Forte Kochi

Forte Kochi has become hands down one of my all time top stay experiences in India. From the check-in welcome to in-room facilities, the hotel lived up to its hype every single bit. We had a 1 night stay at the property and every moment we spent at the property was delightful. You're welcomed so warmly by the well-trained and friendly staff in the traditional way and then someone guides you through all the details of your booking and tells you more about the hotel. The rooms are fantastically done. Very well-maintained and beautifully decorated. There’s a seamless blend of the old with the new. You get the essence of living in a heritage building yet you get all the modern amenities you could ever think about, including the likes of mini freezer, iron, electronic safe, etc. Pool was clean. Loved the fact that they provided sunbeds & towels too. Every single aspect has been thoughtfully done so that all your needs are catered to. Food deserves a special mention too. The breakfast buffet was quite well stocked. From South Indian options to different varieties of breads, you will be spoilt for choices. Also loved the seafood platter we had for lunch and the pasta for dinner.  You can have candlelight dinner by the side of the pool while enjoying a traditional Kuchipudi performance. We also attended their morning heritage walk around the Fort Kochi neighbourhood. Our storyteller was very well informed and made the walk quite engaging. It was wonderful to dive deeper into the region's rich heritage and culture. The hospitality here really stayed with me. Definitely coming back in the future with my family to stay longer.

This was our first trip to India, and only had a few days. Forte Kochi Hotel was a beautiful little resort situated in a great area for checking out the few sites the town has to offer. The morning village tour was a nice way to learn about the area, and the evening music at dinner was enjoyable. The buffet breakfast had a ton of options and we enjoyed trying a bit of everything. Staff are friendly, and the bed was comfortable. Jijo was a great driver during our time there, and made us feel at ease. The complimentary afternoon tea was nice to sample local snacks, although I do think their chai was too heavy in milk and not enough tea, or maybe not brewed long enough when we tasted the tea. I think the area is very touristy and the tour people and shop owners are incredibly pushy, but that is not a reflection on the hotel itself just an observation of the area. We were there only half a day when we arrived, and stayed just until breakfast the next day, but this was enough for us to see most of what was there. I wouldn’t stay longer in Kochi unless you plan day trips or want a tour of the Jewish area or shopping at the Lulu center that is a bit further away. Overall I would recommend this hotel if you are planning to stay in Fort Kochi.