Stay at Alila Diwa Goa Luxury Hotel, a Review
Alila Diwa Goa, approx 20mins driving distance from Goa Dabolim International airport, is a lovely property situated cosily between lush green paddy fields and soothing Gonsua Beach in Majorda. As I approached it, I could sense the peace of leaving behind chaotic traffic sounds.
The south end room that I was allotted had a beautiful view from the balcony. Large green fields, cows and buffaloes grazing on them and the fields lined with tall coconut trees. For a person like me who landed here directly from the concrete jungle of Bangalore, the sight was heavenly!
S P A C I O U S R O O M !
As I walked into the room I felt I could easily throw all my body parts around and still not feel cramped. The bathroom was a room too, very well planned and included in the room yet separated well with huge sliding doors.
When did I visit Goa last? May be it was during the initial months of married life when I was too dazed to notice anything.
Not this time! I had time enough and plenty to walk through all their facilities and I enjoyed the whole experience!
Before I checked in to Alila Diwa Goa I was asked to mail in my choice on various factors, one among them was that of pillows from the pillow menu! Now that was a first time for me! They have a wide range: Super soft, cotton comfort, cervical support pillow, non allergenic pillow and more. I saw no reason to call in for their room service.
Two of Alila Diwa Goa’s facilities that I found very well equipped and furnished were the gym and kids area. Those families with young kids and toddlers have more reason to have happy hour at the gym and pool. The staffs at their kids’ corner are well trained and parents can leave their children there while they sweat in gym or soak in pool.
The infinity pool is fairy tale like! It faces the paddy fields with coconut trees standing tall providing natural shade in the noons. Notice the sunken pool furniture where one can enjoy a beer while soaking in the pool.
I was almost tempted to take a dip there but had to give it a miss owing to my commitments in the city. The evenings here, with sun setting at the horizon visible from the pool are just not to be missed I was told.
Yet another place to escape from all tensions (including nagging family members) of life is their spa! Spa Alila is stuffed with signature oils and creams, here I allowed myself to be lavishly pampered by the nimble but strong fingers of a young masseuse.
The spa provides unique treatments, blending ancient Asian and Ayurveda healing techniques with age-old beauty recipes featuring the curative benefits of fresh, natural and quality ingredients.
Food became a very enjoyable part of my stay at Alila Diwa Goa. The buffet meal in its spacious dining area easily tops my list of ‘memorable gastronomic experience’!
The Spice Studio there showcases Indian cuisine from the Northwest Frontier, Awadh & Hyderabad, South East Coast and Gorgeous Goa. I chose the northwest frontier dishes and they were lip smacking finger licking good dishes.
VIVO is their ‘live kitchen restaurant’ which is open 24 hours. The Edge Bar and Lounge is a chic poolside bar great for sundowners with an outdoor deck.
My Spa Experience at Spa Alila Diwa, Goa
It is often said: One traveler’s budget is another traveler’s splurge! The price point is different for all and you have to fix your own limit. While one may travel to see the wonders of a place, there are many who just wish to relax their tired limbs.
Spa experience is the solution then. A Sunday today, after a hectic weekend I just wish to unwind and I am so reminded of my spa experience at Alila Diwa Goa. It was one memorable aromatic journey of my life!
Spa Alila had a warm soothing ambiance; it was so silent all around that I could almost hear myself breathing. The young masseuse, a 25 something young lady from Manipur soon put me at ease.
She and the entire staff of therapists there are trained in anatomical physiology, massage and meditation. They are trained to provide unique treatments, blending ancient Asian and Ayurveda healing techniques with age-old beauty recipes featuring the curative benefits of fresh, natural and quality ingredients.
But what needs to be highlighted here is that they combine their knowledge with essential element – warm, genuine care that flows from the heart through the hands, to stimulate, rejuvenate, balance and relax your mind and body.
They had a good range of signature oils and I chose one apt for my spa journey. Her fingers dripping in jasmine scented oil went over my body with right pressure relieving me of all my tensions.
When I mention she put me at ease – I mean that – during the 60minutes of massage she took care to see to cover me with towels so that not more than one fourth of my body was exposed. That helped me relax a lot.
Once or twice she paused to ask if the pressure of her fingers was right after that I had almost passed off into a sweet slumber. 5 minutes steam bath after that and I was as fresh a morning flower!
Thank you Alila Diwa Goa for this memorable rejuvenating experience!
Latest from Spa Alila in the month of August they have: Cocojuvenate at Spa Alila. Immerse yourself in the decadent sweetness of chocolate and honey at Spa Alila to experience magic on your skin and soul!
Spa experience at Alila Diwa Goa
Donning the Chef’s Cap at Spice Studio
I got this wonderful opportunity to don the chef’s cap at Spice Studio at Alila Diwa Goa. It is one thing cooking in the comforts of your home for just 4 family members and something very different cooking in a kitchen which caters for more than 100 people. As I entered I could see huge vessels, spoons and containers. The chefs there put me to ease very quickly.
Being a Bengali and knowing my liking for fish the chefs chose two dishes of fish for me. One was the forever famous Goan Fish curry, this was with pomfret and the other was King Fish Racheado. We started from scratch: slicing up the fish, marinating them with special mix of spices, rubbing the masalas on them, preparing the gravy and frying them.
For Goan Gish curry you can see the ingredients in the pic. The grounded masala tasted tangy and smelt heavenly! The extra tips given to me were: marinating the fish pieces in salt, ginger-garlic paste, adding salt to the gravy in the final stage of cooking (an act I never gave much importance) and adding coconut milk to the gravy in the end. This goes very well with hot plain rice.
My gas stove is just one fourth of the one in the pic. The handles of the vessel so huge it took me few minutes to get the right grip over it.
The King Fish fry does seem a little easier but it is the right mix of ingredients that gives the actual flavor. The two ingredients that can make or spoil the dish are the right amount of sugar and the vinegar toddy.
The other ingredients are the usual ones that make for regular fries like: dry chilli kashmiri, onion, cumin seed, garlic, clove, elaichi, black pepper, and cinnamon. The fish slices were coated with this paste and finally dabbed with rawa. It was slow cooked.
What came out of the frying pan was juicy yet crispy with the exotic masala taste that lingered on in my memory for long.
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Thank you Spice Studio team for the great experience I had with you all!
Wow such a amazing place.
The beach is hardly any distance from there Alka. Moreover the hotel has minibus to-fro service to beach.
Ooh, the pool! How far is the beach Indrani?
What a beautiful place! And wonderful clicks.
I plan to do Goa in October, so nice to read your experience!
Beauty! worth a try on our next visit.Thanks.
It seems to me as the synonym of bliss. 🙂
Beautiful Indrani. I am sure you would have been thoroughly pampered
Pillow Menu. Blimey! A true vacation. Wish i knew their room rent per day! Must be exorbitant. Lucky you got to enjoy the amenities.
Beautiful hotel and pillow menu is something new to me too ! 😀
Hope you and your family are enjoying a lot… 🙂
Lovely accommodations!
Thanks for the comments friends! 🙂
Yes Seeta we did get a car with driver.
Wow, looks awesome, you had a luxurious vacation I say 🙂 Btw did you get a good driver/car?
Indrani, wonderful hotel and review. I would like to stay there! Thanks for sharing, have a happy day!
Infinity Pool looks so welcoming…under the coconut palm shades in the submerged beach chairs..what a way to chillax!
Seeing this I am tempted to take a break but cant do so till the schools give us a long enough weekend.
It looks very luxurious.
Great shots and that place looks magnificent.
what a beautiful place fabulous 🙂
Nice captures and description too..!
You really shared it with us! Thank you!
Wil, ABCW Team .
This sounds like an amazing place Indrani. We too are planning a trip to Goa sometime later this year..will definitely check it out:)
This hotel is fantastic! I would have loved to stay there. Thanks for sharing it Indrani, so interesting.
The place totally blew my mind and looks heavenly. What a gateway to Goa.
Thanks for sharing:)
Seems to be a very nice hotel !
Looks marvelous!
What a beautiful hotel!
ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
=^..^= <3
That looks like a really lovely place. I am glad you enjoyed it Indrani.
I have stayed there and completely agree with your review. The infinity pool looking out onto the fields is beautiful. We had our 9 month old baby with us when we were visiting Goa and that kid's play area was a real treat for her and for us! 🙂
Wow indrani…….. Hope you had a wonderful time!! Thank u for sharing!!!!
Looks like a great place to visit.
Wow – what a fabulous place!
Wow! It looks as if you found heaven on earth. What a beautiful place to visits and relax.
What a marvelous place, Indrani!! Just the kind I try to look for when traveling!! Terrific captures as always!! I'm ready to go!! Thanks for sharing! Hope your week is off to a great start! Enjoy!!