Wavealokam Beach Retreat

Amardeep pointed us toward the best spots for sunrise and sunset, and they were just as beautiful as she said. Nero and Ishtu, the two adorable dogs, were usually around and made the place even more charming. We stayed two nights at Wavealokam, our first homestay-style experience, and absolutely loved it. The staff were warm throughout, and the property manager made sure we were comfortable. They arranged a rental scooty and a cab for our checkout trip to Trivandrum, which made things easy. The owners were lovely, too. Our room was a decent size, tidy and clean, and the bathroom was well maintained. The chechis in the kitchen made us a delicious breakfast, and the whole stay felt homely. We were touched by the hospitality and would happily recommend Wavealokam to anyone staying in Varkala.

The two dogs and the sweet cat were such a lovely part of the place, with their friendly, homely charm. From the manager and watchman to the kitchen and cleaning staff, everyone was polite and helpful, and everything was clean. The hospitality was outstanding. Amardeep is a kind owner who makes sure guests are comfortable and don’t have problems. She spoke to us like a friend, and my friend and I had such nice late-night conversations with her. That made the stay feel especially memorable. From the moment we arrived, Wavealokam felt like home, not a hotel. The warmth and peaceful atmosphere were lovely. I’m really happy with the experience and will come back, hopefully for longer. If you want somewhere peaceful and welcoming in Varkala, I highly recommend it.

I booked through Agoda and had confirmation for a double room listed at 291 sq ft. On arrival, the room I was given was about 156 sq ft, nearly half the advertised size. I raised this right away. I was told another room would cost an extra 2,200 rupees, on top of the 5,600 rupees I had already paid. The room wasn’t suitable for three people with an extra bed, despite the high price, and there seemed to be conflicting accounts of what had been offered to Agoda. I checked out within two hours because of the size difference. A partial refund of 2,200 was offered, but the room still didn’t match the booking details. I’m replying to the owner because these are facts: the room dimensions are inaccurate, and a 50% reduction isn’t acceptable. No one, neither the hotel nor Agoda, told me the room wouldn’t be sufficient for three. If you did, please share that communication. The hotel kept messaging that it looked forward to hosting us without mentioning the room size. At 291 sq ft, a room would generally be more than enough for three people. An Agoda representative told me the hotel had offered an extra room at no cost. Now the hotel says it was offered at a reduced price. Please be honest in your interactions. Complimentary breakfast makes no sense as compensation when I’d already paid for breakfast, and the third bed was charged too. I didn’t want to create drama. I’m asking that the correct room dimensions be listed for future travellers, so they don’t have the same experience. My trip to Varkala was ruined. I’d planned a special day for my parents and ended up very disappointed. I would have gladly booked the king-size room if someone had told me the issue earlier and the listed room size had been accurate.

The only part that made us uneasy was seeing stray dogs nearby at night. Still, we’d happily stay again and recommend Wavealokam. The owner and staff were exceptionally friendly, the rooms were very clean and met our German standards, and breakfast was delicious. We spent three days here and had a great time. Edava beach is nearby, quiet, and has very few people. The hosts helped us find a great rickshaw driver who quoted fair prices and was available when needed. The location is a bit away from Varkala, but worked perfectly for us: it’s a 10-minute rickshaw ride or a nice walk along the beach and cliff to north cliff beach. Stray dogs are an issue in many other places in India too.