Refresh your post-COVID bucket list with these 5 perfect places near Kochi you can visit already!

As some cities continue to open up while others reprise to old isolation routines, the question is not when will you travel anymore, but where and how. But the lockdown seesaw makes one thing clear, some of us will be travelling sooner than the others. Some, even tomorrow.

Countless times of refreshing airlines’ social media feed and you don’t find anything new because you are not likely, for at least a while. On the bright side, if all you want is a quick escape from the lockdown and the days that simply won’t end, search no further. Plan a staycation close to your city, today. Staycation is a short-vacation within driving distance from your city, where you get to indulge yourself in the full-blown comforts of a typical holiday while staying put.

Why Staycations?

Part of the world is still locked down, which means international travel not being on the horizon in the near future. Short trips where you park yourself at one place for a relaxing holiday sounds like the only way to reimagine travel in these times.

Why are staycations safe?

We didn’t arrive at staycations overnight. Reinforcing our commitment to offering hassle-free travel to our customers come what may, we at Pickyourtrail spent the past 3 months contemplating the possibility of travel at a time when the choice is limited. After talking to fellow travel lovers and industry experts day in and day out, we learnt that safety and hygiene are the foremost concerns travellers need reassurance about before planning a trip.

Keeping this in mind, we’ve joined hands with the best in the current travel ecosystem—the best travel options near your city that are perfect for your first post-lockdown trip. Driven by sheer commitment to provide travellers with a safe and hassle-free stay, these businesses have elevated their standards to cater to the “new normal” in every touchpoint of the customer journey. Take a look at the perfect places near Kochi to go for your first post-lockdown trip, the unique safety measures these properties follow, and the documents required for travelling.

Top places for your first post-lockdown trip from Kochi

Deepwood Resorts, Munnar

The vibrant coastal city of Kochi is no short of options when it comes to travelling close to the area, leaving bright getaway options from wherever you are. Especially in luck are those longing for a refreshing escape from the scorching summer, for Deepwood resorts Munnar has situated just 136 km from Kochi and can be reached in 4-5 hours by road. You can drive yourself or hire a taxi, just be wary of the challenging hilly route. You don’t need an ePass for interstate travel in Kerala, hence it’s enough to carry your ID proof and vehicle RC copy for border checking.

Get transported to the most luscious part of Kerala through soothing hospitality interiors and authentic Malabar cuisine. Deepwood Resorts has limited the number of guests at a given time and follows CDC-specified gap between each reservation. Read more about their COVID safety measures here.

Elixir Resorts, Munnar

Nestled in Munnar region, Elixir Resorts is a 5-star resort that’s a “tryst with wilderness” they say, and it’s easy to see why. Tune everything else and enter a holistic world of rainforest walks, ayurvedic rituals, mindfulness therapies and wildlife watching. Lounge in the infinity pool overlooking rainforests and fir trees or gear up for some outdoor adventure. Elixir Resorts is the closest you can experience Kerala as is.

As if it wasn’t the most private environment amidst Kerala’s pristine nature already, the resort has now decided to open up just a very few rooms to ensure social distancing is followed. The spacious suites with high-speed internet, not to mention the sweeping views through the glass doors, will be a treat to the sore eyes. Read more about their COVID safety measures here.

Ramada Resort by Wyndham Kochi, Kumbalam

Among the hotspot destinations located within Kochi, Ramada Resort is one of the most popular among locals and domestic travellers alike. You need not plan anything beforehand and still have a great time outdoors. And the location? In a league of its own! Kovalam, Munnar and Alleppey are quite the limelight-hoggers when it comes to holidaying in Kerala but beyond these big titles await Kumbalam, one of the most quaint and godlike hill stations in the whole of Kerala. The place stays less-crowded throughout the year and hence a great place for solo escapes.

Wyndham group of hotels has launched its Count on Us initiative which has brought forth elevated cleanliness protocols and EPA-approved disinfectants in place. Read more about their COVID safety measures here.

Xandari Resorts, Mattancherry

Mararikulam is a hidden gem of Kerala that is on par with its other tourist hotspots. Mararikulam holds its indigenous culture precious, and Xandari Resorts is your window to how life looks like in this colonial port town. Take a walk in nature and enjoy handpicked experiences exclusively curated for you! This green haven which was once a busy trade town is exactly where you should go if it’s meaningful adventures that you seek.

Xandari resort group has stepped up its commitment & standards to protecting the health and safety of its guests, thus ensuring the “new normal” doesn’t interfere with their peace of mind in any aspect.

Aquatic Island By Poppys, Kumbalangi

Aquatic Island By Poppys is your typical Kerala dream—expect floating villas, suspended backwater rooms, infinity pools, Kerala ayurvedic spa sessions and sunset boat rides. The serene property is in the quaint coastal town of Kumbalangi Nights-fame, and is quite the kind of “glamping” getaway we need right now—camping in nature with the amenities of a luxury resort.

The island resort is just 15 km away from Fort Kochi which you can reach merely in 30 minutes. So close to the city yet so far from the noise, this island escape is everything you didn’t know you needed. The resort has also taken very prudent measures to shun social contact and to maintain safety. The naturally distanced villas and suites just came in really handy in this situation.

Documents required for interstate travel in Kerala:

All the places mentioned here fall within Kerala borders and since you don’t need any special entry pass for interstate travel in Kerala, it suffices to carry your personal ID proof and vehicle RC copy with you.

There’s nothing like Kerala to revamp your bucket list after months of refraining from travel. Book staycations now.