The Best Luxury Hotels and Resorts to Book in Goa
Sun-kissed Goa has come a long way since its former days as a Portuguese colony. Today, the state is celebrated for its elevated fine dining and ritzy places to stay, as well as for its fine sandy beaches and richly layered history. The best resorts in Goa pay homage to this fascinating past, inviting visitors to dive into the state’s hybrid culture, creativity and cuisine, as well as its brilliant blue waters.
1. Kenilworth Resort & Spa, for a tropical mood
Hotel, Luxury
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.
2. The Leela Goa, for mansion-like quarters
Hotel, Villa
3. Goa Marriott Resort & Spa, for a beach getaway
Spa Hotel, Hotel, Luxury
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.
5. Caravela Beach Resort, for understated luxe
Resort
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.
6. Grand Hyatt Goa, for bags of character
Hotel, Luxury
7. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa, for tranquillity and privacy
Resort, Hotel
8. Club Mahindra Varca Beach, for family-friendly fun
Hotel
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.
9. Royal Orchid Beach Resort & Spa, for modern amenities
Resort
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.
10. Vivanta Goa, Panaji, for sleek modernity
Resort
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.
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