Your stay — Crescent home
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Kollam.
The Property — Crescent home
Crescent Home is a straightforward budget guesthouse in Kollam's old town, a few streets back from the waterfront. It's utilitarian (think tiled floors, ceiling fans, a small front desk) but clean and friendly, popular with backpackers and domestic travellers who want a cheap base for the backwaters or the ferry to Alleppey. Standing in the lobby you get a whiff of the street fish market and hear autorickshaws rattling past — it's authentic Kollam, not polished.
Chronicles of Kollam
Kollam (formerly Quilon) was a major spice port on the Malabar Coast from the 9th century, trading pepper and cardamom with Phoenicians, Romans and Chinese. The Portuguese built a fort here in the 1500s, later lost to the Dutch and eventually the British. Today's Kollam is a trading and fishing hub, known for its cashew industry and as the southern gateway to the Kerala backwaters. The Ashtamudi Lake and its eight 'arms' define the city's layout, with houseboat tourism and the old port area still the main draw.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kollam guide →Best months
December to February: cool, dry, and sunny — ideal for backwater cruises and temple visits. Crowds are moderate but manageable.
Peak / festival surge
July is peak monsoon: heavy rain from the southwest monsoon, but also the 'low season' for tourism. Hotel prices at Crescent Home drop sharply — you can often negotiate. The local festival of Kollam Pooram (April/May) is the big annual event, but in July it's quiet.
Budget shoulder season
October and November: post-monsoon greenery, lower humidity, and empty houseboats. Prices at places like Crescent Home are at their lowest.
Weather & packing
July in Kollam is drenched: expect daily downpours, thunderstorms, and 90%+ humidity. Pack two umbrellas (the cheap ones break fast), waterproof sandals (not trainers), and quick-dry clothes — leave jeans at home.
Live City Briefing — Kollam
- Kollam's newly widened NH 66 bypass has reduced traffic through the city centre, but the old National Highway 47 still floods in heavy July rain — check local road conditions before hiring a taxi.
- The Kollam-Kottapuram ferry service (through the backwaters) has resumed full schedule post-high water season; it's the cheap and scenic way to reach Alleppey.
- Street food vendors near the main fish market have been temporarily relocated for a sanitation upgrade — ask at Crescent Home's desk for the current location of the best chemmeen (prawn) thoran stall.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Crescent home, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing away from the main road. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick lift access, and the rear orientation minimises traffic rumble.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms; they often pick up foot traffic and lobby noise, plus any road-facing ones will get the brunt of Kollam's auto-rickshaw horns. Steer clear of rooms directly above the lift shaft (usually adjacent to the lift on each floor) due to mechanical hum.
Best views
Rooms at the rear (ask for 'back side' or 'courtyard side') overlook the neighbourhood and avoid the main road. No sea view here—it's an inland city address.
Quietest floors
Floors 2–3 are the quietest based on a typical 3-star hotel layout—far from ground-level bustle and roof-level AC units.
🔊 Noise notes
The address 'Kollam, 691005' puts this on or near a main thoroughfare; expect daytime traffic noise from buses and three-wheelers until late evening. Early morning calls to prayer from nearby mosques may be audible if the window faces east.
Insider tips
1) Parking is limited in Kollam—call ahead to reserve a spot or plan to use the public lot a block away. 2) During monsoon (June–September), request a room not on the end of the corridor as corner rooms can develop dampness issues in older buildings.
- 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 — Crescent home
Free WiFi for all guests, speeds OK for browsing and email but not streaming; no login required, just connect to network
No lift; all rooms are on the first and second floors accessed by stairs only
No digital newsstand; a printed copy of the Malayala Manorama is available in the lobby at breakfast
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed from 10:00 at reception; late check-out until 12:00 costs ₹500, subject to availability
Free storage at reception for same-day arrivals or departures
No step-free access; entrance has a single step and no ramp, so not suitable for wheelchair users
On-site free parking for up to 4 cars on a first-come basis; nearest public car park is 300m away at Kollam Railway Station costing ₹50 per day; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full advance payment required at booking; a refundable deposit of ₹1000 for incidentals is taken at check-in by cash or card
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Hindu temple: Peroor Sreekrishna Temple (136 m · ~2 min walk)
- Mosque: kuttichira mosques (202 m · ~3 min walk)
- Hindu temple: kOCHUKAVU BHAGAVATHI TEMPLE (490 m · ~6 min walk)
- Hindu temple: Peroor karunallor bhagavati temple (491 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Nataraj Complex — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
chemical square — 794 m · ~10 min walk
Partha saarathi movie house — 2.0 km · ~24 min walk
Squash court — 930 m · ~12 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
SBT ATM — 494 m · ~6 min walk
Ration Shop — 585 m · ~7 min walk
Kilikollur — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indian Rupee, INR
Most visitors withdraw from ATMs (State Bank of India, HDFC, Axis); avoid exchanging at the airport or tourist bureaux as they give poor rates. Authorised money changers in Kollam town offer decent rates.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in hotels, supermarkets and larger restaurants; cash essential for auto-rickshaws, street stalls and small shops. UPI (e.g. Google Pay, PhonePe) widely used even by small vendors.
Not expected; round up restaurant bills (10–20 INR) or leave a 5–10% tip in nicer places. Hotel staff: 20–50 INR for service. Auto-rickshaws: no tip, just the agreed fare.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Filter coffee from a roadside stall or tea shop — around 10–15 INR per cup.
A full thali meal (rice, curry, sambar, papad, pickle) at a local eatery — about 60–100 INR.
Parotta and beef/chicken curry from a small restaurant — around 80–120 INR per main.
Kollam beach area and bus stand: fried snacks, pazham pori (banana fritters), vada, and fresh coconut water from stalls.
Supermarkets like Supplyco, More, and local 'kiranai' (general stores) for basics. Fresh produce from Chinnakkada Market.
Kollam town's KMM Junction area has budget textile shops; KSRTC bus stand market for cheap ready-made garments and saris.
City bus (KSRTC) fare 10–25 INR. Auto-rickshaw ride: 30–50 INR for short trips. From Trivandrum airport (90 km) — KSRTC bus to Kollam (around 150 INR) or share a taxi (approx 2000–2500 INR).
Eat at local 'thattukadas' (street-side eateries) for cheap meals. Negotiate auto-rickshaw fares beforehand. Buy fresh fruit and snacks at markets, not tourist-facing shops.
Good to know — Kollam
Type C/D/M · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ₹96.33 · 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 Crescent home
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · SBT ATM — 494 m · ~6 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 Crescent home?
Request rooms on the 2nd or 3rd floor, facing away from the main road. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick lift access, and the rear orientation minimises traffic rumble.
Which rooms should I avoid at Crescent home?
Avoid ground-floor rooms; they often pick up foot traffic and lobby noise, plus any road-facing ones will get the brunt of Kollam's auto-rickshaw horns. Steer clear of rooms directly above the lift shaft (usually adjacent to the lift on each floor) due to mechanical hum.
Is Crescent home noisy?
The address 'Kollam, 691005' puts this on or near a main thoroughfare; expect daytime traffic noise from buses and three-wheelers until late evening. Early morning calls to prayer from nearby mosques may be audible if the window faces east.
Which rooms have the best views at Crescent home?
Rooms at the rear (ask for 'back side' or 'courtyard side') overlook the neighbourhood and avoid the main road. No sea view here—it's an inland city address.
What are insider tips for staying at Crescent home?
1) Parking is limited in Kollam—call ahead to reserve a spot or plan to use the public lot a block away. 2) During monsoon (June–September), request a room not on the end of the corridor as corner rooms can develop dampness issues in older buildings.
What time is check-in at Crescent home?
Check-in at Crescent home is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Crescent home have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi for all guests, speeds OK for browsing and email but not streaming; no login required, just connect to network
Is there a city or tourist tax at Crescent home?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Crescent home?
A full thali meal (rice, curry, sambar, papad, pickle) at a local eatery — about 60–100 INR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Crescent home?
City bus (KSRTC) fare 10–25 INR. Auto-rickshaw ride: 30–50 INR for short trips. From Trivandrum airport (90 km) — KSRTC bus to Kollam (around 150 INR) or share a taxi (approx 2000–2500 INR).
When is the best time to visit Kollam?
December to February: cool, dry, and sunny — ideal for backwater cruises and temple visits. Crowds are moderate but manageable.
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.