Comfortable place to stay in Goa Dec. '07

meglife

My boyfriend and I are looking for a comfortable, interesting and -if possible- stylish place to stay close to the coast in Goa from Dec. 8th to 15th this year. Any recomendations gratefully accepted.
I have spent hours searching the forums and guide books for the most suitable location + lodgings and am becoming more and more confused by the differing opinions!
We are looking forward to visiting Goa after two weeks spent celebrating a family wedding in Surat (Gujarat), we apreciate that there has been much over-development throughout much of the state but would like to visit (hopefully) before the beauty has been totally spoilt.
We want a room with private bathroom, not necessarily on the beach but within easy reach, budget isn't restricted but we're not interested in the large multinational hotels. We enjoy relaxing, swimming, walking, would like somewhere fairly quiet and chilled, but equally enjoy good food so would not like to be too remote. We may well hire a moped to get around.
Had Palolem in mind but have been put off by all the negative info. on forums.
Thanks Megan. x

ananda2193

try www.homeispatnem.com

A great beach just south of Palolem. You won't be disappointed.

Or also the Sea View Hotel in Patnem is also good. Though not on the beach, it's a short walk.

crea

maybe villarivercat (www.villarivercat.com mandrem) is something you like.
Patnem is nice and I heard Anegonda is nice and quiet as well

meglife

Can anyone who has stayed there tell us what Home and Villa Rivercat are like?
The info from their websites looks fab.
Thanks for the recommendations so far, anyone got any more?

birds

I am always a big fan of Presa di Goa (www.presadigoa.com). The rooms are beautiful, a very nice garden with pool ad excellent food. We stayed several times before moving to Goa and now eat there at least once a forthnight. They have a free shuttle to and from the beach.

There is als a nice story attached to it. The place is owned by an elderly Luxembourg man (this hotel is the only Luxembourg company in India!) who used to be the GM of Marriot hotels around the world (that is why everything works well). He adopted a whole Goan family (father, mother, two kids and a granny)and they together run the hotel. Once the family has learned everything they will inherited the whole business including the hotel and grounds.

kantak007

Hi.I am flying down to goa in the first week of september and am planning on spending considerable time on palolem beach with my partner.I was however informed that coco huts are normally not up during the monsoon season?But isnt 2nd week of sept the end of the monsoons?Is this true?Do i need to book a coco hut in advance?Also if someone could tell me at what price range i am looking at if i was to stay in a coco hut.Cheers lads.

ananda2193

Though I never stayed there. I was in Patnem for 3 months 4 years ago and would go to Home sometimes for coffee and food.

It's rented out every year by some europeans. Their food is real good and they have real coffee. Most places have Nescafe. They make their own desserts that people rave about. And it's a great place to stay if you can afford it. Beautiful location on a nice beach and a little walk from Palolem. I would stay there over Mandrem. There's more to do in Patnem and the surrounding area. And it's really pretty the beaches there, Columb,Patnem,Palolem are nice beaches that you can walk to.

And you can walk to Chaudi from Patnem, the big town in the area and have a good vegetarian meal at the very popular Udipi Restaurant with the best Lassis' I've had in India.

Agonda beach is also nice.

patti123

kantak007 the licenses for the shacks /huts are not avaiable till Nov ,so if the huts are not on private land there wont be any up .

GoanCanuck

The licences are normally issued in October.

India with 4 kids!

You will LOVE Fort Tiracol. Yes, Presa di Goa is terrific, but Fort Tiracol is overlooking the water (take a quick ferry to a deserted and spectacular beach). The historic architecture mixed with hip and understated furnishings and colors are an absolute treat. Perfect for moped travel. The winding forest road through villages was my favorite bit of travel in all three months we spent in India.

Don't bother going south. Unless you are really going for the waves. Then, you could consider Bhakti Kutir near Palolem.

Hope this helps,

India with 4 kids!

meglife

I had heard about Fort Tiracol and thought it sounded wonderful. Is it a bit isolated? Would we easily be able to get to all the local beaches, restaurants and heritage buildings?
Thanks for everyone's help, we'll let you know where we decide to stay.
Megan

GoanCanuck

It is very isolated which is its biggest assest and its biggest liability as well. If you want to go to Anjuna or Baga from here you should be prepared for a long drive.

India with 4 kids!

Goa is not that big -- It usually took us about 4 hours to drive by car from Fort Tiracol (the upper tip) to Palolem (the bottom tip), with the airport and Panjim roughly halfway between. The attractions of Fort Tiracol are the design, the privacy, the food, the view and the church services held outside of the little chapel in the courtyard, with portuguese hymns sung to guitar. We were there last November and we never saw any tourists on the beach, but there weren't really any amenities either. Just a few locals, and on one memorable afternoon, a big school bus full of kids who waded in the water in their school uniforms. If you have any interest in socializing with other travellers, you probably won't enjoy Fort Tiracol as there are few rooms and it seemed like people kept to themselves mostly.

sweet-thursday

We're going out in late December, staying on Patnem, as Palolem looks a bit too busy over New Year. A friend lives out there six months a year and he's going to check out Goyam Bungalows, HomeIs, and Casa Fiesta for us.

He says the opening date is around 16th October for beach huts, so can report back then with prices and any other info, if that's of help.

vandy

Hi there,Sunset Cottages - Baga Beach are pretty
Good,has good food,comfortable clean rooms and a
3 min walk to beachfront.

Happy Relaxing !!!!!

rgds
vandy