Amanvana Spa Resort - Coorg

The trek and coffee plantation activity were fantastic, and I'd recommend both. We also appreciated the neatly packed evening snacks, including fruit and cookies. The resort sits beautifully among nature near the Kaveri River, and the spacious, luxurious rooms felt worth the price. Food and hospitality were less satisfying overall. The buffet wasn't as good as we'd expected, and there was an unpleasant smell. The team was supportive, though, and offered to cook the food again and serve it hot. All in all, we had a very good experience 😊

We especially liked the riverside areas, with benches, a hammock, and a few spots to dip your toes in the water. The property is lush and beautiful, next to the river and close to town and a large tourist centre that gets busloads of visitors. Even so, our stay was mostly peaceful. Each cottage has its own gate, a small open area, and a sit-out. The sitting room and bedrooms were comfortable but need refurbishment. The bathroom skylight and lovely tub were a highlight, though getting in and out of it might be hard for some people. We had booked all meals and ate at the restaurant buffet, but tea and coffee in the morning and evening cost extra. There was a lot of variety, maybe too much, with North and South Indian food, pasta, a baked dish, noodles, and Thai curry at every meal. Most of it tasted very average. Some items, including the baked goods and appam-stew, were quite poor. We did enjoy a few local dishes, including a pork dish at lunch and dinner, and fresh, hot akki rottis. Service felt impersonal and indifferent.

The property is full of trees and flowers, including rare species from around the world, and the birds it attracts make it feel like a paradise. The activities were all interesting, and the food was excellent, with local dishes among the options. I was impressed that the travel portal mmt photos showed the place as it really is. The furniture is carefully designed, with real attention to detail and looks. Towels and sheets seemed like new and had no chlorine smell like at other resorts. They also work to reduce plastic waste, using Indian apothecary toiletries in dispensers. My daughter loved it, and I'd gladly come back for another vacation.

The food was the one big problem. An insect was embedded in a dosa from the live counter, there were insects on the freshly fried papad served at night, and little flies were around the pastry section at the morning buffet. There was a wide choice of food, though. The property was beautiful and very well maintained, and Mr. Niraguna Aradhya greeted us with a warm, heartfelt smile. Mr. Naveen was a wonderful guide for the nature walk, island trek, bird watching, coffee plantation tour, and other activities. Chef Barun kindly shared the recipe for the local curry we fell in love with. The whole staff was ready to make us happy if we asked, and the service overall was wonderful. The property and service were worth every penny we spent.