Kerala Budget Travel Recommendations

 

Stays by Kerala Govt.,

1. PWD guest house (all over state)
2. Sultanbathery RTC bus stay, Wayanad (online booking available, 160rs per sleeper,  for 3 person family cabin 1000rs, 6 sleeper family cabin 1200rs) and safari bus ride by RTC by evng 7:30 pm and morning 5:30 am on weekends only.
   
3. Munnar Bus stay (160 rs per sleeper)

Other Stays

1. Chaitanya wellness center Tent stay with access to waterfalls, Vagamon (1200rs for 2 person tents with dinner and breakfast. note: required vehicle as it is 7km inside from Vagamon junction)
2. Tent life, Vagamon (1000-1200rs for 2 person tent)
3. Sulthanbathery - john's villa and cottage(500 per person 1 bed)
4. Kumily/Thekkady - Able home stay(upto 500), silver wood residency(upto 1000), monsoon retreats(upto 500)
5. Vattavada - magic valley tent stay with morning valley&dam view trek and evening waterfall trek. else ask permission and you can pitch your own tent
6. Alleppy - funky art beach house (300-500 per female dorm bed, rooms prices varies accordingly) + 1000 rs for day boating including breakfast, lunch and to and fro auto for boat jetty stop
7. Varkala - for 1 day visit can stay in railway station waiting rooms and to sore language in clock room else multiple options for hostels
8. Trivendrum - budget stay rooms  and freshup rooms available in Bus stand
9. Adimali (near by munnar)- multiple budget stays available
10. Suryanelli - multiple tent says available around trek area or can ask permission pitch your own tent.
11. All the Forest stays, safaris  and other forest activities - which requires pre booking on respective sites unless you have a good reference.

Food

1. Karthika hotel, kannur
2. Sultan battery - bustaurent, jublee restaurent
3.  Kalpetta - sisters kitchen(beside begums foods shop)
4. Madathil, irutty -  Golden dish hotel
5. A Home based Shop at Old market junction, Vagamon for lunch and other groceries - jasmine stores 9.690291, 76.907973 
6. Kumily - road side wheel based shops
7. Small food shops on road side On  Thalaserry to kannur road at thottada location

Other must try info

1. Mahe, UT -  for low petrol prices
2. Gevi forest route in bus by RTC
3. windy walk trek, vagamon (near by tentlife, vagamon)
4. graphite road beach
5. drive-in beach
6. forest routes to spot animals and forest ride eg., bandipur > suthan bathery > irulam road

Not recommended

1. walkway food park hotel, opp to river walkway, Mahe (for veggies only)
2. Jatayu, Varkala (600rs for entry + cablecar, steps walk way also available ) - unless you are interested in
3. food stalls in Trivandrum bus stand

Note:

*above prices are up to my experiences and you can always sharpen your bargaining skills*
*if any further contact, details, exchange experiences and tour guide/advisor required, please do comment*
*details updated as of Jan 2024*
*if you find any other budget recommendations and lesser than these please comment below*