Novotel - One of the best 5-star hotels in Kochi, Kerala
Are you looking for a 5-star hotel in Kochi? Check out this review of Novotel Kochi, the latest 5-star hotel in Ernakulam - Kochi area. Novotel is located very close to Infopark and is easily accessible from all parts of Kochi and the Airport.
"Home Away from Home" is no longer the tagline used by hotels for praising themselves. There was a time when people chose hotels just for a comfortable stay and a place to sleep. But that's not the story anymore. Fun and entertainment have become part of lifestyle and travel is treated as an opportunity for bonding with family and building the friendship. 
We recently stayed in the brand new 5-star facility hotel in Kochi, Kerala - Novotel by Accor Hotels, the French Hospitality Group. I will review every aspect of this hotel but if you don't have time to read them all, here it is in a nutshell:We enjoyed every moment of our stay with Novotel Kochi and would strongly recommend this hotel for business, leisure and family travellers. If you are looking for a premium business hotel at a walking distance from the Infopark in Kakkanad or in the vicinity of Kochi, Novotel is the place to go.
About our Stay with Novotel, Kochi
I was part of a group called "Original Content Creators Organisation" who gathered with their families in Novotel for two days. While the OCCO group has been meeting often at various hotels, this was the first time we organised the family-meet and our selection of place was the right choice. Each one of us enjoyed every moment of our stay - starting from the welcome drink to the fabulous spread of breakfast/lunch/dinner and the infinity pool - no other hotel would have made our stay so much fun.
We reached Novotel at about 3 pm. We were greeted with a welcome drink and a special welcome with a lamp and the traditional Indian "Aarti Tikka". Other members of the OCCO group were still arriving. We relaxed in the spacious lobby of Novotel for a few minutes while the staff were moving our bags to our room and parking our car. We were allocated a bed with King bed first but we asked for a double bed option and it took no time for them to prepare another room for us.
Facilities
When you enter Novotel, the first thing you notice is the spacious lobby with a few seating areas, each one separated enough for some private or business talk. Whether you are on a leisure trip or a business meeting, you can use these seating areas for casual talks, unless you want to go for more formal boardrooms or conference halls. The large restaurant is another place where you can hang out with your family or have some business talk with your clients. 
The boardroom has 11 comfortable seats and is equipped with a projector, a large-screen television and video conferencing facilities. Additional chairs can be added to the room to accommodate more people.
There is a large hall which is ideal for training, workshops and similar programs. It can accommodate 40 to 50 people when the chairs are arranged with round tables. When arranged in theatre style, about 80 people can be accommodated in the training room. 
Meeting Hall at Novotel Kochi
If you like to arrange a big workshop or conduct a party with hundreds of people, Novotel has it covered for you. There is a huge party hall which can easily accommodate 200 people.
If you want to make sure your routine exercise is not compromised while you are on travel, there is a well-equipped GYM. Treadmills, Weightlifting, Cycles, Elliptical machines - they have all essential exercise equipment. From the Gym, you have a beautiful view of the pool and the Infopark area. 
Rooms
Novotel Kochi Infopark has 128 rooms out of which 8 are royal suite rooms. Each room is equipped with a 49" television, coffee maker, mini-refrigerator, hairdryer, a King size bed (or, twin beds), western toilet, an ergonomic work area, iron box, safety locker and all other essential elements you would expect in a premium hotel. The basics provided in the bathroom include shaving sets, soaps, a haircap, body wash lotions, shampoo etc. Novotel is a 100% non-smoking hotel. A crib is available on request for families with small kids. The King bed can accommodate 2 adults and possibly a child. An extra bed can be availed on request. 
Infinity Pool - Swim and Play all day long
The infinity pool on the 6th floor is one of the best thing about Novotel. Our kids loved the pool with ample space for swimming and playing. We parents too enjoyed a lot with a fabulous view of Infopark towers and surroundings of Kakkanad/Kochi from the pool. Especially in the night, when the lights are turned on, the pool has an excellent ambience and view. There is a lot of seating area around the pool with some greenery to add to the ambience. 
The location and accessibility
The hotel is located very close the to Kochi Infopark. Smart city and Infopark are at a walkable distance from Novotel but if you don't want to sweat a bit, it's not a big deal. With a lot of IT companies around, you will find a lot of Uber/OLA cabs 24/7 and it is pretty quick to reach Infopark and Smart city from here.
The hotel is located along the Kakkanad - Infopark road. You will see the hotel from far and can't miss it. If you are coming from Kochi Airport, you will have to come to Kalamassery, then turn towards Kakkanad. Once the second phase of Seaport-Airport road is finished, it will be pretty quick to reach here directly from the airport. Novotel is about 30 to 45 minutes drive from the Airport, railway stations and the Kochi town area.The Food - Best in town buffet
The restaurant called "THE SQUARE" at Novotel is one of the best I have ever seen in Kerala. With the countless number of dishes and a chef with a smile always available to make anything you want in your way, the food alone would make your stay worth. When we arrived at the hotel, we were treated with a high tea, which itself was a mini-dinner to us. We ate dinner, breakfast and lunch during our stay. The signature dishes include hand-made noodles, pasta, grills & kebabs, freshly baked pizzas, cold stone ice creams and Asian, European and Indian specialities. We could not try everything they had but whatever we tasted, each one was equally good. 
There were too many varieties of food on the spread, in addition to the special dishes the chef was making for us on demand. Fresh juices, appetisers, snacks, bar-be-que, tandoori dishes, varieties of rice, fish cooked in so many different ways, prawns, meat - they had them all. The chef would always come and talk to the guests and ask for their choices. He was open to feedback and suggestions as well. All the staff in the restaurant were very attentive and respectful to us.
There is a pizza counter in one area of the restaurant where the chef makes pizza on demand. You can ask for any type of pizza and he will make it in front of you. Also, the chef taught the kids how to make pizza and our kids enjoyed eating the pizza they made themselves. 
Little Chef Kicha and Master Ashwin making pizza withe Novotel Chef Mr. Ramesh
The Sunday brunch at Novotel is very popular among the techies in Infopark. People from the neighbourhood and Infopark area come here to enjoy their best week-end brunch. If you have a foreign guest or client to whom you want to show off a bit, bring them to the buffet in Novotel. They are sure to be impressed.The Staff - Always with a Smile
The staff at Novotel Kochi were very courteous, caring and friendly. Whenever we wanted any help, just a face contact was enough for them to read our mind and get to us. And everything with a smile. While help was always a few moments away, no staff ever stepped on our way with unwanted intrusion into the privacy. Loved chatting with every staff member there. Every member of the staff was absolutely fabulous, yes, I mean every one of them. One person called "Dipthi" who was there from the check-in to the last moments of bidding farewell at the security gate deserves a special mention for her very friendly approach and lovely attitude towards everyone, especially with the ladies and children in our group. My wife was very thankful to the entire crew of Novotel and according to her, the staff at Novotel were very informal and friendly compared to the other premium hotels we have ever stayed in. 
Two other people who deserve special mentions are Mr Renjith, the sales manager and Mr. Ramesh, the super chef. Mr Renjith arranged our stay and was always there ensuring everything is comfortable for us. Overall Review of Novotel Kochi Infopark
Business Hotels were classified so because they provide just the essential facilities for Business travellers and nothing more. In the past, availability of internet, printer and computers were the essential services required on a business hotel. But these days, with the fun and entertainment becoming more and more prominent while travelling, key players in the hospitality industry took no time to upgrade their properties to meet the expectations of their clients. Novotel Kochi Infopark, part of Accor Hotels, the French leader in the hospitality business, is not just a traditional business hotel. With its modern indoor/outdoor designs, excellent ambience, superb restaurant, infinity swimming pool and a lot of other facilities - Novotel is all set to be called the "Best Business Hotel in Kochi". If you are a business or liesure trip to Kochi and like to enjoy your stay with one of the best hotels in town, Novotel is an excellent choice for you.
Photos of Novotel Kochi
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