Picture-Postcard Ambience – Vivanta by Taj Holiday Village

Along the sands of Sinquerim and a hop away from Baga and Calangute beaches, Vivanta by Taj – HolidayVillage, Goa, is a charming landscape that flirts with the seafront. 

Constructed in 1981, The Taj Holiday Village soaks you in the friendly, tranquil and joyful ambience of Goa. Attractive terracotta cottages, beautiful pathways and aromatic gardens unfold a relaxed way of life.

An ideal blend of modern elegance and Goan– Portuguese architecture, the resort appears like a picture-postcard settlement close to the beach.

To offer patrons a feeling of home away from home, the landscape has been redesigned with gardens styled to match the intrinsic spirit of the resort. With a completely new lobby and  fresh landscaping, renovated cottages and restaurants, an immaculate island bar, the spa and a range of exciting indoor and outdoor recreational options, the  resort now exudes an altogether new appearance.

Stepping into the lobby, the visitor is greeted by  a soulfully strummed guitar accompanied by the beat of the native ‘ghumot’—a unique Indo-Portuguese welcome.

Accommodation

Delighting guests for nearly a quarter of a a century with its legendary hospitality that bears the stamp of the Taj Group, The Taj Holiday Village adorns a fresh new look which is reflected in the interiors.

All guestrooms offer a rustic, tropical-inspired décor. Stylish  and sophisticated with a unique edge, there are 142 rooms and  6 categories of accommodation options to choose from.

The Superior Charm Cottages with Balcony are perched on the first floor, face the garden and are caressed by the sea breeze.

There are also Superior Charm garden-facing  cottages at ground level s with lush lawn sitouts.

Premium Indulgence Cottages are conveniently located close to the pool and the lobby and have a view of the tropical landscaping. These  cottages have sea-facing rooms and are situated in blocks of two with a balcony and a lawn sitout. Most have deck chairs and garden furniture with a parasol.

The Deluxe Allure Villas are luxurious stand-alone garden villas with a bedroom and a living room, a private lawn and garden furniture.

Finally, the Luxury Bliss Villa has an incredible sunset view. The Bliss Villa has a bedroom and living room with walk- in closets, dining room and private lawn with garden furniture and parasols.

The restaurants

At Vivanta by Taj – HolidayVillage you can enjoy imaginative cuisine with an undeniably happening ambience.  Fine dining options at the hotel include The Banyan Tree, an elegant restaurant serving authentic Thai cuisine. It is an inviting blend of laid-back charm and pastoral sophistication.

The Beach House restaurant serves delectable Goan dishes. Caravela is a charming  all-day dining restaurant overlooking the sea.

Drift, the new island bar, offers an extensive range of spirits, sundowners and martinis.

A first of its kind, Jungle Jam is a restaurant dedicated exclusively to kid s while the Pool Bar is the perfect setting to enjoy a cool cocktail to a dramatic sunset.

Renowned as one of the best five chefs in India by the Hotel Federation of India, Chef Rego has been associated with the HolidayVillage for nearly 30 years and has a long and  illustrious career to his credit. He began his career with Taj Hotels, Resorts and Palaces in 1970 and along the way, has had the privilege to cook for many celebrities and international dignitaries including Presidents, Royalty, and corporate leaders.

The spa

Overlooking the arresting coast line, Jiva Spa is shared and  situated between Taj Fort Aguada and Taj HolidayVillage.

With its Goan-Portuguese heritage in sync with tropical rusticity,  it has six treatment suites, some with its own soak pool, yoga and  meditation and ayurveda rooms.

In a land knows for its spiritual wellness, Jiva Spa has researched, maintained and preserved its time-tested wellness therapies.. Their Signature Treatments have  borrowed from royal traditions and ancient Indian spiritual remedies. The array of Ayurveda, Scrubs, Wraps, Yoga and Meditation are all designed to impart a feeling of complete wellbeing inside out.

The experience

Having never really entered the grounds before, I always wondered what lay beyond the deep green foliage of the boundary fence of the Vivanta by Taj – HolidayVillage in Sinquerim.

With check in late on a Friday evening, the lobby was buzzing with weekend holiday makers. Mr Sunshil Tandon, the General Manager welcomed us warmly and explained what we had to look forward to over our weekend stay.

Escorted to our room down the pathways, we kept a  check on any landmarks that would guide us, knowing that it could be easy to get lost in the sprawling property.

Delighted with the location of our garden room with a sea view, we settled in. With so many eateries on site we were spoilt for choice but out favourite had to be the lunch in the leafy environment of the Banyan Tree.

Overall, our favourite location was by the swimming pool. With the sun shining, luxurious sun beds, a heavenly pool and that killer view, this resort really has everything on offer for the perfect holiday.

(Published in the October 2012 issue of Viva Goa)