Despite its branding, which is often associated with mid-range chain digs, the Holiday Inn Cochin is a sleek, business hotel that draws in international and domestic guests alike. The 212 rooms here are chic and spacious, with flat-screen TVs, big windows, and marble bathrooms. Amenities include multiple restaurants, 24-hour room service, and an excellent free buffet of South Indian specialties served every morning for breakfast. There's also a fitness center and a lovely outdoor pool. However, the hotel's proximity away from the tourist sights of Fort Cochin make it a poor choice for tourists, who may be better off staying somewhere right in the old city. The famous Malabar House is walkable to several sites and rates include bikes to borrow.

The Gateway Hotel Marine Drive Ernakulam is a three-and-a-half-pearl business hotel located right on the seafront of Ernakulam, a short drive from the railway station. The 108 rooms are large and well furnished with elegant decor, and all have lovely balconies, many with sea views. But the bathrooms are small, especially compared with the rooms. Ample amenities include four meeting rooms, a pan-Asian restaurant, a multi-cuisine restaurant with a free buffet breakfast service, a spa, an outdoor pool, and a modern fitness center. Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel, but it costs extra for the privilege. Travelers may want to compare rates and amenities at the Holiday Inn Cochin, which is further from the old town but offers free Wi-Fi to guests and a bigger pool for about the same rates.