Holidays #1 Novotel Goa Resort and Spa

As its holiday season I am doing a series on holidays and hotels – to give you ideas for your next getaway! And i have to start with Goa, my family's all time fav holiday destination.

View of the pool from the 2nd floor balcony outside our room

Table decor in our suite's living room

Welcome goodies in our suite 

We recently stayed at the Novotel Goa Resort and Spa, Candolim, Goa, in the Prestige suite. 2 rooms with 1.5 loos! Convenient for a family. Spacious and luxurious with all mod cons and 2 balconies. One was used by the husband to smoke in and the other is where we had our morning tea/coffee! 

Loved the huge bathroom with the double sink, wardrobe and lots of space. Truly luxurious!

The bedroom had many lights - good for reading too! We had a coffee machine apart from a well stocked mini bar and a mini kitchenette.

Our sitting area

Pool shaded by the giant banyan tree

The pool area is truly lovely and embodies Goan susegad. The pool itself is shaded by an ancient banyan tree! Lots of loungers around it and many attendants to give service – a cold beer or fresh lime soda?


There's a Children's activity centre to keep kiddies busy and an indoor game area with a table tennis table, foosball and carrom.

The lobby houses CHY - a deli, bar and bakery, very convenient for snacks and drinks. 

Lobby deli CHY

The very popular CHY 

Vero Cibo is the Mediterranean Restaurant, open for dinner which has fab views 
but we missed eating there as its closed on Tuesdays. We did eat at Food Exchange, the all day dining restaurant. Please see review in the next blog!


The Warren Tricomi spa is outstanding! Treatment rooms are Bali-styled Wooden huts in a tropical garden. The husband and I booked an energising couples massage. 


The 60 minute session took place in a wooden Balinese style hut with a washroom, sunken double tub, changing room and a spacious treatment room with 2 beds/treatment tables. 

Decor at the Spa reception

Spa treatment room 

Spa treatment room

We started with a warm water soak for the feet in rosemary and eucalyptus salts – the aroma was heavenly! The body massage was in lime and ginger oil! All this while soothing music played in the background. The session was very relaxing and energising! The masseurs /therapists recommended waiting for an hour before washing off the oil for best results. So we dressed and returned to the room and bathed later.

The hotel is very close to the main Candolim stretch and overlooks green paddy fields. It's a short walk from the beach. (10 to 15 minutes). The property offers a half hourly drop and pick up from the beach upto 7 pm. 

Morning view from our balcony - very Goa

Beside the pool is the gym. So you can exercise in air-conditioned comfort surrounded by the pool vista and the green fields beyond.

Must do for your next visit to Goa! 

On my last visit I stayed at the Taj Holiday Village and though it’s on the beach – the room didn’t have a sea view, the bathrooms were tired and there weren’t any bedside reading lights. This hotel with its fab service and amazing rooms is a really good option, in fact its a steal!