Flying to Cochin still means up to an hour's long taxi drive to get to the city itself. You have plenty of options for accommodation, staying on the more touristy Fort Cochin, or stay on the main island (Ernakulam) with plenty of access to the other islands.

I arrived late and by the time I got to Ernakulam it was almost 10:30pm. The taxi driver didn't really know about the hotel, nor the road it's on (Club Road) but we eventually found it with the help of some locals (and the map and address of the hotel printed out).

Checking in was painless though I had to give up my passport for the night. My room was extremely modern, fitted with both a fan and air-conditioning. The bathroom was also just as modern but was one of those strange shower/toilet combinations without a separation between the two (no cubicle, shower curtain or partition between them). I also found it strange that the hotel didn't supply toilet paper, instead supplying a hose with a jet attachment.

I found the hotel especially friendly - they didn't have an umbrella for me to borrow since it was raining and hailed a rickshaw, explaining I wanted to buy an umbrella and then head to the tourist office. They also helped me order a taxi to take me back to the airport.

I didn't eat in the restaurant, even though they also provided room service. Prices seemed very reasonable and offered a combination of local (Kerelan) cuisine, other India foods and continental.

The ferry terminal is walking distance from the hotel, making Fort Cochin very easy to find.