Overall Ratings & Reviews Sanctum Spring

Helpful staff and clean rooms with sea views across the helipad/car park. Near to clifftop restaurants and the beach. Quiet during weekdays. Slightly lacking in atmosphere (restaurant is only open for breakfast - no evening bar/restaurant available, although there are many within a short walk)

The location of the property which is close to the Cliff in Varkala. Good sized rooms with balconies facing the sea.

Good in every way.

Last stayed 6 years ago and it was lovely so re-booked for this latest visit. Good location with friendly and always helpful staff. Very hot during our visit but the air con was very good despite breaking down one evening but fixed quickly. Breakfast was average bordering on poor so we ate out elsewhere for our last few days (cheap and tasty)! But overall our stsy turned out to be average I’m afraid. Like a number of hotels we have stayed in in India, the room is in desperate need of upgrade. The fridge was filthy (but worked), as were the light switches. The wardrobe/cupboards are very old and scruffy. Bed and sheets were clean but the towels and bath mats were some of the worst we have ever seen, one so threadbare it was see through! They were clean but stained and very old. This hotel has the potential to be really good and could charge a lot more per night but as it is, it’s just scruffy budget hotel in desperate need of upgrade (fixtures and fittings) but to be fair, probably fine for most that stay there!

Generally good for the price, staff friendly

A very nice hotel with a pool. There didn’t seem to be a restaurant but that didn’t matter because there’s loads of restaurants in the immediate area down the lanes. Most people there had fairly good English. It is very hot but there was air con and a fan so I slept well.

The room was not ready when we arrived. It was not clean and the bulbs were flickering. The fridge was not working. There was no sufficient plug points. Bathroom was clean but there was no hot water. Room was big enough and AC was good. Staff were nice and helpful and food was good. There was no lift and had to climb up and down which was not comfortable in a hot weather. Balcony was not clean enough, but the sea view as amazing. Overall not worth the money we spent.

Clean and affordable place to stay that is well located for exploring Varkala. Staff were friendly and accommodating. Beds were very hard though - just a thin mattress on a plank of wood, also breakfast service was very basic - but there are many great affordable places nearby- so not a major issue- overall a great stay !

We stayed for 2 nights in March, the hotel is ok but doesn’t quite live up to its description, there was no restaurant or terrace. It is in a good location, only 100m from Varkala cliff with numerous restaurants etc. The staff were very helpful, they just need to update their listing.

Sanctum Spring is in a great location on top of the cliff on the helipad, and is a short walk to Varkala Beach and the main street of restaurants and cafes and shops on the cliff side. However the room itself is in need of an upgrade - the mattresses were very hard, the bathroom had cracked tiles on the wall, and generally looked very dated. The bathroom is more like a traditional wet room as well and after a shower the whole bathroom will be wet for a while making it inconvenient if you are sharing a room with anyone else. Also had a bad experience with the manager who didn’t check my boooing details properly but was quickly sorted and never saw him or dealt with him again. Luckily the other staff member on reception was friendly and accommodating.

Overall: highly recommended. Good: location! - across the beach, close to great restaurants and amazing views. Friendly staff. Quiet and family friendly. Bad: included breakfast was average, basic amenities like hot water and front desk were very erratic. Spare bed provided was rusty and broken.

The hotel did not have WiFi in the room for the majority of our stay. We were able to get a connection at the reception however. The fridge did not work and looked very old. Housekeeping was not a daily occurrence but was good when it happened. Breakfast was basis but good quality. The location is good - a minute walk from the restaurants and shops. There are tuk tuks and taxis close by also. The hotel staff seemed nice. One of the staff kindly assisted by checking bus times to Alleppey for us. Unfortunately the information given was incorrect. Luckily we had a knowledgeable tuk tuk driver who dropped us at another bus route and flagged down the bus for us.

From the outlet we were impressed, the staff knew who we were on arrival, the room was spacious and well air conditioned, the view and location are perfect for Varkala beach, the shower was hot (rare compared to other hotels) and the staff were always available to help. We will stay here again and recommend to friends.

Fantastically located on the cliff tops with beautiful rooms/suites - and a garden.

Friendly staff, clean room, TV, quiet

Sanctum Springs is a good, low-priced hotel, well-located at the beginning of the cliff side boardwalk overlooking Varkala Beach. Our suite room was spacious, with adequate air conditioning and shower. Rooms, beds and bed linens could all use an upgrade. A good value choice for this area.

We stayed 2 nights in this hotel & loved it. Staff couldn't have been more helpful. Room is nice with a lovely balcony & view. Easy access to restaurants & beach. Garden at hotel is beautiful & really good for relaxing in. Would stay here again

Hotel was decent very close to beach. No restaurant on the premises that is a big negative. Overall decent place to stay if you want to compromise on restaurant and bar.

A clean comfortable hotel very close to the beach and all the shops and restaurants of varkala cliff. The hotel is very nicely presented with a nice garden. It will never be exceptional as its next to a car park/ helipad. but our stay was very comfortable and I can recommend it on this. Also the owner and staff are great.

The hotel staff were helpful and very accommodating. Hotel was conveniently located and the view was great