The Fern Residency Calangute-Baga, Goa

The room smelled bad as soon as we entered, and the front desk response was below par. They need to improve how quickly they reply to guests. There's also a TAXI MAFIA outside the hotel that won't let other private taxis operate, and the hotel staff didn't help with the situation. That felt unprofessional and was very disappointing. I'd give the place 2 out of 5 stars and wouldn't recommend it for a family stay. Mrs. Shetty, please look into these issues and take appropriate action.

The location is convenient, with things easy to find nearby, and the room was spotless with daily cleaning. The hotel team also arranged an early check-in when we asked, since we reached goa at 9 o'clock. Our booking was for 5 nights, with checkout at 11 o'clock. The pool looked great, though we didn't use it. The stay was mixed, and I'm giving only 2 stars because of the management and service issues. Hot water was unreliable. We had to waste almost 100 litres of water every day waiting for it, and sometimes it still didn't come. We raised this with management, but nothing was done. There was a bad smell in the parking area, and the same smell came into our bathroom. A few staff seemed newly recruited and needed more training. Room service was slow, and we had to call two to three times for things we needed. Breakfast was average, and service there was slow too. I'd recommend renting a 2 wheeler directly opposite the hotel. The car rental there is expensive, so you can rent one directly from the airport instead. They also offer car pickup and drop at the airport and railway station. If cleanliness is important to you, this place could work, but service is slow. If you're traveling with a child who won't eat outside food, bring an induction cooker, since the hotel team won't help prepare food for the child.

The location was okay, about 100-200 meters in from the main road, and the required toiletries were supplied at check-in. Still, the stay was average. Service was often delayed: we once waited over an hour for a towel after requesting one. The food was average as well, and the staff didn't seem as supportive as hotel staff I've encountered in other states and cities.

We were here for my husband's birthday, and Ashok Duty manager made it a really memorable occasion. He's warm and wonderful, and the room upgrade he gave us was a lovely surprise. We'd be happy to celebrate more occasions here. The property is well maintained and in a good location. My son particularly loved the pool, and the pool staff were courteous too. Thanks for the hospitality and an amazing stay we'll remember for a lifetime.