We had a lovely stay at Gateway Hotel Varkala. The sea views and peaceful atmosphere were truly refreshing. The staff were warm and courteous, and the rooms were spacious and comfortable. Overall, a relaxing and memorable experience — would definitely recommend for a serene getaway.

Our recent stay was exceptionally positive, exceeding all prior experiences. The accommodations were superb, offering comfort and high standards. Furthermore, the service provided by the staff was exemplary, demonstrating attentiveness and professionalism. We were particularly impressed by the culinary offerings, which were outstanding. This visit truly set a new benchmark for our expectations.

Es war ein angehnemer Aufenthalt

Our stay at Gateway Varkala was absolutely wonderful and left us with warm memories of both the property and the people. The hotel beautifully reflects Kerala’s calm, coastal charm while offering all the comforts of a premium stay. What truly stood out was the exceptional customer service provided by the staff. At the Front Office, Krishna was courteous, welcoming, and extremely helpful from the moment we arrived. Check-in was smooth, and every interaction reflected genuine hospitality. The Food & Beverage team deserves special appreciation. Giju and Gokul went above and beyond to ensure a delightful dining experience. Their attentiveness, warm smiles, and willingness to accommodate requests made every meal enjoyable. Specially the meal recommendation and the jackfruit icecream served with fresh jackfruit. A special mention to Aswathy, the Front Office Manager, who ensured that everything ran seamlessly throughout our stay. Her proactive approach, attention to detail, and personal involvement truly elevated the overall experience. Gateway Varkala is a perfect choice for anyone looking for comfort, great service, and authentic hospitality. We left feeling relaxed, cared for, and eager to return. Highly recommended. ????

What an experience of genuine hospitality combined with exceptional service and good wholesome food. A property that simply excels . Will definitely return in the future maybe on a weekday rather than the weekend

I think I must have stayed in a different hotel to the one that is receiving so many gushing 5 star reviews. I honestly have no idea how this place gets such good reviews.? It all felt a little Fawlty Towers from the moment we arrived having to fill in about 3 or 4 forms even though they had all our details from the original booking! The lobby area looks reasonably smart but don't be deceived, the rooms are reasonably clean and tidy but dated (***** with most other areas of the hotel). The room is not particularly large, the pillows feel lumpy for some reason and we had a bare wire hanging down in the shower area. The safe was a decent size but wasn't bolted down to anything and the bathroom was like something out of the 1990s. The whole room is in desperate need of renovation. We booked a Deluxe Room “Sea View” and whilst there was a decent view out of the bedroom window the same couldn't be said about the balcony unfortunately. You needed to be standing up on the balcony to get the seaview - sit down and the only view was of the sky and the roof immediately in front of you.? On the second night (which was at least 2 nights too many) we had no hot water in the room so it was cold showers all around (and indeed for a little while we had no water at all, hot or cold!). The restaurant was like stepping into a school canteen. There was zero ambience and long waits for food (we got our main course about 75 minutes after sitting down on the first night). Unbelievably for an Indian restaurant the naan bread on the menu was not available! Huh?!! On one of the days we were there, lunchtime was a full buffet only - ridiculous for the only food outlet in the hotel not to be offering light meal options at lunchtime! Some of the food was pretty ropey too. The waiter tried his best but even he couldn't excuse the cold, grey mashed potato that my wife was served alongside her cold vegetables one evening. Apart from a couple of the senior waiters, most of the waiters/servers seem to be pretty clueless about what they are doing and how to offer even basic customer service. Breakfast was average at best but the scrambled eggs came very quickly once ordered - yay! The pool was a good size, nice and warm and the pool attendant was friendly and helpful. Unfortunately there are a lot of broken and uneven tiles which, like the rest of the hotel really needs an overhaul. Worst of all, the underwater lights in the pool were all hanging out of their recesses causing not only unseen obstacles under the water but also exposing all the wiring behind to the water. I hope someone had removed the fuse!? This place is like some kind of bad joke. I can't believe that the Taj group allows such a poor hotel to be associated with their branding.? Varkala itself is well worth a visit with its endless beaches and cliff top walks but do yourself a massive favour and find a different hotel to stay in. The air of melancholy is pervasive. You'll also need to bring your own HP

Excellent service from start to finish — the staff were warm, attentive, and always ready to help. The rooms were spotless, comfortable, and well-maintained, making it easy to relax after a long day. A special mention for the swimming pool: clean, spacious, and perfect for unwinding. Overall, a wonderful stay and I’d happily return!

We had a great and amazing stay at Taj Gateway, Varkala. The hotel, an erstwhile Royal palace on a small hillock, overlooking Arabian sea has beautiful views and especially good for watching sunset. A perfect place for slowing down and relaxing. Good lounge, nice views, a compact restaurant with indoor and outdoor garden views, serving tasty dishes. A small walk down takes to Varkala neach and ancient Shetram Sri Janardhana Swamy temple is nearby. Overall a very enjoyable experience with amazing care by the young and smiling staff, with personal touch and tupical Taj hospitality. Will gladly come back for a longer stay and highly recommend this place to all

If you are travelling with kids then this is one of the best property to stay in Varkala. It has spacious rooms, very good swimming pool, garden area and lobby. All the staffs are very supportive and helpful. Definitely you should try to stay this property if you are with kids. I only have one suggestion for them to please improve the restaurant service little bit more, as it was very slow, but its not any negative thing, food was super tasty. I have enjoyed my stay here. Thanks

Our stay at Gateway Varkala was truly wonderful and exceeded our expectations. The property was exceptionally clean, well maintained, and very comfortable throughout our stay. The hospitality of the staff was warm, professional, and always attentive to our needs. The food deserves special appreciation—delicious, fresh, and thoughtfully prepared with a great variety. A special mention goes to Reji at the bell desk, whose helpfulness, polite attitude, and prompt assistance made our experience even more pleasant. Overall, a relaxing and memorable stay that we would highly recommend to anyone visiting Varkala.