Lagoa Azul

Third time in Goa and this hotel was very impressive.

Outside the busiest area in the village of Arpora, the hotel has two blocks, both with lovely pools, and one overlooking countryside, including grazing cattle and a small lagoon.

Very clean and spacious rooms - they even had comfy beds!

A pleasant bar and restaurant with good food and poolside service if you want it.

A few local bars and restaurants nearby, but very cheap and easy to take a cab or the minibus into Baga and Calangute if you want a bigger choice or somewhere more livelily.

Ideal if you want somewhere central but quiet and relaxing.

This hotel is clean and quiet, no horn's honking outside on road. Basic but large rooms, staff Very friendly and helpful and a great place to base your holiday in North Goa.

The pool is fine and therapy centre is value for money, but not much else on site.

There are good restaurants and bars within walking distance of hotel, the spice oven (bar) and alfresco's for good veg Indian food (try green pea and mushroom curry) both have friendly and helpful staff.

The hotel runs a free bus to Baga beach but taxis only cost 100 rupee's each way, but with a good taxi driver you can get to all beaches very cheaply.

Don't go shopping for the first couple of days as money is confusing when a seller is pressing you for a sale and you are still jetlagged.

Don't bother going to Calangute it's horrible, Baga is a lot better.

We actually visited Logoa Azul for the first time in 2000 and loved it it is such a friendly hotel and they cant do enough for you. We returned to Goa in 2002 and stayed at the Sun Village which is a nice hotel but because it is so large you dont really get to know anyone and the staff dont remember you. We went to LaGoa Azul 2 days before we were leaving for a meal and they were building new appartments we decided yes this was the place for us and bought an appartment the next day.

Our children who at that time were 16, 20, 21 and 22 have been out since and they have also fallen in love with it and are looking forward to our next trip in April.

And by the way we are not the old people that are always sitting around the pool.

I cannot say enough good words about this hotel! it is one in a million, the staff are so friendly it amzes me, should send all us britts here for friendship lessons.

They cannot do enough for you here. anything you need or want they will get it for you.

The room is a good size comes with 2 beds and a fold up bed if needed. a bathroom, semi kitchen(sink, cupboards no cooker) balcony or terrace, air con, fans and a tv and phone, room service and a laundry service, the hotel has security which is a plus it makes you feel safe and secure. i high recomend this hotel for first time trips to goa, it;s eases you into goa as it;s 1km from baga beach, and has a free bus from the hotel every hour to the beach.

See you all next year lagoa azul x

I loved your comments about the geriatric residents at Lagoa Azul. This was our 4th visit & we've always thought that as well. You must have been there at the same time as us. We left on Nov 28th. Next time you go you should explore the lagoon & the village a bit more as the 'real' local residents are superb as are the local restaurants. I'm sure we'll be going back but so liitle time & so many places to visit.

Just returned from 2 weeks at the Lagoa Azul and it is a very well run hotel indeed! In fact we are already thinking about going back in a year's time.

The "Tabla" restaurant is excellent. The rooms are cleaned daily and there is a very good laundry service.

Really it is almost like two separate hotels, one on either side of the road. One appears slightly older than the other but I'm sure they are both much the same inside. The newer one was the one we were in- it overlooks a lagoon of some kind, with interesting wild birds you can watch. Both buildings have well maintained pools.

The only thing I found a little weird was the number of "semi- permanent" long stay geriatric brits who seem to have purchased rooms or suites in this hotel, and they just hang about the place all day. It's the first time I have come across this pattern of behaviour in a holiday hotel. They seem bored out of their skulls but friendly enough. The older of the two hotels is where they are mostly, and they seem to be around the pool a lot.

This is a very VERY quiet hotel, the road is a dead end so there's no through traffic to disturb you. We were absolutely delighted with this hotel. Can't recommend it highly enough.

Stayed at Lagoa Azul from 20th Oct for 2 weeks, Hotel was very quiet as it was still start of the main tourist season, although nearby Baga Beach was busy with locals and lots of Indian tourists staying for Diwali. Staff are friendly and helpful, Hotel rooms are basic but clean and very comfortable. We had a suite overlooking the pool and lake (but the nornal rooms are large and plenty big enough for two! - The Hotel restaurant is good and v.reasonably priced, and its only a 10 min walk to Arpora village and several good restaurants. For 80 rps you can get a taxi to Baga, with loads more to see & do and the fabulous beach. The two pools were warm & clean. The rooms were cleaned daily when clean bath towels and towels for use at the pool were changed, Bed sheets changed every 2/3 days - would recommend this hotel for a quiet relaxing stay but not far from plenty of activities. Look out for Arnold - who was a great taxi driver outside the hotel!!

If you want to ruin your holiday - then this is the right place for you. The waiters, receptionists, bell boys are very sweet but the Front Office Manager - some fernandez is like one Don out there. We didn't have electricity the whole night in the 2 rooms we had and in the morning when we asked the manager to give us a compensation for the same, he threatened us that he wouldn't let us leave Goa if we do not pay the complete amount.

Wow, the levels of hospitality are amazingly displayed here by such managers.

God, I would be nuts if i even advise this place to my enemies even.

BE AWARE - ELSE THE MANAGER WILL NOT LET YOU GO.

On most reviews they say you get there and are amazed at the spectacular scenery, but what you get is a country that is poor you see run down houses people living in tents in the field and make shift accommodation and you think oh my God what have I let myself in for.

But this will soon change at the Lagoa Azul resort you will soon see the excellent service it provides and will soon be at home, going out is an experience, In a taxi your eyes will be closed most of the time. The spectacular view on the many secluded beaches, the waterfall trip, crocodile trip and many more great day's out will endear you to Goa, do not be afraid to barter offer the traders 25% of the asking price if they wont accept it walk away. 8 times out of ten they will accept it if not there is hundred stalls selling the same gear.

You will also get women coming up to you with a little baby begging for money, if you want to give them something get a load of 20 rubies but be prepared once you have given to one ten suddenly appear, the best approach with beggars and persistent traders is to say No once then ignore them.

But overall the trip I had in Goa was by far the best Holiday I have had and I am already booked for next year, if you want a Holiday where you know you are somewhere totally foreign Goa is the place, have a great time I did.

Just returned from Lagoa Azul and loved the hotel. Rooms are spacious and very clean, beds and pillows the best I have got in Goa. If you can upgrade apprx 7000 rps for 2 weeks upgrade to a one bed apartment. Towel service provided and satelite TV in rooms

FOOD

Breakfast is 7.15-10.15 and provides eggs, cereal, fruit juice, fruit, toast included in package price. If you want sausage, bacon, beans or pancakes you will be charged for these.

Lunchtime menu good choice and food good quality, reasonable priced for a hotel

Evening menu very good but pricier than other resturants within walking distance (San Sebatian Bakery, All spice)

ENTERTAINMENT

Something on 5 out of 7 nights duos, singers, fire eating show and BBQ friday night

GUESTS

Mostly brits albeit more mature and a lot of repeat vistors. A number of long stay residents who are very friendly and always happy to give help or advice

OVERALL

If you are looking for an excellent standard of accomodation away from bustling resorts and beaches this hotel is for you, but you will need to be prepared to take taxis day or night to get anywhere else. Hotel offers a free bus shuttle to Baga beach 9.00am until 6.00pm hourly and return 15 mins after the hour, last one 6.15pm

If you have a question happy to answer it if I can