Alessandra Resort, Palolem, South Goa, India

Inquiries:

You can visit the hotel's website at: alessandra-resort.com or check out Hotels.com for the best deals on other accommodations in the Palolem, Goa, India area.

Location:

This Israeli-owned resort is located on the northern end of Palolem Beach, Canacona, Goa, just a few meters from the Arabian Sea. The small village of Palolem is located a few minutes by walk from the resort. We really liked the location because it wasn't as crowded as central or southern Palolem Beach, yet it was still only 5 minutes by walk from them. There were many stray dogs on the beaches of Goa which we often heard howling in unison in the evenings. As horrible as the howling was, it usually didn't last that long and could be heard no matter where you are staying. When the dogs weren't howling, it was nice to hear the ocean waves from our hut at this resort.

Room Comfort:

The huts in Palolem, Goa are all very basic, differing mainly in price, amenities, location and service. The huts at Alessandra resort were no different as they were fairly basic and small. The huts are built each season, so there are some small differences year to year, but the location always remains the same. Specifically, the huts at this resort were made out of bamboo and sit on stilts in the sand. They are not solid structures, thus there are small holes in the bamboo "walls" where insects and mosquitoes enter into the room. This is the case with all of the accommodations in Palolem, so don't let that deter you from staying here. Although our hut was small, there was a shelf where we were able to put some things on, but generally didn't have room to really unpack. There are many choices of huts at this resort, some of which have an en-suite bathroom. We stayed in a hut with an en-suite bathroom that was very spacious and contained a very good water heater which is really rare for this area. Most of the resorts in Palolem have only cold water. Our hut also contained a sink, toilet and a mirror which are also rare in this area. There was a mosquito net over the bed that served its purpose and gave us the peace of mind we needed to sleep well at night. The room also had electricity, (although electricity can be unpredictable in this area so bring a flashlight just in case), electrical outlets and free Wi-Fi.

The hotel also had lockers near the reception/bar where you could lock your valuables, just bring your own lock. Even though we didn't have one, they provided us with one which we didn't end up using as we felt our things were perfectly safe inside the room.

Cleanliness:

The huts and resort were clean.The towels and sheets were clean and smelled fresh. If you want your room cleaned daily, they ask you to leave your key at the front desk during the day, otherwise your room will not be cleaned. If you needed anything else, like toilet paper or clean towels, you just have to ask. We really liked this type of service as you were in control about what you wanted. They also cleaned the trash bins if you left them on your hut's porch.

Another great and thoughtful feature that they provided was a wash bin in front of each hut where you could rinse off the sand from your feet before entering your hut. They changed the water often.

Service:

The staff was very friendly and laid-back which is very appropriate for this area. They provided us with everything that we needed when we asked for it. They were helpful, nice, friendly, trustworthy and kind without ever making us feel like we needed to buy something from them. The service was simply appropriate and great.

Some of the free services provided at the resort included, free wireless internet, sun chairs, sun umbrellas, lockers (and locks if you REALLY need one), and so on.

Food:

We ate breakfast at this resort every chance we got. The portions were large and delicious. We didn't try lunch or dinner at their restaurant, but are pretty certain that they are equally good.

Overall Value:

We really enjoyed our stay at the Alessandra Resort. Although the huts are basic, they are clean and comfortable. Since the majority of the huts in Palolem are basic, the choice really comes down to price and what the resort offers. This resort offered hot water, wireless internet, private bathrooms, good service and a great location which made us chose it over all of the other choices. Although it's priced a little bit higher than its neighbours, there is no doubt we would stay here anyway again. We should also mention that the resort had a very peaceful Bedouin style seating area where you can enjoy drinks while you watch the sunset. We also enjoyed the music that the resort played throughout the day as it was very nice and mellow. The vibe at this resort was perfect. The only unfortunate part is that we forgot our red Frisbee with the words "Toronto Sunshine" on it when we left. This Frisbee has been around the world so take good care of it. If you stay here, see if it's still there and feel free to use it. 

Other Notes:

• Subject to availability, the resorts in this area will offer you a better price than if you make a reservation in advance, (especially if you are booking over the Internet).
• Almost all beach hotels/resorts in this area are temporary, basic structures since zoning laws forbid any permanent development on this beach.

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