The Best Luxury Hotels in Goa

Alila Diwa Goa has uninterrupted views of paddy fields and coconut palms, best enjoyed from the tiered infinity pool. Majorda Beach is a 15-minute walk or quick free shuttle away. Food lovers will love the masterclass in Goan cuisine led by an Alila chef. Afterwards, let a mixologist mastermind the perfect blend of flavours for you at the old-school courtyard bar (hint: the kaffir lime and cardamom-infused cocktails are a treat).

This Indo-Portuguese village-style resort spans 18 ha (45 acres) of tropical beach near Arossim Beach. The lagoon-style pool is one of India’s largest, and is particularly refreshing after a sunrise yoga class. Enjoying Goan cuisine? Ask your concierge to arrange a spice plantation trip – the tours of Sahakari Spice Farm in Ponda are enlightening (though it’s best to avoid the elephant rides).

Just a 30-minute drive south of Goa International Airport, Kenilworth Resort & Spa sits behind the white sands of Utorda Beach. The comfortable rooms feature pitched roofs, rattan furniture and private balconies, some of which overlook the meandering pool and outdoor jacuzzi. Save time for a morning at Margao Market, where you can browse stalls selling mountains of dried chillies and fresh seafood to glittering bangles.

Taj Resort & Convention Centre is a modern masterpiece with a cathedral-like lobby and chic sea-facing rooms. There’s a slim rooftop infinity pool with a sunken bar, 40-seater cinema and ayurvedic spa – not bad for a self-proclaimed business hotel. Nearby Vainguinim Beach is pleasant enough – take a quick taxi to Caranzalem Beach for broader golden sands.

Leave your smartphone in your suitcase and swap digital distractions for forest trail walks, yoga lessons and post-dinner stargazing sessions at Cabo Serai. Here, a clutch of hillside eco-luxe cottages and safari-style tents look out across the Arabian Sea. Take in the views from your wraparound cantilevered balcony, or descend the steep paths to reach the white sands of Cabo de Rama Beach.

This Indo-Balinese boutique comprises eight rooms spread across three villas, plus another perched amid the branches of a 200-year old banyan tree. The eclectic art collection of abstract paintings, Burmese bowls and African sculptures gives the place a homely feel – many of them were collected by the owner on her own international jaunts. Feeling inspired? Spend an afternoon pondering Indian modern art at the Museum of Goa, or shopping for your own trinkets to take home at Mapusa Market.

Set between the River Sal and the Arabian Sea, The Leela is one of Goa’s most luxurious resorts. Plush rooms overlook a large, lotus-filled lagoon, with views of the hotel’s 12-hole golf course and Mobor Beach beyond. Technically you never need to leave – everything from Pilates to pottery-making classes are bound to keep you busy – but save time for a trip to Cavelossim village, where you’ll find funky beach bars and colourful colonial churches.

Hugging the wide sands of Benaulim Beach, Taj Exotica is a vast luxury resort with exceptionally welcoming staff. Villa rooms have freestanding tubs, huge comfy beds and private gardens (upgrade for a private hot tub or pool). Refreshing swims and hammock swinging not hitting the spot? Try one of the spa’s ayurvedic treatment and yoga pairings to experience total body and mind relaxation.

Situated on the edge of Miramar Beach in Goa’s state capital, Panaji, Marriott Resort and Spa is ideal if you’re looking for a beach holiday with easy access to a little urban buzz. The centre of town is just a five-minute taxi away; the riverfront is cluttered with cruise ships and casinos, but wander a while and you’ll find museums, art galleries, boutiques, and Portuguese colonial architecture – including the grand whitewashed Church of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception.

Rooms at the palatial Grand Hyatt Goa are adorned with Indian latticework and have broad sea- or garden-facing balconies. As well as the sunken fire pits and expansive pool, the 28-acre garden – overlooking Bambolim Bay – is dotted with ancient banyan trees and the creeper-engulfed ruins of a little old chapel. Want to see more local history? It’s a 15-minute drive to state capital Panaji’s Latin Quarter, Fontainhas, where azulejo tiles and narrow colonial streets transport you back to the Portuguese era.