Leela Backwaters Inn

We stopped in for lunch. The food was very good, and the service was friendly and excellent. The washrooms were clean, parking was adequate, and boating trips on the Poovar backwaters are also available.

The rooms were okay, but the water was muddy and dirty enough that I didn’t want to bathe in it. The breakfast was also very poor. They had mixed spoiled curd into the chutney. The boat ride cost a lot compared with other vendors, which we only found out afterward. We had booked two hours, but the boatman brought us back after one hour, including a half-hour wait on the beach, and never took us to the mangroves. That was very disappointing. When we raised it with reception, they didn’t seem to care. The service overall was not good.

The location is the only reason I’d give this place four stars. It has a lot of potential, but the property hasn’t been maintained. The lobby was filthy, the rooms weren’t clean, and dust had built up on the AC. If you need water to shower, you might as well use the AC drip. The bathroom water was so salty we couldn’t even use it to rinse our mouths. The staff I dealt with were rude, and the food was very poor. Someone mentioned 18years of experience in hospitality, but I couldn’t see that in the service. I skipped breakfast and went nearby instead, getting by on Vada and coffee, which was far better than what they offered. If half a star were possible, I’d give that for the room and staff. Horrible experience.

We took a backwaters tour with a large group and ate at leela afterward. The boat guides were both wonderful, and Sindu was great in the restaurant. I loved the chicken thali. Thanks, Sindu!