Taj Exotica Hotel
, Salcete
Rooms: 140
Reviews - Taj Exotica Hotel
- Age Group: 60 +
- From: United Kingdom
- Traveller type: Mature Couple
Read 536 additional reviews of Taj Exotica Hotel at TripAdvisor.
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Historical Traveller Reviews of Taj Exotica Hotel
4 Weeks of Bliss
from Karpelavoidable jiva spa
from A TripAdvisor Memberi think people used to taking treatments in international standard spas should avoid jiva spa.so,we tried the hyatt spa next door as we just wanted massages very badly.and was excellent.highly recommended.everything great.next holiday in goa will sure be hyatt for me.
apparently,the old management has vanished.i reckon to check facts before booking taj exotica in goa.
taj exotica
from lisa401Just arrived back from 2 weeks in Goa staying at the Taj Exotica.
Getting there
If you can afford the extra cost, its worth considering upgrading with monarch. The additional legroom and speedy check in was worth it alone.
Hotel
Really first class, The hotel is situated in beautifully landscaped gardens with spacious rooms, there is a choice of ordinary rooms with balconies, garden villas or rooms with plunge pools. There is never a feeling of over crowding at the hotel as I understand full occupancy is something in the region of 180 people.
There is a choice of 5 restaurants, we found on the odd occasion when we choose to stay in the hotel to eat, the upstairs restaurant had great food. The price for 2 x 2 courses and a couple of drinks was a little over 30 pounds which is rather expensive for Goa but netheless was great food. The hotel has a lovely beach that stretched for miles, part of which was flat and was ideal for cycling. The hotel charges 250 R for an hour, but if you go outside the gates and turn left up a slip road there is a place where you can hire for a fraction of the cost.
Location
Having read the boards, I was concerned with the location of the hotel as possibly being too quiet. If you want everything on your door step, I suggest South Goa is not for you the only exception perhaps Colva which is lively but nothing comparable to the North. That said and done, we found there was plenty to do, there were Many restaurants to choose from both on the beach and outside the hotel within walking distance.
Taxis
Try not to get one from the hotel they take a cut in the price which thus ups the cost. If you get a buggy to the main gate you can negotiate a price with one of the taxis for hire. We hired a taxi for the day costing around 15 pounds. I recommend a man called Jose who was very knowledgeable. The drivers do try and encourage you to visit certain shops because they receive coupons if you are taken. A firm no thank you does the trick if you are adamant that you don’t want to visit. Taxis wait for you and drive you back assuming that’s what you want to any destination.
Restaurants
There are plenty on the beach, if you turn left the is the sun and the moon, food was very good but got put off on seeing one of the cooks spoon out mash potatoe with his hand, so didn’t go there again. Meal for 2 with drinks a staggering 7 pounds. The best beach shack I found was Joecons again right of the hotel. The food was delicious and very cheap. I didn’t like a dish so they didn’t charge me for it despite my protests. Bobby one of the waiters, was really helpful and friendly. Further up on the beach there are numerous other shacks, Hawaii etc only went there for drinks but nice enough and a shack left of the hotel beginning with a Z. Outside the hotel went to Joecons garden restaurant service slow but good food, Angelos, good. A taxi ride away in convelessom was Bettes place great atmosphere and nice food. Martins Corner is a great place to eat just a little way up from Colva. Pantigans is olso a nice restaurant.
Excursions
Only went on the one excursion with the tour operator (only because I thought it would be easier) went on a train trip and ended up at Braganza house. Costing 18 pounds. Total waste of money, and could have done it for a fraction of the cost on my own. Train was disgusting. Everything else we did independently. Bettes restaurant does a a boat trip that enables you to see the dolphins and then travels up the river Sal to do some bird watching if that’s what you want to do. The trip lasts for 5 hours and includes a great 3 course meal with all drinks free. Total cost 700 R. There is an evening trip available for just a couple of hours.
Hired a taxi for the day and went to Ajuna market which is held every Wednesday. The total cost for the day was about 15 pounds. This is a vast market where you can buy everything you might want to bring back with you ie, white cotton shirts and sarongs. Olso went to Calangute which was just up the road from the market Spent an hour there and realised I made the right choice in staying in the South. For me it was far too busy and felt chaotic, that said and done, If people like that, then this is the place for them.
Shopping
Cavelossim, has a small department store called SAGA and sells up market items and a reasonable price. Lacoste t shirts etc can be found quite cheaply.
Margao, is a busy little town we went and bought armed with prescription reading/sunglasses for a staggering 43 pounds for the pair. There were 2 opticians that were quite good, Lawrence and Mayo which happened to be closed on the day that we went and another whose name escapes me but was down a side street next to where the taxis tend to park.
As for the whole trip, thoroughly enjoyed the experience, the Taj was a great hotel, and I thought situated in an ideal location. Goa is ideal for people of all budgets and the people are friendly and generally very helpful.
The Taj Exotica shop olso sold lacoste t shirts quite cheaply , what did catch my interest was the leather hide design briefcases that they sold. The price ranged from 50 pounds-75 pounds. Having bought mine from John Lewis for 130 pounds it was irritating to say the least.
s Romantic
from A TripAdvisor MemberThe architecture and layout of the resort are impressive as long as one is fit enough to walk,although the beach buggy service to take you from your room to the main gate is a must.
I must admit I spent a lot of money during our two week stay on bar and restaurants,only gonig outside of the resort on two occasions.My total bill for the two weeks ran to about £900, and being in the hospitality business, I would question the logic of hotel management when they see a lot of their guests going out in the evenings rather than staying at the resort:: to save money!!!
All of the restaurants are of very good standard,the Lobster Shack on the beach , lovely but very pricey even by west end London prices, my bill for 2 drinks 2 main course admittedly 1 lobster 1 large red snapper 1 bottle of Indian wine (Try the SULA Sauvignon)its not bad, was approx £80, needless to say we only paid that once. The a'la carte restaurant on the first floor off the reception has a magnificent menu and one must say I did not expect to eat fillet steak of that quality in India. Congratulations to Gary the executive chef and his staff,thanks to Elvis and all the boys at the cocktail bar.
The pool area is excellent with wonderful service from the "pool boys"
The beach and ocean are fabulous,so clean , no peddlers,and again great service on the beach.
YES ITS SECLUDED, NO THERE'S NOWHERE ELSE TO GO I BLOODY LOVED IT, FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD AND LETS BE FAIR SOME PEOPLE WANT THAT ON A HOLIDAY
WOULD WE GO BACK ABSOLUTELY AS SOON AS I COULD AFFORD IT
Great hotel in Goa
from A TripAdvisor MemberIf you're flying into Goa from a regional carrier (Jet, Sahara, or Indian Airlines), expect delays when planning your trip, especiallly if making connections. We were delayed over 3 hours in both directions, both because the airline cancelled flights in order to combine passengers with later flights.
Pros and Cons
from carlos501bNow, the drawbacks. Terrible location. Far from everything. And, absolutely disgusting food despite the high price. Avoid the Indian and Goan stuff altogether.
Lovely property, bad food
from ajmitaThe activities they offered were fun and plentiful. the kids loved the bike riding but I felt the bike rental was completely overpriced. We could have bought bikes for just a little more than the rental price. The golf was also pricey.
What was BAD was the food. We went on their monsoon package that includes all meals but all meals were buffet style at the same restaurant. The food was unimaginative and catered to the lowest common denominator in taste. The desserts were limited and not very nice looking or tasting.
The service was spotty too. maybe because it's off season, their regular staff was on break and these were just trainees but they were slow and it was hard to explain them even basic things.
Having been to Goa a few different times, I would prefer to stay at the Park Hyatt rather than the Taj Exotica. The Exotica properties are supposed to be the Taj's top of the line luxury resorts but I wasn't very impressed with this place.
A truly wonderful place
from bridget48s Pride.
from A TripAdvisor MemberThe management makes sure you never complain.
The spa is a excellent.
Food is very good and you have a good choice of Mediterranain,Goanese,Beach Shack(serving sea food), Coffee Shop serving Indian and Continental cuisene!!!!!, what else do you need?
The beach is very clean.Hotel is huge and the maintanance is truly 5 Star.
Swimming pool is wonderful.
One advise make sure you stay in the rooms that face the golf course.
The luxury rooms are not all that great, they only have a jacuzzi.
Go only during the winter in India, that is October to March.It is very hot otherwise.
A truly wonderful experience, cant wait to get back!!!!!
Taamra-if you are finding a meaning to your life,Go to Taj exotica,Goa
from hiddenmasterTop Local Tips for Salcete
Taxis If you know which shop you want to go to, get the taxi driver to drop you some way off and make your way there on foot. If you buy something from a shop which a taxi driver takes you to directly, they then expect the shop owner to pay them a commission, which of course will be factored into the price.
North / South Divide If you're looking for a relaxing break with a more local feel then South Goa is a much better bet than the busier, livlier North. General impressions are that the North offers a similar break to those of the Costa del Sol, etc. while if you're looking for relaxation and luxury head to the South.
flea market near Bagga Beach If you do the trip to the flea market and Bagga - dont give to the beggars at the flea market - my husband thought he was being kind but our day was ruined as we could not get rid of a man with a baby who constantly pulled at us during our whole stay there. It became unbearable and we left - so if you want to be left alone please dont give too much money as a gesture no matter how lovely the child - the parents are just around the corner!!
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Other names for Taj Exotica Hotel
- taj exotica hotel goa
- taj exotica goa hotel benaulim
- taj exotica goa hotel
- taj exotica goa benaulim
- taj exotica goa
- taj exotica
- Address: Calwaddo, Benaulim Salcete (Goa) - Salcete - 403 716 - India
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