Dona Alcina Resort

1 reader found this review helpful

I am not generally a complainer and have been to Goa 3 times so knew what to expect but the Dona Alcina really is GRIM. Firstly the hotel is now almost filled with younger Russian tourists - noisy,partying, drunk Russians. All very intimidating ! hardly any british guests stay here now. Food and restaurant are horrible and worth avoiding ! No atmosphere around the bar/ pool in evening and during our 2 week stay there was "entertainment" just one night which was a man singing to backing music YAWN. Our room was perfectly adequate being large, clean and with a nice garden and pool view.
We still managed to have a wonderful holiday spending long lazy days at the fabulous beaches and evenings sampling amazing local restaurants and bars which is what Goa is all about.....just don,t stay at the Dona Alcina !

1 reader found this review helpful

we went for 2 weeks and had a great time. the food in the hotel which was for the ai was hardly edable but they did offer us a alternative from the bar menu the staff were friendly and helpful and most of them did smile, i would go to this hotel again but on b&b rooms clean mattresses thin need two?

Generally the trip was excellent. Main problems was with Monarch organisation (not flight crew)
The comments expressed about Dona Alcina appear to be of elswhere. Our room & a friends were acceptable and all the staff were extemely frendly and helpful.
Even the rep was good attending every day altho we found no need to use his services.
The food was very good altho not always to my taste. However they also had alacarte at a small cost; as good as any other retruante. Taking into account the extra cost of alacarte against included food and drinks as required I consider we got a good deal.
Resevations, I would not want to go via Monarch again.

1 reader found this review helpful

Just back from the Dona Alcina in Goa and what can I say? The room was disgusting - ripped curtains with about a thousand bugs on the window ledge, filthy green walls and not to mention the light switches and plug sockets hanging from the wall with the wires exposed. 2 single beds pushed together with mattresses 2 inch thick and don’t get me started on the bathroom. You had to take a shower with your flip flops on due to filth gurgling back up from the drain.
Myself, my husband and kids have numerous flee bites. We had paid all inclusive and couldn’t manage to stomach the slop they served up so again we were out of pocket. Take this warning!

I booked a holiday to travel to the Donna Alcina from the 9th Dec to the 23rd Dec. This year six weeks prior to travelling; before going I went on the net to check the reviews and was a little disturbed by what I read. I don't know why.
Arriving at reception I was asked if I wanted to upgrade to an air conditioned room with a television which I was happy to do for £68 for two weeks. The room (No. 235) had a large lounge with balcony overlooking the pool and bar. The bedroom was large enough also with a balcony. The furniture was basic but adequate. Food was available from 7.30 am until 10.30 pm with a selection of three main courses at lunch and dinner. The bar was open from 10.00 am until 11.00pm. The food was fairly basic, but acceptable for two star accommodation.
Live entertainment was provided every night in the form of local groups. All the staff were very friendly, polite and obliging, especially Baptist, Michael, Stanley and Vinod, who all gave excellent service. I ended up having a thoroughly enjoyable fortnight which was very good value for money. Provided you realise that this is only 2 star accommodation you won't be disappointed. It is certainly better than some accommodation I have stayed at in several countries in Africa.

I have rated this "accommodation" as 1 as the scale does not go any lower. It is some years since we visited this "hotel" and I see it has not improved.
Having arrived after the long journey we were shown to a room. The place was absolutely filthy. It had not been cleaned from the previous occupants who had kindly signed their name in the dirt on the stone slab in what was supposed to be the bathroom. The windows were fitted with bars and were incapable of being opened and fitted with glass that was impossible to see through.
The curtains were ripped and filthy pieces of material hanging from the pole. My wife was crying at this sight. I returned to the front desk and sent for the rep (unavailable till the next day). Requested another room, usual story, nothing available. Waited 2.5 hours until manager said that there was another room available and he took us to see it. Grief, this was marginally worse than the last if that was possible.
Another hour and lo and behold there was a "deluxe" room available. We went to see this but when we entered the room the bed was soaking wet and the place smelled of damp. We had had enough. I told the manager to get the room ready and we would stay one night. More apologies and the offer of a free beer to placate us.
We saw the rep the following morning and told her exactly what we thought of the place and that we would not have put myra hindley in those cells. We later learned that the locals call it "the prison”. We then walked along to the taj apartments (not to be confused with the taj resort). This was a 1-2 star hotel. The owner proudly showed us his rooms, clean, simple great views and said that he could charge us £11 for the room on a b&b basis and if we wanted to send him the money after our return home that would be fine.
We had a great time at this hotel. Personal service, happy friendly staff who would happily scamper up the nearest tree to make sure you had plenty of young coconuts for the beach. In short, stay away from the dona alcina. But goa, ab-fab

1 reader found this review helpful

After booking the holiday I checked on the net & read the reviews about the Alcina. (Wishing we hadn’t) myself and friend decided first time in Goa will go with an open mind. Not that it did us much good when we actually arrived.
After booking the holiday we received a letter telling us there was a misprint and we would Infact have to pay a supplement of $8 per night for the air con. Not impressed but willing to do it, we packed and set off.
After a 3 and half hour delay (that’s Monarch airlines for you) we arrived at the Alcina.
We knew things were going to be basic but our room 303, was two beds, which we could not separate as the room was so small it blocked doors, a wardrobe that wobbled when the door was open, and a coffee table with two candles.
The toilet had not been cleaned from the last guests and the smell in there was awful. No air con, no TV.
Not happy, we returned to the reception where the receptionist told us that not all the rooms had air con and we had to pay for it separately and it had gone up to $10 a night.
And the TV’s only come in the rooms with air con. When we explained that we were aware of this however there was no air con unit to actually pay to be turned on she then told us there was no rooms available until the 16th. (A week later)
She moved us to another room 356 which was not much better but at least a little cooler, and cleaner. All we wanted at that moment was to get our heads down.
The next day after a delightful breakfast of cold toast, bread roll and tea with gone off milk oh and the added ants, we had our welcome meeting.
Our rep was more interested in flirting with us and trying to get us to go to a karaoke night than actually listening to our complaint.
We gave in all too soon, as we were not going to let all this spoil our holiday.
I know this sounds like we are just having a good old moan but honestly it really was awful.
If you could pick up all the staff from the Alcina and put them in a hotel that was at least half decent I can tell you now, it would be paradise. All the staff are fantastic, helpful and can never do enough for you.
Outside the hotel we had an amazing time please don’t let this put you off Goa because it really is a wonderful place, just look at staying somewhere else, as there are far better places. I will be returning next year just not to this hotel!

After reading the many awful reports on the Dona Alcina, my partner and I were dreading our arrival at the resort. Why? I don’t know!
The Dona Alcina is yes basic, but it was clean and friendly. Our room was of an okay standard, plenty of space, a TV, air con and balcony.
The hotel restaurant served lovely meals through out the day and night, with chefs willing to cater all taste buds. The pool was clean and inviting.
The Dona Alcina itself sits on the main road, where you will find the pure buzz of Goan life, with many bars, restaurants and shops.
Candolim beach is a 5 minute walk away from the alcina, and on a whole we found it to be a great central location to many of Goa's attractions.
The staff at the Dona Alcina are all friendly and caring and we found them to attend to our every need.
So don’t be put off like what we were, just go and make your opionions. I am sure you will be pleasantly surprised. And no, we didn’t have a pool view, and our room was still fine!