Highland Beach Resort

1 reader found this review helpful

This was our second stay we again had a great holiday and are returning again November this year and Feb. 08, we are hoping to buy an apartment there, we love the people, food, and culture.
The Highland Beach is a great central base for beaches and trips, the breakfast was fine, but as all meals are really really cheap we did not eat in the restaurant, all the taxi drivers are ace and we have stayed friends with several. Coco beach is a must, Alex is a fab cook.

Please don't listen to the negative comments placed on this site about the Highland Beach. If you expect marble entrances, meals and drinks served the minute you request them and kids clubs you've come to the wrong place. Remember this is India, and not the USA.
The staff are lovely, really kind and terribly helpful. Yes the kids will tell you their parents need a new roof or because you've bought a bracelet from one child you must buy a second from her sister or "it's not fair" but surely that's part of the charm of this place.
And India is so cheap, a three course meal with drinks in an amazing restaurant will cost you around £8, so why does it matter if you give a porter £2 for lugging 20kg of Samsonite up three flights of stairs in 30 degrees.
Get to know the locals, they're a brilliant bunch of people. Try to adopt a taxi driver or two for the duration of your stay, it'll save you haggling each time you get a cab and they'll always be on call for you. Sometimes you will get ripped off but if the sarong you bought for 40p has a tear in it, are you really bothered?

The Highland beach was clean and well maintained - it had everything we need for our stay in Goa.
We only ate at the hotel once in the evening because to be honest the atmosphere was more laid back at the many restaurants along the main road.
We really liked the Mango Grove which was the first place you come to when you walk down the road from the hotel into the main area (great for breakfasts).
The beach here is lovely although the sea does have an undercurrent so if you venture in be careful.
All the shacks on the beach are great and a must have is a lime soda (sweet or sour) for quenching your thirst in the heat of the day.

1 reader found this review helpful

We picked this hotel mainly because of its price and we intended to stay only a few nights in the hotel, at the beginning and end of our holiday and the rest of the time stay in beach huts around Goa.
We were pleasantly surprised by the hotel and having stayed in a few hotels in Goa this was definitely one of the best (for the price).
The rooms were clean and the bedding and towels were changed on a regular basis.
The pool was ok if you like sitting in the shade (most of the pool was in the shade) however if you are a sun worshipper head for the beach as it is lovely, really clean and great food from the beach shacks.
If you go to Goa make time to go to the Fort Eguada on a Friday night for the all you can eat buffet - it is truly out of this world.

1 reader found this review helpful

We arrived at the Highlands early part of April.
The rooms were very basic but very clean, sheets and towels where changed everyday which was good.
The hotel had several pools and you didn’t have to get up early to get a sun bed. Staff where very friendly and always had a smile.
Everything in India is very cheap and you don't need a lot of money when you go to India. We ate at several places and our favourite was the Inferno which is near Candolim beach.
For the most romantic setting or special occasion then you should go to East Meets West which is in Baga, Calangute. We had our very own taxi driver named Francis and he is located at the back of Highlands, he will take you where ever you want and best of all he will wait for you for a whole day it only cost £8.
Back to the hotel, the breakfast was very basic it was eggs, eggs, eggs, no fresh fruit, yogurt or cereals which was a shame because children do like there cereals but don't get me wrong, they do have it but you have to buy it but it is so cheap it really is not worth worrying about.
Overall the time in Highlands was pleasant and I would go back there again.
The trip to Jungle Book was a real waste of money through the tour operator but if you do want to do it go for the day and take a taxi and it then will be worth the money, and that goes for any trip.
Also I would like to mention there was no evening entertainment or any kids clubs it was a totally chilled holiday, take a book and lay back enjoy the sun and peace and quiet.

2 readers found this review helpful

I would not describe the Highland Beach Resort as 3*.
The staff are un-helpful, the rooms are extremely basic and the air-conditioning leaves a lot to be desired.
The beds are hard and they set out the breakfast buffet crockery and utensils (which are located outside), the night before.
Be careful. We had a very expensive mobile phone “go missing” from our room.
You will be constantly hassled by the room boy’s, who ask for money saying it is their last day and then after a day they appear back again.
The two guys who will bring your cases up to your room will be ungrateful at receiving £1 each. When you consider that a 3 course meal with soft drinks will come to around 650 rupees, (around £7.50) then receiving £1 each for moving your luggage 50 metres is a lot.
Candolim is generally a nice place just a shame we didn’t pick better accommodation.
Probably best to "avoid" to avoid disappointment.

This was our first time to Goa...We booked & checked into this hotel with the expectations that I have for a 3-star hotel as this hotel has been categorized as a 3-star hotel.
To be very frank, the staff and the management are so unfriendly, rude and mannerless people. When the TV channels were so blur, we never got it working by the maintenance poeple till our check-out day. The Restaurant Manager kisses your feet only if the tips are paid well otherwise, he doesn't even mind you.
This hotel doesn't even have a staff who knows the value of guests. I was asked to pay by the “Restaurant Manager “without getting me the cash memo. They have taken the money from us for Jacuzzi saying that it was working, but after paying when I tried to fix up an appointment for Jacuzzi, I was told that it has not been working for "5 months"
Whatever amenities were promised in the 3 nights/4 days package that I took for Rs.11,500/- was never provided. It was a nightmare staying in the hotel. Front office would be very sincere in their responsibilities only when it comes to the Check out time....They will call up every now and then on the check out date to tell you to checkout the hotel.
When I called the GM to complain about those concerns, he told me to come and meet him in person and when I was on the way to his office. there came a tall man saying that he is the Front office manager and he started to share his bad experiences that he had in other hotels when he was holidaying....The funniest part is the GM vanished off in clouds when I was on my way to his office.......The bottom line I can say is " Highland Islands resort sucks.

1 reader found this review helpful

Second visit to the Highland Beach, and not the last. The apartments are clean, staff are great. Only complaint is the beds, like slabs of stone!
The restaurant in the hotel is great, and the waiters are most helpful, the barman Pradeep is wonderful.
I had to get a tooth out last week, and that amazed me, cost 250 rupees! Dentist was clean and service was great.
Don't expect miracles, India is poverty ridden, but the people are wonderful. There are great bargains to be had; Regent Jewellers beside the hotel is great.

This was our first time in Goa, and thoroughly enjoyed the visit.
The Highland Beach Resort is a comfortable and clean hotel, and the staff cannot do enough for you (A few rupees here and there also help).
The breakfast is very good and the meals and drinks at the hotel are very cheap.
The room we had was clean and comfortable, except for the beds which were like sleeping on a plank of wood, but a couple of Kingfisher Beers aided sleep immensely.
We will be looking to book again in 2008, which in my book is a recommendation in itself.
Tip of the day - Take a bath/sink plug with you as none are provided.

We are due to fly out again to the Highland beach for the 3rd time on 20 November.
The last time we went on honeymoon for 3 weeks in 2004 and we are going back to the same hotel. We find all the staff are friendly, helpful and they remember you when you return.
The taxi drivers are very helpful and you can book the same one for the whole of your holiday, it’s like having your own personal chauffeur. He will advise of the best places, beaches and eateries.
The hotel is very clean and the best thing is you have a sitting room as well as the bedroom, there is also a mini bar. As it is only bed and breakfast don't expect to be able to cook your own evening meal, there are no facilities but why would you want to when it is so cheap to eat out.
There is entertainment in the hotel set around the pool which is quite popular. All in all an excellent choice for a different type of holiday with friendly people, excellent weather and even better beaches.
I don't know of anyone who has only been once!! This must mean something.