Hotel Santiago Reviews

Travel Date: March 08

"traveled 2008"

Submitted in May 2008 by: angie quinn

Operator: Other

we stayed here at the santiago hotel did not know what to expect but i can honestly say this hotel is great, the food ,staff brilliant can not do enough for you we would go back again and again

Travel Date: March 08

"traveled 2008"

Submitted in May 2008 by: angie quinn

Operator: Other

we stayed here at the santiago hotel did not know what to expect but i can honestly say this hotel is great, the food ,staff brilliant can not do enough for you we would go back again and again

Travel Date: February 06

Submitted in March 2006 by: Paul, John Mary

Operator: Manos

This was our second time in Goa so we knew what to expect and the Santiago was certianly worth a good rating being clean and comfortable with helpful friendly staff. As an all inclusive resort it does represent value for money but there are a few drawbacks....

Travel Date: February 06

Submitted in March 2006 by: Paul, John Mary

Operator: Manos

This was our second time in Goa so we knew what to expect and the Santiago was certianly worth a good rating being clean and comfortable with helpful friendly staff. As an all inclusive resort it does represent value for money but there are a few drawbacks. The all inclusive bar closes only operates from 11am to 11pm and drinks outside those hours must be paid for (including a diet coke at 10:30 am!). The range of drinks is very limited with only two beers on offer (Kings and Arlem). Kingfisher was avaliable but had to be paid for so we went out for drinks most evenings.

The food is excellent but items such as Tiger Prawns will incur a charge equivalent to the local restaurants.

The pool and poolside area are very small with only a limited number of sunbeds and no parasols so we ended up going to the beach most days. It's only a 10 minute stroll to the beach and there is a seemingly endless choice of shacks with good food and free sunbeds available.

The hotel has air conditioning in each room but be warned that the management switch off the power to these centrally at about 6pm and it is not restored until the early hours of the morning so you wonder why they bothered putting it in! The ceiling fans help to keep you cool though.

All in all a very nice little hotel despite its faults but having stayed at both I would certainly choose the Nizmar Resort for any future holidays.

Travel Date: December 05

Submitted in January 2006 by: M and M- Lancs

Operator: Manos

We spent a fantastic 2 weeks over new year at this hotel. It was our honeymoon and upon arrival at the airport I was dubious to say the least.Locals crowd the arrivals area in the hope of carrying your cases.Its hard to resist them but for the sake of a pou...

Travel Date: December 05

Submitted in January 2006 by: M and M- Lancs

Operator: Manos

We spent a fantastic 2 weeks over new year at this hotel. It was our honeymoon and upon arrival at the airport I was dubious to say the least.Locals crowd the arrivals area in the hope of carrying your cases.Its hard to resist them but for the sake of a pound in the baking heat its well worth it. The transfer on the coach is different,the roads are busy and are nothing like over in the uk,but it makes for an amusing trip.

We flew with My Travel and it was a long but good flight, the rep was excellent and pointed out local sites on route. In resort its a culture shock, as street vendors and people rush about on the roadside. I was doubting my choice of holiday at this point,but how wrong I was. Arriving at the hotel,which is set down a dirt track I couldnt believethe difference. It was clean,pretty and the staff are out of this world. Within hours,they know your name and your life history. Nothing was to much trouble and the service and food was 5 star in our opinion. 2 weeks there and only one bout of "; deli belly"; which was easily sorted with a trip to the chemists,which incidentaly puts our chemists prices to shame,buy all your stuff there,its pennys,for things you would pay a fortune for in england.

The hotel is spotless,the rooms are immaculate but very basic.They are a little dark to. Each has Air con and are comfortable. The resort has many trips available,we took an elephant ride trip with a local taxi driver who waited at the top near the hotel.He charged 600 rupees for the day,he took us site seeing,and then to the beach.All for about £7.00. The goan people are friendly and love to show you there shops and goods. They will ask you to come in and look but they dont pressure you,a no thanks solves it straight away. Dont say tomorrow,if you dont mean it though! They will remember.

At Baga beach which is a ten minute walk or 50 rupees in a taxi,which makes it a few minutes away, there are loads of beach shacks,Silver Sands Baga beach was used by us for two weeks,superb service and excellent food.Very very cheap again. 4 meals and drinks all day for £5.00. Loads of people selling things here,including the fruit ladies. Buy fresh fruit off them,its delicious and again pennys to buy. Once over the shock of the country you feel the resort is excellent and friendly. I never felt intimidated once.

I will be booking again soon as in my opinion the resort and hotel is the best I have been to.I cant reccommend it enough.

Travel Date: April 05

Submitted in May 2005 by: amanda atkins - nottingham

Operator: Thomson

This was our first time in Goa and first impressions on leaving the airport was my god what have we come too. There is a lot of poverty as you will see travelling from the airport and rubbish is just thrown on to the streets, but the country is beautiful as...

Travel Date: April 05

Submitted in May 2005 by: amanda atkins - nottingham

Operator: Thomson

This was our first time in Goa and first impressions on leaving the airport was my god what have we come too. There is a lot of poverty as you will see travelling from the airport and rubbish is just thrown on to the streets, but the country is beautiful as are the people.

We stayed at the Santiago which is a all-inclusive hotel just of the Baga road 10 mins walk too the beach and 10 mins walk too Calangutes main shopping centre. The Santiago it self was basic but very clean and the staff are fantastic thay really look after you and nothing is too much trouble for them. The food is good there is Indian, Chinese and English with entertainment most nights. We did not go on any of the organised trips instead we used the taxis outside the hotel which are cheaper plus thay will take you anywere all for a few hundred rupees. We used a guy named Neil he was lovely and will tell you the best things too see and the nicest beaches too visit.

We had a fantastic time in Goa all thanks too the Goan people and will defiantly go back too Goa and the Santiago as there is a lot more we would like too see. JohnandAmanda

Travel Date: March 05

Submitted in March 2005 by: Kelly Hole - Norfolk

Operator: Thomas Cook

Just returned from fab 2 weeks, and have booked today to return next year, back to the Santiago again.
The Rooms are kept spotlessly clean and the linen changed every other day. The boys that do the cleaning are lovely,and if you're lucky when you return...

Travel Date: March 05

Submitted in March 2005 by: Kelly Hole - Norfolk

Operator: Thomas Cook

Just returned from fab 2 weeks, and have booked today to return next year, back to the Santiago again.
The Rooms are kept spotlessly clean and the linen changed every other day. The boys that do the cleaning are lovely,and if you're lucky when you return to your room will have made wonderful things with the towels, we had swans, boats,lillies and palm trees. The only minor problem is that the rooms are a little dark.
All the staff are very friendly and helpful,Paulo,Sandeep,Dave and Janet just to name a few. Nothing was too much trouble.

The reception provide mosquito coils to burn, free of charge, very handy when having a late drink on the balcony.
Buy your repellent when you get there, i spent a fortune on jungle formula which DID NOT WORK, go to the local chemist in Calengute (Johnny's) and buy the local stuff, i used REPEL which worked very well, you can also get all the tummy tablets/antihistimines there too.

Baga Beach is hectic avoid if you don't fancy a bit of (constant) friendly interuption to your sunbathing.
Ashwem Beach is quiet only 3 sellers, none of which bothered us more than once. The sea is great to go body boarding.We had lunch at the golden goa, very good shark and King prawns. They do charge for the use of sunbeds.
Turtle Beach is our favorite, no sellers. We ate at the 'Hard Rock Cafe' Very good food and free sunbeds.
Don't bother with the tour operators trips, get a taxi(£10 approx ALL day) and do it yourself,it will cost a fraction of their prices and will be more enjoyble too.
Our driver Mohan was great, we visited his home and had a wonderful lunch.

The local stall holders are very persistant,but a polite no thankyou will work, Most of the time. Don't say that you will return to any stalls if you have no intention of doing so, they WILL remember you and WILL hassle you everytime they see you, until you return.

Apora night market on a sat is very good, but prices are just as cheap if not cheaper in resort, HAGGLE HARD.
Goa is a wonderful place everyone wants to be your friend and help you. I would advise going sooner rather than later as it seems that it's getting more commercialized as time goes on.