ACACIA in Goa - Hotel Review with Photos

India › Goa Hotels › Acacia Hotel & Spa Review
Updated: January 14, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Close to the beach in Candolim, North Goa.
• Hotel website: theacaciahotels.com
• Hotel phone: +91 (0)832 671 4777
• Check prices for Acacia Hotel & Spa

Review of The Acacia Hotel & Spa in Goa, India.

Candolim beach is within walkind distance of the good value Acacia Hotel & Spa.

Acacia Hotel & Spa – Compact, central, and good-value, but not beachside.

The Acacia sits prominently and conveniently along the main road with its numerous facilities, and at the turnoff to the state capital and regional transport hub, Panaji (Panjim). Although on a busy corner, rooms are well-soundproofed and views are more extensive than at nearby rivals. The hotel features spacious and comfortable rooms at pleasing prices, each featuring a balcony, distinctive wallpaper, and dark wooden furniture. The pool is large enough but within an internal courtyard, so it’s virtually indoors. Still, the other facilities are nice, and the rooftop bar/lounge is one of Goa’s finest – and the hotel’s only a short walk from a majestic beach lined with cafés on the sand.

Acacia Hotel & Spa – The Location

Address: Facing the main road midway along Candolim, a major tourist region in a southern part of North Goa. (Most places in Goa don’t have an address.) On the corner of the main road and turn off to Panaji (Panjim), which also has the nearest bus station for services across Goa.
Area: Busy area of shops, bars, and cafés, and about 600m from the attractive beach which has several interesting cafés on the sand.
How to Get There: From the airport (35 km), there is little choice except overpriced pre-paid taxis. The nearest major train station is at Vasco da Gama, 40 km away.
Handy to: Facilities and beaches at Candolim.

Acacia Hotel & Spa – The Basics

Guests: Indian and foreign tourists, but very few families.
Views: Better than most because it’s on a corner. One side of the building faces an empty block of land.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: Not expected (or provided) at this sort of mid-range hotel in Goa.
Parking: Limited space available on-site. Arrange when booking.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +91 (0)832 671 4777
Email: reservations@theacaciahotels.com
Website: theacaciahotels.com

Acacia Hotel & Spa – Amenities

Pool: Decent size but within an internal courtyard, so it’s virtually undercover and indoors. The roof is retractable and would provide more sunshine, but it’s rarely used.
Spa: Small but serviceable. Mostly massages, and also a steam room.
Fitness Center: Not provided, perhaps a little surprisingly.
For Families: Baby-sitting.
Other Facilities: Travel advice/bookings. Book exchange. Money-changing. Laundry.

Acacia Hotel & Spa – Food and Drink

Restaurants & Bars: Q Kitchen & Bar – At the lobby level and with a street entrance. Open 24 hours for a wide selection of Indian and western food. Tables also in the courtyard facing the pool. • Izgara – Divine rooftop position offering Middle Eastern cuisine, sublime street views, and live music on some nights. Opens just before sunset. • Arthur’s Theme – Outstanding chicken, lamb, and fish meals with names like ‘King Edward II’ and ‘Jeanne D’Arc’. Along the side of the hotel and easy to miss from the road.
Breakfast: Included in most rates, but this depends on the room and how it was booked.
Room Service: Available 24 hours, but limited menu overnight.

Acacia Hotel & Spa – Rooms

Room Types: Superior Rooms • Deluxe Rooms • Suite Rooms • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: Smoking is allowed in some rooms.
Best Room: The largest are the Suite Rooms which feature living areas. Although well-soundproofed, some traffic noise does seep through into the rooms facing either of the 2 roads. The quietest would be those facing the empty block to the north.
For Families: A family of 4 could easily fit into any rooms, or better, the larger suites.

Acacia Hotel & Spa – Local Transport

Walking: Plenty to see along the main road, which offers some sidewalks. More pleasant along the side streets to the beach.
Public Transport: Local buses are convenient and frequent. They travel up and down – and stop anywhere along – the main road through Candolim and Calangute. Some detour to Panaji (Panjim), the state capital and regional transport hub, from a stop opposite the hotel. No metro or any local trains of use to tourists.
Taxis & Auto-rickshaws: A few auto-rickshaws around (drivers won’t use the meter), but no metered taxis. Uber/Ola don’t operate anywhere in Goa, but app-based rides can be arranged through Goa Miles. The only option for longer trips are unmetered private ‘taxis’, which can be arranged at the hotel or with drivers hanging about the streets.
Cars & Motorbikes: Goa is the only place in India where renting a car or motorbike is feasible. No internationally-recognized agencies are present, so renting at a local shop presents obvious risks. Best to organize through the hotel. Rides on the back of a motorbike (called a ‘pilot’) are possible; ask around.

Acacia Hotel & Spa – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

Lezero’s Multicuisine Restaurant & Bar +91 91450 52196 – Spacious setting with roadside stools for people-watching. Happy hours, daily specials, and extensive menu. On the opposite corner from the hotel.
Tony’s Place +91 84089 64321 – Popular for pub-style meals such as bangers and mash and fish and chips. About 100m south from the hotel.

To avoid the incessant traffic noise along the main road, try one of these quiet places along the side street to the beach (see below). These are within 350m of the Acacia.

Kokoons Modern Indian Diner – Classy bistro/bar offering contemporary Indian cuisine, kebabs, and shishas (hookahs).
Café EDR – Cute café named after the mantra ‘Eat. Drink. Repeat.’ Laidback but gets lively as the night progresses.
Co Co Mo – Breezy and serene setting on 2 levels. Seafood a specialty, but plenty of other reasons to come night after night.

Also, numerous beach cafés at the end of the side street to the beach (600m). Friendly, cheap, and simple, e.g. plastic chairs and sandy floors.

Nearby Shops

Abundance of places to spend money along the main road, including a few minimarts and moneychangers. Closest supermarket is Delfino’s, 350m north.

Nearby Beach

The lovely beach is about 600m from the Acacia. It’s packed with casual cafés on the sand which also rent out sunbeds and umbrellas. Always swim between the flags. Lifeguards are on duty between about 10 am and sunset. From the hotel, turn left (south) and take the first street to the right – marked ‘Krishna Naik Road’ and ‘Casablanca’ (resort).

Acacia Hotel & Spa – The Hotel

Acacia Hotel & Spa is a prominent landmark on the corner of the main road in Candolim and the turnoff to the state capital, Panaji (Panjim).

The hotel is compact, functional, and good value.

The Acacia makes great use of its limited space, which is always a problem among newer hotels in this built-up area of northern Goa.

The pool is small and completely shaded.

The pool would probably disappoint those seeking to improve their tan. It’s within an internal courtyard and virtually undercover, although the roof above is retractable.

The pool deck has some tables but not enough sunbeds.

A few tables are alongside the pool, but there are not enough sunbeds.

Q Kitchen & Bar offers a good selection of meals.

The restaurant at the hotel, Q Kitchen & Bar, offers a wide range of tasty meals.

Q Kitchen & Bar also offers courtyard seating.

Patrons at the Q Kitchen & Bar can also sit within the courtyard near the pool.

The rooftop Izgara bistro/bar is superb.

On the hotel rooftop, the Izgara bistro/bar provides a superb setting.

Views from the Izgara bistro/bar are always fascinating.

The spa is small and offers some treatments.

A small but serviceable spa is near the reception desks at the Acacia.

All rooms are accessible along corridors within the courtyard area.

The spacious rooms are also colorful and comfortable.

Every room is spacious and comfortable, and features some color.

The rooms have plenty of space for luggage.

Pleasingly, there is plenty of space around the room for luggage.

Each room features a decent-sized balcony.

Rooms face one of the two roads at the corner or an empty block on the northern side.

Arthur's Theme restaurant outside the hotel entrance is worth trying.

Worth trying – even if staying anywhere else in Candolim – is the excellent Arthur’s Theme restaurant alongside the hotel entrance.

Arthur's Theme offers tables with street views.

Arthur’s Theme also offers stools facing the main road, but a welcome 50m+ from the traffic and fumes.

Lezero's café offers a long menu and street-side seating.

On the corner of the side street to the beach, just across from the hotel, Lezero’s café provides plenty of space and an extensive menu.

Tony's Place is known for its pub-style meals.

Just 100m south from the hotel, Tony’s Place offers a range of pub-style meals.

This is the closest turnoff to the beach from the hotel.

Café EDR serves simple and affordable meals.

Along the side street to the beach, Café EDR offers simple food at great prices.

Kokoons bistro/bar is also located along the side street.

Almost opposite Café EDR is the stylish Kokoons bistro/bar.

Co Co Mo is known for its quiet and breezy setting.

Best of the bunch along the side street to the beach, Co Co Mo is popular for its quiet and breezy setting.

At the end of the side street, about 600m from the hotel, numerous cafés dot the sand.

The beach near the hotel is uncrowded and perfect for strolling.

Flags identify areas with lifeguards that are safe to swim in.

Waves can be a little rough at times, so always swim between the flags.

The beach cafés rent out sunbeds and umbrellas.

Cafés on the beach also rent out sunbeds and umbrellas.

There are several tourist-friendly facilities on the main road.

The road in front of the hotel is lined with shops, bars, and cafés.

Buses connect to facilities in Candolim, Calangute, and Panjim.

Buses ply the main road, linking all places along Candolim and Calangute. From this stop opposite the hotel, buses also head to the state capital and regional transport hub, Panaji (Panjim).

Auto-rickshaws can be found in the general area.

A few auto-rickshaws are available, but certainly far fewer than in other Indian cities. Check rates and availability: Acacia Hotel & Spa

The Acacia Hotel & Spa in Goa, India

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