Taj Exotica Benaulim

Great spot. Very secluded with lots of good food and activities. We played golf, rented jetskis and saw the rings of saturn through a telescope at the stargazing party. The lobster shack was great, although I'll stick with Maine lobsters as the best in the world. Our room was very nice with a huge bed and a veranda looking out over the lawn to the ocean. We could hear the surf as we slept!

I sated at the Taj Exotica in April 2004. I returned to Goa this year in Jan 2005 and could not get into Taj Exotica..so a comparison betwn two hotels in Goa is appropriate.

From check-in to room service to helping with travel arrangements Taj Exotica was excellent. The Ayurvedic Clinic on the grounds was great. The food , while expensive was on par with other hotels. Best of all is the beach and the tranquility it brought. I was in Goa simply to get away from it all (home being in the USA) and needed desperately for peace and quite and to get re-energized. The Spa, the ocean and the hotel did it all..in 3 days I was rejuvenated (I stayed a week). A week maybe too long as one begins to lack the entertainment or people.

My best time was early in the morning just walking on the Beach, hearing the waves splash , the sun just rising and all this just to yourself.

Loved it.

Got back 2 days ago from the Taj.

We were due to stay for 2 weeks but were forced to curtail our holiday after the first week due to a berevement.

The lobby on is awe inspiring on arrival - top marks to the designers for that, but despite having to wait a couple of hours for a room there was no offer of a complimentary fruit juice or water - or cold towel which seemed odd for a 5* in the Asia/Indian Subcontinent.

Dont bother upgrading to a sea view villa. We did but supprisingly the sea view rooms only have restricted sea view. Management refused to agree the rooms were incorrectly categorised!

Spa was reasonably priced - although the jacuzzi had a bit of a mind of its own.

Restaurants were all beautifully designed and food looked and tasted fabulous but oddly again for a 5* all 4 in our group came down with stomach problems (not just mild either - there were blackouts and doctors were called!) and the hotel food had to be the cause as during that week we hadnt left the building! We were on full board so couldnt blame a beach shack.

Beach was pretty - long whiteish sands stretching as far as you could see.

The main fault with this hotel is they would charge you for using the toilet if they could. They charged you for water with breakfast!!! Also, a large gin and tonic in the bar was £7 which is about twice the price compared to other 5*'s ive expereinced in Asia!!! All cans/bottles in India are marked with the RRP so it is worrying when a can the manufacturer suggests charging 16 rupees for is whacked out for 80 plus taxes!

In my opinon, as a travelagent who has been fortunate to travel extensively you should look at the Hyatt or Leela in Goa who are better in standards and give you more finishing touches - and dont rip you off as much on the drinks.

Or even better - go to Thailand/Far East! That way you wont have to endure Dabolim Airport!

We were at the Taj Exotica in Goa from the 5th of March for two weeks and had a fabulous time.

The resort most definitely deserves it's five star rating and if you are looking for a "get away from it all holiday" then this place is for you. With five restaurants to choose from; Italian, Chinese, Goan, International and Fish, there is so much choice that even for two weeks you could eat on site every day and not get bored. Even the poolside snacks were deliciously different. The Goan people are incredibly friendly, without being intrusive, and throughout our stay we felt incredibly welcome and, indeed, at home.

There is not much beyond the hotel complex and so if you want to explore then you will need to use the local taxi service - these are so cheap that it is not cost prohibitive.

The rooms are especially well appointed and everyone seems to get a sea view room. It is your own little bit of paradise when you open your curtains and all you can see is the beautiful lanscaping of the resort and the beach.

We would thoroughly recommend this resort.........

My husband and I spent a week's holiday at the Taj Exotica and can't recommend it enough. The grounds are beautiful, the food is excellent and the private beach is far superior to the Leela Palace in Goa which we've also stayed at. The Taj is in a better location than the Leela, and even though the Leela is a more expensive, slightly newer hotel - the lobby and the rooms of the hotels are almost identical. The resort is perfect for couples looking for quiet, relaxation - the resort is quiet at night, although the main bar stays open late for those who don't want to head to bed early. Beware that the seafood grill at the beach is very expensive - though the beachside bar is excellent for sunset drinks and to watch the local fisherman bring in the evening's catch (6pm). The hotel's coffee shop serves excellent Indian food and reasonable prices so don't be put off by the casual decor. One important bit of advice - no matter what anyone tells you, avoid Anjuna market. It's an awful tourist trap. You can find all the same trinkets elsewhere in Goa without the awful hassle of the market - there are lots of smaller market stalls scattered around Goa where the merchants treat you very well and offer prices lower than Anjuna. Enjoy - we'll definitely be back for a visit to the Taj Exotic again soon.

Paradise on earth, lovely grounds, restaurants you want to keep going back to, attentive and polite staff, probably the most chilled out hotel we've been to ever!

Stayed here 2003 and 2004. First visited Goa Xmas 1994, stayed in several other hotels and visited others- this one is the best! Very spacious grounds.

Only seems busy around pool area which has main path through it. Breakfast restaurant has pleasant atmosphere, food could be better for 5* status. 3 other restaurants but we only went to Mediterranean one which was excellent but beware prices of imported alcohol: £40 for Australian wine costing £6.50 in UK. We prefer dining in shacks on the beach. Zumbrai`s for amazing fish and lobster, Sun & Moon Indian/Chinese for superb tandoori. Rooms are quite large and well equipped. Most overlook man-made lagoons where kingfishers and wild mongooses frequent. Corporate events can intrude if very large but management seems to strike a good balance. Beach clean, ideal for morning strolls before temp rises. Hawkers mostly laid back and friendly. Overall ideal for chilling out for complete duration or recovering from a tour of other regions of India. Best suited to couples wanting peace above all else.

Taj Exotica is extremely overpriced by Indian standards for the amenities it offers. No doubt the hotel offers all the services that a 5 star hotel should offer. Also it is set amidst pristine beaches. But its location in south Goa leaves much to be desired. It is quite far away from any decent shopping or exciting nightlife. The food on offer is mediocre at best and not upto 5 star standards. As a matter of fact we had better food at the local beach shacks. I cannot emphasize enough that for the money spent it was definetly not worth it!

This is a great hotel, with wonderful accommodation, friendly staff and an excellent massage centre. One of the best places in the world to relax and unwind-the hammocks are an inspired idea. The food is also excellent with good choices.

Only one comment-please disallow smoking anywhere in the hotel precinct.

January 2004.

First trip to Goa, and the Taj Exotica, but definately not the last! First class everything. We stayed for 2 weeks, and enjoyed every single minute. The hotel is excellent, and Staff cannot do enough for you.

Situated right on the beach, excellent spot. The beach is clean and quiet with excellent shacks to wine & dine. Goan people are friendly, and amiable.

Beach sellers can be a bit of a nusiance, hot tip - spend a few rupees with them straight away, they leave you alone then to enjoy the rest of your stay.

Cannot wait to re-visit, place is amazing!