Planning for Goa, where to stay?

shashant · 12th March 2018, 11:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by meetbadri

You can try Ginger tree Boutique resort. I did stay here for a period of 3 days during last September and it was worth every penny.

Thanks for your input.
I did go to Ginger Tree but somehow didn't like their rooms, rates and location.

Not too from Ginger Tree and on main Anjuna Mapusa road, found this Henmil Holiday homes. Had a pleasant stay there.

Rooms were okay ( nothing luxurious) but definitely worth 900 Rs I paid

Highly recommended for some one looking for a budget place to stay.

lamborghini · 12th March 2018, 13:45

Have had to go to Goa several times for work / leisure. Have always stayed at North Goa with the rare exceptions (weddings, etc.).

Below is just a summary of the last few hotels I've stayed at / visited if it is of any help to fellow members:

1) Ibis Style North Goa (Calangute): It's a huge hotel, very family friendly, and quite affordable as well. Location is quite nice and you can probably walk to the beach on a pleasant day.
I liked the overall cleanliness, and the fact that it is an affordable chain hotel (important in terms of room furnishing quality, cleanliness, etc.). I had ordered a Penne Pesto from the room service which was quite decent as well.
What I didn't like was the long walk to the room, no taxi's available later at night (main road is at a distance), and tiny rooms with dull lighting.
http://www.ibisstylesgoa.com/

2) Radisson at Candolim:
Again a family friendly hotel, which is located right on the main road meaning lots of options to walk around to grab a bite / go to the beach / get a taxi, etc.
Parking may be a little tight here though, so best to inform the hotel if you are planning on driving down. The rooms are average size (larger than Ibis), and at times they have some great deals available.
What I didn't like was that many of the amenities close down relatively early, and the room cleanliness was average. This is my pick if you manage to get a great deal (I got a room with breakfast for around INR 4,000/night which made it great value).
https://www.radisson.com/candolim-ba...403515/indrdcd

3) Resort Rio (Arpora): This is an unbranded hotel, located around 500m from the main road. This hotel had the largest rooms, pleasant room service, a variety of restaurants as well as a 24*7 Cafe. Again a family friendly environment. Location isn't that great in the sense that you would need a cab to travel to the beaches, etc.
Lots of local car rental agencies close by, and parking isn't a worry.
What I didn't like was the general cleanliness + quality of furnishings & lighting which I felt could have been better.
There seems to be a more premium version of Resort Rio that has just opened up next door, and would be worth checking out as the furnishings etc. would be newer.
http://www.resortrio.com/

4) W Hotel (Vagator): The newest 5 star in North Goa, and it is absolutely brilliant! Haven't had the chance to stay there yet but just visited the property for dinner and drinks.
They have Nano's to transport you around the vast property, fantastic restaurants, and from what I've heard - the rooms are quite nice too (average size, but large bathrooms). I had a meal at Spice Traders which was very good, and got a drink at the Rock Pool which is absolutely fantastic!
However, the approach to the beach is a little rocky - mom and dad stayed there, and mom slipped while walking down to the beach.
Also nearby is Thalassa and other restaurants (not within walking distance though), which offer fantastic sunsets!
However, it is VERY expensive!
http://www.w-goa.com/

In addition to these hotels, there are some great villas available too! When going with friends we generally stay at Casa Del Sol (http://www.rainforestholdings.com/casadelsol.html), however have heard great things about 'June Meadows by Shrem' (http://www.junemeadows.in/) which is supposed to be more luxurious.

Other hotels to try out include:
Hyatt Place: https://goacandolim.place.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html (A little more expensive than Resort Rio but I've heard it's a great place)

Sinq Hotels: http://sinq.in/ (different hotels for different traveller groups)

Hope this helps!

meetbadri · 14th March 2018, 16:47

Quote:

Originally Posted by shashant

Thanks for your input.
I did go to Ginger Tree but somehow didn't like their rooms, rates and location.

I do agree that the standard rooms in this resort are way too small for the price we give

. But their Family Rooms are pretty good with 2 separate Bed rooms with separate bath rooms. We were two families and the place was liked by all including my 4 year old kid

turbospooler · 14th March 2018, 17:40

I stayed in Baga Beach Resort which is right next to Tito's so you can only imagine the sound percolating into the rooms. So if you are NOT a party animal, you can avoid it.

lamborghini · 14th March 2018, 17:49

Quote:

Originally Posted by turbospooler

I stayed in Baga Beach Resort which is right next to Tito's so you can only imagine the sound percolating into the rooms. So if you are NOT a party animal, you can avoid it.

How was the property & the rooms?

turbospooler · 15th March 2018, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by lamborghini

How was the property & the rooms?

Amazing. They have very good rooms, very good amenities, the ambience is top notch. The only chink in the armour was the noise coming from the clubs.
We avoided that like a boss by booking a courtyard room which did not have the views but it also did not have the din.

On a side note, as a person who was stationed in Goa for 1 year, I would advise you to avoid the overcrowded Baga & Calangute and go straight for the relatively peaceful Candolim.

shifu · 1st April 2018, 15:51

Hi all,

I am planning for a 3 day trip to Goa in the first week of May. I guess it'll be too hot, but my son wants to go to a beach and I have to take a vacation sponsored by my organization before 31-May. Goa seemed to be the best "beach place" connected by air from Hyd. Would Goa be too hot in May? I am open to other suggestions as well.

I have stayed in Goa Marriott before (3 years back) and liked it. Looking for something in South Goa this time. We don't like to go around much during the vacation. Idea is to just sit and relax in the resort. Any suggestions on resorts in that area? Budget is upto 10k per night.

Edit: Any reviews of The Zuri White Sand? and Mayfair?

NPV · 2nd April 2018, 18:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifu

I am planning for a 3 day trip to Goa in the first week of May. I guess it'll be too hot, but my son wants to go to a beach and I have to take a vacation sponsored by my organization before 31-May. Goa seemed to be the best "beach place" connected by air from Hyd. Would Goa be too hot in May? I am open to other suggestions as well.

Please use the thread tools menu to search for south Goa resorts recommended on this thread, there are several.
A recent post by Moderator manson is here (Planning for Goa, where to stay?) with some south Goa options.

Ketan T · 2nd April 2018, 20:07

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifu

Hi all,

Would Goa be too hot in May? I am open to other suggestions as well.

Goa will be hot in May. I regularly visit Goa in May. We stay indoors from 1 PM to 5PM in AC. The heat is bearable till noon. Mornings and evenings are pleasant.

nova9 · 2nd April 2018, 22:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by shifu

Edit: Any reviews of The Zuri White Sand? and Mayfair?

I've stayed at Zuri with the family. Its a pretty chilled out resort, but the casino is pretty shady with only local guys gambling i.e your lady won't like the ambiance in the casino.

Very peaceful and quiet with mostly older foreigners as guests, so its an exact opposite of north Goa.

Rooms are clean and spacious, the staff is courteous. The beach is a short walk and almost a private beach with white sand.

Room service is a rip off and costs more than twice what they charge in the restaurant.

Other issue is that the rooms have a cooler and not an actual minibar, so it wont chill your beer/cola or make ice.

And finally the cabbies have a union so no taxi will come to the resort unless you are using it to go back to the airport. So if you want to sightsee then you need to hire a private cab from south goa and they charge anything they please and you are at their mercy.

Like i had to pay Rs.800 to go to Martin's ( famous restaurant close by) and back to Zuri which was a rip off.

If you are ok to hiring a bike and riding around then its dirt cheap.

Happy Holidays!

VBoss · 23rd April 2018, 17:34

Dear All,

We (Me, Wife, 3 boys dad and mom ) are planning to drive down from Kochi and stay in Goa for 27 to 29 April.

We have never been to Goa and as expected everyone is super excited about the trip.

I have gone through the other forms and have tentatively decided to do the Kochi - Bangalore - Goa route as the roads are much better than the Mangalore - Goa road. The only thing that worries me is the difference in distance between these routesbis ~250 km one side.

I need your help in finalizing the hotel. We are looking for a budget option which will keep the boys exited. Location is not a problem as we will be driving around and the boys have almost finalized the list of places to go.

May I request you to kindly provide your valuable feedback on an appropriate place with good food options ( critical&#128513

and if I may, your advice on the route.

Thank you for your time and help

JohnnyBoss · 25th April 2018, 10:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by VBoss

Dear All,

We (Me, Wife, 3 boys dad and mom ) are planning to drive down from Kochi and stay in Goa for 27 to 29 April.

...

Since you are 7 people, I would suggest to look for a 2BHK apartment through AirBnB which can be available in the range of Rs.2500-3500. There are numerous such properties listed in AirBnB.

BTW I am also planning to drive to Goa from Kochi in the first week of May and looking for stay options in Vagator area in North Goa, where the activities are centred, as kids are with us.

coolbareilly · 25th April 2018, 11:14

Hello Everyone,
We (Me, Wifey, 2 Girls (8yr & 2yr) are planning to visit Goa in Mid of May. I understand it will be tooooo hot and humid, fortunately or un.. this is the time when children have vacations and our offices are quite lean. I have booked Taj Exotica in South Goa because we wanted to relax relax & relax. I believe hiring a cab on requirement basis would be quite challenging, so was planning to hire a self drive.
Can anyone please help in providing the contact details for a good car rental service in south goa.

Eddy · 25th April 2018, 11:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolbareilly

Can anyone please help in providing the contact details for a good car rental service in south goa.

http://www.team-bhp.com/forum/other-...avels-goa.html

ontheroad · 2nd May 2018, 12:03

Visited Goa with friends in last week. We (5 guys) stayed in Kris resort, near to Calangute main bustop. Its nearly 1.5 kms away from Calangute beach. We paid Rs 4.2K for two rooms. The hotel have a pool, bar and restaurant. Can be recommended for budget stay.

12th March 2018, 13:45	#557
lamborghini Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,164 Thanked: 5,933 Times View My Garage	re: Planning for Goa, where to stay? Have had to go to Goa several times for work / leisure. Have always stayed at North Goa with the rare exceptions (weddings, etc.). Below is just a summary of the last few hotels I've stayed at / visited if it is of any help to fellow members: 1) Ibis Style North Goa (Calangute): It's a huge hotel, very family friendly, and quite affordable as well. Location is quite nice and you can probably walk to the beach on a pleasant day. I liked the overall cleanliness, and the fact that it is an affordable chain hotel (important in terms of room furnishing quality, cleanliness, etc.). I had ordered a Penne Pesto from the room service which was quite decent as well. What I didn't like was the long walk to the room, no taxi's available later at night (main road is at a distance), and tiny rooms with dull lighting. http://www.ibisstylesgoa.com/ 2) Radisson at Candolim: Again a family friendly hotel, which is located right on the main road meaning lots of options to walk around to grab a bite / go to the beach / get a taxi, etc. Parking may be a little tight here though, so best to inform the hotel if you are planning on driving down. The rooms are average size (larger than Ibis), and at times they have some great deals available. What I didn't like was that many of the amenities close down relatively early, and the room cleanliness was average. This is my pick if you manage to get a great deal (I got a room with breakfast for around INR 4,000/night which made it great value). https://www.radisson.com/candolim-ba...403515/indrdcd 3) Resort Rio (Arpora): This is an unbranded hotel, located around 500m from the main road. This hotel had the largest rooms, pleasant room service, a variety of restaurants as well as a 24*7 Cafe. Again a family friendly environment. Location isn't that great in the sense that you would need a cab to travel to the beaches, etc. Lots of local car rental agencies close by, and parking isn't a worry. What I didn't like was the general cleanliness + quality of furnishings & lighting which I felt could have been better. There seems to be a more premium version of Resort Rio that has just opened up next door, and would be worth checking out as the furnishings etc. would be newer. http://www.resortrio.com/ 4) W Hotel (Vagator): The newest 5 star in North Goa, and it is absolutely brilliant! Haven't had the chance to stay there yet but just visited the property for dinner and drinks. They have Nano's to transport you around the vast property, fantastic restaurants, and from what I've heard - the rooms are quite nice too (average size, but large bathrooms). I had a meal at Spice Traders which was very good, and got a drink at the Rock Pool which is absolutely fantastic! However, the approach to the beach is a little rocky - mom and dad stayed there, and mom slipped while walking down to the beach. Also nearby is Thalassa and other restaurants (not within walking distance though), which offer fantastic sunsets! However, it is VERY expensive! http://www.w-goa.com/ In addition to these hotels, there are some great villas available too! When going with friends we generally stay at Casa Del Sol (http://www.rainforestholdings.com/casadelsol.html), however have heard great things about 'June Meadows by Shrem' (http://www.junemeadows.in/) which is supposed to be more luxurious. Other hotels to try out include: Hyatt Place: https://goacandolim.place.hyatt.com/en/hotel/home.html (A little more expensive than Resort Rio but I've heard it's a great place) Sinq Hotels: http://sinq.in/ (different hotels for different traveller groups) Hope this helps!
	(4) Thanks

14th March 2018, 17:40	#559
turbospooler BHPian Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Pune Posts: 402 Thanked: 1,193 Times	re: Planning for Goa, where to stay? I stayed in Baga Beach Resort which is right next to Tito's so you can only imagine the sound percolating into the rooms. So if you are NOT a party animal, you can avoid it.
	() Thanks

1st April 2018, 15:51	#562
shifu BHPian Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: TS Posts: 639 Thanked: 978 Times	re: Planning for Goa, where to stay? Hi all, I am planning for a 3 day trip to Goa in the first week of May. I guess it'll be too hot, but my son wants to go to a beach and I have to take a vacation sponsored by my organization before 31-May. Goa seemed to be the best "beach place" connected by air from Hyd. Would Goa be too hot in May? I am open to other suggestions as well. I have stayed in Goa Marriott before (3 years back) and liked it. Looking for something in South Goa this time. We don't like to go around much during the vacation. Idea is to just sit and relax in the resort. Any suggestions on resorts in that area? Budget is upto 10k per night. Edit: Any reviews of The Zuri White Sand? and Mayfair? Last edited by shifu : 1st April 2018 at 16:03.
	() Thanks

23rd April 2018, 17:34	#566
VBoss Newbie Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Bangalore Posts: 12 Thanked: 12 Times	Dear All, We (Me, Wife, 3 boys dad and mom ) are planning to drive down from Kochi and stay in Goa for 27 to 29 April. We have never been to Goa and as expected everyone is super excited about the trip. I have gone through the other forms and have tentatively decided to do the Kochi - Bangalore - Goa route as the roads are much better than the Mangalore - Goa road. The only thing that worries me is the difference in distance between these routesbis ~250 km one side. I need your help in finalizing the hotel. We are looking for a budget option which will keep the boys exited. Location is not a problem as we will be driving around and the boys have almost finalized the list of places to go. May I request you to kindly provide your valuable feedback on an appropriate place with good food options ( critical&#128513 and if I may, your advice on the route. Thank you for your time and help
	() Thanks

25th April 2018, 11:14	#568
coolbareilly BHPian Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Delhi Posts: 194 Thanked: 16 Times	re: Planning for Goa, where to stay? Hello Everyone, We (Me, Wifey, 2 Girls (8yr & 2yr) are planning to visit Goa in Mid of May. I understand it will be tooooo hot and humid, fortunately or un.. this is the time when children have vacations and our offices are quite lean. I have booked Taj Exotica in South Goa because we wanted to relax relax & relax. I believe hiring a cab on requirement basis would be quite challenging, so was planning to hire a self drive. Can anyone please help in providing the contact details for a good car rental service in south goa.
	() Thanks

2nd May 2018, 12:03	#570
ontheroad BHPian Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: KL-01/KL-08 Posts: 328 Thanked: 177 Times	Visited Goa with friends in last week. We (5 guys) stayed in Kris resort, near to Calangute main bustop. Its nearly 1.5 kms away from Calangute beach. We paid Rs 4.2K for two rooms. The hotel have a pool, bar and restaurant. Can be recommended for budget stay.
	(2) Thanks