Resorte Marinha Dourada

8 readers found this review helpful

if you are under 60 dont bother going here,the rooms are also dark and drab and in need of updating,the rooms in the annexe are to be classed as premier rooms and cost more ,the tvs are having boxes fitted so you will have to pay to watch the tv.the breakfast is served in a birdcage with one toaster for the 400 guests the rest of the food is awful mush,the main pool had fungus growing on the bottom and dispite telling them this was not cleaned.the hotel is now too big and unfriendly the taxi drivers outside try to rip you off.prices have risen dramatically on past years 68rps to the £ last year 85rps to the £.the hotel also adds 12% sales tax,10% service charge to everything the waiters dont get any of this just the greedy owners.several people had bags snatched outside the hotel there answer was your insured.

5 readers found this review helpful

if you are under 70 dont go ,the pool has fungus on floor, nothing was done despite informing the hotel,the food is awful if you are not ill you will be very lucky,the tvs are having boxes fitted so they can charge you to watch it,some rooms in the annexe with views are to be classed premier and will be charged extra ,the hotel adds tax and service charge to everything the waiters dont get any of it.

4 readers found this review helpful

The best rooms are in the annexe, we swapped rooms as the ones close to the main pool and dining area were a little noisy. Breakfast is on an indoor tennis court and pretty much the same every day. Rooms were basic but well equipped with a fridge which was really handy. The views across the lake in the evening are idyllic. It's the staff that make the place, my partner was ill while we were here and they were absolutely marvellous. Thank you!

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2 readers found this review helpful

We stayed at the Marinha Dourada from 6-28 Dec,it was our 3rd visit in as many years and found the same fantastic service.The hotel is set in wonderfull grounds with two lakes full of fish that are constantly jumping out,great to see and they are massive.The area is full of birds,im no twitcher but it is lovley to see.The peace and quiet is nice and the days at the pool are very relaxing.There are two bars with friendly staff and the Barracuda stays open until you leave.There is a new cafe just down the road that is very clean and good with a verranda to eat on called Nicks Place,the breakfasts are good.All the beaches are nice,some quiet some busy,our fave busy one is Baga the people in the shacks are great our fave was St Anthonys,we used to go to Silver Sands but they didnt get a licence this year but have a restarant in Baga near East Meets West,still good food and service from Sammy.Went down to Colva beach for a day and that was lovley,almost white sand and very quiet.Asvem is nice beach and we stayed in a hut there.Just get a boat from Baga or a taxi will take you.A good bar to visit is Liquid just up the road from Silver Sands.Fave restaurants East Meets West,Aubergines,All Spice,Kim Farr went to Ronil Royal at Christmas and it was dressed up lovley also if you like traditional Indian music just over the road Bom Fin has live bands and they love it if you get up and dance.Weve done a lot of trips before but rec jungle,spice plantation,waterfalls and Anjuna is worth going just be prepared to haggle.All in all another great holiday and cant fault anything,the MD is a great hotel with lovley staff and are planning on going for another 3 weeks in Dec.We went to a charity for children from the slums and took some clothes,its called Little Acorns in Calangute,if you go to Baga beach on a Saturday they take the kids to Big Banana where you can buy fruit for them from the sellers.Cant wait to go back.

2 readers found this review helpful

my husband and myself visited baga earlier this year,we have friends that have beengoing there for years so thought we knew what to expect,ireally liked the m.d.the pool was lovely,the rooms not bad(we had moved from the c.s.m)stunning views.the food was awfull,not a problem as great restaurants not too far away. our favourite being kim faa,and nisha`s,east meets west has a lovely setting with live entertainment but very mediocre food,areal must is the mayona bar on sunday evening,live music etc.we have booked to go back feb 09,as we missed out on so much,it was such a culture shock that it took me a good week to begin to settle,although i don`t think i could ever get used to the poverty,and some of the awfull conditions,

1 reader found this review helpful

Agree with the other positive views about this hotel. The place is clean, well kept and with friendly, helpful staff. It's a bit out of the way, but with taxis costing thruppence ha'penny, you can get anywhere easy enough, and befriending a helpful taxi driver is one of the highlights of visiting (our first taxi driver invited us to stay with him for free on future holidays after about half an hour of knowing us).
Book all trips with your driver, not tour operator and save a packet. Plus you'll probably make a friend for life. We went to the waterfall, spice plantation and most memorably, the crocodile tour. Jake the Snake takes you on board his boat for a trip down river with his crew. We were not sure whether we'd see any crocs or not, then stopped as what appeared to be a stuffed reptile was pointed to in the bushes. We all peered over the side and I thought we were being ripped off with some tourist scam and that it was just a model or something. Jake leaped off the boat, pulled back the bushes obscuring a clear view of the 4m+ and started telling us to take pics as it hissed and thrashed into the water! Amazing. From then on we saw several more massive sal****er beasts, and marvelled at the fishing folk fearlessly laying nets and paddling their tiny coracles through the water.
A memorable trip, spoiled only by the fact that we lost our camera on the last but one night, so will have to return to take pics!

4 readers found this review helpful

First time we had been to Goa but were told by lots of people that we would love it, we were not dissapointed. We had a wonderful time, the people the place and the hotel were realy nice. I would recommend Goa to anybody wanting a peacefull holiday but wouldn't recommend taking the kids if they are young as there is not a lot for them to do. The hotel Marinah dorada is a large complex with two lakes and two pools, the lakes are full of fish which you can fish if you have your own gear (there are some big fish in there so take heavy ish gear).
The hotel is rated as a four star but I would say it is more a three. The rooms are kept spotless and the maid comes in daily. The food in the resteraunt is good and reasonable, however we went B&B and my only complaint was the breakfast was lousey, choice of boiled eggs, beans, cereal or porridge (I think).
The staff are very friendly and curtious and are always willing to help.
The hotel supplies free towels which you can keep as long as you want, and use to take to the beach. The grounds are beautiful and kept immaculate.
We went at the end of the season, early April and the place was very quiet (perfect).
We are already planning returning at the end of the year, can't wait

1 reader found this review helpful

stayed at the the MD first fortnight in April. Although the hotel is basic and a bit dated the staff are very friendly, the place is clean and the food in the restaurant is very good. however, be warned the breakfasts aren't great and are not everything is included in your package holiday, some items like fruit are charged for. there is a really good tailors on site and a jewellers, we bought from both and were delighted with our goods.
you can try out fishing in the lakes as the reception let you rent rods etc when there. plenty of sunbeds around the pools and free towels to use also which is a bonus. however they do not use parasols but have these clip on blinds. not very good, parasol def would be better.
weather was perfect infact at times it was too hot and very humid. we were out everynight and the food is fantastic some of the restaurants we tried and would recommend are: Aubergine (at end of road from hotel), All Spice (round corner from aubergine), East meets West (Baga), Kim Faa's (Baga), Jamies (Baga), Big Banana Beach Shack (fab seafood on Baga Beach) and of course the hotel restuarant Veranda.
Places we tried but should be avoided at all costs are: Mojo's (rightoutside hotel)and The Chippy (calangute). in general food is great even the stuff on the roadside vendors and in the markets. The markets are an experience in themselves, there is a local one next to hotel on a Saturday and you also have the big hippy one called Ingo's which isn't far in a taxi. again there is a wednesday one in angim.
you can't spend your money here everything is very cheap and and very good. would definately recommend Goa especially this part and would highly recommend this hotel as it is situated perfectly for all those wanting to roam the area.
can't wait to go back again.

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5 readers found this review helpful

Arrival - We were met with a cool drink at reception and the usual form filling before being walked the miles to our room, which was number 259, at the far end of the new annexe.
The room - Prior to our arrival we had been warned of the building works behind the MD. Although they are quite extensive, they are not intrusive in anyway at all. Our room was on the top floor and I did feel sorry for the porter carrying our two heavy cases to the top of the stairs! The room was quite basic but comfortable. Two single beds along with a chest of drawers and a large wardrobe. There was also two tables and a small dresser unit with a mirror above. The bathroom consisted of a small unit above the sink with a small mirror. The shower was one of these huge walk in ones with a powerful jet spray. The bathroom had an open meshed window that you couldn't close. Because of this we always closed the bathroom door to help keep the bedroom cool with the air-conditioning. There was also a TV in the room but we never switched it on. The room was cleaned most days and the towels changed every other day. The room also has a mini-bar which is very good value. From what I can remember, a bottle of water was about 25p, a bottle of beer about 75p and a Bacardi Breezer about 65p. With our room being on the top floor we had a lovely view across the lakes and the valley. The dawn chorus was amazing and I loved to get up early just to listen to them.
Food - Breakfast consisted of tea/coffee and then really whatever you wanted. Juices, cereals, usual eggs, boiled, fried, scrambled or omelette's. Various types of bread that can be toasted. You could order bacon but we never did after reading about piggy loos! Tip....there are two lots of buffet set out, exactly the same. Nearly everyone uses the first lot of buffet tables as they are by the entrance. The queue for the toaster can be huge. Move down to the second lot of buffet tables where exactly the same food is offered but it is much quieter. We only had lunch once at the hotel. We ate on the veranda and found it to be OK. Quite a bit more expensive than the shacks but then I would expect that. The hotel puts on various themed nights /gala dinners at night. Although a number of people did take advantage of these, we always ate out. The bars also have "snack" menus and we did eat from this menu once or twice. It was quite good and reasonably priced.
Drinks - The drinks at the hotel are all good value compared to the UK. But be warned, it's easy to run up a big bar bill over a two week period. The bar staff are brilliant, especially Sachin. The Agor bar, the one nearest reception (at the bottom of the ramp) is open from 11am until midnight. But the bar over the ramp and by the new annexe remains open until 2am. There is a third bar across the far side of the lakes but we never used it although there was always a discount available to entice people to use it.
Fishing - I don't fish myself but was surprised to see a number of guests always by the side of the lake fishing. The lakes are sal****er and so hold a good variety of decent sized fish.
Anything Else - You can get big towels suitable for the beach from the Health Club. You sign for them against your room number and return them when your finished with them. We tended to swop them every two days. This a free service but you're not supposed to take them off the hotel complex, but everyone does!
There are safety deposit boxes available for you to hire at reception, They cost 250rps per week and so about £6 for the two week holiday. They are very safe as you hold one key and reception hold the other. The boxes cannot be opened without both. However there is a charge of about £45 for lost keys!!!
There is a computer with Internet access in the reception area which is chargeable.
The in-house Taylor is brilliant. I looked at suits in Calangute and then the Taylor at the MD. The finished quality at the MD is far far better although more expensive. But well worth paying the extra for. I got two made-to-measure wool/cashmere suits with lined trousers and a Hugo Boss label in for £120!!!
Summary....3-star hotel but should be much higher and I am looking to book to go back to the MD next Easter. That says it all really.

1 reader found this review helpful

been to the md for the last 7 years just cant go anywhare else just paradise the hotel is fantastic the management and staff are very helpfull the food in the resteraunt is good the one resteraunt we used last year was recomended to us its called all spice the food is fantastic recomend to anyone just up the road is a little shop with tables and chairs outside its called anans the beer is ice cold drinks are so cheap the best beach shack is in baga its called the lucky star the sea food is fantastic and all the boys who work there are good at there job peter is the boss and he cant do enough for you going back to the md anybody got any tips to catch big snapper were on are way back the 7th april cant wait