Fodor's Expert Review Bangaram Island Resort

Editor's Note: This location is no longer in operation.

This eco-friendly resort is Kerala's answer to the Maldives. The only people on this island are resort guests and staff. Construction is kept to a minimum—the restaurant is made entirely of bamboo and coconut leaves, allowing the white sands and turquoise water to steal the show. Accommodations are in simple, two- to four-bedroom, thatched cottages with terra-cotta floors and Western furnishings. Water sports, including kayaking, are the order of the day. Make reservations well in advance through the Casino Hotel in Kochi.