Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa — Hotel in Goa

-Warm welcome, lovely staff everywhere, very consistently upbeat, friendly and accommodating, from check in with Mrudal to housekeeping to dining -Beautiful grounds, wildlife and beach, and really lovely comfortable and well equipt room -Brilliant quality food at the buffet across breakfast, lunch and dinner - lots to try, and a mix of healthy/simple and fun/indulgent, both south and north Indian (as well as European but we didn't fancy that ourselves), all of an excellent standard -Upgraded room - we wanted to try the pool room with our baby for part of our stay, which was upgraded for the whole time and lovely for us to stay in one place and enjoy it with her! -Nice touches for babies - cot, products, welcome toy (and overall with the grounds, private pool and buffet dining package it was a great place for us to relax - as much as is possible! - and enjoy ourselves around the day's limiting cycles of naps and baby care)

5/5, we loved it! Some feedback we did also want to share:

-Would have liked more ways to enjoy the incredible sea view - e.g. more beach sun loungers with shade (all loungers occupied when we went), a bar on our nearby the beach / drinks and snacks service for sun loungers, and the Lobster Shack open in the day time (evenings we could not go out with the baby) - instead the golf course and wedding functions seemed to occupy the beach views instead, and many guests seemed to tend to hang out by the pool which seemed a shame with the amazing ocean!

-The weddings often seemed to take over the place, with functions or structures all over the place happening/going up/being packed down! This reinforced the above point re. the beach as they often occupied the beach view points. Also it was tricky with our baby's naps with loud live music and fireworks at night, and we would have appreciated a warning about the fireworks and time so we could prepare and make sure we were inside with baby (we asked someone when we saw them set up on the beach tobut they did not know). This and all the guests could deduct from the tranquil feeling at times!

-Some of the coconut in dishes was not fresh and contained additives which seemed a shame as a local ingredient and meant I couldn't eat some things (I have IBD and certain additives like emulsifiers and stabilisers have been linked to worsening the condition)

-Would have liked some herbal caffeine-free tea in the room e.g. camomile, peppermint - we requested eggs but only blends containing green tea were provided

-A lift from restaurant to lobby would be handy - we carried our pushchair up the stairs

-The diaper changing (disabled toilet) by the main restaurant could be cleaner - it smelt a bit and was damp with mosquitoes, so we didn't want to change baby in there

-Our bathroom also did not ventilate well and so smelt a little stuffy/damp (and could be a little cleaner e.g. dusty bin and brown staining under bath)

-I had some hay fever-like allergic reaction throughout especially in the morning, perhaps the fumigation treatments used to...

Let me see, where do I even begin?

From the get go, you get to experience the incredible hospitality of Taj. Its grandeur takes you over and you simply dwelve into the authenticity of Indian culture that gets reflected through every individual whom you encounter from the moment you enter through the main gate till the lobby.

I'll try to keep it simple:-

Room :- Top notch. Extremely clean and hygienic linen. Zero issues. Accessibility might be a concern so do ensure you tell the hotel personnel well before checkin to provide you with a ground floor room incase you'll need one.

P.s. incase you prefer sleeping on a hard mattress, please inform the hotel staff in advance about the same. Throughout my stay I was unable to get a sound sleep because the mattresses provided by default are spring based and you feel drowned the moment you hit the bed.

Amenities :- Incredible. They have everything you need and might want. You receive bicycles to ride for 2 hours everyday (complimentary). Beyond which it is chargeable. Swimming pool is humongous and very well maintained. It was raining crazily when I went (July first week), but they also have a tennis court (in case you've got some aces up your sleeve!).

Spa :- Well, this deserves a separate section. I indulged in a 60 min spa session (sammardhana/समर्धन - deep tissue full body massage) with 30 min of steam + jacuzzi. And, it was simply AMAZING. Credits to Dr. Rajneesh for guiding so well and to Yash for the amazing massage.

Beach :- The property has a private beach access. What else do you need? With some incredible views of the sea from the hotel and a beautiful coast line, I think you've got everything completely covered. The beach shack remains closed during monsoons, so plan a vist to this resort between October - February to enjoy the shack and the water sports.

I personally love the rains and enjoyed every moment spent at the property during peak monsoon.

Breakfast :- Again, where do I even begin. An extensive spread that satisfies your mouth's desires in every possible manner. You need something which is beyond the buffet spread? Go ahead and simply request for it and the team will get it to your table. We spent over 2 hours everyday during breakfast, just to ensure that we were able to try each and every item.

Indulge in the best of luxury at this property for it will amaze you in every manner possible.

Hands down one of the best experiences I've had in a long long time.

P.s. Deeksha is a gem of a person, who helped us throughout our trip with our requests whether it was lake check-out or simply troubling her with some basic questions every now and then.

Pro-tip : The Epicure priviliged membership can be purchased if it is available at a discounted rate as it has some really droolworthy coupon options to redeem.

If you are able to get the membership, you might just be able to get ypur trip executed within INR 35K for two nights for 2 people inclusive of breakfast + 1 meal + 1 spa session...

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 I recently had the privilege of staying at the Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in Goa, and the experience was nothing short of spectacular! From the moment we arrived, we were treated to a warm welcome by Vasanti, who greeted us with a stunning garland made from sea shells. Even though we checked in early in the morning, her gracious hospitality set the tone for our entire stay. 🌺 The day started off with a delightful breakfast at Sala Da Pranzo. Fresh juices, especially made tomato and cheese sandwich, and chocolate shakes were just the beginning. The live Goan food counter, South Indian food counter, North Indian food counter, and fresh fruit cuts all exceeded our expectations. The quality was truly superior, and every bite was a joy. 🍽️🥤 While our room was mostly wonderful, there were a few minor glitches, including issues with the bathtub and cleanliness. However, these concerns were promptly addressed by Pradeep Rajasekar Sir and Inzam Sir. Their dedication to ensuring our comfort was commendable, and they made sure everything in the room was up to par. 🛏️🛁✨ The cherry on top of our stay was the special arrangements made for a birthday celebration in our room. It added a personal touch that made the occasion truly memorable. 🎉🎂 The sunsets at Taj Exotica are more than beautiful—they are absolutely breathtaking. Plus, the beach is conveniently located right at the resort's end, making it incredibly accessible for guests to enjoy. 🌅🏖️ A visit to Miguel Arcanjo, the live Goan kitchen restaurant, is an absolute must for dinner. The flavors and ambiance will transport you to a culinary paradise. 🍽️🌟 The property is impeccably done and well-maintained. Everywhere you look, there's a picturesque spot that's perfect for capturing memories on your social media. While the poolside area is wonderful, there's a suggestion for the management to consider renovating it or adding an adults-only pool, given the scale of the property. 🏊🌴 Don't miss the opportunity to have a golf session with Vijay Sir. It's a must-do activity at this property and adds a unique and enjoyable dimension to your stay. ⛳🏌️ The Taj Exotica Resort and Spa in Goa is a full 5-star gem and a fantastic value for money. It's not just one of the best properties in Goa; it's among the finest in all of India. From the warm welcome to the delicious dining, the impeccable service, and the stunning surroundings, every aspect of this resort contributed to an unforgettable stay. Highly...