The Serai Kabini

The people made a real difference during our stay. Executive Chef Ramakant was warm and approachable, and clearly trying his best. Assistant F&B Manager Rakesh was courteous and responsive, Sidhrayu from the F&B service team paid attention, and Chef Rakesh handled our dietary needs carefully. Raghunath from the F&B service team deserves a special mention. He was energetic and always on the move, making sure guests felt noticed and cared for. His positive, guest first attitude stuck with us. The backwaters and the calm around The Serai, Kabini are genuinely soothing. Still, it didn’t meet the high bar set by our earlier stay at The Serai, Bandipur. The rooms were comfortable but felt average for a property in this position. We also couldn’t take the jungle safari because it was officially paused during our visit, which was disappointing but outside the property’s control. Dining was the bigger letdown. The food didn’t quite hit the mark, and the handling of our allergy related needs could have been better. The property has potential, but the rooms and dining need improvement to match the brand promise. The warmth of those team members made the stay much better than it otherwise might have been.

The approach road is horrendous, which is a rough start for a 5* resort. Inside, though, the rooms are spotless, well maintained, and stocked with all the little things you might need. The staff were outstanding, always around and ready to help. Shekhar the Naturalist was a knowledgeable guide and a real gentleman. Thanks for all the wildlife information and safari help. Prabhakar the restaurant champion saved our restaurant experience from being a disaster, and Putti quietly brought us coffee whenever we wanted it. She’s so humble and quiet. The restaurant itself was a sore point. We were thoroughly disappointed and felt let down after arriving with high expectations, though the staff made it more bearable. Breakfast, which is included, was definitely a treat, with a great spread each morning. Would I return at that high price? No. I’d choose an adjacent resort with everything included for less and similar service.

We had another comfortable, enjoyable stay at Serai Kabini. The safari stood out, especially with naturist Mr Chamraj sharing so much about Nagarhole’s birds and animals. It made the trip fun as well as informative. Mahesh served refreshing drinks at the bar, and Head Chef Muntashir and his team put out a great spread that tasted excellent. Thanks as well to Mahesh and Saleem at the front office for looking after us so warmly and attentively. A very satisfying visit.

We saw lots of animals on both safaris, by land and boat. Elephants were plentiful along the river, and I even caught a glimpse of a tiger. The resort itself was great too, with helpful staff who kept a low key profile. It felt family friendly without being overrun with kids.