Marine Drive, Ernakulam, India | (618) 248-8274
Sea-facing location, a reasonable drive from Fort Kochi and near the train station
Large, elegant rooms and suites with balconies, some with sea views
Two restaurants, one with all sorts of cuisine, the other with Thai and Japanese specialties
Buffet breakfast with Indian and international dishes is included in room rates
Bar with snacks and pastry shop with light meals and coffee drinks
Small outdoor pool and deck
Lovely fitness center with great variety of equipment including cardio machines and free weights
Spa features traditional Ayurvedic treatments
Four meeting and event spaces, the largest of which can accommodate up to 500 people
Babysitting services available in a colorful kids' playroom
Bathrooms are small
Pool is small
Fee for Wi-Fi
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.
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Scene
Business hotel with lackluster exteriors and pleasant interiors, including an elegant but understated lobby
The Gateway Hotel Marine Drive Ernakulam is a business hotel that attracts a primarily corporate clientele, along with some international travelers looking for clean and modern digs within a reasonable drive of the old city of Fort Kochi. The hotel hosts its fair share of conferences and meetings, as well as weddings and other special celebrations. From the outside, this looks like a typical corporate hotel, with a white facade and floor upon floor of balconied rooms, though ample greenery on the grounds spruces things up a bit. The vibe in the lobby is a tad more elegant, with wood paneling, marble floors, and moulded ceilings.
Location
Overlooking the sea on Marine Drive, near the Ernakulam Town Railway Station and not far from Fort Kochi
As its name suggests, The Gateway Hotel Marine Drive Ernakulam is located on Marine Drive, a long, busy thoroughfare that stretches along the length of the Ernakulam coastline. The area has plenty of shops and restaurants, though it's not the most atmospheric part of town. That honor goes to Fort Kochi, where many of the city's main historic attractions are located. It's around 45 minutes away by car in moderate traffic. Expect a one-hour drive to the Cochin International Airport (though the journey can take much longer during rush hour). It's about a 15-minute drive to the Ernakulam Town Railway Station.
Rooms
Lovely, large rooms with elegant decor touches, flat-screen TVs, and balconies -- some with sea views
The Gateway offers a variety of large rooms in Superior, Superior Sea View, and Executive Sea View categories along with two-room Suites with views of the sea. Decor is consistently pleasant and business-like across categories, with elegant touches such as dark wood-framed easy chairs and matching ottomans and printed bed runners across white sheets. Windows stretch from floor to ceiling and lead out to lovely balconies. Heavy drapes can be pulled across the windows to block out a lot of the sun. Suites have separate sitting areas at the entryways, complete with chairs, sofas, and second flat-screen TVs. Amenities found across categories include air-conditioning, 32-inch flat-screen TVs, safes, minibars, coffee- and tea-making facilities, robes, slippers, and free mineral water. Bathrooms are simple and contrastingly small compared to the rooms. They feature granite countertops and narrow walk-in showers, and ample toiletries. Suites and Sea View units on the fifth and sixth floors also have separate bathtubs.
Features
Four meeting rooms, two restaurants, a bar, a cafe, and a great gym and spa -- but Wi-Fi costs extra
With four meeting spaces, including a ballroom for up to 500 people, The Gateway is a popular spot for business travelers and conference groups. There's also a business center available around the clock and Wi-Fi is available for a fee. Wellness features include a lovely fitness center with modern cardio machines and free weights, along with a weight machine. There's also a small outdoor pool and sun deck. The hotel has a spa with traditional Ayurvedic treatments (an Indian system of holistic medicine that originated in the state of Kerala). Families may be happy to know that there's also a day care for younger kids. Dining options abound, and room service is available around the clock. Sian offers Chinese, Japanese, and Thai fare at dinnertime along with an impressive wine list. The Bubble Cafe has the look of a greenhouse, with ample use of glass and high ceilings, along with plenty of potted plants. It serves all sorts of food (including a variety of items in the large breakfast buffet, included in room rates). The hotel's bar -- Swirl -- offers drinks and snacks, while Deli serves baked goods and pastries along with tea and specialty coffee beverages.
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