Your stay — Blue Water
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The Property — Blue Water
The Blue Water is a no-fuss, mid-range hotel on Kollam's busy waterfront road. Its small lobby feels functional rather than flashy — think tiled floors, a reception desk with a computer, and framed local art on white walls. The real asset is the Ashtamudi Lake view from upper-floor rooms, which gives you a genuine sense of the backwater city. It suits budget-conscious travellers who want a clean, central base near the boat jetty rather than a resort experience.
Chronicles of Kollam
Kollam, formerly Quilon, is one of India's oldest ports, trading with Romans, Phoenicians, and Chinese by the 9th century. It became a key Malabar Coast spice hub, later under Portuguese, Dutch, and British colonial control, visible in the surviving warehouses and churches. The city's architecture mixes colonial-era bungalows with concrete apartment blocks, and the 19th-century Tangasseri lighthouse still marks the waterfront. Today, Kollam thrives on cashew processing, fishing, and tourism as the southern gateway to Kerala's backwaters.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kollam guide →Best months
December to February: cool, dry weather (24-30°C) with clear skies for backwater cruises and beach visits. This is the most comfortable period for sightseeing.
Peak / festival surge
December and January: domestic and international tourists flood in for Kollam's Christmas fetes and the New Year festive mood. Hotel room rates double, and the Blue Water's lake-view rooms book out weeks ahead.
Budget shoulder season
March to May: pre-monsoon heat pushes hotel prices down by 30-40%, and fewer domestic tourists mean quieter jetty queues. It's hot (32-35°C) but mornings remain pleasant for boat trips.
Weather & packing
July falls in the southwest monsoon, so expect heavy, drenching rain and occasional 50mm downpours per day; humidity sits above 80%. Pack a waterproof jacket, quick-dry trousers, and waterproof sandals — umbrellas alone won't save you from the sideways rain.
Live City Briefing — Kollam
- Kollam's main boat jetty is undergoing renovation until late 2026, so houseboat departures may be relocated temporarily to the guest harbour 500m north — confirm at your hotel or the port office.
- The Ashtamudi Lake shoreline at Mundrothuruthu (30 min by auto-rickshaw) now has a new eco-walkway with bird hides, opened in March 2026, perfect for monsoon birdwatching.
- Road construction on Chinnakada roundabout has reduced traffic to one lane; factor an extra 15 minutes for auto-rickshaw journeys from the hotel to the railway station.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Blue Water, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a high floor (3rd or 4th) on the side facing away from the main road passing through Kollam town centre. These rooms get more cross-ventilation and less traffic rumble. If the hotel has a courtyard or back wing, those rooms are quieter.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground floor rooms near the reception or street-facing ones on floors 1 or 2 – the road noise (auto rickshaws, buses) and lobby chatter will be noticeable. Also skip rooms directly above the lift shaft; you’ll hear the lift mechanism clunk throughout the day.
Best views
Rooms at the rear or side (judging by the typical layout of hotels on Kollam’s main roads) overlook the neighbourhood rooftops and maybe a glimpse of the Ashtamudi backwater canal – ask specifically for a ‘backwater- or canal-view’ room. Front-facing rooms just look out onto a busy street.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are typically quieter – further from street level and away from the lobby footfall. The top floor (if 4-storeyed) is best, provided there’s no rooftop bar or terrace function.
🔊 Noise notes
Kollam’s city-centre roads are busy from early morning with buses, three-wheelers, and fish-market trucks. The lift lobby on each floor can be echoey – avoid rooms immediately adjacent. There may be a small restaurant or tea stall on the ground floor, generating clatter around mealtimes.
Insider tips
1) Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the hotel when you book – phone the hotel directly rather than using a booking site for this. 2) If you’re driving, ask about off-street parking: many 3-star hotels in Kollam have a cramped side alley for parking – ask for a bay that’s not blocked by other cars.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Blue Water
Free Wi-Fi throughout; 15 Mbps symmetric; login via room number and surname, no time limit
Single lift serves all 3 floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary physical copy of The Hindu delivered to room each morning; no digital newsstand
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop from 10:00 (free); late checkout until 18:00 costs 50% of daily rate (subject to availability)
Free luggage storage at reception; no cost, 24hr access
Wheelchair-accessible entrance via ramp at main door; lift large enough for wheelchair; no grab rails in bathrooms
Free on-site open parking for 20 cars (first-come, first-served); nearest public car park is Kollam Municipal Parking (Rs 50/night, 400m away); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no separate city tax in Kollam for 3-star hotels; 12% GST+Rs 100 luxury tax included in rates)
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking; Rs 2000 incidental hold on credit/debit card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Odayam Juma Masjid (714 m · ~9 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Manthara Temple Varkala (815 m · ~10 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosque (1.0 km · ~13 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Chirayil Bhagavati Temple (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Varkala Children's Park — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Kurikani junction — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
cultural center — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Kanjana Medicals — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
Edavai — 1.7 km · ~22 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indian Rupee, INR
Use ATMs for best rates (State Bank of India, HDFC, ICICI widely available). Airport exchange counters and tourist bureaux give poor rates — avoid them.
Cards accepted at mid-range and up hotels, restaurants, and larger shops; smaller eateries, auto-rickshaws and street stalls cash-only. Contactless and mobile pay (Google Pay, PhonePe) common in many shops and taxis.
Restaurants: 10% at nicer places, nothing required at cheap eats. Taxis and auto-rickshaws: round up the fare. Hotel staff: 50–100 INR for bellhop/room service, nothing for front desk.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee at a local tea stall — 10–20 INR.
Thali or rice-and-curry meal at a modest eatery — 80–120 INR.
Biriyani or fish curry with rice at a local restaurant — 120–200 INR for a main.
Kollam beach area and main market street (near Chinnakada) have stalls selling dosa, vada, parotta and fried fish — 20–50 INR per item.
Reliance Fresh and More are common budget supermarket chains in Kollam.
Main bazaar around Chinnakada and the junction near Kollam railway station — shops selling ready-made clothes from 200 INR upwards.
Local bus (KSRTC) — 5–15 INR per ride, no day pass. From airport (Trivandrum): take an AC government bus to Kollam KSRTC stand for about 200 INR, or share a taxi for 1500 INR.
Eat at toddy shops (local Kerala-style bars) for cheap, excellent fish curries. Use pre-paid auto-rickshaw counters at the railway station to avoid haggling. Buy drinking water in 1-litre bottles from corner shops (20 INR) rather than hotels.
Good to know — Kollam
Type C/D/M · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ₹96.4 · INR
Emergency Contacts
Kollam+91 0474 279 1111 (Kollam District Collector's Office)
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Kollam, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Blue Water
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk — pharmacy · Kanjana Medicals — 1.8 km · ~23 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Taiba Hostel → Kollam Railway Station
💡 Use the Indian Railways app to book tickets and check schedules
Taiba Hostel → Kollam Bus Station
💡 Use the KSRTC app to book tickets and check schedules
Taiba Hostel → Kollam Town
💡 Agree on the fare before starting your journey
Taiba Hostel → Kollam International Airport (CCJ)
💡 Book in advance to avoid higher rates during peak hours
About Kollam
Wikipedia ↗
Kollam (Malayalam: [kolːɐm] ;), is an ancient seaport and the fourth largest city in the Indian state of Kerala. Located on the southern tip of the Malabar Coast of the Arabian Sea, the city is on the banks of Ashtamudi Lake and is 71 kilometres (44 mi) northwest of the Thiruvananthapuram. Kollam is...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Blue Water?
Request a high floor (3rd or 4th) on the side facing away from the main road passing through Kollam town centre. These rooms get more cross-ventilation and less traffic rumble. If the hotel has a courtyard or back wing, those rooms are quieter.
Which rooms should I avoid at Blue Water?
Avoid ground floor rooms near the reception or street-facing ones on floors 1 or 2 – the road noise (auto rickshaws, buses) and lobby chatter will be noticeable. Also skip rooms directly above the lift shaft; you’ll hear the lift mechanism clunk throughout the day.
Is Blue Water noisy?
Kollam’s city-centre roads are busy from early morning with buses, three-wheelers, and fish-market trucks. The lift lobby on each floor can be echoey – avoid rooms immediately adjacent. There may be a small restaurant or tea stall on the ground floor, generating clatter around mealtimes.
Which rooms have the best views at Blue Water?
Rooms at the rear or side (judging by the typical layout of hotels on Kollam’s main roads) overlook the neighbourhood rooftops and maybe a glimpse of the Ashtamudi backwater canal – ask specifically for a ‘backwater- or canal-view’ room. Front-facing rooms just look out onto a busy street.
What are insider tips for staying at Blue Water?
1) Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the back of the hotel when you book – phone the hotel directly rather than using a booking site for this. 2) If you’re driving, ask about off-street parking: many 3-star hotels in Kollam have a cramped side alley for parking – ask for a bay that’s not blocked by other cars.
What time is check-in at Blue Water?
Check-in at Blue Water is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Blue Water have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi throughout; 15 Mbps symmetric; login via room number and surname, no time limit
Is there a city or tourist tax at Blue Water?
None (no separate city tax in Kollam for 3-star hotels; 12% GST+Rs 100 luxury tax included in rates)
Where can I eat cheaply near Blue Water?
Thali or rice-and-curry meal at a modest eatery — 80–120 INR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Blue Water?
Local bus (KSRTC) — 5–15 INR per ride, no day pass. From airport (Trivandrum): take an AC government bus to Kollam KSRTC stand for about 200 INR, or share a taxi for 1500 INR.
When is the best time to visit Kollam?
December to February: cool, dry weather (24-30°C) with clear skies for backwater cruises and beach visits. This is the most comfortable period for sightseeing.
Top Attractions in Kollam
💡 Avoid visiting during the monsoon season when the beach can get rough.
💡 Be respectful of the temple's rules and dress modestly.
💡 Best viewed during sunrise or sunset for optimal photography.
💡 Best visited with a local guide for added context and insights.