Blue Water Beach Resort

If you’re going to Varkala, Blue Water Beach Resort is the place to be. We were blown away by the simplicity and hospitality of the management and the staff, not to mention the location, which was right next to the enthralling Arabian Sea waves gushing toward the rocky shores of mystical Odayam. What we loved about Blue Water: 1. The hospitality was outstanding. We reached the resort on Saturday night, about 5 minutes before 10 pm, as our flight was delayed. Varkala is about an hour from Trivandrum and pre-paid taxis are readily available. As we were checking in, the manager, Mr. Dickson, asked cordially, “Had your dinner?” It was so warm and unexpected that I could not answer for a minute. When my spouse answered in the negative, he immediately called one of the restaurant staff and asked him to take our order and deliver it straight to our room. We hadn’t even checked in! We have travelled quite a bit and stayed in fancy hotels, but nowhere did we receive such warmth as if coming from a family member. Similarly, on the day of checkout, I requested a partial continental breakfast as I do not eat bread and do not consume tea/coffee. Without even asking, the staff added additional milk and corn flakes to my plate. Result? I was well-fed and all geared up to get through a 12-hour journey back home. 2. The property isn’t that huge and probably houses some 6-7 cottages in total. Our cottage was located at a corner. The location could not be any better for a sea lover. The path leading from our cottage reached a gate that opened right into a narrow foot trail. And across the trail? The mighty Arabian Sea lashed against the rocks. A 2-minute walk down that trail towards the left took us to Odayam beach, where another beachside hotel and restaurant stood. We had our breakfast there most days. Breakfast was available in Blue Water as well; however, the menu was mostly continental. We wanted more of a South Indian breakfast experience, and hence we went to Babu Farm Restaurant by the Odayam Beach. Coming back to our cottage, well, we woke up to the blue waves right outside our door, and slept soundly to the harmonious roar of the sea. 3. The same trail that led to the Odayam Beach also allowed us to explore and discover two small but secluded beaches. To reach there, we took a right from the gate outside our cottage instead of left. These two beaches were where we spent most of the time. Pristine, scarcely populated, and absolutely stunning. 4. The food menu at Blue Water was wholesome. It would have been better if they also had South Indian food, but I’ll let that slide; for whatever food they prepared, it was fresh, filling, and delicious. And the best part? The restaurant staff always had smiles on their faces, serving warmth with every meal. The quality of ingredients they used can be vouched for. How do we know this? One evening, we returned from the main Varkala beach, which was 2 km away from our resort, after being stuck in a heavy downpour. We ordered Tulsi tea to be served in our room, and observed that they actually had Tulsi Herbal tea, caffeine free, made by the brand Organic India. We were pleasantly surprised. Additionally, their kitchen was available all day, from 8 am to 10 pm. On one occassion, we returned from an outing at 4.45pm, wondering whether lunch would be available at that hour, and lo and behold! There was no problem. The kitchen was open, and fresh food was served in no time. 5. Simplicity and a grounded mindset were visible through their amenities and housekeeping staff, too. There was no TV at the cottage, which was perfectly fine with us. We don’t watch TV anyway. But even if we did, we wouldn’t have missed it. Who needs a TV when the majestic blue waves are right outside your door? Amenities were basic, so do not expect fancy toiletries. The needful was available – soap, shampoo sachets, toilet paper, towels, dustbins, and cabinets, and they were all clean. The bed was comfortable, and there were enough chairs and tables inside the room as well as on the patio. The room had no phone, so no disturbing “Wake up, it’s breakfast time” calls. All service personnel were accessible from our cell phones. The housekeeping lead, Suraj, was always available with a smile as soon as you needed anything. Mr. Dickson also arranged a cab for us to visit Kilimanoor palace during our stay and another one to drop us to Trivandrum airport on our checkout day. All in all, it was surely one of the 3 best vacations we ever had, and surely the best beach vacation. Varkala is altogether a relaxed, laid-back, and sleepy town. Completely safe, with friendly and helpful people all around. And Blue Water Resort is the epitome of all that Varkala stands for. All we can express is gratitude from our hearts for gifting us a memorable vacation.