Avataara Resort & Spa

We had a peaceful, relaxing stay at Avataara Resort & Spa in Vagator, Goa. The rooms are spacious and well appointed, and the pool and spa both get top marks. The service was excellent, with kind, helpful and attentive staff, and the food was delicious. Breakfast had healthy options, including specially soaked almonds. The atmosphere is serene, and a special thank you to Chef Bibhu, who took such good care of us and made sure we were looked after.

We’ve stayed at Avataara twice, both times in December, and loved it each time. It’s a quiet property with privacy in the rooms, but still close to the many restaurants around Anjuna-Vagator-Assagao. The staff are sweet, humble and courteous, and in-room service is super quick. Requests are handled straight away. The rooms are chic, spacious and really comfortable. Breakfast is another highlight: soaked chia bowls, fruit yogurts and granola, English breakfast, hot cappuccinos, Chhole puri, fresh cakes, South Indian dishes and live counters. They also provide baby food free of charge, and really take care of the kids. I love their High Tea too, with fresh pakoris, sandwiches or pani puri, plus cakes, cookies and tea or coffee. We got a Christmas gift when we left this time. Thank you, Avataara! Book here, you’ll love every bit of it.

The gardens are lush and green, the staff charming and well mannered, and the food absolutely delicious. Breakfast changes daily, with a wide choice of Western and Indian dishes. Afternoon tea is a bonus, and the evening meals outside in the beautifully designed spaces were a delight. The problems in our room brought the rating down to four stars. The electricity was faulty; even after attempts to fix it, we had no lights for two evenings. For our last night we were moved to a cheaper room, where the electricity worked. We also had to remind reception every day to get housekeeping to service our room. It was often left until mid-afternoon, despite several polite reminders. We had to keep chasing the electricity issue too, and the response was slow to nonexistent. The bathrooms in both rooms were rather pongy, which we hadn’t experienced at other resorts or hotels in Goa. I do want to say the manager was responsive and helpful once we raised the problems. We got a £20 discount on the total bill, which was something, though I don’t know if it covered even the difference in room cost for the final night. All in all, it’s a nice hotel with lovely staff and excellent food. Better management of housekeeping, poolside towels and room maintenance would have earned it five stars.

The food was excellent at every meal, with real care put into its quality and preparation. The breakfast buffet was my favorite. It was so good I happily got up early for it. I especially recommend the ghee roast prawns, prawn curry, tomato soup and Korean wings. The team also kept the surroundings spotless and made everything feel seamless. We stayed at several places across Goa, but this resort stood out and is now firmly on our top list. Everyone, from the hotel staff to management, was polite, welcoming and lovely to deal with. The hospitality was warm, thoughtful and consistently attentive. A special mention for Baa Lyngdoh, who made our dining experience feel personal and effortless. She paid attention to our preferences, arranged things for us proactively, and took care of any changes right away. Her warmth, professionalism and sense of ownership really elevated the experience.