Sonesta is o.k.... You'll enjoy Goa eitherway... (That's if ur not planning to spend your whole holiday in your hotel) .... lol.... Make sure you visit TEAMA roof top bar & restaurant and for an amazing breakfast, don't miss Lila Cafe

**Edit to remove advert and signature** . Please check out our terms and conditions for advertising.- Kath HT Admin

Hi Ya

We checked this hotel out last year & the rooms looked OK so did the rest of the hotel. Its a little away from the main restaurants in Candolim but is within walking distance (well we like to walk), or a couple of minutes in a taxi.
We've stayed at the Highland a couple of times but these rooms look better. Also when we asked to view a room the staff were very friendly & showed us one straight away.

Its practicaly on the beach infact we liked the look of it so we booked it & we flight out next week.

Who have you booked with, as the rooms are slightly different.

Hope this helps.

hello karen & george , my wife and i have stayed at sonesta for
the last couple of years and really enjoyed it.
it's roughly about 1 mile outside of candolim centre but the taxis are cheap so it doesn't really matter.
the rooms at the hotel are pretty good and the hotel itself is in a good setting, the staff are also very friendly.you will have a lovely time there

I,ve stayed in the Sonesta for the last four years,feb/march for three weeks.
Its an excellent hotel,good sized rooms,many that have just been upgraded,clean and modern.The restaurant is not to good but we only eat in on the occasional theme night.
Facilities are better then many hotels and there is direct access to the beach,go to the Sea Side Shack and see Reme and Sebe for excellent food(2nd on the right on the beach)
There are some good restaurants within walking distance,After Eight and the Beeches are excellent,but the main restaurants are a taxi ride away.

It is on a quite road between calangute and Candolim but thats what I like,peace and quite.There are faults but I would recommend it as one of the best in Goa-just look at the brochures -paradise.

Going back next year!!

Hi, sorry I've just found these replies!!

We're travelling with First Choice and unfortunately flying with Monarch (not read good things about 'cattle class'). As my husband is 6ft 4 and I'm tall we could do with extra leg room but having a 5 year old daughter we aren't allowed seats near emergency exits!!

We've been trying to find out exactly what 'plane we're due to fly on and if we could pre-book seats but no joy so far - have been told to try later!!

Still, we're still excited about Goa!!

Hi Karen & George, just sent you PM
Tina

Hi

I've been to Goa (and loved it) a few times, usually staying at The Highland Beach, but as Thompson now fly from Bham, I'm considering staying at The Sonesta Inn. I've read the postings on the forum, and am trying to find out exactly where the location is (preferably in relation to the Highland Beach, as I know that part well!)

Has anybody stayed there and can help me out?

Not stayed there but stumbled upon it when walking along the beach. We were really impressed - it looked great. Nice hotel and pool with garden leading straight onto the beach and a good shack at the gate! There were a lot of Germans there but they were friendly enough - I think Goa does that to you.
The approach from the other side of the hotel is down a quiet tarmac road - I'd guess half a mile from the main Calangute/Candolim road.
I don't know where the Highland is. We walked from Candolim to Baga that day stopping at various shacks along the way (a dirty job but somebody had to do it!) and from memory I'd say it was a half mile from the Calangute beach steps on the Candolim side but I wouldn't want to guarantee that. We picked up a leaflet from the hotel because we thought it looked good enough to book. Let me know if you'd like it and if I can find it, I'll send it to you.
Roma

Hi Ya

We stayed at the Sonesta this March, booked with Thompson & stayed for 3 wks. In my opinion it is a better hotel than the Highland (we've stayed there twice). It is smaller & more friendly (not saying highland wasn't friendly) & cleaner.

As to the location, if you go from Candolim to Calangute, you will come to Bob's Inn, its down the rd opposite it. Approx 15 min steady walk from Highland to Sonesta. If you go http://www.johnthemap.co.uk & look at Candolim you will see both hotels.

If you catch the local bus at the top of the rd from Sonesta & go to Highland, its 4 rupees.

Its a lot cheaper to book with Thompson for this hotel then booking with cosmos, however rooms are different.

To hire a safety deposit box its 50 rupees per day.

If you need any more info, please feel free to ask.

Hope this helps.

Hi all. I'm getting married in Pune in Dec 2005...very excited! After the wedding, we're skipping the alone time on our honeymoon and inviting those traveling to India for the wedding to come traveling with us. Now I have everything sort of figured out for our travels except Goa.

I'm trying to look for a happy medium for everyone going (age range 25 to 65)....which seems to me is Candolim Beach...close to nightlife, but still a nice, quiet beach. I've looked into accommodations and the Sonseta Inns looks good. Any thoughts anyone??

Also...what is up with the River Princess? Where exactly is it?? Is it by Fort Aguada or closer to Candolim? Is there a problem with oil on the beach?

Thanks for your help.

Hi- welcome to HT! We have reviews here for Sonseta
You are brave taking everyone with you on your honeymoon!
We have a lot of very knowledgable folks on this forum so I am sure someone will be able to help!

We hit on the Sonesta whilst walking along the beach from Candolim to Baga, stopping at various shacks along the way-dirty job but somebody has to do it.
It looked really good - really nice pool area and gardens right onto the beach. It's some way off the main Calangute/Candolim road down a dark road but that's the only downside.
I didn't get to see in the rooms but everything looked really good. We picked up a leaflet to consider going there but for various reasons we made other arrangements.
Hope the wedding goes well and good luck with the family on honeymoon - -you absolutely sure about that!?

Thanks for the email...yes I know a honeymoon with the family there! But if they come all the way to India for the wedding, I thought we'd better take them around to see the sights. I'm sure we'll all have a great time in Goa.

You mentioned you made other arrangements for a hotel? Did you find somewhere else on Candolim that you would reccommend instead? We don't have anything booked yet - just looking right now.

Thanks for your help!

We've always stayed in Baga and felt we should try somewhere else. We're planning to go to Delhi and Taj Mahal in the middle week of our three weeks so thought we'd get somewhere clean and basic to use as a base in Candolim. I spent a lot of time on this site and ended up with a suggestion from Spike ( a frequent contributor). Can't recommend it because we haven't been there yet!

I guess you're looking for something a bit more upmarket anyway. We have always stayed at the Ronil Beach in Baga. Rooms are basic but the pool area is great and it's close to the beach and great restaurants. If some members of your party can't get into "India" they could easily spend their days around the pool with brilliant staff and food. Mind you the same looks to be true of the Sonesta. I still have the leaflet from there and will send it to you if you wish - pm me if you want it.

If you mooch around this site, you'll see lots of good web sites for accommodation and if you fancy one - throw in a question. Nobody here is short of an opinion!

Hope you get sorted!

hello gimmesun,
my wife and i have stayed at the sonesta for the last two years and we cannot fault it.
there were quite a few people there this year who were there last year, so i think that tells you something.
enjoy yourself wherever you decide to stay.

Thanks for the info chapel17. We've decided to go ahead and book it. I'm sure we'll be happy with it, too.

Does anybody know if there are hairdryers at the Sonesta Inns- this is definitely a girlie question

Hi ya

We stayed atthe Sonesta for 3 wks in March this year & there was no hairdryer in our room. If you wish to know any further info, I will try to help.

AJ

Thanks for replying, I only wondered about hairdryers as when we stopped at the Marinha Dourada you could hire them from reception. Did you have a good holiday in March, four weeks until we go- cannot wait