West Wind Homez

Please treat this as a homestay, not a resort. The rooms are simple, with the kind of home food and experience you'd expect in an ordinary Indian home. If you want luxury or extravagance, this isn't the place. Also, there's no liquor allowed, and Mr Jojo doesn't make exceptions. His family has lived here for three generations and has good connections locally. We came on a whim with our toddler and elderly parents after seeing the reviews, and it really is a hidden gem. The backwater view is breathtaking, and even at noon in mid-March, during peak Kerala summer, the villa had an unbelievable cool breeze. The lovely couple, Mr and Mrs Jose paul, live in the same house. There are two rooms with AC, water heaters, and TVs, and they can accommodate 9-10 people. The common verandah, with traditional Kerala furniture, is a lovely spot. There's no kitchen access, but they serve complimentary, delicious Kerala breakfast. I'm sure they can arrange lunch or dinner on request. The food was very good, as they share what they cook for themselves. Rooms and property were generally clean and well kept. Bath towels are provided, but no other toiletries. Mr Jojo paul has a kayak, a larger row boat, and life jackets for trips on the calm backwaters. He can arrange custom visits to nearby prawn farms, kavaru (Bioluminescence) sightings, or Fort Kochi. There are badminton bats and a desi fishing rod too. Tell him what you need and he'll try to sort it out. A couple of practical things: while the property has enough parking, the last 200 metres are narrow. A hatchback can get through; a sedan is difficult but possible, and it's advisable to have someone guide you from outside. Mr Jojo has a sedan himself. Don't try to drive anything bigger, it'll get stuck. Park on Mosco road or Kumbalangi road and walk, and talk to Mr Jojo before arriving. There are lots of mosquitoes, as is common in Cochin. The entrances have adequate mosquito-proof protection, but outside isn't mosquito-free, so bring repellent. Thanks, Mr and Mrs Jojo paul, for such a great experience for my family and me. I won't look for another place next time I'm in kumbalangi.

The host serves a healthy, tasty breakfast, though the kitchen itself is kept locked, and there's no kitchen access. The place is neat and the view is beautiful, a nice weekend getaway. A kayak is available for cruising the backwaters. The water is only up to 4 ft even 100m from the edge, so there's no need to worry about falling in. The house has just 2 bedrooms with 2 attached bathrooms, plus a dining area and main hall.

The backwater setting makes it a beautiful place to relax, and the stay gives the whole family a private experience, including a private boat. The host was very helpful and supportive, and arranged a complimentary boat trip for my family on my recent visit. A very good homestay option near Kochi.

The backwaters frame the entrance, and there's a cool breeze from the Arabian Sea. Inside, it's a simple but nicely decorated home, made even better by the warmth of Mr. Jojo Paul uncle. We really enjoyed our time at West Wind Homez. A big thumbs up, especially if you're planning a vacation with kids.