Dona Sylvia Beach Resort Hotel

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Arriving at the Donna Sylvia is a great experience, a fully uniformed doorman opens the cab door and salutes you, the luggage porters unload your luggage, and you begin to realize you are not expected to raise a finger during your stay. The Reception was great with a welcoming drink and even free safety deposit boxes, with a manager on duty 24 hours.
We chose a superior room which was delightful with a large balcony, TV, A/C, fridge, writing desk etc and fresh flowers were placed in the room every day.
The beautiful gardens and trees are stunning, maintained by a small army of gardeners.
These gardens have a central path with a short stroll down to the beach, where you will be greeted on the right by two lovely ladies selling beach wear and flip flops both have the widest smiles you will ever see, ask them to point you to the Silver Waves Beach Shack which is a short two minute walk along one of the Worlds great beaches with the soft pale gold sands, on the calm Arabian sea with cloudless blue skies.
The Silver Waves Beach Shack has everything you need for paradise, cold drinks, great food, sun beds, surfboards, bikes, for you to use, but more importantly the most helpful, happy and attentive waiters, Chandu, Austin, Pinto and Mark.
Francis (the massage man) will give you a full body massage with your sun cream. The sunsets are stunning, to be enjoyed with one of the Silver Waves special cocktails.
What ever you do don’t miss the Silver Waves fantastic beach party, fire dancers, huge firework display, bonfire and dancing (even pole dancing like you have never seen before!) all till the early hours absolutely magic, a memory that will go to my grave with me, just magic.
In the evening there is a great choice of restaurants, our favourites are the Get Down (our favourite restaurant) and the Walkin (our favourite bar), opposite the Dona Sylvia.
We also tried the Riverside Restaurant (very quiet, riverside spot great for lunch rather than dinner at night), Golden Eye (friendly garden restaurant). Betty’s (not to my liking too busy on the Thursday we went), the Fisherman’s Wharf (great location, tries hard, no atmosphere) and the Hills Dene (a lovely garden restaurant with a wonderful owner).
The Get Down is probably the best restaurant that I have ever eaten in anywhere in the world, with perfect service and entertainment. The tandoori dishes are to die for, with presentation could not be bettered. The music is played at an ideal volume, never getting intrusive, with a perfect dance floor, no where in the world could life be better.
The menu is extensive with outstanding food with enormous choice, a spectacular tandoori oven (three tandoori chefs); the ice is all made from mineral water.
The Get Down is run by Chandu who is the most obliging maitre d' you will ever find, his charm and hospitality are outstanding, he will do anything to make your evening memorable, he always finds time to party.
An example of his care is that on our last night in Goa we went to the Get Down for our final dinner, Chandu had decorate every table with balloons, arranged for a magician (some what surreal, as the only English the Bengali magician knew was "123, Charlie Chaplin" and Austin, the waiter, interpreted from Bengali to English) dancers and fireworks, an evening that will live with us for a long time, we left the Get Down restaurant at four in the morning
When we left the Dona Sylvia Resort at 8am in the morning for the airport, Chandu had got up to say a fond farewell to us.
Another great spot is The Walkin Bar is run by Joseph and Monika and is opposite the Dona Sylvia serving cold drinks and good food, wonderful people with a lovely friendly family bar.
On Monday afternoons, the Dona Sylvia has clay pigeon shooting which you must not miss, Peter, the instructor shows you that clay pigeon shooting is a thrilling experience, teaching you to perfect your aim, a great sport for all, young and old, men and women alike all for less than three pound fifty pence each.
Finally we decided to have a full health check (after over indulging in many of life’s great pleasures) at the Victor Apollo Private Hospital, the cost One Hundred and Ten Pounds each, great value for money, organized by the Dona Sylvia Resort reception.
The one concern we have about writing report is that we hope the resort keeps its friendliness, people and the lifestyle and this doesn’t encourage too many visitors, enjoy!