After visiting Goa for a couple of times felt like putting the experience in words. So arose the idea of creating this blog to keep alive the memories as well as a place to review the city and hotels there in.
I tend to travel in the rainy season, around July, as it's around my marriage anniversary and the season really narrows down the touristy places I can go. Most of the places are out of bounds/ virtually closed for the tourist and many risky in rains. Goa happens to be one of the places I could finally agree to go in the rains as it is well connected with road/rail/air from Pune. Though I should add that the konkan railway route is kind of risky with its landslides and many a times trains get cancelled. But there is another train route (Goa Express) which doesn't go via the konkan region and this should work out just fine.
To start with one of the best ways (and cheap) to reach Goa would be to take the Goa Express. A 2AC round trip ticket costs around Rs.1700 from Pune (starts around 4 30 PM and takes about 13 hours to reach Goa).
It’s always a difficult decision to decide on the place to stay and Goa with its plethora of choices doesn't make this any easier. There are lots of reasonably priced places to stay in Goa and prices go up exponentially around Christmas and year end. But I tend not to try out these places as I save money on travel and feel like splurging a bit once a while. Taj and Leela are two of the top resorts here and I tried out both of these during the recent trip. Taj has a couple of properties Exotica,Village, Aguada, Vivanta in Goa. Taj being the largest and one I am going to write about. Village and Aquada are close by with Village being a resort and Agauda a heritage hotel. You can use the facilities missing in Aguada at Taj Village (like swimming pool). They have buggy service between these two. I have heard that Aguada is overlooking the sea and you have amazing sea view from the room (Still to try it). Vivanta is more of a business hotel.
Let me go ahead and compare Taj Exotica and Leela Kempinski.
Taj Exotica:
For:
- Huge 56 acres of well maintained property manicured lawns, lush greenery, colorful Flowers and freshly cut shrubs.
- Security feels assuring vehicles are checked thoroughly and they use a sniffer dog.
- Maintenance staff is cheerful and the atmosphere is lively.
- Pool is quite big and clean.
- Fabulous restaurants and complementary breakfast is good with lot of variety between Indian, continental and wellness spread.
- Rooms are sufficiently large, well maintained, and clean.
- Bath room is good as well.
- Beautiful football and cricket pitch on the lawns.
- Almost all facilities are available like gym, sports, spa, and travel desk.
- Fabulous out of the world service haven't experienced anywhere in India (and doubt it).
Against:
· Nothing much but just to find a short coming the rooms and bath is somewhat old school and could have been contemporary.
· For inexpensive dinning Joecons just outside Taj is not that great anymore.
Leela:
For:
· Grand lobby with beautiful ceiling.
· Amazing rooms with contemporary furniture and lavish bathroom. We had two sony bravia TVs in our room one for bedroom and other for seating.
· For inexpensive dinning Fisherman's Wharf a restaurant just outside Leela is good.
Against:
· Though grand and a huge property it’s not very well maintained. Lot of things look neglected and sometimes looks dirty.
· Nothing outstanding about the service and staff.
· Breakfast not really enjoyable.
· Most of restaurants closed for renovation.
· Security was lax.
To summarize in short, if you want to be pampered, made to feel like a king for hassle free chilled out resort getaway Taj Exotica is the place to be in Goa. Amazing service, great restaurants (four in all serving Oriental, Italian, Goan, Multi Cuisine.), lovely pool, serene spa, load of activities, anything and everything at your call. There are so many people, places, hotels, resorts that keep harping about "Athithi Devo Bhav" this is the only place in India i have really felt it.
Things to Do in Goa:
- Beaches and more beaches.
- South Goa for partying and food in the beach side shacks.
- Stay at a five star resort with affordable rates.
- Churches in old Goa (Basilica of Bom Jesus).
- Heritage houses (Casa Araujo Alvares, Menezes Braganza,Palácio do Deão ).
- Drive around on bike and take in the greenery.
- Water sports and river cruise in the evening.
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