Taj Exotica Goa

5 readers found this review helpful

The hotel is fantastic. No getting away from that fact. Staff are friendly helpful. Rooms and service excellent. The hotel is superb. No complaints on that front.
However be advised - take a lot of money if you want to eat or drink in the hotel (you don't need to as local restaurants and shacks are really, really good - despite the hotel advice).
Food is x4 or x5 times as expensive as local restaurants! Alcohol and non alcoholic drinks x4 x5 times as expensive! Approx 75 - 77 rupees to the pound. E.g. Kingfisher beer 330ml 25 - 30 rupees in local places 140 rupees in hotel (after the compulsory 20% tax) coke etc. Similar. Local shacks will sell you drinks to take back to hotel just remember to take them back the empties)
Food is extortionate compared to the local restaurants - Joecons is superb. Fantastic curries and superb seafood. Food is quality. Service fab.
Average cost of single dish about 140 rupees. ( 640+ in the hotel)!
Mediterranean menu in hotel- if you fancy it is close to £13 for a pizza - and its small!
We paid 600 rupees each for a lunchtime snack at the hotel on our first day - a simple burger/ fries! Never again. Local shacks were great. Just be sensible and stay away from nice salads etc and you wont go far wrong.
Be careful on room service prices. Again we had couple of snacks through this and ordered off kids menu - fine for a snack. Then were charged on adult prices. E.g. Fries 105 rupees in kids section. Doesn't appear anywhere else on menu but were charged 265rupees because we adults. Same size portion! State exactly where from menu you order!
Hotel really is excellent and quality in terms of accommodation and facilities but... And a big but, to pay x4 or x5 the price for food and drink is a little beyond a joke! (You've already paid a price for staying in 5* accommodation).
If you happy to pay the prices you will have a great time.
If you want a better time I would use the local shacks and restaurants as much as possible. Local taxis are really cheap and they will wait several hours for you. Take as long as you want and the taxi will bring you back.
Couple of good restaurants in Colva also - in fact lonely planet guide pretty good on places but few not in there are excellent.
Hope been of help.
Neil.