FAQ
Which airport do I have to book my flight to and who collects me at the airport?
The transfer from Trivandrum Airport to the hotel is free of charge and is organised by the hotel as long as we are aware of your flight details (time of arrival and flight number). Hotel staff will await you outside the airport terminal. When leaving the airport, please look out for the sign “Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort”. The trip to the hotel takes about 30 minutes by taxi. For your arrival flight, you should be at the airport check-in at least 2½ hours before departure.
Are any vaccinations necessary?
There are no obligatory vaccinations for India.
The health service of the German Foreign Office recommends protection from tetanus, diphtheria, polio and hepatitis A.
Kerala is not known as an area for malaria. From our experience of the last 20 years, we are not aware of any case of malaria in Somatheeram and environs (as of December 2008).
Please consult your GP.
Do I need a visa to enter India?
For your trip to India you need a valid visa. The necessary application forms can be obtained from the Indian Consulate or on the Internet at http://www.india-tourism.de.
A tourist visa costs about €75. You also need two passport photographs and a valid passport (valid for at least 6 months). It may take up to two weeks for the visa to be issued.
Detailed information can be obtained from your consulate office.
Applicants who are not German citizens require a valid residence permit for the Federal Republic of Germany.
We must request you in all cases to ask your local consulate for the current terms of application.
When do I have to be at the airport for my return flight?
For your return flight, please make sure that you obtain confirmation of your flight at least three days before your departure. Our reception will be happy to help you.
What kind of clothing do you advise?
Simple and loose-fitting clothing is sufficient. For the evening hours we recommend some warmer clothing like a sweater or cardigan.
Is it possible to swim in the sea all year round?
The best season for bathing in the sea is the period from December to February. The Indian Ocean is very turbulent, so bathing in the sea is not possible every day. This applies particularly outside the above-mentioned months. Our swimming pool is additionally at your disposal all year round.
During your programme of Ayurvedic treatment, we advise keeping any strenuous physical exercise to a minimum. Please consult our doctors on site about this.
What currencies are accepted at Somatheeram Ayurvedic Health Resort?
At Somatheeram you can change money or pay in euros. We accept Master and Visa credit cards, while elsewhere all other widely used credit cards are accepted. You can change foreign currency into the national currency at most banks.
