Benale International: Kannur's Hidden Gem? (You Won't Believe This!)
Benale International: Kannur's Hidden Gem? (You Won't Believe This!) - A Very Honest Review
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because I just spent a week at Benale International in Kannur. And let me tell you, this wasn't just a stay; it was a journey. I'm talking highs, lows, and enough memories to fill a Bollywood flick. So, is it a hidden gem? Let's find out, shall we?
First Impressions & the Accessibility Angle: Rough Start, Promising Finish
Okay, first things first: finding the place. Let's just say my navigation skills are about as reliable as a politician's promise. But eventually, after a few U-turns (and a near-miss with a rogue auto-rickshaw), I arrived. The exterior? Pretty standard, nothing that screams "hidden gem." But the real kicker? Accessibility. This is where things got… interesting. While they do have an elevator (thank God!), I didn’t see explicit signage everywhere for wheelchair users. I did, however, witness a staff member helping a guest with limited mobility with genuine warmth. That’s a huge plus. So, while it's not perfect in this department, the staff's attitude and willingness to help, plus the elevator, definitely earn some points.
(SEO Keywords: Accessibility, Wheelchair accessible, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests)
Rooms: Cozy, Comfortable, With a Side of…Adventure?
My room? Well, it was clean. And the bed? Oh, the bed! Like sinking into a cloud made of dreams and pure laziness. Seriously, I could have spent the entire week just existing on that bed. (SEO Keywords: Air conditioning, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Wi-Fi [free], Non-smoking rooms, Bed, Wake-up service) They had all the basics: AC (thank the sun gods!), a fridge, a working TV (essential!), and even free Wi-Fi. And here's a confession: I actually used the ironing facilities. Don’t judge! But the best part? That Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! This is a huge selling point. I was uploading my Instagram stories (obviously) without a hitch.
Now, a word of caution: my room wasn’t perfect. The occasional drip from the tap, a slightly wonky door, a few… unexpected noises. Look, this isn’t the Four Seasons. But for the price and the location, it was more than acceptable. The mini-bar was a nice touch too. (SEO Keywords: Mini-bar, Refrigerator, Coffee/tea maker, Room decorations,) and the mirror was perfect for selfie sessions.
Food, Glorious Food! (And Some Hiccups)
Ah, the food. Where to begin? Breakfast was included, a classic buffet. (SEO Keywords: Breakfast [buffet], Buffet in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast) They had everything from the usual toast and cereal to actual authentic Indian breakfast dishes. I went for the latter, obviously. The dosas were crispy perfection and the sambar? Oh, the sambar! It was so good, I secretly went back for seconds (and maybe thirds). (SEO Keywords: Asian cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant)
The restaurant, thankfully, had a Vegetarian restaurant option.
Dinner at was another story. I tried their international cuisine. The menu, offered a surprising range of choices. (SEO Keywords: International cuisine in restaurant, A la carte in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Restaurants, Poolside bar) I ordered a burger. And, let’s just say, it wasn't the best burger I've ever had. (think "meat patty on a bun"). However, their Indian dishes were excellent. The curries were rich, flavorful, and the service? Always with a smile. (Even when I kept asking for extra rice).
And the Poolside bar! Fantastic for a late afternoon cocktail, soaking up the sun (and avoiding the office).
(SEO Keywords: Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Snack bar, Bottle of water, Room service [24-hour], Coffee shop)
Relaxation & Recreation: Where Benale REALLY Shines
This is where Benale International truly starts to sparkle. The Swimming pool [outdoor] is gorgeous, and the Pool with view is mesmerizing. I spent hours just floating around, pretending I was a celebrity. (SEO Keywords: Sauna, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Massage, Gym/fitness, Fitness center, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath)
Then there's the spa. Oh, my. I had a massage. And, oh, my god, it was heavenly. This is where I doubled down my experience. After a day of exploring the city, the spa was the perfect way to recharge. It was so good. I also tried the sauna. So relaxing!
The Fitness center is actually decent. It has the basics. I also tried the gym, but just once… It was enough to get me back on my feet after all the delicious food.
(SEO Keywords: Swimming pool, Sauna, Spa)
Cleanliness, Safety, and Pandemic Protocols: Taking it Seriously (Mostly)
Okay, this is a big one for me, especially after, well, you know. Benale seemed to be taking COVID-19 precautions seriously. (SEO Keywords: Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Rooms sanitized between stays, Individually-wrapped food options, Hand sanitizer, Staff trained in safety protocol) I saw hand sanitizer everywhere, staff wearing masks, and they seemed to be diligent about cleaning. Did I see them using professional-grade sanitizing services? I honestly couldn’t say but the overall impression was positive. You can also opt-out room sanitization. (SEO Keywords: Room sanitization opt-out available,)
Services & Conveniences: Convenience at Every Turn
The staff were generally friendly (SEO Keywords: Front desk [24-hour], Concierge, Daily housekeeping,) and helpful. They offer a Concierge service, which is handy. The Laundry service was quick and efficient. And here's a super handy tip: they have a Cash withdrawal service. A total lifesaver!
Beyond that, they had all the usual conveniences: a Convenience store (perfect for late-night snacks!), Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes for your valuables, and even a Doctor/nurse on call (thankfully, I didn't need it!). (SEO Keywords: Currency exchange, Doorman, Elevator, Ironing service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Food delivery, Car park [on-site], )
For the Kids & Special Events: Fun For Everyone
Okay, listen up, parents! Benale International seems to be pretty family-friendly. I spotted some Kids facilities. They have a Babysitting service, which could be fantastic. (SEO Keywords: Family/child friendly, Kids meal, Babysitting service)
They also have space for events! (SEO Keywords: Meeting/banquet facilities, Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events)
Overall Vibe: A Solid Choice with Room for Improvement
So, is Benale International a hidden gem? Well, it's not a perfect gem. It’s more like a slightly tarnished, but still very sparkly, piece of costume jewelry. It has its flaws (the wonky door, a few questionable burgers). But it more than makes up for it with its excellent facilities, friendly staff, and unbeatable value.
The Verdict: Absolutely worth Considering.
My Emotional Reaction: I had a fantastic time. I relaxed, I ate too much, and I felt genuinely welcomed. Despite its imperfections, Benale International left me feeling refreshed and happy.
SEO Keywords Summary (because I'm nice):
- Accessibility: (Wheelchair accessible, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests)
- Rooms: (Air conditioning, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Wi-Fi [free], Non-smoking rooms, Bed, Wake-up service, Mini-bar, Refrigerator, Coffee/tea maker, Room decorations)
- Food: (Breakfast [buffet], Buffet in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, A la carte in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Restaurants, Poolside bar, Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Snack bar, Bottle of water, Room service [24-hour], Coffee shop)
- Relaxation: (Swimming pool, Sauna, Spa, Steamroom, Massage, Gym/fitness, Fitness center, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath,)
- Safety: (Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Rooms sanitized between stays, Individually-wrapped food options, Hand sanitizer, Staff trained in safety protocol, Room sanitization opt-out available)
- Services: (Front desk [24-hour], Concierge, Daily housekeeping, Laundry service, Cash withdrawal, Convenience store, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Food delivery, Car park [on-site])
- For Kids: (Family/child friendly, Kids meal, Bab
Benale Bound & Slightly Broken (But Mostly Excited!) - A Kannur Chaos Chronicle
Alright, deep breaths. This is it. Trip to Benale International, Kannur, India. Three months of planning, countless YouTube videos devoured, and a mountain of laundry later, and here I am, staring at my suitcase. Which, by the way, is probably heavier than me. Pray for my back.
Day 1: Arrival & That Mango… Oh, That Mango.
- 06:00 AM: Wake up! Okay, more like, stumble out of bed. Why does jet lag feel like someone's using my brain as a pinball? Coffee. Lots of coffee. And a desperate prayer to the travel gods to prevent any lost luggage calamities.
- 08:00 AM: Flight! (Or, in my case, a series of increasingly cramped experiences involving metal tubes and questionable airline food.) The anticipation is killing me! I actually spent the flight staring at the clouds, convinced I could see Kannur in them. Don't judge.
- 01:00 PM (IST): Landing! The air hits me like a warm, fragrant hug. Honestly, it’s glorious. The chaos of Kannur airport, though… pure poetry. People bustling, languages swirling, the scent of spices already intoxicating my senses. This is it. This is the real deal.
- 02:00 PM: Taxi to the hotel - The driver, bless him, must think I'm a complete idiot. I'm currently pointing frantically at the architecture and gasping at the auto-rickshaws. Everything is color. Everything is life.
- 03:00 PM: Check-in! Room's… well, let's just say it's "authentic." It has a mosquito net, which is a win in my book. The AC sounds like a dying walrus, but I'm too hyped to care.
- 04:00 PM: First meal in Kannur! Found a little roadside stall. The food… oh my god. The mango juice – thick, sweet, pulpy heaven. I think I had three glasses. The parotta was flaky and perfect, the curry bursting with flavors I'd never even dreamed of. I might have accidentally licked the plate. Don't tell anyone. Seriously, this mango… I'm dreaming about it already. I think I am actually in love with a mango. Is that weird? I don't care.
- 06:00 PM: Wander around the local market. Colors exploding everywhere! So many spices, unfamiliar fruits (I'm staying away from the ones with spiky bits for now), and enough gold jewelry to make a pirate blush. I tried haggling, but the shopkeeper just laughed at me. Fair enough. I'm clearly a novice.
- 08:00 PM: Dinner at the hotel. Actually, it's fantastic. So many fresh things. I am not sure I will survive all this tasty food.
Day 2: Tales of the Thottada Beach & Spicy Regrets (Sort Of!)
07:00 AM: Wake up feeling vaguely like I’ve been run over by an auto-rickshaw (again, jet lag), but the memory of the mango fuels my morning. Coffee, of course. And a quick desperate search for the mosquito spray I swear I packed.
09:00 AM: Travel to Thottada Beach. The journey there was an experience, I swear I saw a cow riding a bus. Seriously. Cows are everywhere, and they are utterly unfazed. The beach itself? Pure bliss. Palm trees swaying, the waves whispering secrets to the sand. I'm not sure if I just need this.
10:00 AM: The sand is hot, and the water is as blue as the sky. I could have stayed there forever! The sunset was magnificent and I couldn't help but take a bunch of pictures.
1:00 PM: Lunch at a beachfront shack. I ate something incredibly spicy. My mouth is on fire. My eyes are watering. My sinuses have opened up in ways I didn't know possible. But damn, it was delicious. It was this fish curry, and I had rice to go with it, but it did not help. I am currently feeling like I need to drink a gallon of water.
02:00 PM: I'm regretting that chili, but it was so good. I needed a break, and it was a nice thing to take.
04:00 PM: Back to hotel. I spend some time taking a relaxing shower and resting.
Day 3: The Fort of Forgiveness & Floundering in the Fish Market
- 08:00 AM: Okay, another day. Waking up a bit more human-like. The mosquito spray location is still a mystery.
- 09:00 AM: Visit to St. Angelo Fort. Built by the Portuguese. It's a beautiful ruin, but I spent more time dodging aggressive monkeys than admiring the architecture. One almost stole my sunglasses! (I think they were judging my fashion sense). The views of the Arabian Sea are stunning, though. I spent ages there.
- 11:00 AM: My stomach is grumbling. Coffee.
- 12:00 PM: The Kannur Fish Market - This place. Okay, it's intense. The smell is… potent. Fish of every shape, size, and color piled high. Men shouting, scales flying, and me, standing there, slightly overwhelmed. I tried to take a photo, but I'm pretty sure I just ended up with a blurry picture of a very grumpy fishmonger. I also felt a bit sick, but managed to get a few photos.
- 01:00 PM: Lunch at a little shack outside the market. Fresh seafood, thankfully cooked. Slightly less “fishy”. I am getting better at understanding the menu, but every time is a gamble. The food really is amazing.
- 03:00 PM: I felt like I might need to go back to the hotel, and rest. This day has been tiring.
- 05:00 PM: Rest at the hotel, and try to get some work done.
- 07:00 PM: Dinner. I am going to try new things tonight.
Day 4: (Possibly) More Mango & The Future
- 08:00 AM: Contemplating my life choices. Mostly, "Did I pack enough sunscreen?" and "Where's that mosquito spray?!" And, of course, "When can I eat another mango?”
- 09:00 AM: I plan on trying to find that mango. It may be the most important activity on this trip.
- 11:00 AM: Try and find some new tea. The locals say that it is delicious.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. Of course.
- 02:00 PM: Rest at the hotel. Plan and research further explorations.
- 04:00 PM: Planning the next few days.
- 06:00 PM: Dinner.
Honestly, this schedule is probably going to go off the rails. It's a loose framework. This place is too vibrant, too chaotic, too alive to be confined to rigid plans. I'll probably get lost. I'll probably make a complete fool of myself at least five times a day. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Kannur, you magnificent, mango-filled, fish-market-filled, monkey-infested place… you're already stealing my heart.
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Benale International: Kannur's... Well, Let's Just Say It's an Experience (FAQ Edition)
Okay, seriously, what *is* this Benale International thing everyone's losing their minds over? Is it worth the hype?
Alright, buckle up, because "hype" is putting it mildly. Benale International isn't just a place; it's... an *event*. Okay, maybe I'm being dramatic. But honestly? It's a sprawling, slightly chaotic, sometimes-smelly, undeniably *memorable* resort in Kannur, Kerala. It’s not the Ritz, folks. Let's get that straight. Think more "rustic charm" with, let's just say, *varying* levels of maintenance. Is it worth the hype? Look, if you're after pristine perfection, maybe not. But if you want a real, raw, slightly messy (in the best possible way) experience, with unbelievable food and genuinely lovely people? Hell. Yes. I'd go back tomorrow. Scratch that... I'd *plan* to go back tomorrow, but probably forget to book until the last minute and then scramble for a decent room. That's how it goes.
What kind of "activities" are we talking about? Is it just beach bumming?
Beach bumming? Sure, you can. There's a very nice beach and I spent hours on it. But it's more than that. You have to check what's available, there's no real central calendar. "Activities" is loosely defined. Sometimes there's a bonfire (amazing), sometimes music (variable quality, but always enthusiastic!), and sometimes... well, sometimes you're just left to wander. Which, frankly, is part of the charm. One moment I was trying to learn how to tie a fisherman's knot, the next I was dodging a particularly aggressive coconut crab. It's a choose-your-own-adventure kind of place. Don't expect a jam packed agenda, but be ready to embrace the unplanned.
Let’s talk about the rooms. Are they... okay?
Okay, let's be real. The rooms are... variable. Some are amazing. Really. Lovely, spacious, with balconies you could get lost on. I've heard rumours of some that are a bit... let's say, showing their age. I booked a "deluxe" room and it was... well, it had a bed, a bathroom (with hot water, thank god!) and a view that almost made me weep with joy. It was clean, but not *hospital* clean. Think "lived-in charm". Which, honestly, I preferred. It felt real. My friend booked the cheaper room and... well, let’s just say she spent her first hour fighting with the mosquito net. But even she agreed the view was worth it. The best advice I can give: check photos, read the reviews (trust me, they're a rollercoaster!), and manage your expectations. Take earplugs, just in case.
The food, I've heard some *things*... Is it truly the best food *ever*?
The food. Oh, the food! Look, I've eaten some damn good food in my life. Michelin stars? Sure. Street food that’s made me question my life choices? Absolutely. But the food at Benale International... It's a *religious experience*. Okay, maybe I'm exaggerating *slightly*. But seriously, it's incredible. Fresh, flavorful, bursting with spices you won't find anywhere else. The appams, the curries, the seafood... I had a kingfish that I still dream about. I spent almost my entire stay there eating and then moaning about how full I was. And the staff! They’re so friendly and they'll happily tell you all the ingredients, let you try a little bit more, and generally treat you like family. Just… prepare yourself to gain a few pounds. It's inevitable. The only downside? You'll never be able to recreate it at home. Trust me, I've tried.
Anything to watch out for? Any horror stories?
Okay, confession time. I almost had a minor meltdown. It started with a power outage (common, apparently), followed by a rogue gecko in my room (I'm terrified of them!), and then... the internet going down. No Wi-Fi. Panic stations! But then I sat on the beach, felt the sun, and got to talking to a local who was fishing and... well, the world melted away. So, yes, there are potential downsides. The occasional power cut, the odd creepy-crawly (bring bug spray!), and the general, wonderfully chaotic nature of the place. It's not curated and perfect. But embrace the imperfections, have a sense of humor, and pack lots of patience. And maybe a very strong mosquito repellent. Seriously.
Okay, I'm intrigued. But what about booking? Is it a nightmare?
Booking... right. This is where things get *interesting*. Let’s just say their online presence isn't exactly cutting edge. I spent about an hour on the phone with (bless them) very patient staff, before I managed to get a reservation. Be prepared for some back-and-forth (patience, remember?), and don't expect instant confirmations. I'd suggest calling directly, maybe e-mailing just to, you know, cover your bases. Confirm, confirm, confirm! And definitely, definitely, double-check everything before you go. And bring cash – credit card facilities can be, shall we say, spotty. Don't let the booking process put you off though, it’s worth it.
I have heard the staff are special. What are they really like?
The staff? They are *the* heart and soul of the place. They are incredibly warm, helpful, and genuinely seem to care. They make mistakes, sure. But they do it with a smile and a willingness to fix it. I asked the cook, a delightful man named Ravi, for the recipe for a certain dish (I'd eaten about 30 servings of it) and he just winked and told me it was a "secret". But he *did* show me all the ingredients. They go above and beyond, remembering your name, your coffee order, your preferred spot on the beach. They genuinely want you to have a good time. They were the ones who made the place truly special. They are not “staff”, they become your friends, they become your family. If you don't like the staff, you are the problem.
What, specifically, made this place so memorable?
Okay, I'm going to double down on a single experience, because it truly sums up the place's vibe. I'd been having a rough day - the internet was down (again!), I'd spilled coffeeNomadic Stays
