When you pack your bags for a weekend trip to Goa, your checklist of things to do probably includes taking a dip in the sea, long walks on the beaches, eating Goan specialities at a beach shack, replacing water with beer as the beverage of choice and sipping fancy cocktails. What if you could do all of that at one place, without having to step out of your resort? Might sound like a dream but it is totally possible at the Azaya Beach Resort Goa. 

Located on the sands of Benaulim beach in South Goa, 45 minutes from the airport, the luxury resort which is a Saraf Hotel Enterprise property, has incorporated Portugese and Maldivian elements —Portugese garden to swaying palm trees — and created a space that spells a good time while being an Instagrammer’s dream. Whether you want to have a beach wedding, a college reunion, a family getaway or just a trip with your special person. 

INSTA-READY DAY & NIGHT

It is very evident that Azaya is tailor-made for the millennials — from the relaxed atmosphere of the resort (we checked into the resort not at the lobby but sitting on the plush couch in our gorgeous room) to the bright pops of colour, mostly variations of shades of blue and the pretty much made-for-Instagram experiences. 

Out of the 114 rooms and suites on the premises, there are 38 with private plunge pools. Not only can you wake up to light reflecting off the pool (#Instagrammoment1), you can order in breakfast to be served right next to the pool or even when you are in it. Yes, the resort offers you floating breakfast in case you can’t stay away from the water long enough to feed yourself (#Instagrammoment2)! After a lazy breakfast we booked ourself a spa and spent an hour being totally pampered. 

Relaxed from the spa, we headed over to La Concha, their world cuisine restaurant that serves delicious food — Seafood Ravioli, Fish and Chips or Chicken Xacuti, if you are looking for a more local flavour. If you are not there in the monsoons, make the most of the open-air seating arrangement where you can smell and hear the sea while you tuck into the food (#Instagrammoment3). 

We recommend a long walk along the pristine Benaulim beach (#Instagrammoment4), which is not as crowded as most of the popular beaches in North Goa, which is a blessing if you are not too fond of being elbow-to-elbow with other tourists. The best part is the beach comes right up to the common pool inside the resort and you barely have to walk five minutes to dip your toes in the sea. 

If you are looking to get a second wind, stop at Blue Iris, a “beach shack- style” restaurant with private cabana seating, and enjoy sunset on the beach (#Instagrammoment5). Blue Iris is a seasonal restaurant that operates from October to May, and serves food that is primarily grill-based and made with local produce. 

If you are feeling like dressing up and going out for drinks but feeling too lazy to cab it to the nearest fancy bar, you can just head across to Lynx Bar and Lounge for some nice cocktails. We recommend the refreshing Cucumber Margarita and the Orhosky, a whisky and orange juice concoction (#Instagrammoment6). Don’t worry if you have one too many (which is not too difficult to do since they are delicious), you just have to walk across to your room.  

THE MORNING AFTER 

Also don’t worry about keeping breakfast hours because that would be cruel when you are having a good time with friends in Goa and Azaya gets that.

If hopping out of the resort is not for you, ask the resort to set up a barbecue right next to your private plunge pool and have an impromptu pool party (#Instagrammoment7-17). You don’t even have to worry about not having enough glasses for your party or waiting for room service to clean used glasses. The minibar and coffee station in your room comes with at least 10 glasses with a built-in sink, so your party doesn’t have to wait for anyone. 

If you and your friends are up for it, you can ask the resort to book a car for you to visit the nearby churches and museum. You can also take a trip to the Palolem beach nearby, or take a tour of the spice plantation and learn all about the local produce that is used in the food at Blue Iris. 

If you want to spend a quiet afternoon curled up with a book, you can head to the library; or spend a day at the pool deck with food from the Cerulean, another eatery serving up more snacky items.

“Azaya for me is not a hotel, she is a personality, and she takes pride in curating experiences for her visitors. We are positioning Azaya as a leading lifestyle resort, but also positioning it as an F&B destination with five very distinct options,” said Rajesh Kumar Gupta, general manager, Azaya Beach Resort Goa.

 

FACT FILE:

Where: On the Benaulim beach

Distance from the airport: 45 minutes

Number of rooms: 114

Number of rooms with private plunge pool: 38

Room rates: Rs 11,499 to Rs 20,499

Look up: www.azayabeachresortgoa.com