KENIL WORTH - UTORTA BEACH

PHEONIX PARK INN -IN BETWEEN CANDOLIN AND CALANGUTE BEACH

MAJORDA BEACH - MAJORDA BEACH


If so, what did you think?

This was the email we sent to a friend, for which his travel agent made the above 3 suggestions. Do we need a new travel agent? ;) Please feel free to make suggestions... thanks!

Hotel Notes:
We do not care if we stay in an expensive hotel or a very cheap hotel. However, the accomodations should be safe and reasonably comfortable (eg. western toilets). We will share shower facilities if the place is very wonderful and charming in another way (eg. an eco-tourist lodge, a historical property, etc.). We do not need air conditioning, but do need at least a fan.

On previous trips to India, we stayed at the Coconut Grove, Malabar House, and Brunton Boatyard (all in Kerala, all of which we liked very much). We did a houseboat overnight, which we liked too.

We would like to be able to swim at the beach we stay at. So, no polluted beaches or beaches with an undertow that is too strong to swim in.

We do not want to be in any town that is a center for drugs, raves, or hippies. We would like to be able to take a day trip to Old Goa. You made it sound like the roads are good and easy to drive. Yes?

You must be joking. I don't know who gave you this impression. All decent Indian Hotels have western toilets. People go to India and stay in very cheap places and then complain of not finding a western toilet.

Travel agents offer you choices based on their tie ups with various hotels. I haven't stayed in any of these but all of these are quite expensive upscale resorts. If by "Marjoda Beach" you mean "Marjoda Beach Resort" then it is a 5Star resort. Phoenix is a 3star and Kenilworth is a 4star. And yes you wouldn't have to share the shower unless you share the room.

You can find cheaper alternatives with all the good facilities you need but then you have to walk or drive to the beach.


KENIL WORTH - UTORTA BEACH

PHEONIX PARK INN -IN BETWEEN CANDOLIN AND CALANGUTE BEACH

MAJORDA BEACH - MAJORDA BEACH


If so, what did you think?

This was the email we sent to a friend, for which his travel agent made the above 3 suggestions. Do we need a new travel agent? ;) Please feel free to make suggestions... thanks!

Hotel Notes:
We do not care if we stay in an expensive hotel or a very cheap hotel. However, the accomodations should be safe and reasonably comfortable (eg. western toilets). We will share shower facilities if the place is very wonderful and charming in another way (eg. an eco-tourist lodge, a historical property, etc.). We do not need air conditioning, but do need at least a fan.

On previous trips to India, we stayed at the Coconut Grove, Malabar House, and Brunton Boatyard (all in Kerala, all of which we liked very much). We did a houseboat overnight, which we liked too.

We would like to be able to swim at the beach we stay at. So, no polluted beaches or beaches with an undertow that is too strong to swim in.

We do not want to be in any town that is a center for drugs, raves, or hippies. We would like to be able to take a day trip to Old Goa. You made it sound like the roads are good and easy to drive. Yes?

Thanks AA25.

We've travelled many places in the world, and we've just learned to ask about toilets. :) Obviously I didn't think the TajExotica would have squat toilets... We're just trying to figure out the different tradeoffs, since we haven't been to Goa before. We don't mind upscale, we don't mind cheap shack on the beach, we just want to make sure that the place is nice and has the atmosphere we're looking for.

Any other suggestions, comments are appreciated -- thank you!

I only know the Majorda Beach Resort and its very good...not too close to the crowds. I've heard of Kenilworth and its near there as well, but the Phoenix sounds like its one of those apartment buildings that have been converted into a hotel along a very popular and crowded touristy stretch.

The question is, how much are they ripping you off for? :D

If you let me know what price range you are getting at those hotels, and what dates you are planning for, I can contact a couple of people I know in Goa to see if you can get a better deal. Please PM me as I don't check this forum often.

I suggest you look up some other hotels on this website.
http://www.goacom.com/hotels/

KENIL WORTH - UTORTA BEACH

PHEONIX PARK INN -IN BETWEEN CANDOLIN AND CALANGUTE BEACH

MAJORDA BEACH - MAJORDA BEACH

If so, what did you think?


I have not stayed at any of the above places. And although I live and work in Silicon Valley in California, I am from Goa, grew up there and visit it often. The three resorts cited above are second-tier accomodations, not in the top league. This is not to say they are to be avoided, just that they are not premium products.

My recommendations, if it fits into your budget, are as follows:

1) The Leela - located on the Mobor beach in south Goa, about 50 minutes from the capital city Panjim.
2) Taj Exotica, south Goa, within close distance of The Leela.
3) Park Hyatt - located at Arossim, south Goa. This is only a 30 minutes drive from Panjim.

These three resorts have grand, sweeping campuses and relatively private beaches (note: by law, no beach in Goa can be privately owned. That is to say, they are open to all citizens).

4) In North Goa, I would recommend the Taj Hotels complex, which is a cluster of three different properties located cheek-by-jowl. The Taj Holiday Village is designed to present an ambience of a small Goan village and features luxury cottages. The Fort Aguada Resort section is regular building strip with luxury rooms. Perched atop a hillock overlooking the sea is the Hermitage comprising premium villas. These three different brands are within walking distance of one another and share restaurants and other resources of the Taj complex.

5) The Nilaya Hermitage. This is a very high-end boutique property (see http://www.nilayahermitage.com/nilaya.htm).

6) Goa Marriott (http://www.goamarriottresort.com), located in Panjim, near the Miramar beach (since it is a city beach, there's not much privacy, but it is an excellent place for promenades and for general relaxation). The Goa Marriott is an exceptional hotel, with a level of service that is truly world-class. But it is more in the nature of a business hotel than a getaway.

Hope this helps.

FWIW, I have had great experiences with The Leela in Bangalore, and would expect a similar product in Goa. The Taj is less impressive in Bangalore, but not by much.

Were I Goa-bound, I'd be at the Leela.

So we looked at the Leela website and I think for this trip, $400/night is a bit too pricey for our budget. :) Maybe for our honeymoon...

Generally the top notch hotels are exorbitantly expensive and don't offer value for money. You pay extra $$ for their decor and luxury options which you don't even use. I wouldn't go there even for my honeymoon. I think you can find a lot of Beach resorts in Goa in range $75-200 which are upscale (but not top of the line) quite good, very clean and comfortable. Save money here and you can have an extra vacation or few extra vacation days. This is my philosophy. I would suggest going back to initial list and searching more on the web.

So we looked at the Leela website and I think for this trip, $400/night is a bit too pricey for our budget. :) Maybe for our honeymoon...

Wow, that's a lot more than I expected. I don't blame you.

So we looked at the Leela website and I think for this trip, $400/night is a bit too pricey for our budget. :) Maybe for our honeymoon...

Those are either the rack rates or the nominally published rates. You should be able to get a better rate either through a travel agency or by writing to the hotels directly asking for a "good rate." But it depends on the time of the year. The Dec 1 - Jan 15 span is heavily booked and is considerably more expensive. My guess is that outside that span, the Leela should go at around USD 150-200, no more.

Those are either the rack rates or the nominally published rates. You should be able to get a better rate either through a travel agency or by writing to the hotels directly asking for a "good rate." But it depends on the time of the year. The Dec 1 - Jan 15 span is heavily booked and is considerably more expensive. My guess is that outside that span, the Leela should go at around USD 150-200, no more.

The travel agencies within India seem to advertise quite good rates but I have never gone that route. Perhaps someone else here has experience with that.

I have stayed at the Majorda and can say it is a nice little resort. Not on the level of Taj or Leela, but it is off the beaten track and the beach is quiet and you get to be alone since there is no major hotel around.F&B is very good. We stayed there in October 2002 before the major tourist season began. The rooms were filled with indian tourists, who swamped the breakfast & dinner buffet but were gone on some temple or beach tour during the day, leaving the pool and beach to the 'foreigners'. A double room with breakfast was INR1800/night if you had an 'indian' address. ;) They accepted our german credit cards for payment of the indian rates. They have a little restaurant near the beach to give you a beach shak atmosphere without spoiling your stomach. A normal goan beach shack is also on the beach beside the hotel. Had some very fresh fish with rice there.

All major goan sights are atleast 30-45 minutes away, so be prepared to pay for a car rental if you want to travel and see somthings.

The rooms are airconditioned & have standard 5* equipment (TV, phone etc)and the toilets would meet any western hotel standard. Free fruitbaskets each day. The hotel has a lawn between the main building and the beach with a pool. The lawn has beach chairs with waiter service. The beach has a hotel sponsored life guard and the usual water sports stuff (jet ski, paragliding) available on rental.

Regards Oliver

The travel agencies within India seem to advertise quite good rates but I have never gone that route. Perhaps someone else here has experience with that.

Indian Airlines offers a package deal for a number of resorts, including the Leela Goa--airfare (within India), airport-resort transfers, three nights' accommodation, and a few extras. You can try the following URL and click on "Holiday Packages" for more info.

http://indian-airlines.nic.in/scripts/index.asp