Pozhiyoram Beach Resort — Hotel in Kerala

I don’t like to be negative especially when there are people who work hard in hotels etc to keep them running. However this is not an honest business it also goes by the name of Pozhiyoram /Ayur Beach resort ||This retreat for me was really disappointing, it probably didn’t help that I had such an incredible, warm and loving experience in the 1st retreat I stayed at in Goa.||So the positives, the lady who carries out the Ayurvedic treatments is a true gem, kind, passionate about what she does and just had a beautiful vibe about her and her treatments were brilliant - I definitely felt amazing after each one and enjoyed our chats.. she was the sunshine in my days here. The two chaps who work here also seemed like nice people but knew nothing about food. ||The beach if you stay just outside the property and to the right is pretty lovely .. shame about the rubbish washed up from the sea though. If you walk to the left be prepared to come across an outside toilet, I came across loads of dog poo and shockingly human poop too.. not nice.||||I wouldn’t call this a yoga retreat, its two men and the main hang out point is the tiny reception area or beach only one other guest.. .. only one working hammock, the others are broken and not fit for purpose and no other chairs aside from those outside the rooms. ||The food isn’t cooked fresh on-site, home cooked apparently by the mother of one the gents who work there, however variety is limited, it’s bland and inviting and you’re lucky if it arrives luke-warm. I was taken to the kitchen I wish I hadn’t been it wasn’t clean at all, so this kind of made me glad the food was cooked off site - a positive. I saw the food that was delivered but I only got served what the guys felt like giving me. For example one day was 2 chapati thrown on a plate and tiny bowl||Of what I think was supposed to be soup but looked more like dog sick, fruit was offered only once and was literally an apple, a satsuma and a banana as they come on a plate - the food did not feel||like it was served with pride or love. To add I was led to believe by the dr as part of my detox program (I will get on to this later) that he would||Instruct what food I should be given .. this did not happen. We all know that white bread( a full loaf I must add) and butter and jam isn’t a detox type food. ||The dining experience is sad and lonely .. I ate alone at a dining table at the back of the property which probably could seat 10-12 people .. it was not a pleasant or welcoming environment and mosquitoes galore. ||However the other guest who was only there with me for a couple of days had the option to eat at reception area - not ideal but definitely more inviting. ||Music was played loud most days and nights .. not the calming therapeutic type music you would hope at least but felt more like what you would hear of at a generic bar or holiday hotel on a beach. ||The cleanliness of the room was questionable.. I had clean sheets ..soap and drinking water provided which was nice .. but it wasn’t clean, the toilet seat was okay but I dare not lift it to look underneath. ||It was a ‘deluxe room’ I’d say more basic/standard. It was air conditioned which was of course a godsend in the 91f heat.||Then the persistent knocking on my door, early morning and it felt like any time I was in my room there was not any consideration as to whether I may be meditating or sleeping or showering .. and it doesn’t stop and they do not go away until you open the door .. it felt stressful as in my room at times I couldn’t relax fully in case the knock knock knocking started! ||The yoga classes - sorry class .. was one per day .. sometimes it was at a time that you were told, sometimes you could||Choose - a plus. For example on my first day .. I went for a walk along the beach and whilst walking .. I got persistent phone calls from one of the guys who work here, when I finally answered I was ‘told’ I had to come back for yoga. I explained that I didn’t want to do yoga as had to unpack and settle (plus I prefer morning class in India due to the heat) however I was told i had to come back.. when I arrived to the beach outside the two men who work here were waiting and practically escorted me to the class.. this was my first impression and not at all in line with yoga and teachings .. the guy who taught yoga spent too much time talking and so half the lesson was wasted I felt .. however I have to say yoga on the beach and the sun flow we did was lovely .. however he assumed that because I hold a few extra pounds that I was incapable of some of the moves .. even though I have my own yoga practice which I carry out at home and 200hr yoga teacher training qualification. ||I discovered that yoga is either on the beach or at a yoga studio in town -||No shala! So I tried the yoga in town, the warm-up was a combination of stretching and Indian dancing - this was such fun and I smiled all the way through it .. then the yoga session.. again too much time wasted talking .. on a microphone which ruined the yoga vibe .. again I was singled out with an assumption I was struggling without the yoga teacher actually observing my movements which I was doing with ease and he made suggestions that I sit out on certain movements .. not pleasant or valid .. I am always happy to be better but don’t judge me and tell me what i can’t do when you haven’t seen me doing it!! To add my hands and feet were black after the class due to the studio not being clean.. so had to take another shower when i got back. ||The detox - well I was advised when I enquired about the Panchakarma detox that it was possible in 5/6 days but it turns out it needs to be 14 days ideally. I had my consultation with the dr who said he’d text me the treatment plan and that he would instruct the people here what food would be given in line with this cleanse/detox, this didn’t happen. I have no idea what I had but the massages and treatments were lovely - however the fundamentals of what I have learnt about an Ayurvedic detox from reading and friends who have had it were missed - no special diet plan (fresh vegetable, fresh fruit , dhal, limited carbs etc) as this was shown to me on my visit to the kitchen it’s delivered in and it’s whatever the men decide to give you in choice and quantity .. no consistency. ||So no detox ghee drinking and no basti .. I only was prescribed the verichana because I pushed for it and have to do it when I get home .. not as planned while I’m away from the stresses of work||Etc .. so not even sure if it’s right and whether I have had the detox I wanted. In watching friends complete a||Variation of 5/10/14 day detox at a previous Ayurvedic retreat this was not what I would call a detox, just some lovely Ayurvedic treatments which to be fair has made me feel better. However what I thought I was paying for, what was described to me was not in anyway what I paid for. A really disappointing end to my time in India. All the while I have felt happy here in India but these last 5 days (I left as early as I could to start the journey home) I felt a little hoodwinked, conned and. Heated So I checked out early and booked a nice hotel with a spa so my last memory of India wasn’t tarnished by this experience. By the way for the same price I paid for this so called resort which felt more like Cell||block H ||I raised a complaint with the owner when I left, due to being misled I did not feel safe to raise as a woman travelling alone, especially as I was the only person there alone with the 1-2 males working on site. ||The owner is delusional and misleading l shared the same Photos as here and gave comparisons and he still thinks I have no business complaining. Ps I only have one star because I had no choice - this does not...

Overview: This review is based on our stay on 3 days 2 nights viz 14th 15th 16th Feb 2020. I booked two rooms for 5 people including 3 guys and 2 girls.

Location: The resort is located right at the beach. However it doesn't have a direct entry/exit to the beach. It has a side entry but luckily the beach isn't far from this. You just walk out on the beach itself.

How to reach: If you are self driving, you might end up in the sand as the maps suggestion was wrong and our vehicle got stuck in the beach sand. However I did suggest map about the closed road and I hope it suggests correct route now. There is a narrow street beside Colonels Beach villa which needs to be taken and it leads to the resort. If you are coming by Auto/Taxi, it's pretty famous there and you shouldnt have issues reaching there.

Room: The rooms are just ok I would say. In terms of size it's neither big nor small. Just manageable. The rooms were neat.

Ambience: Lighting is OK. I don't remember if there were any tubelights/white lights except for bathroom. Rooms had plenty of lights - yellow lights. However, it was pretty bright which I liked.

Bathroom: This is pretty big in size. As you can see the images, the bathroom starts with a commode, a washbasin in front of it, and then stones on which you can bath. I liked the concept as it was something different from all the places. However it was a little uncomfortable bathing on the stones and they kept pricking my foot. Not to mention, they have provided Matt on the stones on which you can step but it's still uncomfortable. However I did like bathing on these stones as it was new for me. Since the stones are directly kept on the beach sand so there is no outlet for the bathroom. All the water seeps down to the sand through stones. This creates one more issue, due to water splashes some sand comes out and settles on the bathroom tiles which sometimes annoys you.

Cleanliness: The rooms and bathrooms were decently cleaned initially. However, it started getting filthier due to above mentioned reasons. Plus you carry sand from bathroom to bedroom. Plus you carry beach sand to your bedroom. They need to provide sufficient footmats.

Restaurant: There is no restaurant of the resort. However, they have some contacts with nearby hotels it seems. They arranged us food and said food can be made available till 10 pm from their partner restaurant.

Beach: As described above, there is no direct entry to the beach. However, the side entry isn't too bad except for the fact that the side entry is little narrow and you have to walk some 20 fts to get to the beach. But that's acceptable and it 5he beach acts like a private beach. You can sit, relax, see the fishermen boats, observe the waves, listen to the sound of water.

Outside room: Just outside the rooms, they have placed some chairs and tables on which you can relax and enjoy the calmness of the area.

More relaxation: They have plenty of trees and good amount of greenery within the resort. In addition they have many rope tied hammocks which are tied to the trees on which you can lie down and relax for hours together.

Staff: Staff and manager is good and friendly. They helped us with arrangement of food. They can arrange for beer as well if you as for it.

Places to visit: This resort isnt too far from the city. The distance from the city makes it calm. However all the places to visit are just 30min to 1hr away from here which is acceptable.

Conclusion: Overall, I liked the resort very much and would...

This not an honest business it also goes by the name of Pozhiyoram & Ayur Beach resort The beach if you walk to the left be prepared to come across an outside toilet, dog poo human poop. NOT a yoga retreat The food isn’t cooked fresh onsite , it’s bland and uninviting and you’re lucky if it arrives luke-warm. I was led to believe by the dr the food would be tailored as part of my detox program. We all know that white bread, butter and jam isn’t detox food. The dining experience was not a pleasant or welcoming environment and mosquitoes galore. Loud music days and nights The room wasn’t clean,. Men always knocking on my door no consideration as to whether I may be meditating or sleeping or showering The yoga class one per day No shala and too much talking - the offsite yoga studio was so dirty that my hands and feet were black after the class due to the studio not being clean, so had to take another shower when i got back. The detox - well I was advised when I enquired about the Panchakarma detox that it was possible in 5/6 days but it turns out it needs to be 14 days ideally. I had my consultation with the dr who said he’d text me the treatment plan and that he would instruct the people here what food would be given in line with this cleanse/detox, this didn’t happen. I have no idea what I had but the massages and treatments were lovely - however the fundamentals of what I have learnt about an Ayurvedic detox from reading and friends who have had it were missed - no special diet plan (fresh vegetable, fresh fruit , dhal, limited carbs etc) instead it was whatever the men decide to give you in choice and quantity. So no detox ghee drinking and no basti .. I only was prescribed the verichana because I pushed for it and I now have to do it when I get home .. not as planned while i am here away from the stresses of work etc In observing friends complete a variation of 5/10/14 day detox at a previous Ayurvedic retreat this was no way a detox, just some lovely Ayurvedic treatments which to be fair has made me feel better. However what I thought I was paying for and what was described to me was not in anyway what I paid for. A really disappointing end to my time in India. All the while I have felt happy here in India but these last 5 days (I left this awful place as early as I could to start the journey home) I felt a little hoodwinked, conned an cheated, so I checked out early and booked a nice hotel with a spa so my last memory of India wasn’t tarnished by this experience. By the way for the same price I paid for this so called resort which felt more like Cell block H. I raised a complaint with the owner when I left, due to being misled from the offset I naturally did not feel safe to raise a complaint while onsite as a woman travelling alone, especially as I was the only person there alone with the 1-2 males working on site. He is refusing a refund because I did not complain while there, yet his staff were constantly asking me why I was not happy. He thinks he provided me the service we agreed, he is delusional. Oh and he writes his own reviews on google and trip advisor - look out for exceptional reviews written by Gijo P = Gijo Palackal - the...