Dona Alcina / Dona Terrizina Reviews

on arriving at the hotel, we were very shocked to see the condition and bare minimum in room!!!!

it was clean but very basic!!!

the pool was getting greener and greener every day we were there as the staff were putting too much chlorine in the pool!!! it was closed for 2 days so it could get rid of the green colour!

the staff were extremely friendly and couldnt do enough to help - also the food was really good!!

This hotel is the worst.the rooms are the dirtiest we have ever been in.The pool area is filthy with packs of dogs roaming around all day fouling and drinking the pool water.In the 2 weeks we were there the pool was niether cleaned or the water tested.The staff are the most unfriendliest we have met.the hotel was supposed to have been refurbished but has not.Out of the 8 people in our group only 1 of us did not require medical treatment down to infections picked up from the pool.

Outside the hotel there are lots of nice places to eat especially Infreno`s,The Stone Houuse and The Mermaid.Old Goa is a nice place to visit to see Goa as it was.The elephant and spice plantation trip is a great day out.The best way to do all the trips, is to get a ocal taxi-driver at the fraction of the cost the reps charge.Another good day out is to visit Manderam beach where the sands are much nicer and the sea calmer.goa is a fantastic place to visit, but definiatly would not recommend The Dona Alcina.

Have just returned back from Goa and wanted to share with others what a fab place this is!!

Starting with goa itself the people are very poor but very happy they really look out for each other and will make you feel very welcome. We were there at the close of season so although we didnt see the resort in full swing there was still plenty to keep us busy. There are loads of bars and restaurants to chose from. If you want to take home souveniers (trust me you will its so cheap!) have a good look round calangute centre where there are several fixed price shops, bartering can become hard work so this is a stress free way of shopping! We only went to one market, which was the saturday night bazaar do go along but be prepared to b attacked as soon as u go in!!! you can feel very hassled and so its worth psyching yourself up!!! for a taxi there and back and for the driver to wait the cost is 300 ruppeees!

We chose to do our tours with the tour operator, we went to the waterfalls which are spectacular however we felt this was not good value for money, the coach was very cramped and we had little in fo from the guide. I'd advise you to get a taxi there for £18 for a taxi! we also stayed over night at montego bay this was real fun and we even had a cookery class in goan food. We also visited the elephant retreat this is a wonderful experience u get showered by elephants, have rides on them, feed them etc its magical you must do it!

we loved the hotel the staff are fab very friendly and efficeint was nice to have a menu as oppose to buffet restaurant and we found the menu extensive particularly for main courses. Dinner is eaten round the pool to live music which creates a great atmosphere. In the day time the pool is clean and tidy with a pool boy who gets you toewls umbrellas as required. the rooms are basic and adequate, remember it is a 2 star hotel!!!

Things which are cheap in goa: opticians, dentist and tailoring so make sure you have cash available! there are ATMs in resort but we didnt try them!

I was nervous about going to goa but needn't have been its fab!!!

read reviews on this hotel prior to holiday,contacted travel agents re bad reports,they advised us to wait and see,as everyone has different standards etc.we arrived,very tired at tea time.we had a room overlooking pool,supposedly one of best rooms.it was filthy!dark,dinghy,rotting doorframe and windows with big gaps all round.veranda was taken up by old rusty air conditioning unit,large tree shaded it, surely a magnet for mossies!no t.v.or phone,rusty fridge,looked like walls and paintwork had never been cleaned for years.basic,as we expected in a 3rd.world country,but no way could we stay.we asked at reception,was told it was best room,so we went looking for other places to move to.we had seen on this site others had moved to casa sea shell,not far away,so we stayed in dona alcina 1 night,then moved .what a difference!still basic room,but spotlessly clean.all doors etc.wiped clean every day,linen and towels also,only 17 rooms,a beautiful pool area,well recommended restraunt,wonderfull staff,bliss!it cost us 800rupees a night for the next 13 nights,well worth it.we went back to dona alcina 3 days later,to try to see manos rep,went up to the room,it was just as we left it,wet towels unmade beds etc.no one had even been in.lady on desk said manos, rep o0n holidaywe gave in our keys and went back sevreal times till we saw an airtours rep who was dealing with manos clients.

we found out our room had been relet 2days after we gave the keys in,so double money for hotel!some people who booked in dona alcina had not got money to move so had to stay,candolim is a wonderful place and we had a brilliant holiday.people are great,got taxi driver who took us on trips,spice plantation,dolphin trips,old goa to temples and churches,coco beach,overnight stay in beach huts,wonderful sunsets,claudinos shack on candolim beach for b.b.q.and fireworks parties,can,t wait to go back,3weeks next time,and def.NOTin dona alcina,it should be shut down and refurbished.airtours rep.told us it is no longer in their brochures,they only use it as allocated on arrival hol.we filled in complaint form,for refund of extra money we had to pay,seeing as they relet the room,so if you are booked in this hotel i would try to change before you go.

just reterned back from goa .the hotel dona terinzina ia an all inclusive hotel it is 2 star.the rooms are basic and cleaned every day .we were overlooking the swimming pool.and eating area which was nice .the meal menu was limited but the staff were helpfull and tried their best to get you what you wanted.the evening entertainment was okay.all in all it was good and it was only ten minute walk to the beach and the hotel has a few shops bars and restarants round about. we went to the midas touch a few minutes away it was expensive by goan standards and we were not very impressed.we went there last year prices have risen quite a lot and not the same quality .but goa is cheap and cant,wait to go back next year

We set of for our holiday in Candolim all 19 of us, some of us were not looking forward to the flight but it turned out all went well. We had a stop over on the way which broke it up a bit.
We arrived at out hotel! The Dona Alcina we had previously booked from a brouchure and we all stated that we wanted air conditioning!! Well when we arrived all very tired but excited at the check in desk, we were taken through the grounds of the hotel to be honest it felt like the back of beyond!

When some of our party where shown our rooms we were upset to find not only was there NO air conditioning but it was not even in the Dona Alcina. On returning to the reception desk we were informed that they thought all our party wanted to be in rooms next to each other and they could not do this in the Dona Alcina so they thought we would be happy to move to there ";sister hotel";. We said we were not happy with this arrangement as the rooms were below standard and also the all important air conditioning was not available. Our rep arrived and to cut a long story short it would appear that the Dona Alcina only had a few rooms with air conditioning and these where already book.
Our whole party managed to book themselves into the Prazaires which was fantastic.
We would all suggest this hotel to any one who asked.
The people in Goa are really lovely and so friendly, I for one don't think i have ever met more helpful honest and friendly people whilst i have been on holiday.

If your looking for clothes then this is the place to go, as you can easily get things made to measure to your own design or copied and at a very good price.

All that is left for me to say is DO go to Candolim but DONT go to the DONA ALCINA

The flight was the worst part of the holiday but the experience of Goa was so worth it, believe me.
Once over the culture shock I can honestly say I have never enjoyed a holiday so much. You can't help but relax and chill and shop of course!

Dona Alcinas accomodation is average, its clean and tidy, our room was a good size with shower, toilet, fridge and balcony which overlooked the pool which is of a good size, well maintained, just a shame about opening times 9am-6pm and Not enough sun beds to go round. Staff friendly and hotel menu good for choice and value as is everywhere.
Beaches very clean and such friendly people.

We have booked to go again in November2004 to Candolim but have other accomodation.

1st time in goa and it is excellent!! hotel dona alcina is really poor, rooms was untidy,doors,windows didnt shut,filthy fridge,small celing fan,aircon rooms were avalible as upgrade,but was over £100 for 2 weeks ,we complanied to our rep and got moved to another room,still no good,it was so hot of a night we could not sleep,this is proberly because we went in april,hotest time of the year!so we asked the rep to be moved again and got moved to dona terzina,same group of hotel,we looked at a few rooms and picked the best .this was still basic but if u go in oct-jan ,shouldnt be as hot in the night and u proberly wont moan as much as we did!!

after a week of no real sleep we looked else were and found a top hotel,the sea breeze shhhh dont tell to many people about it!!sat tv,aircon,clean and spacious, pool,and only £9.50 a night between 2 people!(cheaper because of low season,high season still only about£16!food really is as cheap as people say, food,had steak, fish, crab, lobester, indian,etc no delhi belly whats so ever,moped 150 rupee a day is good price! dont recomend waterfalls,long drive and not very good!overall excellent holiday ,am planning my next trip soon!!

We had a fantastic holiday in Goa.

It has got to be remembered that it is a third world country and nothing like home, the people are generally poor but we found them to be happy and very friendly - they generally couldn't do enough for us. The hotel is basic but clean and you can have your room cleaned and sheets changed daily if required. The food is good but the menu a little limited especially when you consider what you can get in the local restaurants for next to nothing. We can recommend 2 excellent places to eat 'Lazy Days' and Souza Lobas - both at Baga Beach just a short taxi ride away and the cheapest but best was in Mapsa a restaurant called Stomachs that also had air conditioning(not very usual).

An excellent night out is the Ingos night market(Saturday night ask a taxi driver to take you there) beware of the prices when you go especially if you haven't got used to the cheapness of Goa as they will try to rip you off - you need to at least half their first bid, but overall there is a fantastic atmosphere with the market, food and bars and the live music goes on until the early hours. We would also recommend the Seahorse on Calangute beach - the staff are friendly and the food excellent and really cheap.

I would recommend Goa to anyone and we can't wait till next year to go again

This hotel is basic, but clean and friendly. Well situated for local shops with a 10 minute leisurely walk to the beach. There are taxis outside the hotel and they do ask often if you require one, however, once you say 'No thanks', that's the end of it. We found the taxi drivers very helpful and informative and their rates are much lower than the Tour Operator's prices, and you are in control of your day.

The beach does have vendors who generally will leave you alone if you say 'No thanks'. Free sunbeds are supplied by the many beach shacks, where you can buy cold drinks and excellent food, at really low prices. We can personally recommend the Seahorse Shack, which had friendly staff, excellent food and reputedly serves the best Tiger Prawns on the beach. These must be ordered a day in advance so that they can get fresh prawns from that day's catch.

Food at the hotel was from a fairly limited menu, but was made to order, rather than prepared earlier and re-heated or kept warm. The menu was very flexible and if you could describe what you wanted and the ingredients were available, you could have it. i.e. Chicken Tika Wraps - not on the menu, but enjoyed by many every day.

Entertainment was varied, and always entertaining, not necessarily in the way intended.

Staff were very helpful for the most part, and the hotel has safety deposit boxes and laundry service available. Supermarkets locally had a plentiful supply of everything we ran short of. Meidication and toiletries can be purchased locally much cheaper than at home.

Overall, we enjoyed our month's stay and would return to this value for money hotel. Bear in mind that India is a dusty place and that 2* hotels must be viewed accordingly. Keep the maxim 'You get what you pay for' in mind

Third time in Goa.

The best offer at the time was at the Dona Alcina so we went ahead, despite the reviews. Was fairly pleasantly surprised. Ok, the main thing to bear in mind is that you don't go to Goa for the hotel room! (noisy fan, could be cleaner etc, etc) We have stayed at the CSM and the Summerville and it was no worse. The nightly entertainment was, well, entertaining, in a funny sort of way. They tried, bless 'em. Anyway, we love Candolim.

Our favourite restaurant is Alexandra on the beach road for Indian and Chineese. Do go to visit the children at ";El Shaddai"; Childrens homes, just ask a taxi driver, you're welcome and the staff will hapily introduce you to the children when you get there. You can also get to meet the kids when they swim on Baga beach on Sat/Sun and you can visit their stand at Anjuna market on Wednesday. Try and leave anything you don't need to take home with you, they can use it or sell it, oh and preferably some cash ! If you can, go for the flight upgrade when you book - (i think #150 with airtours) its a long trip, but well worth it.