Otter Creek Tents

Eating

A tasty Western breakfast is served at the on-site tented beach shack. We tucked into pancakes with bananas and honey, waffles with maple syrup, fluffy herb omlettes and variations on the full English.

Lunch and dinner consist of fresh South Indian dishes such as grilled or fried fish, prawns, curry and rice, or squid salad. Dinner orders are taken by 5pm to allow the chef time to marinate the meat and seafood. We particularly enjoyed the spinach paneer, and thought the popadoms sprinkled with tomatoes, herbs, onions and chillies made a terrific start to the meal. Tandoori dishes are also available, and there's an Italian coffee machine (a rarity in India) for caffeine junkies who need to get their fix.

If you prefer to dine in private, picnics can be set up under a shady banyan tree in the grounds, or a beach barbecue can be arranged for an additional cost.

Fresh fruit juices are available throughout the day - we watched as a member of staff shimmied up a palm tree to fetch a coconut, then sliced the top off so we could drink the sweet milk inside. Each tent also has tea and coffee-making facilities, as well as a minibar full of deliciously cold drinks.

The nearest beach restaurants are about a mile away in both directions, with plenty of choice, including Goan and Thai. La Plage, run by a French couple, does wonderful food and desserts, and the Olive Ridley Restaurant, a 10-minute drive away, is a good option if you fancy a change from the local cuisine.