Goa is a famous tourist destination in India. It is a very popular place among the foreign tourists as well. Everyone loves to comes here for its beautiful beaches, yummy Goan food, the shacks and the vibe! Goa is divided into three parts North, south and central Goa. It has something to offer to everyone. People of all age groups come here and have the best time and make wonderful memories here.
North Goa is popular for its night life and parties whereas South Goa is more calm and relaxed.
Since we were taking our daughter who is 3 year old to Goa for the first time we decided to stay in South Goa.
We wanted a place which was children friendly , which had various children activities , kids friendly food menu , which was near the beach and comfortable to stay in. After a lot of research we zeroed in on Holiday Inn Resort at Mobor Beach, Cavelossim, in South Goa.
Holiday Inn Resort in South Goa is a beautiful property with well-maintained lush green surroundings and a private beach.
It is 38km away from Dabolim airport and 17km from Margao Railway Station. You can easily get a taxi from there to reach the hotel or you can even ask the hotel to send a taxi. The drive from the airport to the hotel is a lovely one. You cross open fields, some hilly region, lush green coconut and palm trees giving you the vibe of Goa. On the way you will also cross some shops having beach hats, beach dresses , swim wear , and much more making you totally excited!
Once you reach the hotel you are warmly welcomed at the reception area. The front area of the receptions opens up to balcony with the view of the swimming pool and farther more the sea. The view and the winds blowing across gives such a refreshing feeling that you instantly fall in love with the place.
The property has many rooms and we opted for a beach view room. As we entered the room and opened the balcony it had the most beautiful view of the beach. The view of the clear blue waters, palm trees all around was so refreshing. The room was well maintained. The bathroom was clean and big.
The property has a big pool where you can enjoy and unwind yourself. The pool is in the middle surrounded by rooms from all side. You can sit by the pool and enjoy or take a dip in the water.
There are three restaurants in the resort where you can experience fine dining. enjoy the scrumptious food with ever smiling service.
Fig and Olive
This restaurant has Mediterranean cuisine. It is overlooking the pool. You can choose from a variety of fire wood pizza , pasta , seafood paella and much more. The ambience is very cozy with a very vintage like charm. It has wooden flooring and hut like wooden ceiling giving a British era charm. The fire wood pizza are a must try .
Zest Cafe and Kitchen
This is the 24 hr indoor and outdoor coffee shop offering an a la carte menu of the traditional Goan, Indian and Continental cuisine, as well as a much appreciated buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner. This place offers morning breakfast which was included in our stay. There is so much options available to choose from . Menu is kids friendly as well so you don’t have to worry what your child is going to eat.
Beach Grill
This restaurant on the beach has a breathtaking view of the ocean. This is one of the best part of the restaurant . The restaurant has some mesmerizing cocktails to offer. The grill menu is super exciting. Choose from a huge selection of freshly caught fish or shellfish all beautifully displayed and cooked to perfection either European or Goan style meats . sit by the beach in the day sipping a chilled beer or your favorite cocktail and just gaze at the endless ocean and relax. In the evening the restaurant has live music you can enjoy the same along with great food and sound of the waves and gaze at the stars in the sky. The whole atmosphere is so much fun and definitely gives you a feel good factor.
You can also book a private dinner or private gathering by the beach. The staff will decorate a designated beach area for you as per your choice. It is ideal for birthday and anniversary celebrations. We celebrated my daughters birthday there. The staff was patient in listening to my requirements and did an excellent work with the decorations. Everything was exactly the way i wanted with the lights, balloons and theme decor. I discussed the menu and drinks with them and they arranged everything very smoothly. It was a memorable experience for us celebrating our daughters birthday by the beach ! They made my daughter feel so special by decorating our room with balloons and flowers and a chocolate cake for her. She was super excited and enjoyed the most .
There are water sports activities available at the beach. There are speed boats, paragliding, banana boat and other water sports which are available and you can do these on payable basis. If lucky you can even spot dolphins . The water is so clean and clear that u can spot so many small fishes in it. We enjoyed walking by the beach so much . My toddler was seeing the ocean for the first time and she was completely in awe of it. Nature has so much to offer and children are just blown away with it. Sit near the water see the waves coming and crashing on to you , you will enjoy it so much. My toddler was so excited to play in the sand, she totally loved the whole experience.
The resort also has a kids play with swings, slides and bicycles . There is dart game also there to try. Take a bicycle ride around the property and enjoy. There is gymnasium and spa also available at the property.
Every morning we got up early to see the sunrise by the beach. It was so surreal. The sun coming up slowly like a fire ball and sky all orange around it. The rays of the sun falling on the ocean and water shining like pearls it was so beautiful that you cant describe it in words. One has to experience it on their own. The sunset was equally beautiful.
We also decided to explore more the next day and the Fisherman Wharf is close restaurant nearby, it is on the riverside and you take a table facing the river and enjoy the view. It is a very vibrant place with good food and music.
There is a fish museum with a 3D show which the children will enjoy the most.
Conclusion
The Holiday Inn Resort is a beautiful property to stay in. The property is big and staff is very hospitable. The staff is ever ready to help with a smile on their face. The rooms and bathrooms are clean and well maintained. The private beach is the cherry on the cake. It is well maintained and clean. You will have a wonderful time if u are travelling with kids as there is quite a lot of activities at the resort itself to keep the kids busy! If you are looking for peace and calm and enjoy yourself by the beach and then do try this resort in South Goa. Go ahead and enjoy one day at a time!