Meandering by the Mandovi
The one question I asked myself while boarding the flight to Goa was what had kept me away from visiting this beautiful state located on the south-western coast of India within the Konkan region and geographically separated from the Deccan highlands by the Western Ghats all these years. Just that a trip never ever worked out. So, this time round when an opportunity to be in the country’s smallest state by area and the fourth smallest by population came my way, I jumped at it. After all, I had heard so much about Goa from friends and family over the years.
And as luck would have it, I was to stay at the magnificent property of DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji, about 15 minutes outside of the state capital of Panaji - a sprawling resort offering picturesque views and tucked between lush forest and the calming waters of the Mandovi River. The hotel, an escape of its own, is 10 minutes from the UNESCO World Heritage Site at Old Goa. A 45-minute drive from the Goa International Airport brings one to this haven which has it all – excellent F&B options, event space, a pool, a fitness centre as well as a spa.
Reaching the resort from the airport takes you on a scenic drive, with rivers and vast greens interspersed with colourful houses and simplicity of life. Where the 55-km drive culminates, high-end hospitality begins. Entry to the 160-room resort begins with a welcome drink and friendly smiles with a smooth check-in process. The spacious lobby has window walls, allowing in natural light as well as offering beautiful views which add to the relaxed vibes the property exudes. The adjacent parlour with an attached balcony area only add to what can be described as true coastal spirit. And this set the tone of the rest of my visit – coastal ambience mixed with rejuvenation and relaxation.
The rooms at the property are well-appointed and spacious with separate seating space and workstation. The feature that appealed to me the most – a balcony with comfortable seating. The property offers Deluxe Rooms, Executive Rooms, Deluxe Suites, Premium Suites and a Presidential Suite. The rooms offer river view, garden view or the forest view. What piqued my interest the most in the room, however, were the minute details – an ashtray on the balcony table, a stand for drying clothes and the complimentary minibar for first fills.
“When I took over the property as the General Manager, my understanding with the owners was to reinvent the way the resort operated. As a part of those efforts, during the days of low occupancy, I asked the staff to stay in the rooms and to come up with suggestions and ideas for improvement. They identified the areas where service was found lacking or missing and informed me. That is how we decided to permanently place ashtrays and clothing stands in all the rooms,” says General Manager Shiv Bose.
The hotel recently inaugurated an elegant Ballroom which allows natural daylight to filter in and light up the 381 sq m space. While this is the largest event space the hotel has, it also offers a 90 sq m Executive Lounge, 49 sq m Sunset Deck and 18 sq m Board Room to host different types of events and meetings.
The activities
While these small aspects truly add to the convenience, they are value adds-ons and above a well-rounded offering. The property in itself is a complete package where guests can stay and find things to do at all times. A small basketball court, a mini football field, a gaming area with a carrom board, air hockey, pool table and table tennis table, an infinity pool as well as a bunny enclosure – a separate play area for kids and a toy train makes the resort perfect for family vacations, allowing parents to take a break while children safely burn their energy and mingle with their peer group.
DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji also has a spa, located in a separate building next to the infinity pool. This one is in collaboration with Elle. The spa treatment which begins with a herbal tea is rejuvenating to the core with proper attention to pressure, preferred areas of focus and leisure. The only thing that seems to be missing is lack of a steam room for post-treatment bliss, but even without that, there is hardly any room to complain.
The food
If a resort offers so much solace where guests can spend their time leisurely for the entirety of their stay, the food must be at par too and so it is at DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji. The hotel has two dining spaces – Comida, the all-day dining restaurant and Feliz which serves Goan and Coastal cuisines. Comida, which also hosts breakfast buffet, offers world cuisine as well as local specialties. When it comes to food, the hotel has several great dishes to offer such as the Goan thali, hash browns, Belgian Waffles, Idli, Utthapam, Poori Bhaji, Thai Spiced Vegetable Spring Rolls, Thai Curry and Paneer Lababdar.
“I feel a recipe is only a theme which an intelligent cook can play each time with variation,” says Narasinh Kamat, Executive Chef, when speaking about his philosophy of cooking.
Apart from a selection of mouth-watering dishes, the hotel has a Comida Bar with adjoined alfresco space for guests to enjoy cocktails and mocktails as they hold conversations and enjoy the scenic beauty. The lobby lounge, Rio Salao, allows guests to enjoy tea or coffee with an assortment of sandwiches, fresh confectionery or small bites.
All in all, DoubleTree by Hilton Goa – Panaji is more than a hotel – it is an experience in itself that leaves guests for want of not much else if relaxation is the goal.
