Goa, India

The loveliest thing about Goa (and there are many lovely things) is the incredible friendliness of the people. Everywhere you go you are greeted with a big smile and a genuinely sincere wish for you to have a great time in their country. Goans are immensely proud of their state, one of the loveliest in India, and they are happy to tell you all about it. But it’s not just the warm hospitality. With its fascinating Portuguese heritage, superb cuisine and excellent sightseeing, Goa has just about everything for the perfect holiday. In our opinion, there’s little to compare with a late afternoon stroll along Baga beach, splashing about in the warm Arabian Sea just as the sun is sinking over the horizon. Magic! The beach here has several beach “shacks” (an Indian taverna) and, around the resort, you’ll also find a wide selection of bars, restaurants, shops and the odd nightspot. The holiday wouldn’t be complete without a visit to Anjuna, Goa’s fascinating beach market, or to Goa’s capital, Panjim, a bustling, working town with a host of local shops, little markets and people just selling things from their stalls on street corners. With all this and a superb year-round climate, it is little wonder that Goa comes highly recommended.

Marinha Dourada Resort  

The very welcoming Marinha Dourada Resort enjoys a great location on the edge of two small lakes with direct views of the nearby paddy fields. Baga Beach and the resort centre is either a 10 minute walk away or a couple of minutes in the hotel’s free shuttle bus which runs hourly throughout the day. All along the beach you will find little ‘shacks’ and bars selling drinks and local delicacies and, of course, you’ll also find local entrepreneurs selling everything from silk shirts to saris. The Marinha Dourada has a restaurant overlooking one of the two swimming pools and, n high season, you can hire pedaloes and rowing boats on the lake. The second swimming pool has wonderful lake views and its own sunbathing area. There’s regular live music in the hotel and there’s also a bar, a small gym, jacuzzi, steam room and beauty salon (payable locally). All the hotel’s air-conditioned bedrooms, with balcony or terrace, are twins or doubles for sole use and have a ceiling fan, phone, minibar, TV with some satellite channels and a bathroom with sh/wc. It’s a great place to chill out, enjoy a swim and relax in friendly surroundings. It’s very laid-back, friendly and informal and a great place to soak up some wonderful winter sunshine.

Marinha Dourada Resort prices for departures on or between these dates

Prices are per person in a twin/double for sole use, board basis as per itinerary