BAGA’S TREAT
The Park Hotel, Baga River, Goa
The Park opens its first adults-only retreat in Goa
It’s the inevitability of Goa in season; planes stuffed to capacity, screaming children, long queues for everything from toilets at the airport to the traffic on the roads. When brigades of cacophonous families descend, even the largest luxury hotels are hard pressed to offer a slice of solitude. But a quiet spot of paradise is yours for the asking at the new Park Hotel Goa, Baga River. The boutique hotel makes an offer that is impossible to refuse with its first adults-only property in the Baga river area in north Goa.
Small enough to be cozy, yet large enough to have nooks you can lose yourself in, this 28-room property sits pretty by the tranquil lagoons of the Baga River, surrounded by lush clumps of green. While the facade is a languid white that stands out amid the green and the colourful Goan houses, the indoors, open and airy, represent a happy mix of Portuguese influences with bold accents of yellow, the traditional colour of the state. The rooms blend in with the all-white interiors and earthy coloured linens that look cool and make the generous sized rooms look even larger.
As size goes, good things come in small packages seems to be the leitmotif of this unique space. Food is offered at the 24-hour restaurant Saltwater, with a more Goan-glam theme at the alfresco pool-side dining at Aqua, the lounge area. The food, especially the fish and sea food is a pleasure where variety and value walk the talk. More personalised services in tune with the all-adult theme are offered including intimate in-room dining, The Park Picnic, spa treatments and romantic surprises, preferred by honeymooners.
The concierge can also arrange ‘Anything But Ordinary’ experiences with cookery workshops, and art classes with renowned Goan artist, Subodh Kerkar. Yoga is also available for those who like to stretch out and not just on deck chairs. River cruises are a mustdo and include cocktails and canapes chased by live and recorded music. Like most of Goa, entertainment depends on how you like it and where you can find it; being at the Park simply means it’s better curated and you don’t have to share it with the tiny people. Quietude apart, the best part of the stay is the warm graciousness of the staff and generous hospitality, ready markers that linger long after the white facade is just a blurring dot in the rear view mirror.
Room rates start from `12,000 to 15,000 per night; www.theparkhotels.com