Fodor's Expert Review Ideal Ayurvedic Resort

This small, homey resort south of Kovalam near the beach (albeit a steep path to get there) has specialized in ayurvedic treatment since 1997. Rooms in the marble-floor main building, are simply furnished and spotless; some have balconies overlooking a coconut grove or the pool. There are also a few thatch-roof cottages, some with open-air bathrooms. The beach is a short walk away, but Ideal focuses more on Indian arts and culture than on fun in the sun; it offers study programs in yoga and ayurveda, among other healing treatments.