Agonda Villas

Rooms

Cottages are enormous, bigger than most one-bedroom apartments, with exceptionally comfy beds that continue the larger-than-life theme. Filled with lights and plenty of space, they include Balinese-style doors that fold back to create an indoor-outdoor living space, leading out onto a private veranda with plunge pool, outdoor seating area, private sun loungers, and nothing but unspoilt views of the Indian Ocean.

The décor is simple, with bright pops of colour, and save for a couple of pieces of kitsch artwork they’re very stylish. Gorgeous open-air bathrooms use natural materials to create a rustic feel. Stone slabs provide stepping-stones between loose pebbled flooring, whilst rainfall showers and lots of foliage create a tropical feel. A wooden grid above protects guests from falling coconuts but still allows a sky view.

Features include:

• Beach towels
• Coffee / tea making
• Fan
• Minibar/fridge
• Mosquito net
• Phone
• Plunge pool
• Safe box
• Sun loungers
• Terrace
• Toiletries
• WiFi

Eating

Start the day off right with breakfast delivered right to your door. There's no restaurant on site but Agonda provides a delicious spread of fresh juices, your choice of homemade muesli, Eggs Royale, Full English or caramelized French Toast, accompanied by a pot of excellent coffee.

For lunch and dinner, wander along the beach to one of Agonda's many relaxed, beachside restaurants (with service to match!). Most serve a wide selection of South and North Indian, as well as Continental dishes. European dishes tend to be a little bland, but the Indian options are delicious. Being by the sea, fish features heavily on most menus with Catch of the Day a firm favourite. We particularly enjoyed the traditional Xacuti (Goan curry with complex spicing, including white poppy seeds, sliced coconut and red chilies) at Fatima’s Corner.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Coffee / tea making
• Minibar/fridge
• Restaurants nearby

Activities

• Water-based activities such as kayaking, dolphin-watching trips, kitesurfing and paddle-boarding can be booked through the hotel
  
• Nearby Sampoorna Yoga is renowned for its traditional Hatha style and attracts yogis from around the world. Drop-in yoga classes are available as well as month-long teacher-training courses
  
• Many of the local bars have live music so ask around to find out what's on; Leopard Valley is a popular watering hole
  
• Explore impressive Fort Cabo de Rama, the largest and one of the oldest forts in Goa, just a 15-minute walk over the headland from Agonda
  
• Take a 25-minute drive to the almost deserted Galgibaga Beach; apart from a few shacks - and the best crab masala made by a fisherman called Santosh - there’s nothing there and it's total bliss
  
• Visit Tanshikar Spice Farm (1-hour drive), a family-run organic spice plantation, for a tour of the plantation followed by a delicious lunch
  
• Adventurous types can climb, jump and abseil their way through the jungle and down waterfalls on a canyoning day trip with Goa Jungle Adventures
  
• Take a walk through Cotigao Wildlife Sanctuary (40-minute drive) and you could spot snakes, deer, giant squirrels and leopard - or at least peacocks, tropical birds and butterflies!
  

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Ayurvedic treatments
• Boat trips
• Cooking classes
• Historical sites
• Shopping / markets
• Snorkelling
• Traditional cultures
• Well being
• Wildlife
• Yoga

Kids

Whilst there are no facilities in particular for children, Agonda is generally a great place to come with kids. From miles of beach to play along, and activities such as paddle-boarding, surfing, dolphin-watching and the chance to see nesting turtles, there’s plenty to keep them entertained

Best for:

All ages

Family friendly accommodation:

No family suites or interconnecting rooms but up to 2 extra beds are available per cottage (for ages 2-11) and there is easily enough space to accommodate them. For children aged 12 or older you will need an extra cottage; be aware there are no twin beds.

Distances:

• Airport: 1hr 45minutes (Goa)
• Doctor/Hospital: 15 minutes (Chaudi) / 50 minutes (Margao)
• Shop: 5 minutes

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection