Hi, Tony it seems to be just like the Mafi doesn't it. Is it a long way to walk to find another taxi, we are not lazy but I am just wondering You really love the South don't you, I keep watching your posts as they are really interesting and funny

Hi Polly, yes you do sound lazy When you consider the price diffence between hotel taxis and walking further down the road, it wont take long for one to stop and ask if you want a taxi, imagne how many drinks you could get in a beach shack for the difference in price, all for not being lazy Yes I do love the the south for it's relaxed atmosphere and a lot of other things. Glad you enjoy the posts, your enjoy the Mahindra, I'll miss you in November but will be back down there in February if your still there

Hi I stayed at the club mahindra in january it was for my partners 50th. the room we had had was lovely very large and airy and the most comfortable bed i have ever slept in. The staff were just wonderful so friendly and when they realised it was tonys bithday they sent up a bottle of champagne and gave a free meal that evening in the indian restaurant complete with birthday cake and candles. the food in the indian restaurant was superb didn't go much on the snack/buffet bar it was ok but mainly catered to european tastes which if i go to a foreign country i like local cuisine a lot of germans while we were there so getting served at the bar was sometimes problamatic but as the drinks were so big i felt i could hold out. it is time share and the indian families and their children were just lovely the children were so well behaved and polite. outside is a restaurant just up the lane the sun and moon wow fabulous fish and superb naan breads the vegatable sizzler was to die for also the small shack petes place great for a sandwich and cold beer the lad that runs it is lovely we asked for babinca and they didnt have any so we said oh well we will just have icecream but they didn,t have any but rather than dissapoint he got on his scooter went into varca village and brought back a block for us which he then wouldn't charge us for where would you get service like that. the hotel grounds are beautifull and the hotels shack looks out on the beach it was my first time to goa and i must admit i was quite scared as usually go to the states but wow i'm a convert am going back in feb/march for 3 weeks i am not staying at the mahindra this time but am going next door to the white sands only because of the fabulous free form pool that is the only thing i wasn't keen on at the mahindra is the pools were square and laying out i felt like i was in a regiment of gradually toasting sausages but thats a personal choice could not highly reccomend the mahindra enough wish i was there now,

Oh thankyou so much for the information. It is brilliant to know the hotel is ok I hope we enjoy it as much as you did, we arent going until Christmas. We have been on 5 star Cruises to the Caribbean, Hawaii and Med. but going back to Goa makes me fill up with happiness and the longing to get back its weird

Hi jacgaw - we would welcome your review HERE

Hi there, Well I have been to Goa for the last few years and have stayed at the Mahindra on 2 occasions.
The first time we stayed we loved it and that was what drew us back to Goa. The second year as it was our honey moon we had a 3 week holiday and stayed at the Cidade De Goa (near Panjim) and The Radisson. Good job we booked the Radisson as there was building work being carried out at the Mahindra. More time shares and a new pool.
last year (December) we went back to the Mahindra, but only as we couldn't get into the Radisson as it was full. We again split our holiday and stayed at the Cidade aswell. Now I dont know if we have been spoilt by our times at the Cidade and The Radisson but right from the start we wish we hadn't gone back to the Mahindra whatsoever.

Firstly they try to put you in a room that overlooks the grotty badminton court. (both times we stayed) They did that on both occasions maybe we were just unlucky? Secondly we rejected our room and got put higher up but still on the badminton court side. We were the only ones in that wing as they were completely redecorating all thr rooms surrounding us. We later found out that they were doing this as the President of the Mahindra Group and his entouorage were coming for a conference. When the decorators had left, then in came the waiters and the Security guards, outside our room 24/7. When I asked what was going on the staff where rude and I was lied to. talking of staff I asked them for the times of the doctors surgeries and they wouldnt tell me. What they wanted to do was call a doctor out to the hotel for me so the hotel would then charge me a fee. I did say I might as well just go to the surgery in Varca as I would still have to go to the chemist to get a perscription. They were once again rude.

That brings me to a week and a half of building work that was being carried out. that was just the tempoary hall for the seminar. Building work was also being carried out on the new casino. Sunbathing was difficult with all these workers wandering around.

The bar is small and the staff dont bother to come and ask what you want, they just stand chatting to each other. The upstairs of the hotel lobby is a complete waste of space and looks cluttered to how it used to be on our first visit.

We did complain. The hotel manager took on board our complaints and wanted us to do a presentation on Customer Service to his senior staff. We reminded the Manager that we were infact on our holiday and celebrating our 1st Wedding anniversary. We did get offered an apartment near the new pool as a good will gesture. We took that up and the room was much better, but I can whole heartedly say that we wont be going back. We advised they should take a leaf out of the Cidade De Goas book who cannot welcome you enough and do enough for you. They know how to look afeter their Guests. Also they hold many parties and conferences wiithout disruption to holiday makers. I just wish the Cidade De Goa was in Varca, because that is the best location and we love it.

The taxis at the Mahindra are cheaper than the ones at the Radisson. When we stayed at the Raddison we just walked to the Mahindra and saw our usual taxi driver. The shacks and restaurants are wonderful. The beach is beautiful. it is a shame we had such a bad time there, but as I said have we been spoilt?

Thankyou for that report its good to hear different views. I feel a bit apprehensive about going here now. We will be celebrating our 21st wedding anniversary and hope its ok. Although saying that we stayed at the Highland Beach whilst lots of building work was going on and we had no problems regarding noise or anything. We did price the Radisson but as I have to pay for four adults it was rather expensive. I might look again at the First Choice site and may look for something else.

Hi Pollygolly, as i said it maybe the fact that we have been spoilt by the Cidade De Goa - The hotel is lovely, the staff cannot do enough for you and they hold lots of seminars etc and you never notice the disruption, and The Raddison for the lovely hotel and surroundings.

We loved the Mahindra the first time around, but it does look a little shabby and you wonder where everyone is, as in December there where hardly any sunbathers around the hotel. I forgot to mention the old pool smelt of stagnant water. Maybe now they have completed the building work it will be better. They are trying to establish themselves as a 5 star resort to compete with the Radisson WS and a new Radisson that is due to be built.

Varca as a resort is wonderful though, nearby Cavelossim is lovely for shopping and restaurants are on the doorstep or a short taxi ride away. Oh and the First Choice rep is lovely! If the Cidade was in Varca it would be perfect!

Hi Poll Have no fear of the Mahindra, my wife and I along with our daughter and husband had a great 3 wks in November last year. Wonderful friendly people, and the hotel was clean and tidy.
If u want to go for little walks in the evening feel free, just outside the front gates you can walk down the country lanes and fall into the bars and restaurants along the way. If you go out of the hotel the back way, you go over the sand dune and wooden bridge and find yourself on the wonderful "Varca beach". There are also beach-hut restaurants on this beach and the food is gorgeous.
Anyone who holidays in Goa I would reccommend bed n breakfast only, as the food is so cheap and the nearby options are endless.
Wear insect repellant at night, especially if you are walking through the gardens or the country lanes. We were all bitten during our 3 wks but nothing more than I have been in other countries, and as I have said it always seems to be at night, and as da wife found out. . . if your wearing a short skirt. . . wear tight knickers ha!
I hope to be off to Karala this year, a little bit further down south because I have heard wonders about Kovalam beach. Best of luck in Goa, and you will be coming back and blowing your trumpet as I have about "Wonderful Goa".