r/MarriottBonvoyIndia

Earlier this month, we snuck away to Sakleshpur for a “workation”.

We woke up to bird calls instead of alarms, and the first thing we saw when we pulled the curtains was mist over coffee estates and peacocks casually walking around the campus. That alone made the points feel well spent.

We booked Tapovan by Ferns in February, which Marriott acquired last year and slotted into their “Series by Marriott” collection.

Back then, Marriott had this insane sweet spot: 35,000 points for 4 nights + 5th night free under the 4+1 offer.

We booked it instantly.

We even posted about it and a bunch of you DMed saying you booked it too. If you did, this is what you signed up for. 👇

Tapovan is about half an hour from Sakleshpur town, tucked into a valley and wrapped in dense green.

It’s not a huge property in terms of rooms, but the campus is surprisingly spread out. Plenty of space to walk around, sit on random benches and look at the clouds passing by.

The rooms are nice and spacious. Just go in with the right expectations: this is an acquired resort, not a built-from-scratch Marriott, so don’t compare it to your typical luxury Marriott resorts.

Where Tapovan really flexes is the view.

The infinity pool sits on the edge of the valley, looking straight at coffee plantations and hills in the distance. One afternoon, we were just lazing in the pool and spotted peacocks casually roaming through the coffee plants below.

That was the moment we both thought, “Okay, this is why we travel.”

There’s also a viewpoint on the property that gives you a wide sweep of Sakleshpur from a higher altitude. Great for sunsets if the weather is clear.

Most of our days were simple: work from the room during the day, then shut the laptop, wander around the campus, play board games, and just… be offline without feeling guilty.

Now, the honest bit: the food.

It’s… fine. Not bad, not great. Just okay. For a property in a location like this, they can definitely do better. If you go with basic expectations, you’ll be alright, but don’t check in expecting a culinary revelation.

Because we weren’t fully satisfied with the resort food, we ventured out twice to try places that had been on our Sakleshpur list:

1️⃣ Durgashree Mess
A humble, family-run place that’s famous locally for its mutton donne biryani, Andhra chilli chicken and chicken fry.

We loved it.

The donne biryani is very different from the versions we’ve eaten in Bangalore. Less hot and spicy, but super aromatic and flavourful. It feels like something a home cook would make if they were showing off (in a good way).

2️⃣ Gandharva Bar & Restaurant
Everyone told us: “Go for the mutton pepper fry.”
They were right.

The mutton pepper fry was excellent, that perfect balance of heat, pepper, and fat. We also tried a chicken kadhai with akki roti, which was just average. If you go, focus on the mutton.

We had grand plans to trek around, including visiting Manjarabad Fort, but Sakleshpur had other ideas. It rained pretty much non-stop, so we shelved the treks for another trip and leaned into the staycation vibe instead.

Was it worth it?

For 35,000 points + a free 5th night, in a quiet valley, with those pool views and peacocks… yes.

It’s not a “perfect” Marriott, but as a workation / staycation spot near Bangalore, at that price point, it worked really well for us.

Would we go back?
Yes (if we find a good deal), but we’d still step out for our meals. And we owe Manjarabad Fort a visit when the rain gods calm down.

If you’re planning a Sakleshpur break and are sitting on Marriott points, Tapovan is one of those redemptions that feels like you’ve outsmarted the cash rates a little.

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Marriott has listed and started award bookings for Voaara, a Member of Design Hotels™

The resort is located on Sainte Marie island of Madagascar and only has 8 bungalows in total.

Best time to visit is July to November.

Currently they are only offering Deluxe Beach Bungalow (not the base room) for award bookings. It's going for 90k points or ₹189k per night. Cost of base room is ₹153k per night.

Conversion:
1 to 4 nights - 2.1
5 nights - 2.62

This property is a part of Design Hotels, so no benefits irrespective of your Marriott Bonvoy status.