A vacation in Goa in the past would have usually meant bar and restaurant hopping, dancing the night away and waking up bleary eyed at noon, only to repeat the cycle the next day. I would hardly spend time in the hotel, but this time things were different, I checked into The St. Regis Goa Resort with the agenda of not stepping out.
After all, where else in Goa could one get the best of both worlds – a superlatively luxurious ambience in the dreamy setting of the Arabian Sea and Sal River? And then there is so much to do here, from the ceremonial champagne sabrage each evening at the beach, stargazing, playing golf, mixology lessons to picnics by the lagoon and spa treatments.
Hotel
After a one-hour drive from the airport, I reached the expansive hotel that sprawls over 49 acres and is home to more than 300 varieties of colourful flowers and thousands of trees. I was greeted with chilled coconut water at the gorgeous lobby aptly referred to as ‘The Great Hall,’ where eye-catching lily motifs and a small water body teeming with fish set the tone for the resort.
Most of the rooms are located by lagoons with stunning pink lilies that bloom at night, the sea and beach are always one’s companions and the Italian restaurant is located by River Sal. A 10-minute walk from the beach brings one to the point where the sea and river meet.
Room
I got my first taste of the world-renowned butler service of The St. Regis when I checked into my room – the golf buggy came in a jiffy and we crossed a lagoon bridge to reach the Lagoon Superior King room. The hotel has 206 rooms and that includes 46 suites, most of which face the lagoon.
My room was a pleasing mix of warm wood flooring near the bed and marble in the dressing area. The architecture is a blend of Indian and Portuguese – with a bed that has side posters, a bench in front of it, a writing desk, a chair and a high ceiling with a fan.
The private terrace overlooking the lagoon became my favourite spot for my morning cup of fresh coffee that I sipped gazing at those beautiful water lilies. I was happy to see that the mini bar was stocked with liquor that’s made in Goa. The bathroom came with both a bathtub and a shower cubicle.
Food and drink
Being a foodie, I also came with the agenda of savouring local cuisine and I was happy that during my three-day stay, I didn’t repeat a single dish at any restaurant because the menu is so wide. There are three dining options here, and Susegado is the beachside shack that cooks up Pan-Asian delicacies, seafood grills and barbeques.
For lunch, I chose tiger prawns from the fresh catch of the day and asked them to grill it with local spices. The cold truffle pizza I had on one of the evenings was so good that I couldn’t help ordering more of the same. Toes dug into the sand, a well-made margarita and a flaming sunset – what’s not to like about this swanky beach shack?
The fine dining Italian restaurant, Riverside, which has open-air seating as well, lives up to its name with gorgeous views of the Sal River. The food is paired beautifully with wines. I haven’t had better Italian cuisine in Goa and the variety is huge. For breakfast I would head to The Restaurant, the multi-cuisine restaurant that has live cooking stations and a varied spread.
One of the highlights of my stay was the celestial dining experience and a picnic by the lagoon. Located by the pool, a lovely table had been set up inside a glass pod with fairy lights twinkling outside. After placing my order, I stepped out for a star gazing experience and spotted moon craters, Saturn and Jupiter from a telescope – something I never thought I’d do in Goa.
When you want to relax, the hotel sets up a hammock, tent, two beach loungers and a table in its many green areas. Pick up a book, play games or do other fun stuff. I ordered local Goan delicacies and devoured them along with the signature drink of this resort, The Goan Mary. In fact in 1934, history was created at The St. Regis New York’s King Cole Bar when the bartender, Fernand Petiot, invented the famous Bloody Mary cocktail.
To do
The treatments at the St. Regis spa range from international therapies to Ayurveda but I would highly recommend the ‘Indian Elixir,’ a 90-minute treatment with herbal oil which completely rejuvenated me. For active souls, there is yoga, tennis and a 12-hole golf course where you can tee off against the backdrop of the vast Arabian Sea.
Others can expend energy along its many running, jogging and cycling tracks and then, of course, there’s the swimming pool for those who want to laze around (like me), pick up a book, get a beach bed near Susegado and just let the hours slip by.
But make sure not to miss the champagne sabrage that takes place each evening at the beach. This St. Regis ceremony goes back many centuries and is traced to French military commander, Napoleon Bonaparte, who would open a bottle of champagne with his saber and famously said: “In victory you deserve to drink champagne; in defeat you need it.”
The Astor family, who started The St. Regis in New York in 1904 followed this tradition to celebrate the end of the day and welcome the evening and it carries on at every single St. Regis hotel and resort in the world now.
In a nutshell
A nearly private beach, champagne sabrage, stargazing and picnics by the lagoon, the St. Regis Goa resort is ideal for those who want to escape from the hustle bustle of North Goa and wrap themselves in luxury.
Factbox
Address: 438 1 34 Mobor, Salcette Cavelossim, South Goa, Goa
Phone: +91 832-6621234
Website: marriott.com
