LF Says: ★★★★
Be it the thrilling parties, or its spectacular natural beauty and stunning beaches, Goa never disappoints even if you visit in the off-season. I saw a mesmerising and serene Goa this time, drenched in heavy downpours every now and then, only to realise the beauty of doing nothing and yes, appreciating life after all that we have been through. To offer such an experience, Marriott takes the lead in the happening space of North Goa by opening The Westin, Goa.
If your definition of an ideal holiday is to sit back, relax by the sea and walk no more than 10 minutes to access food and drink, then this getaway property is perfect for you. Based in Anjuna, its location places travellers at the hub of activities in the north.
The property boasts three restaurants, making it a heaven for foodies, an enormous spa, outdoor pools plus a fitness centre, activity booking facilities and, perhaps most importantly, spectacular views towards the action of North Goa in full greenery. For people, who just want to enjoy a peaceful holiday while dipping into the nearby hustle and bustle at their leisure only, I loved being able to have the best of both worlds – a coastal Goa holiday during the beautiful off-season period to experience the allure of doing nothing and logging off from worldly dramas.
Entering The Airy Paradise
When you enter the Westin premises, the entrance sweeps you away. A balmy entrance with a cool fountain in the driveway just at the doorstep of the lobby leaves you spellbound and feel at ease immediately, not to forget the big ‘The Westin’ – a grand gold, reflective totem right at the entrance. The check-in was smooth and easy with an app-based registration form done virtually, making sure to minimise direct contact at all spaces. We still live in the Covid world – safety precautions still remain in place with temperature checks and sanitiser stations in all common spaces in the hotel.
Interiors take style cues from the breezy hotels of Bel-Air with striking chandeliers; patterned marble floors with vibrant runners across; swanky coffee tables; strategically placed lush-green, tall plant pots; and velvet coloured furnishings in a palette of bright hues like saffron yellow.
The hotel lobby is a large one, running across the property with views of the garden and pool. The space echoes modern minimalism. The wide space has sweeping light and airy spaces with neutral decor at the heart. No matter where you are, the focus is always to direct you to the outdoors, whether that’s views of the beautiful skyline of Goa or the relaxing, landscaped gardens. Since the lobby connects you to the restaurants, the decor differs from ultra-modern and pleasingly chic in the lounge to a beachside casual vibe in the restaurants. Decorated with punches of colour thanks to chic modern furnishings, it looked like ‘homely decadence’ was the brief shared.
Interiors take style cues from the breezy hotels of Bel-Air with striking chandeliers; patterned marble floors with vibrant runners across; swanky coffee tables; strategically placed lush-green, tall plant pots; and velvet coloured furnishings in a palette of bright hues like saffron yellow. It’s a delightful space with a spirited, chic decor and inspiring architecture.
The passage for going into your rooms has a minimal facelift design approach. Leading to my abode on the fifth floor, one needed to cross a somewhat long corridor with decor resonating Scandinavian minimalism. The room was spacious, clean and comfortable, making the most of the views of a green Goa with a no-fuss approach to design.
Blissful Abode
Proudly showcasing a majestic green hill view of Goa, it was a petite and sweet well-equipped room I was residing in. A 35 sq. mt room, it’s a welcoming space with delightful sun rays falling into the room, providing a happy glow of serenity. Opening up the curtains in the morning to enjoy a coffee while staring out across the lush green landscape with the hotel coming to life around you is bliss.
Equipped with a floor to ceiling window that overviews the hotel pool, it is also excellent for people watching or checking on the status of the poolside loungers. There is a heavenly king-size bed opposite a flat-screen TV; a picturesque “beside the window” work area that allows you to gaze and daydream to comfort your senses; and a sitting area with a beige-toned single set with colourful cushions to liven up the space. You can just easily make yourself at home away from the sparkling city lights to drown yourself in utmost comfort and relaxation.
As comfortable as the entire room and its amenities were, the wonderful marble bath area was a delight that gave all the comforts – a powerful shower, a deep bathtub and travel-sized bath products, which I adore. Making use of the luxurious bathroom amenities, I immersed myself in the deep bathtub. Even by yourself, add lights or a candle, a glass of wine and soft French Jazz as I did, and you’ll be adrift in sheer bliss. For the rest of the day, I enjoyed the mist of serenity, the pure breezes and watched time move slowly by.
It was the cinematic sunrise that really stole the show as I witnessed how the sunrays moved to light up each corner of my room. I had a hearty breakfast of fresh orange juice, mushrooms tossed in mild spices, hashbrowns with the perfect crunch and chicken sausages. With brown toast and a lip-smacking omelette, it was a delicious and balanced breakfast spread to relish and start the day. I was all set to explore the stunning additional amenities. The property comes with a host of fun activities which makes the place suitable for families travelling with children, besides couples as well as business travellers. For the lazy leisure lovers, you can walk around the property, wet your feet in the cool waters of the pool and bask in the Goan sun that played hide and seek continuously with the dark clouds when I visited.
Leisurely Splendour
At first look, you would be assured that The Westin, Goa is perfect for beachgoers who enjoy a healthy dose of pampering, matched with holistic wellbeing offerings and access to a fun-filled nightlife too. Boasting 171 spacious guestrooms and suites, as well as deluxe patio rooms to relax with a dip in the outdoor pool accessible directly from the rooms, I was invigorated by the calmness and serenity around the property.
Other noteworthy amenities that you can expect of the space is a local ‘Run Westin’ concierge to provide guided group runs along a 5km trail around the neighbourhood adjoining Anjuna beach, and a grand ballroom with separate breakout spaces for weddings and social events given the festive season here. The size of the estate doesn’t require you to leave the premises, which is a great advantage for you to stretch out and unwind.
My stay here might have been short, but I loved how the property blended into the green Goa surrounding rather than going for the obvious electrifying and party-aesthetic tones by most hotels.
My stay here might have been short, but I loved how the property blended into the green Goa surrounding rather than going for the obvious electrifying and party-aesthetic tones by most hotels. Given the present times, we all want to be able to surround ourselves with tranquility and serenity at abundance without breaking the classic codes of luxury. The Westin, Goa can pride itself on being a new property that opened during the pandemic, yet with a flourish. This one definitely did things in a ‘good-unusual way’ to northern Goa.
LF Says: ★★★★
Coordinates: Survey No: 204/1, Dmello Vaddo, Anjuna, Goa, India
