Accommodations

View of housing

You’ll stay in a charming classical Keralan cottage: a small brick building with thatched roof made of coconut fronds. Or you will stay in classical Keralan house, with wooden roof, and carved wood interior.

There are three types of cottages: Ordinary cottages (for one or two persons), garden cottage (ordinary cottage with air conditioner) and Special cottages (for one or two persons). The rooms in the Kerala House are wider. All rooms have their own spacious modern bathroom.

All rooms are simple, clean and comfortable, with electricity and a telephone (no television). Air conditioning (except for garden cottage) is provided by a ceiling fan and by the ocean breezes, which freely enter your cottage through open windows and ventilation spaces. The soothing sounds of the ocean can be heard throughout the day and night. Hammocks, comfortable chairs and tables are outside of all the cottages.

There is a limited number of each type of accommodation, so please book early to ensure your first choice.

Costs

Total retreat costs (including airfare) are shown below; they vary according to your choice of accommodations. Costs are based on an exchange rate of 1 US $ = 40 Indian rupees. If the exchange rate fluctuates significantly before November 30, 2008, the difference in price will be reflected in your final balance due.

There is a limited number of each type of accommodation, so please book early to ensure your first choice.

Special note: If you book a shared cottage and, upon arriving at Somatheeram, you or your roommate decides to change to a private cottage, BOTH of you will need to pay the single occupancy rate (provided another cottage is available, of course). Also, if you request a shared cottage but there is no one to share with you, you’ll need to pay the single occupancy rate.

In any case, we encourage you to choose a private (single occupancy) cottage if at all possible (unless you are traveling with a friend or relative), just to have the best environment for total relaxation.

Ordinary Cottage

These rectangular buildings feature spacious, modern indoor bathrooms and showers. They are uphill from the beach, in the main part of Somatheeram.

Double occupancy: $4960 per person
Single occupancy: $5420

Garden Cottage

These rectangular buildings feature spacious, modern indoor bathrooms and showers and air conditioner. They are uphill from the beach, in the main part of Somatheeram.

Double occupancy: $5010 per person
Single occupancy: $5560

Special Cottage

Special Cottage

These are similar to the ordinary cottages, but they are round and slightly larger, and feature a lovely view of the ocean. Some are located close to the beach, but most are uphill from the beach, in the main part of Somatheeram.

Double occupancy: $5110 per person
Single occupancy: $5630

Kerala House

Kerala House

A classical Keralian house with wooden roof, and large rooms. Each room has carved wood interior, and modern bathrooms. The house has lovely view of the ocean. One house is located close to the beach, and one is uphill from the beach, facing the ocean.

Double occupancy: $5260 per person
Single occupancy: $5990

 

 

 

 

Payment

A down payment of $1000 is due by November 20, 2008. The balance is due by November 30, 2008.

For late registration, after November 30, 2008, there is an additional late fee of $100.

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel by December 1, 2008, your payments will be refunded, less a $250 cancellation fee and any applicable flight cancellation fees. If you cancel after December 1, your refund will depend on the airline refund policy, on your reason for canceling, and on whether your place can be filled.

What the Costs Do Not Include

Please note that your retreat package does not include:

  • Travel insurance
  • Visa costs
  • Prescribed Ayurvedic medicines
  • Additional Ayurvedic treatments (beyond the initial seven treatments)
  • Lunches (these are available at a very low cost)
  • Personal expenses such as laundry, internet cafe, etc.
  • Tips for massage therapists, house keepers, and temples

Passport

You will need a passport that is valid until July 2008. If yours expires before July 2008, you must renew it before you request your visa. If you need a new passport, or need to renew one, do so immediately by going to http://iafdb.travel.state.gov/. You will find instructions there.

Visa

The easiest way to obtain a visa to go to a near by Indian Embassy, or go to the web-site: http://www.cgisf.org/

If you live within the United states, please do not use a travel agency to obtain your visa.  The agencies usually wait until the last minute to obtain the visa.

In the past, some participates who have used agencies to obtain their visa, have encountered difficulties that nearly kept them from going on the trip to India.

In any case, please check with Diksha before filling out your visa application for the special information you will need to include on your application.

Diksha will be available to assist you in getting the right application form (depends where you live) filling it out, and sending it.

Flights

You’ll fly Singapore Airlines at a special group rate from San Francisco to Trivandrum (also known as Thiruvanathapuram), Kerala. We’ll have a lengthy stopover (about eight hours) in Singapore, during which you’ll be able to take a free tour of the city of Singapore if you wish. Or you can take advantage of the excellent facilities at the Singapore airport to rest and refresh yourself via an inexpensive hotel room, or a shower, or even a weight or swimming workout. Then we’ll continue to Trivandrum.

Connecting Flights

If you will be coming from cities other than San Francisco, please arrive early enough to ensure that you will not miss the international flight to Singapore!

If you are coming from California 

Please arrive at San Francisco no later than 5pm, the day of the travel.

If you are coming from other states

It is advisable to arrive a day earlier to San Francisco.