More about Taj Exotica Goa
Great Ambience
by TripAdvisor Member shapes
We had a wonderful 3 day stay at Taj Exotica Goa. I had a fair idea of the place after reading all the reviews but the kind of hospitality we encountered was unbelievable!!!! The rooms & surroundings are impeccably clean & well maintained. The property itself is so vast….the idea of cycle tracks through the lawns is splendid and well made use of by kids. Beyond the lawns is the isolated beach which one can enjoy without hawkers and other locals around.
We had heard that the food at Taj is not up to the mark especially when one opts for the all meals inclusive plan. But how wrong we were!!!! All the meals whether it was b/fast, lunch or supper was delicious. The spread was predominantly Indian with a fair bit of Continental dishes. And the deserts………how can one do justice to a roomful of deserts of various kinds?? The dining room staff must be complimented for their excellent service ever willing to pamper your culinary senses with the choicest of spreads.
Dining at the Taj is a very expensive proposition so its best to opt for their meals inclusive options. The Travel Desk charges exorbitantly. Hence its advisable to pick up transport outside the hotel at less than half the cost.
After having experienced the Taj hospitality through their helpful & pleasant staff we have already decided to go back next year when the off season discounts come up again.
Idyllic holiday hotel
by TripAdvisor Member PeppaPig
Myself, my husband and my children 3 and 1 year old spent 9 wonderful nights at the taj Exotica From 27th february to 8th March 2006. The service was excellent, the food was good and the grounds well maintained. The staff could not do enough for us. My Husband suffered from vomiting and diarrhea the 1st 2 days we were there and as soon as the staff found out, there was a knock at our door and staff delivered a packet of tablets and said that the doctor recommended that they be taken 3 times a day. We were not charged for these.
The kids club was ok although my daughter loved it and wanted to spend most of her time there. They had an outdoor play area with sand, small trampoline, swing and small slide. Inside they had computers with a few basic games, books , a lego table and paper and crayons. The staff there were extremely nice but they just left the children to their own devices most of the time and kept an eye on them to make sure that they were Ok. I think more interaction with the children would have been nice. They did occasionally do some nice things like providing cookie dough and the children would use cookie cutters and then the cookie were baked and given to the children. Also they took the children to the Italian restaurant one afternoon where they each wore chef hats and aprons their size and rolled out pizza dough and put toppings on. The pizzas were baked for their lunch.
We did not go out of the hotel at all apart from the 1st night when we went to a restaurant within walking distance called Angelos. The food was good and reasonably priced.
The swimming pools were lovely and the children loved it.
We stayed in a villa for the 1st 2 nights and the rest of the stay was in the main hotel building in a sea view deluxe room.
I actually preferred the villa because it had a beautiful KS bed whereas the deluxe room had two single beds but a fantastic view.
We did not actually see Goa at all because with 2 young children and a very busy life back home, our definition of holiday is to enjoy the hotel facilities, eat and sleep. The children were happy and so were we.
Whilst we were there it was my birthday and I was sent a card, a cake, a bid bottle of red wine and a big jar of roasted salted cashew nuts. It was a lovely gesture.
We actually booked our hotel through an agent based in Ghatkopar in Bombay.
For us it was expensive considering we were in India but it was beautiful and well worth it.
If you want a quiet, relaxing stay and do not want to do to much but sunbathe, swim then this is the place for you.
A Place to relax
by TripAdvisor Member teenager58
Stayed in one of the villas 27th Nov 2005 for 1 week. All Staff, especially poolside and security guards very friendly and efficient. Could not do enough for us.
Comfortable accommodation with good facilities. Only had to pick up the phone for room service requests and was attended to within minutes.
Eating in the hotel complex was expensive (more on a par with Eupropean prices) but as long as you are careful the recommended beach shacks were a bargain, especially for beers and soft drinks.
Travelled via Thomas Cook and their rep. was very good. Excursions proved good value for money. But be prepared for and hour plus coach journey either way on some of the trips. (River cruise sunset and Spice plantation were a must)
Not up to Par
by TripAdvisor Member Pbryan10
Having been to the Marriott and the Leela over the last five years, we decided to give the Taj a go this year. We stayed at the Marriot then moved to the Leela Club and planned to end up at the Taj in a pool villa. Given we stayed at all of these hotels in the course of 2 weeks I guess the review should be quite objective and fresh.
In my opinion the Taj just doesn't cut it as a comparison, in particular to the Leela. We paid $500 per night for three nights to have a sunset pool villa and checked out after one!!! The rooms were battered, tired and of a questionable quality ($500 per night) The aircon was poor and it just needed a facelift. The main pool was tired, poor selection of drinks / food available. The resturants are centrered mainly in one "mall" type line and had absolutley NO atmostsphere.
The staff whilst friendly were not proactive in serving and on the whole it just doesn't work when comparing it to the likes of the Leela.
If you want to spend a comparable amount and want luxury and to be looked after DO NOT go here. I compained to the management about the quality of my stay and they answered by saying that they were having complaints about the high cost of the rooms that were overpriced.......One place for Luxury in GOA and thats the Leela.!!
Really Disappointing
by TripAdvisor Member Fleetcat
This hotel is generally a bit tired and lacks atmosphere. The beach is unattractive (particularly by comparison to the Leela) and it was common that they ran out of mattresses for the loungers. The seafood restaurant on the beach was excellent but really expensive. Go to the Leela.
Excellent 2 weeks
by A TripAdvisor Member
Just returned from a fantastic, calm and relaxing 2 weeks. We stayed in a villa with its own pool overlooking the 9 hole pitch and putt. The staff were magnificent, being extremely friendly, polite and attentive. The grounds and hotel are immaculate and our room was serviced impeccably on a daily basis. The lad who cleaned our room even bought my girlfriend a bouquet of flowers ! So maybe I did tip him too much ! I will say the hotel is expensive to eat and drink in but I will recommend Joecons just outside (about half the price) and Johncys on Benaulim beach (about half the price again.
food and drink
by A TripAdvisor Member
first just to say agree with most of the reviews on the actual hotel. it is fantastic location. accomodation is great. staff friendly and helpful. all of that is absolutely true. it is 5*.
but... and a big big but....... you will pay x4 or x5 the price to eat and drink in the hotel!!!!!!!
you have already paid a price for staying in this 5* hotel!!!!
the local shack and restuarants are really really goood. foood is quality. service is great and price unbelievable. just be sensible as you would anywhere
approx 75 -77 rupees = £1
eg
kingfisher beer. 330ml. 25 - 30 rupees in local places. 140 in the taj(after the 20%tax).
soft drinks. local 15 - 30 rupees. taj 100+!!!!! dont even think of spirits. gin and tonic in locals only 60rupees in taj 200+!!!!!!!
local shacks happy to let you take bottles away with you just remember to return the empties.
food reallly expensive. average price of a main dish in local restaurants about 140rupees same thing in the taj 650+ tax!!!!!!!
have to say if you happy to pay these prices you will have a great time. we had an even better time by eating and drinking in the local places.
we can also recommend joecons for price, quality and service......
hope been of help
Lovely Hotel But Expensive Food and Bev
by TripAdvisor Member NealM
Having read some of the other reviews there is a theme appearing it would seem. The Taj itself was a beautiful hotel, really classy decor and the communal areas , gounds and beaches were absolutely stunning. There are massive price variations out there to stay at this hotel and we stayed as independent travellers having flown into Goa from Delhi. We mangaged to secure a luxury room for $155 per room per night which half what some people were paying for lower standard rooms.
The room itself was excellent the biggest bed I have ever seen...I spent 10 mins looking for my wife in it. There was a nice sofa area with DVD player and a nice sea view balcony. The bathroom was massive with a 3 man jaquzzi tub and separate shower....all in all pretty fabulous.
The gardens, pool and beach are all outstanding with a 9 hole gold course, tennis courts and all that one would expect from such a resort. The staff are all delightful and typical of Goans a lot more friendly and amenable than other areas we visited.
Downside was the food and beverage prices, which were a joke...compared to Mumbai and Delhi they are reasonably comparable however Goa generally is much cheaper. Beer and spirits were generally 4X the price elsewhere and actually you can step outside the hotel and go to Joecons Garden (he also has a beach shack) and you can eat and drink for a fraction of the price. Most restaurants serve up pretty similar fare in Goa with a major on seafood which if eaten outside the Taj is excellent value and excellent quality. Its a shame the Taj seem to be so short sighted here on their pricing strategy...so take my advice stay here use the facilities in the day and then take a stroll or grab a cab to one of the many excellent places where you can confidently eat and drink for a fraction of the price and indeed in everywhere we went you can even have ice in your drinks.
A brilliant hotel
by A TripAdvisor Member
We spent a wonderful week at this fabulous hotel. We had a garden villa which overlooked a small pond and we had lovely sunsets from our balcony. The room was large, clean and had a huge bed.
The staff were so polite and attentive. Nothing was too much trouble. Even on check out they came to help us and did a check of the room before we left to make sure nothing had been left.
The food was lovely in every restuarant and although pricey was of a really high standard.
The breakfasts were to die for and any hotel that serves champagne for breakfast is a hit with me.
Forum Posts
Taj Exotica
by Rogietlegs
Hi, We are thinking of visiting Goa in early April. Has anyone stayed at this hotel, it is our intention to stay here but would like some feedback first. All comments greatly appreciated.
Re: Taj Exotica
by pjone
would recomend jan feb mar to visit goa april very humid and can be cloudy never stayed at taj exotica but had a good meal in there thai restaurant . hotel looked pretty good.been to goa five times now good restaurant to use is the after eight alittle more expensive then the others but better.
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