Gateway Bekal

Excellent location, well maintained property, excellent food and "Taj level" service....what more can one ask for?

The beautiful property

The photos of the property accurately convey what the living experience would be. Staff were very polite and attentive. We loved the free high tea all guests could avail of every day. There were games to play. Spa to relax and rejuvenate and an expansive space to just stroll through. We were also able to get a room upgrade at an extra cost.

Nothing honestly! It's a well maintained property in the true tradition of a Taj Group hotel.

This is a 5star property spread across 30 acres by the side of the backwaters. The main building and the cottages are built in Kerala style and there is plenty of greenery all around the cottages. The hotel lobby with elephants made out of cane and other artefacts is a reflection of Kerala’s art and culture. The lobby has also a tea cart serving local snacks and tea. Rooms are large and well furnished. Corridors to the room on first floor were not well maintained. High Tide, the bar offered a wide choice of drinks. Bar had a pool table. There are lots of activities to do inside the property; like cycling, boating, paddle boating, kayaking, fishing, big pool with bar, cricket and pickleball court. Other indoor games are Table Tennis, Chess, Carroms etc. What I enjoyed most about this property is walking around and the number of activities that kept us engaged inside the property.

For such a large property, there is only one restaurant, which serves local and global cuisine. Though the breakfast spread was good, the food was nothing great. The South Indian breakfast was mediocre and were not tasting authentic at all. Restaurant was too crowded during breakfast time and there was too much delay for the made to order items. Ambience of the bar was not very appealing. Check-in wait time was too long.

• Refreshing welcome drink on arrival. • A birthday cake slice with a "Happy Birthday" message, which initially felt special. Later I realized it seems to be a standard gesture for many guests, but it was still a nice touch. • Complimentary evening tea and snacks.

1. Unwelcoming Reception Experience The lady who handled our check-in was not welcoming at all. There was no smile, warmth, or effort to make us feel comfortable. We genuinely felt like unwanted guests. Even simple questions such as bird-watching timings were answered vaguely, without any enthusiasm to help. I later noticed similar complaints in other Google reviews, which suggests this is not an isolated incident. A luxury hotel's first impression starts at reception, and Gateway Bekal failed badly in this aspect. 2. Serious Safety Issue – Broken Glass in Room 209 This was the most disturbing part of our stay. On the first night, my 4-year-old daughter found sharp pieces of broken glass on the bed. While checking further, we found more glass pieces on the floor. This means the room was either not cleaned properly or not inspected before allotting it to a family with small children. I immediately informed reception. Instead of immediately shifting us to another room, the duty manager first asked whether housekeeping could come and clean the room. I found this response completely unprofessional. The safety of guests, especially children, should never be compromised. Only after insisting repeatedly was the room changed. This incident alone is enough for me to question the hotel's maintenance and safety standards. 3. Poor Buffet Management Breakfast was chaotic. On Day 1, sambar remained empty for over 30 minutes. Staff were either unaware or not bothered. On Day 2, I waited nearly an hour for an egg omelette. Waiting for such a basic breakfast item for that long in a premium hotel is unacceptable. 4. Overall Experience Most of the staff appeared indifferent and lacked hospitality. The property itself may look beautiful, but good hotels are remembered for service, safety, and attention to guests—not just scenery. This trip was meant to be quality family time, but instead it became a disappointing experience and a waste of hard-earned money.

Location is awesome, just next to the back waters. Staff is friendly. We were happy to receive an upgrade.

Frequent electric fluctuations.

Location, landscape and peace in the property

Ok

Management is more money minded. Charging for what is not worth ... Even pool is not temperature controlled. Lot of mosquitos

The atmosphere

Pool timing