Exotica Beach Retreats Diveagar

I liked the helpful staff and good service, and the rooms were comfortable and roomy. Exotica Beach Retreats has a peaceful atmosphere and feels close to nature, surrounded by greenery and a woody setting. It's a beautiful, spacious property for a short getaway. The poolside could use a bit of maintenance.

The bathroom needs attention: there was no divider between the shower and basin, so the floor got very wet, and the basin leaked too. The rooms are spacious, though. Staff were excellent, from the booking assistant to reception, and they arranged a lovely decorated table for our anniversary dinner. We enjoyed the Punjabi and Chinese dishes, which are hard to find at restaurants in Diveagar, and breakfast had enough options, including plenty of vegetarian ones. The property is about five minutes from Diveagar beach and sits right on the main road to Srivardhan and Harihareshwar. Exotica is a great place for couples and families, and one of the best places to stay in Diveagar.

The lily ponds around the property and the green entrance path were the only real highlights. We visited with my husband and another couple who had an 8-month-old baby. We'd been told it was a luxury property and booked Luxury AC rooms, but the place seemed poorly maintained and the promised amenities were underwhelming. The indoor sports area was in bad shape, the table tennis table was broken, and the children's play toys were neglected. Fishing was listed as an amenity, but there was nothing like that on the property. The cycles had flat tires, the pool wasn't clean, and the so-called nature walk didn't lead into nature. The rooms smelled peculiar and felt old and in need of upkeep, and the bathrooms had poor ventilation. Food was worse; they could get a better chef for a property calling itself 3-star. Staff told us the chef or food was supposed to be North Indian style, but they couldn't deliver that either. Room service took ages. The breakfast spread was the one good part beyond the ponds and entrance greenery. Otherwise, our experience was very average.

The pond beside our cottage gave the place a lovely, quiet feel, and the hotel's food tasted more authentic and flavorful than meals we had at many local restaurants. We stayed for two days and found the property peaceful, warm, and very well kept. Kamlesh was especially kind and patient with all our questions, and the whole Exotica team made us feel welcome. A couple of things could use attention: the indoor games could be upgraded, and the bicycles need better maintenance. Still, it was a refreshing stay, and I'd happily recommend it to anyone looking for comfort and a caring atmosphere.