Taj Wayanad Resort & Spa, Kerala

The resort, food, staff was excellent. I loved the stay and the property. Thank you Taj

The pool could have been heated. I surely didn't enjoy pool time.

Great location, a peaceful getaway

In summary: a beautiful property with potential, but significant shortcomings in service, transparency, sustainability practices, and guest experience.

I would rate this hotel 3 out of 5, mainly because my stay felt like being in a golden cage. The property itself is beautiful, but during my three days there I did not leave the hotel even once. I initially extended my stay by one night, but then cancelled it — simply because there were no realistic options to explore the surroundings. The hotel cooperates with only one single third-party tour operator for all excursions and activities. At check-in, I was not informed that this provider was already fully booked, nor was I offered any alternatives. The attitude was essentially: “This is our provider, please contact them.” From a five-star hotel, I expect proactive communication, transparency, and backup solutions — or at least some effort to organize alternatives for guests. None of that happened. Another serious issue is the hotel’s claim of sustainability. In the room, tea, coffee, and sugar are provided as usual. The tea is packaged in paper, but the coffee — Tata’s own plantation coffee — comes in cheap non-recyclable plastic sachets. At first, I assumed it was a low-quality product due to the packaging. Only later did the manager inform me that it was indeed Tata’s own coffee. This is deeply disappointing and hard to reconcile with a hotel that advertises itself as sustainable. Additionally, the parking area directly in front of the hotel is heavily littered, resembling a small landfill. While it is true that the surrounding area outside the hotel is generally polluted, the access road leads exclusively to this property. I would expect a hotel of this level — especially one claiming sustainability — to at least keep its immediate surroundings clean. The fact that this is not addressed is frankly embarrassing. The food was just okay. For a five-star hotel, the selection felt limited, especially the lack of fish options. The service also fell short of expectations. Doors were often not opened, and at reception several basic mistakes were made.