Acres and acres of lush, rooms overlooking lagoons that attract migratory birds during monsoons and a pristine beach, some hotels are described not by the rooms and facilities they offer but how they make you feel. With nature at its best at The Leela Goa, it makes its guests feel alive!
This review comes at a time when The Leela Beach Resort located in South Goa is getting ready to celebrate its silver jubilee. Yes the property completes 25 years in September but the plush rooms, swanky spa and trimmed lawns..nothing speaks of the age of this resort.
The Rooms
The Leela Hotel has rooms across three categories- Lagoon Rooms and Suites, Premiere Rooms and The Club. We stayed in a Lagoon Room that comes with a private balcony overlooking the lagoon. Without sounding poetic, can I tell you that spending time in that balcony was like experiencing paradise...birds fluttering around, greens that city dwellers like us can't wake up to every morning and lagoon dotted with lotus flowers. This hotel had my heart the moment I entered my room and sat in that balcony sipping beer. The room, designed in a Portuguese style had all the modern amenities. The ergonomically designed bathroom stocked luxe toiletries.
The Premiere Room and Suites is the next category. The Premier rooms, at 580 sq feet, were luxurious and have day beds overlooking the lagoon. Perfect for a family traveling with kids or business groups who are looking to stay in close proximity.
Then there is Leela's ultra-luxe offering The Club, which comes with personal butler service and private plunge pools. Its a private world within the hotel, with a separate swimming pool and restaurant. The Club Suite is an expansive 1722 sq feet offering all that comes to your mind when you think of an indulgent luxury holiday. But if I ever book a room at The Club, it will be for the outdoor shower space that it offers! Back in 2006 when I visited The Leela Kovalam, another gem of a property, my room had an outdoor shower space and during Kerala monsoons there was nothing as heady as that outdoor shower room. I almost jumped when I saw one at the Goa property. Talk about getting your guests excited!
Beyond Rooms
A 12-hole golf course, serene beach, fine dining restaurants and The Spa- all offerings at The Leela are indulgent experiences to cherish. There is also an entertainment lounge Aqua where the resident DJ belts outs songs every night and also a kids play section to keep the little guests occupied.
The Restaurant, is a multi-cuisine buffet restaurant where the Breakfast is laid out every morning. I liked the spread and the fact that the staff realizes how important the first meal of the day is and goes that extra mile to serve you even though its a buffet. One morning I woke up with stomach cramps and the server at the restaurant was quick to get curd rice for me, even though it was not on the buffet.
Riverside, the Italian fine dining restaurant is located in the East end of the hotel ( yes its a 75 acre property so we talk like that) overlooking the Sal river. Leela enjoys a beautiful location with river on one side and a beach on the other. Riverside deserves a separate review as the Chef does brilliant job with authentic Italian, making the restaurant a complete gastronomical delight. I enjoyed a romantic five course meal with red wine at the restaurant. The restaurant has a good collection of wines as well.
Susegado is the beach side seafood grill restaurant however its not operational during Monsoons. The hotel also houses the popular Indian cuisine restaurant from the Leela stable- Jamavar. There is Yali Lounge for beverages and light fare.
Every morning there was an itinerary in our room that had list of activities lined up for the day, including many for kids such as pizza making. So if you are planning to check in at The Leela Goa with young guests, be assured that there will never be a dull moment!
If you don't already feel rejuvenated surrounded by nature's beauty, you could head to The Spa at The Leela Goa Resort. While some properties of The Leela have partnered with international luxury spa brand ESPA, the spa at the Goa property is managed by the in-house team. It offers luxurious Ayurvedic and Oriental treatments. Their 90-minute Hot Stone Treatment is magical! The Jet Lag Reviver, Indian Magic and the good old Abhyangam are some of the other treatments that one must try.
Don't miss the lifestyle boutique Amalya, located next to The Spa. It is the Leela's endeavour to revive dying art forms of India and restore a centuries-old workmanship of the local artisans. You could pick a pashmina shawl or handcrafted jewelry or just fun beachwear from the boutique.
Late Captain Nair, founder of The Leela Group of Hotels, was a visionary and gave India some of its best luxury hotels. The Leela Goa is his flagship and stands witness to the fact that he was one of the finest hoteliers of the country, with an eye for detail. There is no corner of the hotel untouched by Captain Nair's love for all things luxe. No wonder then their Presidential Suite is often occupied by the Roshans from Bollywood and Ruias from the corporate world.
The erudite General Manager of The Leela Goa property Shridhar Nair (not related to the owners who are also Nairs) tells us how this expansive luxury hotel commands one of the highest RevPAR (revenue per available room) in Goa. We are not surprised! The hotel is also a favorite among long stay guests, the Europeans and Americans who spend 20-30 days during winters just sunbathing at the beach and enjoying Leela's warm hospitality. We hope to do that too, someday. One more for the Travel Bucket List.
Fast Facts
- Sprawled between the Arabian sea and river Sal, The Leela Goa has 206 guestrooms and suites and is located in Mobor, Cavelossim, South Goa.
- It houses 94 Lagoon Terrace rooms, 66 Conservatory Premiere rooms, 21 Lagoon suites, 5 Lagoon Deluxe suites, 9 Club suites, 6 Club Pool suites, 4 Royal villas and one Presidential villa. The Lagoon Rooms were refurbished just three years ago in 2012.
- The conference and banqueting facilities at The Leela Goa include Aparanta Ballroom, Hampi Ballroom. two meeting rooms, The Leela Garden, an open lawn and beach-side can too be used for events when the season is right.
- It has a 12 hole par 3 golf course, water and beach sports, three floodlit tennis courts, Badminton and Croquet courts. The resort has over 300,000 trees- counted by UNEP – yes!
- Other features include The Salon, Boutique and shopping arcade, Children’s activity centre, Dolphin cruise (on request), Spice garden tour (on request).
THE LEELA GOA: PERFECT BEACH HOLIDAY: OVERVIEW
LOCATION ☆☆☆☆
SERVICE ☆☆☆☆☆
FOOD ☆☆☆☆☆
CONNECTIVITY ☆☆☆☆☆
Wow! ☆☆☆☆☆
Summary:The Leela Goa offers guests a perfect beach holiday in the lap of luxury!
This blog was originally published on The Hotel Explorer.