The Cliff Resort, Munnar

I recently stayed at Grand Cliff Resort in Munnar and while my overall experience was pleasant, there were some significant drawbacks that left a sour taste. Upon arrival, my check-in at 4 am was seamless, and I was immediately impressed by the resort's ambiance and hospitality. Throughout my stay, the staff was attentive, the service exemplary, and the food delicious. The room was comfortable and offered a stunning view of the surrounding landscape, enhancing my overall enjoyment of the stay. However, my positive impressions were overshadowed during the check-out process. Despite not being informed about any additional charges for early check-in upon arrival, I was blindsided during the billing process. It was only during the afternoon of the previous day that I received a call mentioning the possibility of extra charges, but without any clarity on the amount. To my dismay, during check-out, I was informed that I would be charged for an additional day at the full rate due to the early check-in. This lack of transparency regarding extra charges for early check-in was deeply disappointing and marred an otherwise enjoyable stay. While I understand the need for such policies, clear communication upfront would have mitigated any confusion or frustration during check-out. In summary, Grand Cliff Resort offers excellent service, hospitality, and amenities, making it a desirable destination for travelers to Munnar. However, potential guests should be aware of the resort's policies regarding early check-in to avoid any unpleasant surprises during their stay.

We booked this place as we wanted to stay close to nature and far away from the mad crowds. This was perfect, atop a hill with mesmerizing views of tea plantations, stretches of montane forests and undulating hillscapes...not to forget the sunset vistas from the balcony. The last bit of the drive to the resort was very steep and the track is mostly broken...but could ***age in my i10, without much fuss. The area around the resort is teeming with all kinds of bird species and a couple of tall tress are favored perching spots for beauties like common rose finch, vernal hanging parrot, bee eater chestnut headed, southern hill myna.... the bushes in the garden teem with palani laughingthrushes and bulbuls, while the schoolboy whistle of the Malabar whistling thrush is never far away. What a paradise! Highly recommended for couples and families. Thanks Jiju, Marshall and all the other staff that made our year end trip memorable.

Nice hospitality, friendly staff and climate was very nice on the time if visit. Food was well prepared and tasty. Parking available. W-ifi available. The way to resort was a nice drive. The view from balcony is awesome filled with mist and fog.

What a truly beautiful spot to stay in Kerala. This has an old Colonial decor, as it Is set among the Tea plantations. We had a bungalow in the beautiful gardens & our balcony had the most superb views This hotel must be highly recommended. The restaurant was very good. Lots of good food on offer & to choose from we enjoyed our stay herr

For me, this was such a lovely experience. If you’re coming here for the outstanding views, peace and quiet, and very kind and helpful staff, you will have an excellent time as I did. The hotel offers a very low cost daily early morning hike to the peak of the mountain ($6) and a similarly low cost daily early evening walk through the tea plantations just below the hotel ($2.50). Note that depending on who you go with, they may know more or less about the local ecology, and the tea process. If you go just expecting a lovely walk, you won’t be disappointed, but if you’re looking for a naturalist talk you may need to book elsewhere. The valley view rooms in the Cliff Resort (note that this is embedded in the larger Deshadan resort) are just to die for. Amazing balcony to sit and just watch the light change on the hills or read, meditate or do yoga. I didn’t use the wifi much so no idea if it’s fast enough for streaming but was plenty to check social media and email - important as most Indian carriers have no service this far up the hill. Breakfast buffet is delightful with about 5-6 different main options daily, and deliriously good grape juice. The staff are uniformly kind and go out of their way to assist. The hotel might not be a good choice for every traveler. It is not accessible to those with mobility issues - stairs and steep climbs everywhere. Also to get these views it’s pretty distant from literally anything else, so you can’t just easily wander into town. It’s about a 2 hour walk to the center of Old Munnar from the property, or a half hour in a rickshaw. Also note that due to the distance (and the steepness of the road to the resort) it can take anywhere from 20-70 minutes for a rickshaw, jeep or taxi to arrive after calling - plan ahead! Note that the resort really caters mostly for rest and relaxation; it’s not really set up as a local travel agency that organizes local tours. They’re happy to make phone calls and order taxis but you will need to do your own research to find out which local attraction are of most interest to you. Last, you’ll practice mindfulness every time you open and close the door, as if you let it close automatically there’s a tremendous boom. Hot water was generally available but not 100% even after letting the tap run 5 minutes.