Carmel Top Resort

Getting the car up was actually difficult because the ramp is so steep, and you may need to carry your luggage from the parking below up the steps. I managed to get my car up, though. The good parts are the full view of Munnar and the market, just two minutes downhill. It’s like being at the top of Munnar, and I had a good stay, but it really is very high up.

Breakfast was just okay, and for what they charge, the service and experience were very poor. I wouldn’t book here next time I come to Munnar. Any homestay would feel better than this resort in name only. It feels like a poorly managed homestay, with very bad access: the market point is a 10-minute walk away, and staff only came to collect or return luggage after repeated calls. The room had an electric kettle but no tea or coffee sachets, and they charged Rs. 20 for each branded packaged water bottle, while other hotels provide two per room per day free. They provided regular water in glass bottles. There were no slippers, so we had to walk on cold tiles, and the soap was poor quality, even Medimix would feel better. The front desk guy exaggerated about the hotel being fully booked, which seemed untrue: we saw no more than two or three families at breakfast, and the room opposite ours was empty until 7 pm on the second day, but nobody told us. We wanted an upgrade or at least a room change because our view was very bad, a Chhapra view, but we got no update.

There’s no restaurant here, just complimentary breakfast, so going out to eat or buy essentials can be a bit difficult. With a baby, walking down to the shops and back up is almost impossible. If you don’t have kids or a baby, you can walk. The hotel is at the top of the city, so the view is very good. It’s even more beautiful than the one I uploaded if you get a front room.

The hotel is right in the city centre, with the market close by, and the price felt fair for what we paid. We stayed two days as a family. Our room had a terrific view in both directions, though there are only two Superior rooms with that feature. Parking was the main hassle: you have to drive up a steep track about 100m to the hotel balcony, then bring the car back down to the lower parking area. Breakfast wasn't good. The hotel is owned and managed by a church.