Colonia Santa Maria Hotel

CSM at Baga Beach - 3rd to 24th February 2007 - Hotel Review It was our first holiday to Goa and we approached it with an open mind but we were aware of some negative comments about the hotel (CSM, Baga). I had e-mailed the Tour Company, Somak, with my concerns and been told that all was now well with the accommodation. We arrived at the Hotel and after a short delay we were shown to our room. It was not ‘as advertised’ but a single storey, one roomed apartment. Initially, it appeared adequate and we were so eager to settle down after the journey, that we were in no mood to query it. We set about unpacking. However, we soon discovered that there were numerous small crawling insects on the floor. This was not too upsetting because we were in India and perhaps this should be expected. We needed to get some initial supplies from a local shop and thus bought some insect killer spray, which we applied liberally. We also discovered that the sink in the bathroom only had one tap, which was loose and only gave cold water! (No – it was not a mixer tap!) Similarly the shower only gave cold water. When we returned later we found that although there were some dead insects there were still plenty that refused to give up the ghost. I suspected that the reason was that there were huge gaps around the windows and the air-conditioning unit. The single storey room was sunk into a mound/hill at the rear and thus there was a constant insect ‘immigration’ into the room. A review that we had read before our departure had complained about newspaper stuffed around the air-conditioning and doubtless this was the reason. Enough was enough. We went to the Reception and spoke to the gentleman behind the desk. We later discovered that he was Stephen, the newly appointed manager. He had a winning smile and a charm to match. He assured us that we would be moved the following morning. (This approach later appeared to be a common occurrence with a small but significant number of guests being given poor accommodation - we also heard reports of damp patches in some rooms - and then being moved after complaining.) This seems an improvement on the dismissive attitude of the previous management team, which is described in previous reviews. Nevertheless it is clear that although most rooms are very good, a few are very poor and thus this explains the very mixed often-contradictory reports that are posted about this hotel. The following morning we approached the Somak representative, Firoz, and I took him into the room to show him the cause of my dissatisfaction. I showed him copies of my email correspondence with Somak. I told him that the accommodation was not ‘as advertised’ in the brochure i.e. two storey with separate living/dressing area, that it was inadequate with regard to the water supply and the insects and that we had been promised a change of room. I warned him that if the next room proved similarly inadequate then we would leave, find our own accommodation and ‘bill’ Somak for it. I have to say that the Representative was excellent in his attitude and approach. We arrived Saturday and we spoke to him on Sunday. A little later he returned and said that we would be moved as promised but that also on the following Tuesday he had arranged for us to be moved to a room that was ‘excellent’. We told him that we would only move once and therefore we would stay in the first room until the ‘excellent’ room was available. This we did and the second room was all that we would have properly expected. What a shame that we were on the fourth day of our holiday before we were ‘settled’. Our first meal was dinner in the dining room at CSM. The reports had been poor and therefore we were very pleasantly surprised by the range and standard of the meal. I later commented on this to another guest who told me that there had been many complaints and that the food had thus been dramatically improved. Nevertheless it was very good to start with…. Sadly it did deteriorate as the weeks went by. Towards the end of our three weeks, we tended only to eat in the hotel only on rare occasions and the standard had declined noticeably. There was a tendency for the waiters to open the dish covers to show the contents to guests but then to leave them open instead of closing them. The staff at the hotel were very helpful and courteous at all times. The rooms were kept in relatively good order but I sometimes got the impression that the cleaners were more intent on making animal shapes out of the towels than in thoroughly cleaning the rooms. One thing that the hotel lacked was a suitable place to sit and relax with a drink before or after a meal. Apart from the tables where you ate, there was only one small area accommodating half a dozen people and a few stools at the bar. The taxis that congregate at the entrance to CSM are generally ready to charge inflated prices – by Goan standards. There are some exceptions, for example Babu was fair. I did however negotiate a price with one taxi from there to take us to the Waterfalls and when we turned up early in the morning, the driver wanted to increase the price. I told him that he had ‘blown it’ and walked away. He came after us lowering his new ‘price’ but I dismissed him in short order. We walked on and later picked up a taxi elsewhere to go on a ‘crocodile trip’ instead. My wife became enchanted by the tut-tuts. I would strongly recommend Santosh (Tel: (+91) 985 0464584). He is very helpful; he has a good command of English and an excellent knowledge of the area. His brother has a ‘full grown’ taxi and thus he can arrange Airport collections and longer excursions. We returned home after three weeks with mixed feelings. The hotel was good once the issue about the room was sorted out. We certainly would not rave about Goa like some people. The people were very friendly but I feel that this was because they always wanted something from you. For example the night security guards at the CSM were really nice but I am sure that they were looking forward to a good tip at the end of the holiday. However, Goa is relatively cheap and the weather in February is guaranteed to be better than Europe. We would return to Goa but not to Baga Beach and we would think twice before returning to the CSM.

The Netherlands, 25th. March 2007. My brother and I stayed in this wonderful hotel for 3 weeks from 8th. February 2007 till 2nd. March 2007 to celebrate my for 2 years postponed 50th. birthday and my current age. It was my brother's second visit and my third to Goa, India. It was the first time we stayed in CSM in Baga, Goa and certainly NOT the last one!!! We did read the comments on this site about this hotel, so we were prepared for the worst. I was very happy to experience that our experiences with this hotel is quite different! Hotel CSM has a perfect location and we both felt very happy with the wonderful room we stayed in. The room has been kept spotless clean and the sheets and towels have been changed every day by the very friendly, helpful, great roomboys. The hotel has a new owner and management. Sure, there are several things that need improvement and or a change, but they are getting there. But let the Managent know which things -according to your opinion- could be changed or better! We also had some (technical) problems in/ or with the room, but these problems have been solved/fixed in no time thanks to the Management (mrs. ABHA) and technical men (mr. ANIL is 1 of them) from CSM!!! When there is a problem I suggest to tell the Management about the problem you have and allow this helpful and friendly people to solve/fix it. Do NOT forget to tell this people when your problem is solved!!! After all: everyone in this entire world likes to hear a compliment as well now and then and NOT only bad comments! If you ask me if we or I will return to CSM next time I answer you with a big YES!!! Thanks a lot, dear CSM in Baga/Calangute, for your good service, hospitality and your wonderful staff (from the Securitymen,gardners, roomboys to the Managent) for our unforgettable and happy (birthday) holiday that you have given us!!!

Third time in Goa, first and last at the C S M. Arrived after a 24hr delay very tired.Rooms not ready. The room we where given was damp and at the back of wall,got moved next day nice upstairs room.Booked with Jewel in the Crown, so tea/coffee and first day minni bar included.Waited three days for kettle no tea/coffee,told at reception to go buy it ourself.Rep was no help.Found the waiting staff very offhand the barman never smiled or spoke, only to ask for the money. two waiters gave any help Jonnie and cedric,The management where the rudest people i have ever met on any holiday. Room fine, food not bad,location great.This hotel is ruined by the attitude of managment and staff. We where not the only people who felt the same way

Feb 2007 South Yorkshire couple young 60's Stayed at the CSM in Jan 2007. First time in Goa, latest reviews were quite scary and we were prepared for the worst. We were pleasantly surprised at what we found. We were initially given the damp room in not the best position but a visit to reception soon rectified this. We were given an upstairs room in a nice position in block 11. The air conditioning and safety dep box were included in the price. Fans in both the bedroom and the sitting room were great. The mini bar was restocked every day and was cheap!. Why People have problems with the food we cannot understand. The chef was on hand every evening and was quite charming. Variety good. Goan food is different but we found it enjoyable. Use the ala carte menu for a change a few rupees etc. We did not find this necessary and ate out less than we had planned. Breakfast was ok and our friends paid a few rupees for bacon some days. The staff were wonderful including the room boys and security on duty day and night. The position of CSM couldn't be better as it is near the beach and a short walk to the centre. We ate at BOSCOS beach shack for lunch and were well looked after(free sunbeds as at all shacks) Thank you ALEX and all the boys for a great time. Look for Anita selling fruit, she is good fun and you can trust her to take fruit to the orphans on the beach SAT. if you pay her for some. 30 rupees for a pineapple. Eat at the SUBLIME near Baga Bridge for a relaxing change run by an English couple food. Also East Meets West is good. The taxi drivers will take you anywhere and it is very cheap. They will stay with you for the day if you do a longer trip. Mac and Rocky were great guys and looked after us wonderfully. Somehow managed to miss everything on the road even the straying cows. Driving is something to be experienced. Only rules are there aren't any!! Thank you Rocky and Mac for showing us the sights and giving us a great time. Hope to see you again soon!! Overall our first experience in Goa was more than our expectations and planning another trip soon. CSM. was ok even with new owners. Travelled with First Choice flight fantastic.

i can only say it as i see it, i have been to theCSM 3 times and found the rooms to be perfectly adequate, always kept clean by the very efficient room boys. clean bedding and towels EVERY day, for the 3 weeks i was there we never run out of hot water, unlike many other places!! yes there were a few power cuts but CSM have there own emergency generator, which automatically cuts in, in about 3 minutes if the proper power doesn,t come back on, and yes it worked every time. no problem! there are also new electronic safes and air con in the room at NO extra charge. we had no trouble whatsoever with the new managment, in fact all we saw was helpful and happy smiling faces. breakfast is not great, but it is an improvement on what it used to be, you now get eggs either fried scrambled boiled or omlette along with something else like grilled tomatoes or some thing else, plus a couple of different fruits and of course toast and jam orange or lemon juice tea and coffee.WHATS WRONG WITH THAT!! the food is not reheated as sugested in a previous review, it is kept WARM over a spirit heater, as they do all over india and in indian restraunts in the uk. i cannot comment on the evening meals here because we didn,t have any, we always go out to eat in the many fantastic restraunts in and around baga and calangute. but iwil concede that if the food hasn,t improved at CSM since our previous holiday, i wouldn't bother with it, do what we do, eat out its cheap enough!!! there is also internet access there now. the new managment haven't moved it, its still right on the beach, and you couldn't ask for a better location. all in all my wife and i, recommend this hotel, and WILL be going there again for the fourth time. BOB & HELGA

This was our honeymoon, and my parents had highly recommended CSM, as they stayed last year there!! We arrived and well what can we say....... where do we start...... room was adequate - which we expected! Food diabolical, when we complained to our rep - he was useless, so we complained to the owner and she stated "if you don't like it, go some where else", the food was terrible, and cold, you don't expect breakfast to be cold at 7.30am when your the first ones down there!!!! its all reheated whilst its out. The owners took over in April this year, so we heard, and they were not afraid to have an argument with the customers, Christmas dinner was funny, they had put all the tables around the pool, and they had stated dinner would be ready at 7.30pm prompt - they were still putting tables and chairs out by 8pm. out side people had booked for christmas dinner so people staying at CSM who had booked didn't even get a table - it was a sheer mess, we could go on, but whats the point, CSM just didn't give a (---)- i'm sorry to say. Thank god to the kind workers for example, the security guards, the cleaners, and a big thank you to Captains Cabin shack on the beach!!!!!!

we stayed at the CSM from 14th- 28th of Dec. I had read reveiws regarding the hotel, and was happy with what others had said.But this year the hotel has changed owners. The room we were given was damp with black patchs on the wall. we had no hot water for 3 days. and eventually we were moved to a nicer room. The food was not good at all. trays of food were put out at 7.30pm each night and they were still there at 10pm at night. Kept luke warm by a small gas light. the food was recylced and no chioce at all. Any complaints to managment were met by, If you do not like it eat elsewhere! Needless to say people did just this.People who had stayed at the CSM for many yearswere upset and stated they would not return. The food at the Christmas gala meal was served outside by the pool. we sat down at 7.30pm and by 8.30pm food had not been served. it was still siitting in the trays. when served it was cold. In all the years i have been away for Christmasi have never been offerd foodthis poor standerd. The pool was dirty around the edge. each day the pool man wiped the scum from the side of the pool with his hand. The staff that had been at the CSM for years do not know if they will have jobs from one day to the next. Any one who has booked the CSM and have stayed befor. be prepared for a shock. Besides all of the above the Goans are very nice people and Bosco's shack was great.

CSM has a great location but this advantage gets diluted by poor service standard and sad in-house facilities. The service is very erratic and undependable. Poor power back-up, non-fuctional telephones and television set are common issues. Hope they put effort to improve the hotel...pity to see such a beautiful property in such a bad shape.

me my mum and my antie went csm is lovley we loved it that much we are goin back this cristmas and new year the hotel does its best to make you feel happy and they do it very well. the people who work there are all really nice and you cart beat csm. it is literatly on the beach perfect!!

this was a lovely hotel. at first it seems VERY basic, but you have to remember that India is a very poor country. The rooms were very clean, bedding spotless and the pool towels clean every day. every single member of staff went out of their way to make you comfortable, under the watchful eye of Edward the manager. this is a quiet location, being set between the main road and the beach. Cars are stopped from driving right up to the hotel by a security guard. the food was buffet style, which made me ill for a few days, but i knew that i shouldn't eat buffet food anyway! Britos restaurant is a wonderful place to eat- get a taxi there or walk along the beach. would highly recommend CSM as the locals call it