Akshay Vinod

We recently had a fantastic 6 nights 7 days holiday trip of Kerala covering Munnar, Thekkady, Alleppey ( House boat ) & Kovalam. The entire experience was made even more memorable thanks to our tour operator IRIS holidays and taxi driver. Everything was well planned, from airport pickup to drop the itinerary to the accommodations and sightseeing, made our trip completely stress-free. A special appreciation goes to our taxi driver Mr. Anoop M Nair , who was punctual, courteous, and extremely professional throughout the journey. He drove safely, was knowledgeable about the local attractions, and was always willing to accommodate our requests with a smile. His friendly nature made us feel comfortable and well taken care of. We sincerely thank Mr. Akshay Vinod from IRIS team our tour operator for his excellent planning ,coordination, prompt communication, and attention to every detail. His dedication ensured that our vacation was smooth, enjoyable, and filled with wonderful memories. Our hotel stay was excellent. We stayed at Leaf resort Munnar, Amaana plantation Thekkady, Venezia house boat Alleppey and Travancore heritage Kovalama. The rooms were clean, spacious, and comfortable, the staff was courteous and always ready to help, and the food was delicious with plenty of variety. The location was also perfect, making it easy to explore nearby attractions while enjoying a relaxing stay. We highly recommend Mr. Akshay Vinod and strongly recommend Mr. Anoop M Nair from IRIS holidays for their services to anyone planning a holiday in south india. Thank you for making our trip such a delightful and unforgettable experience!

We had an amazing experience with Iris Holidays during our Kerala Honeymoon trip. Everything was perfectly organized and the entire journey was smooth, comfortable and memorable from start to finish. The itinerary covering Munnar, Vagamon, Alleppey and Kochi was beautifully planned with excellent hotel stays, sightseeing spots and travel arrangements. We especially loved the scenic beauty of Munnar with its tea gardens, waterfalls, Echo Point and Mattupetty Dam. Vagamon was peaceful and refreshing with beautiful meadows and pine hills. The Alleppey houseboat stay was truly unforgettable — the backwater cruise, delicious food, candle light arrangements and overnight experience made the trip extra special. A special thanks to our trip planner Akshay Vinod for planning such a wonderful and hassle-free vacation. He was very supportive, professional and responsive throughout the trip. Every detail was managed perfectly which made our journey relaxing and enjoyable. Big appreciation also for our driver Yadhu who was extremely polite, friendly and punctual during the entire tour. His driving was safe and comfortable, and he guided us very well at every destination. Because of him, travelling across Kerala felt smooth and stress-free. Overall, it was a fantastic holiday experience with lots of beautiful memories. We are very thankful to Iris Holidays, Akshay and Yadhu for making our Kerala trip so special. Highly recommended for anyone planning a Kerala vacation.

After a successful Kerala tour with Iris, we decided to book with them again for a Golden Triangle tour. Although we only gave our contact and planner, Akshay, a few days’ notice, he once again provided excellent service and arranged a tailored tour to fit our flight timings. Our driver, Sanjay (from subcontractor Hindustan Best Travels), met us at the airport with yellow marigold garlands and bottles of water. The Golden Triangle tour involves a lot of driving (more than 900 km in five days!), but it’s a great way to get a feel for the region. Sanjay was always quick to open car doors and suggest rest breaks, and he was the epitome of politeness and punctuality. If we had to mention one downside, it would be that he spent quite a bit of time on his phone arranging future business while driving—an impressive feat of concentration, given the often hectic traffic! The three hotels that Akshay booked were good-quality four-star properties, and, surprisingly, each included an evening buffet meal. We recommend setting aside around $200 for monument entrance fees and tips for the guides. We had three compulsory guides: at the Taj Mahal and Jahangiri Mahal in Agra, and one for all the Jaipur attractions. The guides were knowledgeable, and Sanjay advised us that a tip of around $20 for each guide is expected. Be aware that in each city, the driver (and guide) will take you to a shopping outlet. While there wasn’t too much pressure to buy, it was still a bit inconvenient as we were more interested in sightseeing—and they weren’t always keen to take no for an answer. Once again, Iris impressed us. We wouldn’t hesitate to use them again or recommend them to friends. We had a great time—thank you, Iris!