Our recent stay at once upon the river, cochin, was filled with a mix of highs and lows, providing both memorable moments and some areas for improvement. The resort, nestled alongside the picturesque periyar river, offers a serene natural setting, but our experience was somewhat impacted by maintenance and amenity issues. The positives:
the standout feature of our stay was the resort's incredibly courteous staff. From the moment we arrived, they went out of their way to ensure that each one of us, from the youngest to the oldest, felt comfortable and at home. Every request was met with a smile, and their promptness in attending to food orders and other services was commendable. The location of the resort is quite unique, with direct access to the flowing periyar river. A staircase leads down to the riverbank, providing a peaceful spot to enjoy the water's edge. Despite some challenges (which i’ll mention later, the river’s proximity adds a special charm to the stay. The negatives:
while the natural setting is a highlight, the resort’s maintenance leaves much to be desired. One of the first things we noticed was the slippery and poorly maintained concrete bank by the river, which felt unsafe to walk on, especially with young children. Although the resort is spacious, the pathways feel congested due to overgrown plantations. On rainy days, this creates a somewhat unsettling atmosphere, especially with the fear of snakes lurking around. The dense vegetation, while beautiful, needs better management to maintain a balance between nature and guest safety. The swimming pool, which we had hoped would be a major attraction for the kids, was a disappointment. It’s relatively small, and during our stay, the water appeared unclear, which deterred us from fully enjoying it. As for the amenities, many were not well-maintained. The bow and arrow set offered had limited arrows, and some didn’t work at all. Similarly, the carrom boards in the rooms, the rooms themselves, and the cricket bats lacked proper upkeep, with no balls provided for play. These shortcomings took away from the fun activities we had planned during our stay. While the staff's service was top-notch, the food itself had room for improvement. Several dishes were lacking in salt, which slightly affected the overall dining experience. Additionally, the resort is located quite far from the main attractions, such as fort kochi. This means you'll need to plan for extra travel time if you're hoping to explore the more popular spots in cochin. Final thoughts:
once upon the river - cochin has immense potential, with its beautiful riverside location and warm, welcoming staff. However, better maintenance of the property and its amenities, as well as improvements in food seasoning, would greatly enhance the experience. Despite these challenges, the resort still offers a peaceful retreat for families, though with some room for improvement, especially considering its distance from the city's main attractions.