We were planning a road trip to Goa from Bangalore via road for quite some time but it never happened. However, in the current times, with the realisation that the safest form of traveling with kids turned out to be via road, we planned a road trip along coastal Karnataka to Goa. We were looking for a luxury stopover and good base near Udupi so that we could explore the nearby areas of Mangalore and Udupi. We came across Country Inn & Suites by Radisson in Manipal near Udupi and it matched our search for a luxury stay perfectly.
Udupi mostly misses out as a vacation destination in Karnataka, especially for folks in Bengaluru as we often think of Goa and Kerala more when it comes to choosing a beach vacation. I have always thought of Manipal as an educational center and Udupi as just a religious center. However, Udupi has clean and non-crowded beaches that reminded me of South Goa beaches from our 10 year back trip, when they were still not discovered.
We also found some beautiful spots where the rivers met the sea, an ideal drive where you could see the open sea on one side and the beautiful backwaters on the other. Also, you can experience houseboats in Udupi like no other place in Karnata.
Welcome and Checking-in at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal
Our drive was a long one to reach Manipal, but the warm welcome at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal set the best note for our holiday in Udupi. The check-in was quick and they were very considerate as we were traveling with our son.
The hotel lobby has a chic look and the staff is very attentive and warm. Even with masks on it was evident that there were welcoming smiles behind them. It was wonderful to see that all safety and hygiene protocols were being followed right from checking temperatures of the guests, getting them to fill the self-declaration to maintaining social distance.
Our Suite
As we headed from the lobby to our room, I could see how hard the housekeeping team works to hotel spic and span. As informed, every room is well sanitised after the guest checks out and kept locked till the next check-in. As we stepped inside our suite, the first thing that struck me was how luxurious and chic the space looked.
The living room not only has a sitting area, a work desk and a flat-screen TV, it also has an adjoining waiting room with an attached bathroom which makes it perfect incase you are planning business meetings or meeting up with friends. We found the living room greeting us with a basket of fresh fruits, welcome drinks and some tempting-looking sugary delicacies prepared by the executive chef specially for the little one. I am sure you can guess what happened next!
The bedroom of the suite was contemporary looking with a comfy bed, a huge flat-screen TV, a mini-fridge and all other amenities that you would need for a luxurious staycation. I really loved how comfortable the bed was and it was really inviting after a long day of traveling. The TV had a good collection of HD channels including all the kid’s channels. I know it’s important when you are holidaying with kids. The decor of the room was minimalist and very contemporary. The view from our ceiling to floor window was city facing however the greenery around the coin circle makes it a beautiful view. Also, we were able to see the sunrise right from our room without even stepping out.
Trying Mangalorean cuisine at Mosaic
Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal has three restaurants and the one on the ground floor is called Mosaic, which serves Continental, American, and Indian cuisines. We were lucky to try out their Mangalorean dishes which were absolutely lip-smacking and I haven’t had better Mangalorean food anywhere else. We had the drumstick soup with coconut and curry leaves, sweet potato starter, karawali ghee roast seefood prawns, paneer tikka tandoori style for the initial courses. Our main course was Mangalorean chicken gassi with neer dosa which was absolutely divine.
Even better was the hospitality, as we were provided insights and stories about the food by the Chef and the F&B team. I loved that the restaurant staff was making an effort to talk to all the guests and making sure they got what they needed. Such small gestures talk a lot about the hospitality standards that Radisson stands for.
In-room Dining
The in-room dining at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal was also great and I think the pictures do justice better than my words. I loved that after a very long time thanks to the lockdown, I didn’t have to care about making breakfast. I could just wake up late and walk to the next room to the amazing breakfast spread that had a mix of continental and Indian flavors. Isn’t that how holidays are supposed to begin! The food again was absolutely scrumptious.
After finishing online classes, we stepped out to explore the nearby beaches but had to return before it got really hot. As we came back to our suite in Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal, I can’t tell you what a respite it was. Our lunch was a medley of flavors from North India and I loved the kebabs from the Tandoor and the butter chicken was to die for.
The cherry on the top was the brownie with ice cream. I was told that it was the in-house specialty and with one bite, I knew it deserved the honor. The executive chef very kindly sent another sweet masterpiece for the little one, a macaroon rack made up of chocolate and fruits made out of chocolate. It looked so beautiful that I didn’t have the heart to break it to eat it. Well, as you would have guessed, it was another story with the little one.
The beautiful Manipal skyline from Next 2
The best time at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal is the sunset time when you can enjoy the Manipal skyline from their rooftop and swimming pool. Their rooftop restaurant Next-2 specializes in fine dining and serves flavorful preparations of Asian and Mexican fusion dishes along with a variety of delicious kebabs.
They also have an outdoor setting which is perfect for dates, hanging with friends and family gatherings. They can also decorate the space for special occasions so don’t forget to mention if you are celebrating a special occasion during your holiday.
We had a lovely dinner at Next-2 where we tasted some unique and delicious pan Asian and Mexican dishes. We started with the Balinese oriental salad, aubergine stuffed with parmesan mozzarella cheese and steamed chicken dim sums. Our main course was lemon chicken noodles and shredded chicken in pepper basil sauce. And our dessert was indeed the most tempting course which consisted of the popular Thai Tap Tim Krob and Darsaan noodles, a traditional Chinese dessert made of deep-fried flat noodles dipped in honey and sesame seeds served over vanilla ice cream.
The next day breakfast was a little hurried as we had to pack and check out as well. Breakfast is served in Mosaic restaurant and I found the buffet quite exhaustive with a wide variety of Indian and continental dishes. Five stars to their south Indian dishes with flavors that are indeed authentic.
Overall Experience at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal
We loved our experience at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal and I can vouch for their hospitality. The team goes out of their way to make you have a comfortable and memorable stay with them. A special mention to the amazing food that they serve which would take you on a culinary journey every time you dine with them. Really enjoyed all the pampering that we received at Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal and they really having kids at the hotel. I loved the beautiful rooftop space that is so chilled out and perfect for sundowners. I hope the next time we visit we can take a dip in the swimming pool as it is closed currently due to covid restrictions. I bet the view from there at sunset would be gorgeous.
We were hosted by Country Inn & Suites by Radisson Manipal however all views and opinions expressed are mine.
If you are looking for a staycation option within Bangalore do read our staycation experience at Radisson Bengaluru City Center
