The Birchwood Retreat, Madikeri

Beautiful resort surrounded by dense nature. Nice and safe areas to walk. Breakfast every morning was excellent with good variety. All staff members were courteous and helpful at all times. The rooms were spacious, clean, and upgraded. Plenty of parking spaces. Also got a great massage from Nayana. She was excellent!

The resort is close to a major highway so there was alot of traffic noise, day and night.

We stayed at Birch Wood Retreat, Villa No. 3 for 2 nights (24–26 October), and overall, it was a pleasant experience with a few areas that could use improvement. Booking & Check-in: The booking process was smooth and hassle-free. The resort staff were kind enough to allot us Villa No. 3, as we had requested a nearby one for a senior citizen — much appreciated! Location (9/10): Perfectly situated between Dubare Elephant Camp and Madikeri, making it convenient to explore both areas. The resort is surrounded by nature — calm, peaceful, and ideal for a relaxing getaway. Staff & Service (10/10): All the staff members we interacted with — at the reception, restaurant, and housekeeping — were extremely polite, courteous, and quick to assist whenever needed. Their hospitality really stood out. Food (9/10): The morning breakfast had a limited but adequate spread, and everything we tried was fresh and tasty. We also ordered à la carte dinner (both veg and non-veg) — all dishes were flavorful, and our whole family enjoyed the meal. Cleanliness (9/10): The restaurant, swimming pool, and indoor games area were all well-maintained and clean. Villa Stay (9/10 for space & cleanliness, 5/10 for maintenance): The villa rooms were spacious, clean, and well-designed, with mosquito nets fitted to prevent insect entry — a nice touch. However, the villa does need maintenance: • Many electrical sockets were not working, • The furniture felt outdated and had a musty smell, so we avoided using the wardrobe, • Bathroom showers were mostly non-functional — only one worked but with very low water pressure, • The dry and wet partition existed but was ineffective, • Doors were swollen and heavy, making them difficult to use. Value for Money (6.5/10): While the location, food, and staff make it a memorable stay, the maintenance issues bring down the value a bit.

Pool

Nature walk

The rooms and the location of the property is brilliant Great swimming pool and facilities for walking with your dog. The food served was tasty..

The staff gave us completely misleading information regarding the complimentary breakfast. We asked multiple times to confirm whether breakfast was included, and each time the staff assured us that it was. However, at checkout we were suddenly informed that breakfast was not complimentary and were charged for it. This mistake on the staff’s part directly resulted in us paying for something we were explicitly told was included. Very disappointing and unacceptable. The rooms walls require a bit of maintenance or bit of attention as the room walls have water marks or dampness. When we entered the room had a moldy smell and was provided with air freshener.