Marriott Hotel Reviews

Stayed at the Panjim Marriott resort during first 2 weeks in April, The hotel was first class, and the staff could not be better. The rooms were very nice, and room service was excellent. Nightime in the open air lounge looking over the river is simply bliss, watching all the activity of the river, whilst being cooled by the barmy tropical breeze. Temperatures in the daytime are high, and its very sticky at night, but you cant beat Goa for its friendly people. Try a trip to Mumbai, it takes approx 1 hour by plane to the city, and the hotels are fantastic, we stayed at the Leela Kempinski hotel, where we enjoyed all the benefits of a 5 star hotel, without the horrendous price. (we even had a butler with the room) Mumbai is a typical city, very hot, very busy, and a huge culture shock to anyone who has never travelled to a 3rd world resort before. Poverty is everywhere, but the people still smile.

We have been there 2 times already, and are booked again for a week in November. As a winter destination you cant get better. Even for children its great, they can explore the huge beaches, without the threat of someone wanting tho harm them, a all to common fear for parents in the overcrowded euro resorts. If you don't try anywhere else this year, try Goa.

What a fantastic holiday. This was our first trip to Goa and we did not know what to expect. The airport was a little disorganised but not too bad. Do have pound coins to hand to tip the porters in the airport. As we flew Excel one we had a private transfer to the hotel which was much more pleasant than a coach transfer.

The Marriot is a fabulous hotel. It is immaculate. We paid £70 for an upgrade to a seaview well worth it. The rooms a clean spacious and well appointed. The staff are so helpful and pleasant is quite breathtaking. The food at the hotel is excellent I highly recommend the Simply fish retsurant and the Chinese resturant in the hotel. The facities are superb . In the hotel you are looking to pay £15 for a meal for two. In Panjim you can eat out for £7 for two. We ate at the Delhi Durbar and the Punjab Classic both in Panjim and both excellent. Closer to the Marriot were Edu's and Mums kitchen agian both excellent but Edus' had the edge as the food was great and ridiculously cheap. Goa is fabulous but the people are amazing.

We had a fantastic taxi driver Baptist his English was superb (fluent) and his knowlege and passion of and for Goa was exceptional he made our holiday by taking us to the best places. I would highly recommend him you can find him at the taxi rank just at the bottom of the hotel ramp plus he and his colleagues are much cheaper than the hotel taxis.

He took us to the beautiful beach of Utorda just forty minutes south of Panjim flawless white sand very few torists and the best sea food ever at Camillos' Stack Shack just to your right as you step on the beach. Camillo and his gang will ensure you have a relaxing day on the beach and keep you well fed and watered for about £10. Plus its hassle free unlike Baga beach which we visited out of curiosity. We visited the Spice plantation at Ponda well worth a trip again Baptist organised this for us £15 for two including his fare and our lunch a great day out as you can visit Old Goa and the Hindu temples on the same day. We did some shopping in Calangute jewelry and clothes made in the tailors but be ready to barter.

The wednesday market at Anjuna was in my opinion a nightmare far to busy too much harrassment and alot of rubbish for sale . Also the haggling was tiresome. However the Saturday evening Market at Ingos was a much more pleasant experience but go with the aim to arrive by five or you will get caught in the rush. We also went on the royal Cruise down the Mandovi river it cots £1 each takes an hour and is packed full of locals living life to the full its great. It also gives you great views of the Marriot. Go on the six pm criuse and you get a great veiw of the sunset as well.

As I have said the staff at the Marriot are superb nothing is too much trouble the pool bar boys are great Get Adrian ";the best barman in India "; to make you one of his cocktails they are to die for. Somak were a good tour operator the holiday rep was ok but just wants to sell you trips which you can do cheaper yourself including the trip to the Taj in Agra. All in all this is the best holiday Alison and I have had we will be booking for 2006 as soon as somaks brochures are out. Do take colouring books for the kids and football shirts at the orphanage in Panjim and make up cheap and cheerful for the girls on Utorda beach who sell the sarongs in a hassle free way they will love you for it.

After travelling abroad for many years, I have to say this is one of the best holidays we have ever had. The only downside was the procedure you have to go through at Goa Airport on the return flight, I was pre-warned by a friend but I have never experienced anything like it. Be prepared for about a 2 hour ordeal just to get through to the departure lounge.

The hotel was excellent, it certainly lived up to the 5 star rating. The staff cannot do enough for you and the accommodation was superb. If you get chance please try out the one of the special massages, you have to pay extra but it worked out very reasonable and definately recommended. If you fancy pampering yourself then definately use the Health/Beauty Salon, we did several times!

We ate in the hotel a few items and had excellent meals, especially in the fish resteraunt. DO NOT BUY ANY WINE, whilst on holiday, it works out to approx £28.00 per bottle for something you would buy in the UK for £3.00. The rest of the drink prices were very reasonable either in the hotel or outside in the many resteraunts available.

Do use the taxi rank at the bottom of the hill, they are very friendly and a lot cheaper than the one outside the hotel.
If you tell them where you want to go, they will fix a price beforehand and then stay with you for the whole of the day and take you practically anywhere. We also used the yellow rickshaws on the evening to go into the town, these can be found at the end of the street, or you can flagg them down and they are very cheap! and definately an experience.

If you are planning to take children on holiday then this is not the place for you. I would definately recommend this hotel for couples who are looking for that special holiday!! if you are looking for something different and romantic, then this is for you.

It was Pauls birthday while on holiday and we also got engaged, the hotel made made sure we celebrated in style.
We will definately be returning, although we will perhaps go in Jan/Feb next time and the weather was very, very hot in April.