We were told about Valiyavila by a young guy who worked on a houseboat we stayed on for a few days working our way down to Kollam. On arrival we were hot and tired and just wanted to relax, which is just what we got here. We were sorted with plug adapters to charge phones (free of charge) and had... More

Valiyavila was by far the most disappointing of our stays in India. The location is undoubtedly incredible, but the cleanliness, service and hotel condition failed to match in every way. The hotel seemed to be staffed by a few teenage boys, who seemed more intent on watching the cricket than cleaning up the food that littered the lounge floor both... More

I lived and worked in Quilon and returned for a very nostalgic visit after a period of forty years. My daughter recommended that we stayed at Valiyavila Family Estate and I am very pleased that we took her advice. Mr Prabath Joseph was extremely helpful, not only did he make us very welcome at the hotel but he also spent... More

May be the most serene place you will stay in India. Views to die for. Friendly staff. Kollam is an interesting "real" i.e. not excessively touristy place. If you are looking for a break, this is your place.

We spent one night at Valiyavila Family Estate. The room was neat and very nice. The staff and the owner Joseph were very helpful and friendly. We had breakfast on the terrace in front of our room, just next to the lake, it was very pleasant. This hotel has a great value for money, definitely go there!

I stayed here one night with my wife in a ground floor room looking directly onto the goddess of light statue and the lake. We came by taxi and although the hotel offered to provide a boat from Kollam we said we would get the taxi to drive us there. It is very hard to find but car but we... More

I had a very pleasant stay here where I was warmly received and served a delicious home cooked dinner on the large veranda overlooking the lake. My room was large and clean with a good size en suite bathroom. The charm of this place is it's location just by the water's edge, it is a stone's throw from the jetty... More

I stayed at Valiyavilla for three nights in October 2011 with my husband, my nine-year-old daughter and my five-year-old son. We were greeted like old friends and made to feel completely at home. The four of us stayed in one of the top floor rooms which came with a lake-view balcony and a spacious bathroom complete with bath - what... More

First to say that the staff was really friendly and helpful and made our stay bearable. Other than that it was the most disappointing experience we've had in India. The place must have been really beautiful years ago and the views are great, but now it is completely rundown. That's not the biggest issue in India, but it is as... More