976 Panangad

For this standard, I don't think one room should cost more than ₹4,500, yet the rates here are exorbitant for a place with only two rooms. I hate leaving a bad review for anyone, but I'm honestly sad I spent so much. I hope the government makes them charge a fair price one day. Absolutely not worth the money.

We only booked one night at 976 Panangad to recover from our long trip from the USA, and regretted not staying longer. The sunrise across the backwaters was breathtaking, and it's a peaceful spot away from the city's bustle while still handy for local tourist attractions. Robbie and the whole team were attentive and welcoming, with a nothing-is-too-much-trouble approach. Breakfast was another highlight, with a generous choice of Indian and Western dishes. My family and I have already decided we'll stay here whenever we come back to Kochi. It's a special retreat for families and friends.

The property is calm, private and pleasant, with nice rooms and a pool facing the lake. But our stay felt underwhelming for the amount we paid. We booked the whole 4-room villa for 7 adults through Booking.com for one night, at close to ₹1.2 lakh. Breakfast was the only meal included, and it was basic compared with what similar places offer. We spent about ₹1.36 lakh in total for around 22 hours. Booking.com prices for the same property seemed wildly inconsistent, from ₹40,000 to ₹1.2 lakh. Other resorts in Panagad offer a similar experience for much less. I'd urge travellers to compare prices carefully instead of booking blindly through an aggregator. In our view, even in peak season, this place isn't worth over ₹50,000 a night.

The place itself was amazing, with a lovely atmosphere and a stay I'll remember. Service could be better, though. I don't mean all the staff, just Mr Rubie in particular. He can be a bit rude and sometimes seems not to have had proper hospitality management training. I hope management speaks with him about it. Still, a wonderful place overall, and I'd recommend it. ❤️