Mahindra Homestays » Homestay Experience

Recent Homestay Reviews

Mahindra Homestays — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 23:16:16 +0000

Your holiday is a time to relax and enjoy yourself so when you make a booking you want to be sure that everything will be perfect. When it comes to choosing a place to stay a personal recommendation from a friend is always appreciated and valued, but honest reviews from previous guests can offer an equally good insight.

Mahindra Homestays always ask guests for their honest feedback as it gives hosts an opportunity to improve their service and allows potential guests to get an experience into the homestay experience. It’s great to see positive comments from guests travelling from all over the world, all really enjoying the homestay experience.

Here are some recent reviews from guests:

Cosy Homes – Jaipur, Rajasthan

Cosy Home is a lovely homestay nestled in the peaceful environs of Banni Park in the ‘Pink City’ of Jaipur.

Alice Eastaugh from the UK stayed here in June 2012, praising the homestay for its excellent hospitality. “This was a lovely welcoming homestay and so nice to be met at the airport by the host himself. Wonderful hospitality. Truly had a personal touch.”

This homestay is on special offer at Rs. 1250 a night for for stays between 1st August and 31st October 2012.

Ranger woods – Munnar, Kerala

Ranger Woods in Munnar enjoys an enviable location packed with spices, vegetation and fruit trees such as passion fruit. Amongst the greenery can be seen giant Malabar squirrels, incredibly coloured butterflies and many species of birds,

Anshu Gaind from the USA stayed here in April 2012 and loved the scenic location.

“We really enjoyed spending two nights at Ranger Woods. The rooms were spacious and clean. The hosts were absolutely fantastic. My wife ended up learning a few local dishes from the host and their cook.”

This homestay is on special offer at Rs. 1250 a night for for stays between 1st August and 31st October 2012.

Pepper County – Thekkady, Kerala

Pepper County Homestay is a modern and immaculate house with a sense of rural seclusion, offering spectacular hill and plantation views. The front veranda is a perfect spot for bird watching or seeing the sun set over the hills and guests can enjoy a tour around the plantation to learn about the different spices and fruits grown there.

Jan Draeper from the UK had a very enjoyable stay here.

“We stayed here for a couple of nights in December 2011 and couldn’t be happier with the experience. Beautiful spacious bungalow set in wonderful grounds. Cyriac’s son and daughter-in-law work for a prestigious hotel chain in London and the western influence shows through in the quality of the furnishings, linen and cleanliness. But the best part of the stay was Cyriac himself who could not have done more for us. There was unrest in the area while we were there and he worried and cared about us as if we were family. Highly recommended!”

This homestay is on special offer at Rs. 1750 a night for for stays between 1st August and 31st October 2012.

Manali Meadows Homestay – Manali, Himachal Pradesh

Manali Meadows is located in a scenic location just outside Manali town with views over the hills to the snow capped mountains in the distance.

Kishor Vaghodkar from India stayed in June 2012.

“Our stay at Manali Meadows was wonderful; Manali Meadows experience was like a home away from home. The location of Manali Meadows is amazing. It is located on foothill of a hill of cedar trees, outside Manali city away from the crowded market place. It is very quiet place.

We had booked two rooms; both rooms were spacious with attached bathroom and balconies. The lawn is well maintained with different verity of flowers and full of roses. The hosts Mr. Sanjay Dutta & Mrs. Sunita Dutta are very hospitable. Mr Sanjay Dutta along with his team took very good care of my family.

On our request Mr Dutta had organized local sightseeing tour with reasonable cost. The food here was delicious, nice home cooked food. The breakfast was nice. We enjoyed our stay in Manali & Manali Meadows I certainly recommend this home stay.”

This homestay is on special offer at Rs. 1700 a night for for stays between 1st August and 31st October 2012.

Wonderful Wayanad

Mahindra Homestays — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 04:53:26 +0000

Guest post: Kate Waite from Eastbourne in the UK visited South India in November 2011. She shares her experiences of Wayanad.

Waking up in Wayanad at the beautiful Glenora Homestay, light streams through the bamboo blinds while a chorus of tropical birds greets the rising sun.

Wandering onto my private balcony which looks out over the verdant jungle, the fresh hill station air carries the scent of tropical spices into the room. A knock at the door brings freshly brewed coffee, grown on the homestay’s own plantation. The perfect start to the day.

Wayanad, a hill station in Kerala, is jaw droppingly beautiful. As Lonely Planet perfectly coins, “If Kerala is ‘God’s Country’, this must be his garden of Eden”. Coffee and spice plantations, immaculate tea gardens, wild teak forests and green valleys are punctuated with crashing waterfalls, spectacular view points and a wildlife sanctuary where you have a great chance of spotting elephants and even the occasional tiger.

Such a spectacular location deserves equally good accommodation. Travelling along winding narrow roads, climbing up the hills of the Western Ghats we finally reached the huge coffee plantation that is the setting for Glenora Homestay. After a warm welcome from our host Mr Rajagopal we were shown to our home for the next few days: A luxury cottage built on stilts rising above the jungle below.

Our immaculate room was well furnished but we were instantly drawn back outside to the balcony, with green views as far as the eye could see, and not a single sign of human habitation blotting the perfect vista.

Mr Rajagopal was keen to show us around the local area and we were soon bumping along dirt tracks in his 4×4 as he introduced us to the wonders of Wayanad.

Close to Glenora is sunrise valley, a viewpoint over some very dramatic scenery. Low lying clouds hug the valleys, distant waterfalls rumble like thunder and the cries of wildlife echo through the teak forests which stretch as far as the eye could see.

In sharp contrast to the wild valleys, perfect tea gardens line the narrow roads. We stopped to take a walk with Mr Rajagopal who talked us through the tea picking process, showing us the green shoots that would soon be plucked.

Our education continued early the following morning with a plantation walk around Glenora. Mr Rajagopal has been running the plantation here for over 40 years and alongside the crops of coffee, pepper and betal nuts are 20 varieties of fruit trees. His enthusiasm was infectious, crushing leaves and digging up roots for us to smell and taste as we worked up an appetite for breakfast.

Back at the house we indulged in a variety of mouth wateringly fresh fruit, washed down with delicious coffee (all grown on the plantation of course) and made plans to visit Muthanga Wildlife Sanctuary that afternoon.

Once again finding ourselves ensconced in a 4×4 traversing rutted dirt paths, our park guide skilfully navigated the rough tracks while keeping an eye out for wildlife. Plenty of deer and peacocks watched as we passed by and a large snake crossing in front of us momentarily halted our progress through the sanctuary. Despite being one of the best places in India to spot wild elephants we weren’t lucky on this occasion, but it didn’t detract from the experience.

If you are visiting Kerala then Wayanad definitely deserves a place on your itinerary and you need look no further than Glenora Homestay for a place to call home during your visit. The beautiful surroundings, friendly knowledgeable host and delicious home cooked cuisine flavoured with fruits and spices grown on the property itself were a highlight of our trip and we can’t wait to return again.

Find out more about Glenora homestay, see the video or book a room with Mahindra Homestays.

Mahindra Homestays: Highly Rated by Customers

Mahindra Homestays — Wed, 30 May 2012 20:59:12 +0000

We always love to receive feedback from guests who have stayed in our homestays and were delighted with the results of our latest Customer As Promoters Score (CAPS) survey.

The CAPS survey asked guests who have used our services “how strongly would you recommend us?” on a scale of 1-10. With more than 60% of Indian customers and 80% of overseas customers giving us a positive rating, our overall CAP score is an exceptional 45%.

We are happy to see such great feedback from our guests. To receive a positive CAP score is considered very good so thank you to all our guests who took part.
Following their holiday we ask guests to review their experiences via an email survey and have been given an average of 8.6 / 10, again indicating a high level of customer satisfaction.

Your feedback is always appreciated and forms an important part in ensuring that our affiliated homes provide services and amenities that meet the expectations of the discerning traveller.

Some recent guest feedback:

“The view from the terrace makes this the best location in Jodhpur. The setting is refreshingly peaceful and stunning. The Rais are a sweet family and go out of their way to make every aspect of the stay convenient and comfortable. I definitely wouldn’t stay anywhere else if I visit Jodhpur again.”
Madona Hildebrand from the USA stayed at Indrashan in Jodhpur, Rajasthan.

“I truly enjoyed my stay at Casa Homestay. This was my first night in India and I very much appreciated the welcoming attitude and patience of the hosts. The room definitely exceeded my expectations; it was beautiful and luxurious. The food was excellent. Thanks again, I’m hoping to come back one day for a longer stay!”
Yulia Grebenyuk from Germany stayed at Casa Homestay in Delhi, NCR

“We had a fantastic stay with the Ponappas. The property was beautiful and was situated in a huge coffee estate. The house is lovely with a beautiful porch and a garden which is really well maintained. The house itself is very beautifully done up with the decor reflecting Cauvery Ponappa’s taste and style. The rooms were comfortable and decently sized. The best part of the stay was the home cooked Coorgi good served by the hosts.”
Swete G from Bangalore, India stayed at Victory Homes, Coorg, Karnataka.

Read more about our Homestays:
The homestay experience
Why use us
Responsible travel
Browse our homestay collection

Four new homestays for your next break

Mahindra Homestays — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:29:59 +0000

Surabi in Mahe, Kerala

Tucked away from the normal tourist hotspots, Mahe is actually part of Pondicherry but lies 630km on the opposite coastline with the Arabian Sea on one side and much loved Kerala on the other.

This tranquil coastal town with its narrow streets bearing testimony to its French lineage is the perfect secret destination for relaxation.

One of our newest homestays, Surabhi offers a perfect blend of Indian hospitality and privacy in this quiet destination. Close to a temple and the river, head for a walk amongst the verdant surroundings of jack fruit trees. Surabhi is a great place to unwind with a book or ‘do nothing’.

Hillscape Inn and Green Paradise in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir

Srinagar is a much loved hill-station in the beautiful Kashmir Valley. Two new homestays can be combined together to offer a perfect break in this North India summer refuge.

No visit to Srinagar is complete without a couple of nights in a houseboat allowing you to experience life on Dal Lake. The Green Paradise offers a fleet of super deluxe family owned houseboats, each with its own crew that takes care of your food and any activities that you want. These luxurious boats echo back to the time of Kings when it was decreed that no outsider could own land in Kashmir. The British got around this ruling by living on the water, employing Persians to build Cedar wood boats with elaborate wooden carved interiors.

Combine a few nights on a houseboat with a few days in the mountains. Hillscape Inn offers a beautiful view of Dal Lake and you can spend your days trekking in the mountains before heading back to your homestay for a bonfire dinner. The attentive hosts of Hillscape Inn have great knowledge of local artifacts and handicrafts and can guide you with shopping for the beautiful woodwork or the Pashmina shawls that Kashmir is known for.

Lakerose in Wayanad, Kerala

Wayanad in Kerala’s beautiful Western Ghats is a destination that visitors fall in love with; stunning views over coffee plantations, tea gardens and teak forests, crashing waterfalls with hidden swimming coves and a wildlife sanctuary where you might just spot a tiger.

New homestay Lake Rose is perfect for guests who want to be one with nature and soak up the tranquil environment. With the Karapuzha dam just meters from the house, wake up to the views (pictured above) of soft mist rolling over the water.

The house offers all the modern facilities you might need, including a fully furnished kitchen and three large units, great for accommodating families who are travelling together.

If you are planning your next break maybe one of these new homestays will tempt you! Don’t forget Facebook fans can claim 15% off their booking.

Falling in love with Alleppey at Taamara Homestay

Mahindra Homestays — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 22:00:02 +0000

Guest post: Kate Waite from Eastbourne in the UK visited South India in November 2011. She shares her experiences of Alleppey.

Waking up in one of the luxurious rooms at the premium homestay, Taamara, is a holiday highlight all on its own. Lazily pulling back the curtains I returned to my comfortable bed and curl up to watch the morning activity on the lake. Fishermen paddle by in their wooden canoes to haul in their nets to provide the fresh fish for local markets, luxurious houseboats designed like kettuvallams (rice barges) drift by and exotic birds perch on the cantilevered fishing nets just off shore. In a flash of blue a kingfisher plucks his breakfast from amongst the carpet of green lily pads, punctuated by soft hyacinth purple blooms.

Located in Alleppey, sitting on the shores of Vembernand Lake this beautiful homestay offers affordable luxury in a very special location.

Considered to be one of the highlight destinations of Kerala, it’s the perfect spot for exploring the vast network of backwaters the region is so famous for. Traversing through some of the 900km network of canals and palm-fringed lakes is undoubtedly one of India’s most enchanting experiences. Alleppey isn’t just about the backwaters, as we soon discovered its other offerings; golden sandy beaches, delicious Keralan cuisine and Aurevadic spa treatments.

Arriving at Taamara we received a warm welcome, a beautiful lotus flower was placed around my neck and a refreshing glass of coconut milk in my hand. With just four rooms guests are assured a complete VIP experience as soon as they arrive and it is easy to imagine this place as a secret hideaway for the rich and famous.

The guest rooms are located in a separate building which was designed by a local architect to make full use of the stunning views over the lake, while offering complete privacy. The air-conditioned rooms are comfortably furnished with large beds, crisp linen and modern bathrooms. Most importantly huge windows running the length of the room fill them with light and make the most of that all-important lakeside view.

It wasn’t long before we had the opportunity to get out onto the lake ourselves. Our homestay host, Nirmala, arranged for one of their fisherman neighbours to take us out onto the lake in his wooden canoe, just as dusk was falling. We drifted slowly along the shoreline, the silence punctuated by the gentle splash of the paddle and the sound of singing from a church on the bank of the lake.

The following morning we were out on the water again, this time exploring the canals that make up the famous Kerala backwaters. As our boat traversed through lagoons and small waterways we caught a glimpse of village life on the water, passing people washing clothes, scrubbing dishes and bathing in the canals. Chickens scurried along the banks, chased by children who stopped to wave as we passed by, all set to a tropical green backdrop of palms and waterlillies.

Our homestay hosts, Mr. V. V. Babu, an award-winning filmmaker and his wife, Nirmala were extremely attentive, from arranging our backwater trip to lending binoculars so that we could get a better glimpse of the varied bird life on the lake.

A real highlight at Taamara is the delicious home cooked Keralan cuisine, without doubt some of the best Indian food we have ever tasted. A special lunch served on a plantain leaf was a particular highlight as Nirmala took the time to explain the significance of each item to us, all beautifully presented and packed full of flavour.

Having discovered our love of South Indian cuisine we were invited into the kitchen for the chance to help prepare a meal, learning several techniques and filling my journal with delicious recipes, hurriedly scribbled down between mouthfuls of the delicious fare on offer.

Taamara is the perfect homestay for anybody wanting a bit of luxury, ideal for a romantic break. You are sure to fall in love with the peaceful surroundings of this special property that will stay in the memory for a long time.

Find out more about Taamara homestay, see the video or book a room with Mahindra Homestays.

Opening the door to India – download your free brochure

Mahindra Homestays — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 10:49:33 +0000

Download your free brochure

Format PDF | Size 5.6 Mb

India is a country which imprints an unforgettable impression on visitors through its food, sights, sounds and most importantly, its people.

Staying in a property owned and run by a family, whether it be a palace or heritage estate;a colonial hilltop cottage or cosy plantation home, is a great way to find out more about (and be part of) everyday life in India.

Choosing a homestay allows your experience of India to be up close and personal. Choosing Mahindra Homestays ensures the highest quality, safety and comfort for the most discerning of guests.

Our new homestay brochure is available to download and is packed with inspirational images and ideas to help you plan your perfect trip.

With advice on when to visit, how to get to the most popular destinations and what unique experiences you might encounter the Mahindra Homestays brochure contains plenty of information for anyone planning a trip to or within India.

Get a free gift this summer when you book a homestay

Perfect hosts: Falling in love with one of our Homestays

Mahindra Homestays — Thu, 10 Feb 2011 08:27:28 +0000

It is always nice to hear from our guests, especially when they have had a great stay and fallen in love with one of our Homestays.

Kalsen from Singapore wasn’t sure what to expect, but found that homestay accommodation offered the perfect holiday experience.

“As I lay in bed writing this feedback, I must tell you that me and my partner are so touched by our hosts, Mr. and Mrs. Zacharias, that we feel disheartened that we have to leave tomorrow morning.

“I was very sceptical about Homestays as I wondered whether it would be an intrusion into each others life. However, all this changed when I stepped into the beautiful Tharavadu homestay. The wonderful host couple greeted us with warm smiles and love in their hearts. Their house is so very spacious and our room had a comfortable bed that gave us a well deserved rest. The bathroom was also large and very neat.

“The couple were so sweet to us, offering us a good Keralan lunch. I had the pleasure of tasting Mrs. Zacharias date balls and had to take note of the recipe. Trust me, they are delicious and of course her own creation!

“Mr. Zacharias guided us in getting the right spa experience and boating experience. Besides the beautiful place of Alleppey, we really enjoyed our good conversations with our hosts. We felt so comfortable with them that we felt we were almost at home. We are going to miss them and of course Alleppey too! We will definitely come back.

“Mr. and Mrs. Zacharias Tharavadu Homestay is a definite must! Thank you Mahindra Homestays!”

Further information about the hosts:

The hosts of this recently opened homestay have a flair for entertaining and a history in the hospitality industry. Mr. Zacharia is the director of a luxury resort on Lake Vembanad and Mrs. Maria Zacharia is the author of a bestselling cookbook on Keralian cuisine. Together, they ensure guests receive a friendly service and unforgettable feasts.

Further information about the homestay:

Tharavadu Homestay located in Alleppey, Kerala is warm and inviting. Rooms are generously sized, sunny and well equipped with large wardrobes, writing desks and stylish furniture. A sunny lawn with a cascading waterfall descending into a cheery lotus pond is a perfect place to sit and relax. The beach is just a ten minute away and you can find plenty of cosy cafes, restaurants, and public parks.

Meet the hosts yourself and stay at Tharavadu Homestay.

Why homestays are the perfect choice for the whole family

Mahindra Homestays — Fri, 24 Dec 2010 07:28:46 +0000

A family holiday is the perfect opportunity to relax and enjoy special memories with the entire family. Homestays are the ideal choice for families travelling with children as they offer many benefits to enhance your trip and make it a holiday you won’t forget.

Why a homestay

Homestays by definition are run by families or couples and most hosts either have young children or have children who have since moved out. They often have many indoor games, kids rooms and dedicated play areas. Such facilities can be found in several homestays like Bel Home and The Homestead, which also has a tree house and sand pit for children. You will find that homestay hosts have a lot of affection for children and will go out of their way to ensure they have a memorable stay.

Variety of options

From homestays like Arco Iris, Balunda house, Akkarakalam Memoirs and Surya kunj that promote cultural interaction in children to those like Olaulim Backyard which provide exciting physical activities; there are all kinds of homestays in the Mahindra family. Children in these homestays don’t just accompany their parents, they have rich and memorable holidays of their own.

Range of experiences

Many homestays have sprawling gardens and terraces. Fun barbecues and bonfires are often organised by hosts and always go down well with younger visitors.

For children who love to swim great options are The Homestead, Surya kunj, Palm Court Jaipur and Olaulim Backyard. You will also find that many homestays have friendly pets such as dogs, ponies, birds and even donkeys on their ground. Nandan Farms can arrange bullock cart rides across the countryside for the whole family.

For a truly enriching experience for your children do visit the orphanage run by Palm Court Jaipur’s owner or the school that belongs to the hosts of Madhu Pushp Bhawan.

Read more about our Homestays
Quality and Safety of Homestays
Browse our collection of Homestays across India

Our Indian homestays offer high quality and safe accommodation

Mahindra Homestays — Thu, 18 Nov 2010 09:34:14 +0000

When you are planning a trip you will want to be reassured that you are booking high quality accommodation. Mahindra Homestays have a strict Quality Management Programme for all homestays to ensure they comply with high standards to keep guests happy and coming back for more!

Mahindra is one of India’s most reputable and successful companies. Each of the high quality Homestays across India is carefully selected and inspected to ensure they comply with the high standards of Mahindra Homestays, including comfort, cleanliness, safety and originality. All the host families of the Homestays have been met and the houses visited and stayed in by our people before we recommend them to you.

We have laid down stringent standards of quality control as well as a regular quality monitoring programme.

Quality Control

Pre Affiliation Check:

Audit of homestay before it becomes part of the Mahindra Homestays portfolio
Check done on safety, hygiene, comfort and quality of interaction by host.
Police check on background of hosts and employees at the homestay.

Quality Monitoring

We also keep having audits for homestays twice a year to monitor standards as prescribed by us to ensure that agreed standards of service are adhered to.

Mystery audits are done by an external agency and scores are shared with us. Either corrective action or training is undertaken with homestays that need such measures. Any homestay that does not live up to expectations is no longer on our website.

Guest feedback is also very important to us. Every guest staying in one of our homestays gets an online feedback form from us as well as from the homestay owner. These scores and reviews are monitored by us as well as listed on the website against each homestay name. Either corrective action or training is undertaken with homestays that need such measures, based on guest feedback. Any grievances of guests are also addressed and a proper process is in place to take care of such incidents.

As on March 2010, the average feedback score of guests has been 4.3 out of 5.

Find out more about our homestays across India.

Homestays offer responsible tourism in India

Mahindra Homestays — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 06:11:22 +0000

To encourage responsible tourism in India, Mahindra Homestays has initiated many programs that a large number of homestays have incorporated. Through their teachings and methods homestays and travellers can have positive and lasting impact on the environment while boosting the regional socio-economic conditions.

ENVIRONMENTAL AWARENESS

Most homestays in India have lush gardens, which are made without artificial landscaping and maintained using organic fertilizers. Native plants adaptable to the natural environment are planted. Often biogas plans are part of the homestay, particularly those which are large in size. Biodegradable waste such as leaves are made into compost and not burned and alternative energy sources like solar power are tapped by homestays. When exploring the surrounding areas guests are encouraged to opt for village walks, cycling and canoe rides.

For cooking, many homestays use organic farm products from the garden or from local farmers. To reduce the electricity consumption homestays use CFL Lamps and well maintained home appliances.

LOCAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

All employees at homestays are locals. Even people who aren’t directly employed by homestays like youth who serve as guides and taxi drivers receive a healthy supplement to their income. Seasonal employment is also catapulted by homestays that usually double their staff during peak seasons.

The homestay kitchen requirements are fulfilled by the local market or by the homestay itself.

SOCIAL IMPACT

Activities such as dance recitals, canoe rides, clam picking are offered to guests. These activities not only generate extra income for locals but also help them showcase their traditional skills and knowledge. Many dying art forms and traditions have found a new lease on life through tourism.

Local artists get the chance to enhance their skills and make them more global by interacting with artists from other countries.

If you would like to find out more about responsible tourism and the homestay experience please get in touch or browse the Mahindra Homestay collection.