyatt membership number you receive the regular points and status benefits. At The Malabar House Kochi and Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra points are not part of the benefits; both are members of Relais & Châteaux, an association of hotels without a points program.
Which luxury hotels in Kerala have a pool?
All three. The Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty has an outdoor pool, a children’s pool and an indoor pool in the spa. The Malabar House Kochi has a small garden pool measuring 4 × 8 meters, and at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra the infinity pool is carved into the cliff above the sea.
Which luxury hotel in Kerala is right for Ayurveda?
Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra is the most focused on it, with ten dedicated Ayurveda rooms, individual healing programs, yoga, meditation and pranayama. Ayurvedic treatments are also offered at the Śāntata Spa at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty and at the Purespa Ayurveda at The Malabar House Kochi.
Where should I stay in Kerala?
The right location for your 5-star hotel in Kerala depends on whether culture, the water or Ayurveda comes first: in Fort Kochi for the old town and culture (The Malabar House Kochi), on Bolgatty Island for families and backwater excursions (Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty) and on the coast near Kovalam for Ayurveda and peace and quiet (Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra).
Which luxury hotel is in Fort Kochi?
The Malabar House Kochi, on Parade Road, opposite St. Francis Church and a three-minute walk from the Chinese fishing nets. The Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty is on Bolgatty Island, close to historic Fort Kochi.
Where can I eat Keralan food in Kerala’s luxury hotels?
At Malabar Junction in The Malabar House Kochi, Keralan and Mediterranean, with Carnatic or Hindustani music at dinner. At the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty the Malabar Café cooks Kerala recipes with Malabar spices, and at Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra Café Samsara serves Keralan dishes with a sea view.
Which luxury hotels in Kerala have a history?
The Malabar House Kochi occupies an estate that can be traced back to 1755 and opened in 1997 as one of the first boutique heritage hotels in Fort Kochi. At Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra, traditional Kerala homes, the tharavads, were moved to the cliff and restored.
What awards have Kerala’s luxury hotels received?
The Malabar House Kochi received the Kerala Tourism Award for best heritage hotel and is a member of Relais & Châteaux and the Indian Heritage Hotels Association. Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra also belongs to Relais & Châteaux and was honored at the Outlook Traveller Hospitality Awards 2023.
Which luxury hotel in Kerala suits families?
The Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, with a children’s pool and four villas with two or three bedrooms. The Malabar House Kochi offers babysitting, and its garden pool is no more than 1.25 meters deep. Breakfast for two is included at all three hotels.
How do I get from Kochi airport to the hotel?
From Cochin International Airport to Fort Kochi it is around 45 kilometers, about an hour and a half. The Malabar House Kochi arranges a taxi transfer; for the other two hotels our travel advisors will sort out your arrival before you travel.
Which is the best hotel in Kerala?
There is no fixed ranking – the best hotel is the one that suits your trip. For culture and evenings with music, stay at The Malabar House Kochi opposite St. Francis Church in Fort Kochi. Families and anyone looking for a luxury hotel on the backwaters book the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty, with a children’s pool, villas and its own jetty for backwater excursions. If Ayurveda is what brings you to Kerala, head to Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra on the cliff near Kovalam. Our travel advisors will gladly help you choose among the luxury hotels in Kerala in person.
What should I look for in a 5-star hotel in Kerala?
First, the region: Kochi with Fort Kochi and the backwaters, or the coast near Kovalam in the south – to enjoy both, plan your trip in two stages. If you are planning an Ayurveda cure, look at the spa: Niraamaya Retreats Surya Samudra has ten dedicated Ayurveda rooms and puts together individual healing programs. And check the benefits: at the Grand Hyatt Kochi Bolgatty they apply from two nights, with a 50 US dollar hotel credit and World of Hyatt points on top. The first of every month is a dry day, when the Divine wine lounge at The Malabar House Kochi, for example, serves no alcohol.
