The Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts to Book in Goa

There’s a definite nod to Goa’s Portuguese legacy at the Kenilworth (as there is in all the best Goa resorts). Set in attractive green grounds at Utorda, the resort is a tropical sprawl of deep blue swimming pools and tiled pavilions, and tile-floored bedrooms are decked out with tasteful light-wood and rattan furniture that evokes a suitably tropical mood. You can dine indoors or out, or even out on the beach, at tables with starched white tablecloths.

The Leela group sprinkles a little bit of magic wherever it goes, and their Goa property – near the mouth of the Sal River at Cavelossim – is no exception. Set in 75 acres (30ha) of tended grounds, the hotel feels like a Portuguese mansion, an effect exaggerated by the genteel, wood-floored bedrooms, decked out with stylish wooden furniture and vintage Indian curiosities. There’s room to fit a polo team in the living spaces, which look out over shimmering lagoons and pools.

Miramar Beach is a long and lovely strip of sand, and some of Goa’s best resorts are lined up along its shores (there’s also great bistro eating nearby in Panaji). The expansive Goa Marriott faces out onto the sand from a strip of palm trees, and rooms have soothing views of the bay, gardens or pool. They’re sleekly decorated, with conch shell artworks and modern art themes that spill from the walls to the rugs on the floor.

A fine location close to museums, monuments and more in the terracotta-tiled heart of Panaji is just one of the features that elevates the Crown Goa above the average Goa resort. There’s dining on a candlelit terrace overlooking the Mandovi River, a tasteful spa and pool and big bedrooms that riff on old Goan themes in a playful, modern way. The upper room classes have riverbank views and ornate bedsteads, juxtaposed against modernist lamps and colourful tiled floors.

It’s all about location at the Caravela Beach Resort, set apart from the pack on a fine stretch of dune-backed beach. A pool flanked by tiled pavilions comes as standard; the stylish rooms are less predictable, decorated in luxe fabrics that conjure up a sense of grandeur without being overly ostentatious. The style varies widely from room to room, so check out several before choosing. There’s beach-shack dining by the sand, and villa-style dining inside, plus the inevitable submerged pool bar.

Swaying trees divide the Grand Hyatt Goa from Bambolim Beach, which reclines temptingly out front, inviting you to dive into the warm Arabian Sea. Linked pools are wrapped around temple-like pavilions and colonial-style villas, and the main building is a fine facsimile of a lavish Goan mansion, with whitewashed stucco walls and airy terraces. Rooms juxtapose sleek modern features against dark timbers, wooden shutters and whirling ceiling fans that conjure up the Goa of old.

The Taj Exotica makes the best of its lavish sweep of grounds on the foreshore between Benaulim and Varca. With few close neighbours, there’s an overriding air of privacy, and little to distract you from the sand, lawns and palms. The expansive bedrooms have elegant Indian motifs that are mirrored on fabrics, rugs, wall art and furniture, and luxe touches include the swish Jiva spa, yoga classes on the terrace, a palm-fringed pool and great amenities for families.

Some of Goa’s best resorts share the endless sands at Varca Beach, but Club Mahindra stands out from the crowd thanks to its friendly, personal service. A stay here is all about candlelit dinners on the beach, cooking lessons for kids, art workshops, scuba classes, fun in the games room and other activities that bring families together. Decorated in a smart, international style, rooms, suites and villas are strung out beside multiple pools in lush, green grounds running back from the sand.

The Royal Orchid has a restrained, understated style, and a peaceful, easy air that encourages repeat stays. Tidy, tiled rooms with modern amenities, mismatched fabrics, and line-drawing murals of Goa scenes have terraces and balconies set around a splash-shaped pool. Utorda Beach lies at the end of a long, green lawn dotted with palms.

While many Goa resorts take advantage of the sands, Vivanta Goa puts you right in the action in Panaji, Goa’s atmospheric, historic capital. A modernist block, just back from the shore, the hotel offers a taste of sleek modernity within easy reach of Panaji’s colonial quarter. This is complemented by ultra-modern rooms in understated colours and a full suite of luxe hotel facilities – a rooftop pool, a swish spa, pan-Asian dining and more.