Where to stay in South Goa
ARAMSAY, MY DUDES. AND WELCOME TO SOUTH GOA!
Away from all the hustle and bustle of North Goa and a secret fiercely guarded by locals, South Goa is a paradise of pristine beaches, hippy retreats, and good food. If you're planning on making a trip to this corner of Goa, you'll want to make sure that the place you're looking to stay in is just what you need for your ultimate journey.
During my recent journeys through Goa, I've made a small list of my favourite places to stay and, more importantly, why you should choose tick these locations off your bucket list. I've included a rough cost per night, but prices will fluctuate depending on when you plan to go.
If you have any other hidden resorts that you think I should add, let me know in the comments.
FOR THE BARE NECESSITIES: FILCON RESORT
Patnem Beach - South Goa 403702 Patnem Beach - South Goa 403702
Price: Around ₹2000 a night for a standard single room.
Falcon Resort is ideal for those travellers who prefer to use their hotel room as a place to sleep and a place to store their belongings. It's clean, simple, basic, and close to some super cool beaches. The staff seemed to know what they were talking about, the wifi was incredibly good, and possibly the best part about this resort after a long car trip was that the bathrooms and bed linen were as clean as a whistle.
Filcon may not be much of a looker from the outside, but it's what’s on the inside that counts the most #innerbeauty. The rooms of this small and modest hotel are well maintained, and well thought out. Not only are the sheets crisp and clean (a rarity in these budget hotels) but the rooms themselves are simple and budget-chic. I only stayed here one night, and being a germaphobe and highly suspicious of these kinds of budget hotels after a horrible experience in Delhi (bed bugs), I was so happy to snuggle into this bed.
The Resort is located in Patnem Beach, and the road is lined with funky restaurants and shacks that have authentic local chow. What I really appreciated about this resort is that it was a two-minute walk from the beach and all the beach-side hotels, but without the huge price-tag. There were also some cool looking backpackers hanging out on balconies in the early evenings who were keen to offer advice and help to lost travellers.
The food at this resort left a lot to be desired and the breakfast buffet was nothing to write home about, but being in such a key location meant that other cafes and resorts were just around the corner. I would suggest requesting a room on the first or second floor instead of ground floor, as they seem to get more sunlight and be a little quieter than their ground floor counterparts. For the traveller who can't bare to stay in their room all day and just want a roof to sleep under, this resort is ideal.
Why stay here? Because it's clean and simple.
FOR A HIDDEN PARADISE: VARANDAS DE CANACONA
House No 6/44/4 Tarir Rajbagh, Palolem, Canacona, Goa 403702
Standard Room Cost Per Night: ₹ 3,556 - ₹ 5,903
So tricky to find that the hotel gives out business cards with a clear map, this lakeside property is one of the best kept secrets of South Goa. Perched on the edge of the lake, this boutique hotel has the luck of being south-facing, meaning that it receives an uninterrupted view of sunset and sunrise in all their glory. Perfect for couples and groups, this small hotel offers fantastic views, lake-activities, and some of the healthiest food in Goa.
Varandas de Canacona offers two types of rooms; a double bed, and bunk beds. The double bed rooms are perfect for couples, they have floor to ceiling windows and a sweeping balcony overlooking the lake (you can see them on the first floor in the photo of the resort below). The bunk bed rooms don't offer the same view as the double bed rooms, but they are perfect for groups of 3 or more or for those travelling in pairs looking to make some friends (or perhaps not looking to share a double bed). Facilities are all provided, and they even have a decent washing service in the common area.
What really sells this place is the restaurant/bar, and the rooftop.
The restaurant not only has a dedicated gin bar in their restaurant 'The Quarterdeck', but it has high-quality, healthy food on offer. Hummus platter? Yes please. Omelette with fresh feta or chorizo? Why say no? A proper coffee machine and a barista who knows what your caffeine-cravings need to be satisfied? Heck yes. Even the rooftop has a BBQ just screaming for a cook-up.
The hotel also has some pretty cool activities on offer. Situated above a small pier, the hotel offers kayaking and fishing as well as other typical South Goan activities. Don't be alarmed at their insistence for you to sign a Waiver and Release of Liability (the manager happily told me it was just a formality to protect the hotel if I capsized my kayak and drowned), the activities are super safe for all people.
If you're travelling through the area, do yourself a favour and make a pitstop to Varandas de Canacona and don't forget to take the obligatory sunrise/sunset photo. You'll love it.
Why? Because it has such a nice view and the food and coffee at the restaurant is by far the best I've had in Goa.
FOR WHEN YOU NEED SOME PEACE AND QUIET: PALM TREES AYURVEDA HERITAGE
Rajabagh and Tarir, Patnem, Canacona 403703, India
So peaceful and so quiet, I spent all my time at this resort whispering to others. An eco-holiday family-friendly resort run by an Australian family, this secret resort specialises in spirituality and tranquility. The guests wandering around the resort look like they have achieved the highest levels of enlightenment before breakfast, and the local birds seem to want to sing better than the other birds of India. Popular for those looking to embark on a yoga retreat or a detox, Palm Trees Ayurvedic Centre is a hideaway that is hidden away.
Palm Trees can be found in the back lanes of Canacona just on the estuary between Patnem Beach and Lalit Hotel Resort. Crossing the bridge across the estuary and into the resort is a little adventure on its own, and I am not ashamed to say that it took me a few minutes more to enter the property as I was busy trying to take photos of the bridge. You can choose between a Family Rooms and Honeymoon Deluxe Room, or a Standard Room, and all come with complimentary tranquility and some rogue chickens coming to visit.
The resort also has Keralan therapists and doctors on site, as well as plenty of yoga-centres in nearby spots. If you're looking to undertake a course during your trip to Goa, this resort has some pretty funky stuff on offer. They offer certificates in Kalari Marma Chikitsa and Kalari Arts, Rasayana Chikitsa, and Gayathri Healing (I had to Google them to find out what they were and I'm still not quite sure, all I know if that they help you to heal and improve energy in the body). They have a huge list of Ayurvedic treatments available as well as some amazing spa treatments to help you relax.
If treatments, courses, and spa days are not your thing, the resort also offers some interesting sight-seeing trips (which is hilariously listed on their website as 'side seen trips') including visits to spice farms, kayaking, dolphin watching, and fishing. All in all, Palm Trees Ayurvedic Resort is the ultimate place for relaxation and getting back to nature (don't forget to bring the kids!)
Why stay here? Because it's authentic in it's purity, and because I felt zen after being there for 10 minutes. Plus, chickens and hammocks
FOR WHEN YOU WANT YOUR CREATURE COMFORTS: PLANET HOLLYWOOD
Address: 30/3, Acsona Waddo, Uttorda Beach, Salcette, Goa 403713
Price Range c/o Booking.com₹ 9,226 - ₹ 2,58,268 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
Popular for weddings, Planet Hollywood looks tacky as all hell from the photos but underneath this resort is anything but tacky. Ignore the decor (unless sleeping under a giant photo of Jim Carrey is your thang) and instead focus on the service and facilities of this place. Planet Hollywood is not to be underestimated. With a huge pool, sprawling gardens, a well-stocked restaurant, and a close-to-private beach front, it's no wonder why people have their weddings here all year round.
Planet Hollywood comes with everything you could ever want in a resort. There's table tennis, beach volleyball, a huge pool with deck chairs and cabanas, a well-equipped gym that offers trance fitness (strange but cool, I guess), a sushi restaurant, a spa, luscious green lawns, and the best darn waiter named Wilbert who works in the Fame Restaurant overlooking the pool. I came to Planet Hollywood a little burnt-out from long work days and general fatigue brought on by living in India, and I left refreshed and renewed after a few days of paradise. It is not a typical "Indian" hotel and it is in no-way the true Eat, Pray, Love hotel you may have imagined when you came to Goa, but when you need to take a break from the stress of finding yourself spiritually then this is your place.
The beach connected to the hotel not only has a killer restaurant named Poseidon's Cove that is ideal for a spoil-yourself-dinner, but also comes relatively empty from other tourists. You can swim, frolic, sun-bake, and build sandcastles to your heart’s content without those pesky hawkers or weirdos interrupting your me time.
WHY? BECAUSE IT HAS ALL THE GLAMOUR OF A 5-STAR HOTEL BUT WITH THE STRANGEST AND GAUDIEST DECOR IN INDIA.