Alila Diwa Goa

Alila Diwa Goa is a low, white-walled resort, big enough to be family-friendly but still cozy and appealing to couples.

Just before dawn on a humid morning in Goa, I arrive at the huge, high-ceilinged lobby of the Alila Diwa to warm smiles and a cool towel. After a fuss-free check-in, the staff leads me to my room, where the air conditioning is mercifully fierce and the soft bed is huge and cushion-strewn. Everything you want after a long journey and 4 a.m. arrival.

Hotel

The guestrooms in the low-rise 153-room resort have a cool, modern look, with a muted cream and mustard palette and touches like lattice screens that nod to the Alila group’s Southeast Asian roots.

Most rooms have large private balconies overlooking the central infinity pool, where waiters hover unobtrusively, offering fluffy towels and water to sunbathers in the sunken lounge chairs.

The hotel is split into two sections; the Diwa is in the newer wing and has its own bistro, which serves Indian fusion cuisine, but purists might prefer the resort’s signature restaurant, Spice Studio. Fresh, seasonal ingredients are prepared using local recipes in an open kitchen. Take the plunge and ask the waiter to bring a selection of that day’s dishes. Or ask very nicely in the bar and they’ll rustle up the most popular local street food: an omelet doused in coconut-based gravy and sandwiched in a fluffy white bun.

Goa

Like all new hotels in the region, the Alila was built away from the beach (a strict planning requirement), but Majorda Beach is just a 10-minute golf cart ride away. Goa has a reputation for being party central, but this wide, palm-fringed strip of coastline couldn’t be further from the cliché. You are more likely to see a local fisherman selling his day’s catch than a backpacker in tie-dye.

The concierge is on hand to advise and book day trips in the region, but most guests seem happy to spend their time by the pool or in the spa. The Balinese massage and a cup of ginger tea banished my jetlag instantly.

Review by Collette Lyons, courtesy of Jetsetter.com

in our opinion

Alila is known for its properties in Southeast Asia, and there is definitely a Balinese vibe at this modern, airy resort. Plus, the hotel has one of the best Goan restaurants in the region, a hip cocktail bar and a spa designed to pamper.

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What we love

• The infinity pool, which overlooks a lush rice paddy, surrounded by palm trees
• The spa, where each treatment room has its own flower-filled garden
• Location, in the quieter, southern part of Goa but only 20-minutes from Dabolim Airport
• Free shuttle service to Majorda Beach
• Daily yoga lessons

What you should know

• The hotel is not located directly by the beach
• There aren't many restaurants within walking distance, but other hotels are nearby, and the taxis are cheap
• A separate, shaded children’s pool is on-site and the hotel has several family suites, but the resort is very large, so couples seeking quiet will find plenty of places to hang out
• Western cuisine is served in the all-day dining restaurant, Vivo
• Spa gets booked up—it’s worth securing the pampering treatment in advance