ALILA DIWA in Goa - Hotel Review with Photos

India › Goa Hotels › Alila Diwa Review
Updated: January 14, 2022

Essentials
• Location: In a quiet part of Majorda and within walking distance of the beach.
• Hotel website: alilahotels.com
• Hotel phone: +91 (0)832 274 6800
• Check prices for Alila Diwa

Situated in the middle of peaceful farmlands in Majorda, the Alila Diwa offers a stunning pool and luxurious rooms.

Alila Diwa – Such serenity, style, and luxury in a charming village setting, though not beachside.

The Alila Diwa faces a quiet street lined with enough places to shop, eat, and drink, and is within a two-minute shuttle bus ride from a delightful beach. The design of bricks and ponds is a pleasing mix of old and new, and the grounds are huge. The rooms and suites are very spacious and comfortable, with some featuring extra-long balconies and enormous bathrooms with stand-alone tubs. Amenities are mightily impressive, too: from the pool with infinity edges that seem to merge into the horizon to the traditional-style café based around a gnarled banyan tree. Adding to the appeal are the spa the size of a guesthouse and free yoga classes in a dedicated studio. The resort also caters especially well for families with its large kids club, daily activities, special suites, and even a movie theater.

Alila Diwa – The Location

Attached to, and associated with, The Diwa Club resort, 300m away.

Address: In Majorda, one of the most northerly areas of South Goa. (Most places in Goa don’t have a proper address.) The main entrance is along an unnamed street (i.e. not the main road through South Goa), and the side entrance faces an unnamed path leading to the beach. This part of Majorda is sometimes called Gonsua.
Area: Within a quiet section of Majorda, distant from the main road, 800m away. About 700m via a lovely path (or free shuttle bus) to the beach.
How to Get There: From the airport (15 km), there is little choice except overpriced pre-paid taxis. The nearest major train station is at Vasco da Gama, 20 km away.
Handy to: Majorda beach.

Alila Diwa – The Basics

Guests: Mostly foreign tourists, but also some from across India. Popular for Indian weddings.
Kids Club: Impressive setup and unusually, separate areas for teenagers and those younger. Secure and supervised, it offers plenty of games and activities such as cooking, beach picnics, and face-painting. Special theater with movies twice a day (once especially for children).
Views: All rooms face the internal gardens.
Private Pools/Jacuzzi: None, but these are almost non-existent anywhere in Goa.
Extras: Yoga classes twice a week. Daily movies in the theater. Shuttle bus to local beach.
Parking: Enough places near the lobby and behind the gates.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +91 (0)832 274 6800
Email: diwagoa@alilahotels.com
Website: alilahotels.com

Alila Diwa – Amenities

Pool: Stunning, with ‘islands’ of palm trees and infinity edges that seem to blend into the farmland on the other side of the fence. Plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas. Bar alongside.
Spa: Spa Alila is extremely impressive. A spacious reception area leads to a series of ponds and private rooms, all with garden views. Guests can also learn how to mix ingredients for their treatments. Special section for children, too.
Fitness Center: Well-equipped and popular among guests.
For Families: So family-friendly, with kids club (see earlier), activities, kids spa, and movie theater showing children’s films.
Activities: Separate cooking classes for children and adults.
Other Facilities: Boutique. Organized tours. Money-exchange. Laundry. Travel desk.

Alila Diwa – Food and Drink

Restaurants & Bars: Vivo – Buffets at breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and a la carte 24/7. Focuses on healthy meals and offers tempting culinary themes throughout the week. • Spice Studio – Based around an ancient banyan tree, it specializes in Goan cuisine. With most tables outside, the setting is elegant, service excellent, and décor fascinating. Dinner only. • The Edge – All-day bar/lounge facing the pool. Imported spirits and trendy background music. Tapas available. • Courtyard Bar – Near the lobby and overlooking the courtyard, it offers signature cocktails and other unique fruit drinks. Leather lounges add to the appeal. • Bistro – Guests can also eat at the associated but separate The Diwa Club about 300m away (also accessible by shuttle bus). Mediterranean cuisine among a breezy and colorful setting facing the pool.
Breakfast: Not included, but available for an extra charge.
Room Service: Available 24/7.

Alila Diwa – Rooms

Room Types: Terrace Rooms • Family Terrace Rooms • Loft Rooms • Family Suites • Alila Suites • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: No smoking in the rooms or public areas, but permitted in the gardens.
Best Room: Luxury and serenity are guaranteed in the Alila Suites. Bathtub for 2 and more traditional Goan décor than the other rooms.
For Families: Many rooms have connecting doors. Best are the Family Suites, with 2 sofas in the separate living areas that easily convert to single beds. Also, 2 bathrooms and extra-long balconies. These suites also provide close access to the children’s pool and kids club.

Alila Diwa – Local Transport

Walking & Cycling: Fabulous area for exploring on foot along lanes meandering into villages and to the beach. Also terrific for cycling. Ask at reception about bike rentals.
Public Transport: Public buses hurtle along the street just outside the gates about every 15 minutes. (More so in the early morning and late afternoon.) They loop around the local area and start/finish at Margao (Madgaon), the major transport hub for connections across Goa. No metro or any local trains of use to tourists.
Taxis & Auto-rickshaws: No auto-rickshaws or metered taxis. App-based rides, Uber and Ola, don’t operate anywhere in Goa, but the local alternative – Goa Miles – is worth trying, though really, the only option for longer trips are unmetered private ‘taxis’. Arrange these through the resort. Rates are overpriced but negotiable.
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 this at the resort. Rides on the back of a motorbike (called a ‘pilot’) are possible; ask around.

Alila Diwa – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

The Camron +91 99224 83479 – Popular with guests night after night for its friendly service, extended menu, and likable background music.
Fish’ka Bar & Restaurant – Amazingly long menu, including pasta, burgers, and other western delights. Cheap prices, breezy setting, and fascinating photos on the walls.

Otherwise, walk to the beach via the shady path.

Beach Cafés – The few places on the sand offer little more than drinks made from local fruits and imported spirits. So, the only options for a meal are Greenlands, at the end of the path to the beach (600m), and The Camron Café, about 200m north along the sand from the Greenland.

Nearby Shops

A few souvenir shops and a couple of basic grocery stores are located just south of the resort gates. A better-stocked grocery store is along the path to the beach, virtually at the side entrance to the resort.

Nearby Beach

Majorda Beach is a magnificent stretch of sand that seems endless in both directions. It is astoundingly undeveloped, with just a few makeshift shacks renting sunbeds and selling mostly drinks. Waves can get a little rough for the inexperienced, so swim between the flags. (Lifeguards are on duty from about 10 am to sunset.) Some basic water-sports are also available from a kiosk on the beach. Note that facilities such as toilets are basic. To reach the beach (700m), use the side entrance to the resort (or take the free shuttle bus). The path to the beach is lovely, mostly flanked by fields of grazing cows, but take heed of the signs which say that the beach is strictly closed after 7 pm.

Alila Diwa – The Hotel

The resort is located in Majorda in southern Goa.

The Alila Diwa resort is at Majorda, a northerly beach region within South Goa.

The design of the resort is a likable mix of old and new.

The lobby courtyard has some ponds and trees.

The courtyard near the lobby features some ponds and old trees.

A boutique near the lobby sells souvenirs and traditional clothes.

Vivo restaurant serves breakfast to the guests.

The main restaurant, where breakfast is served, is called Vivo.

Vivo offers outdoor seating on a shady deck.

Guests at Vivo can also eat outside on the shady deck.

Also at the resort, Spice Studio specializes in Goan cuisine and is based around a very old banyan tree.

Alongside the pool is the aptly-named bar called The Edge.

The Courtyard Bar overlooks the lobby courtyard.

The other bar, which faces the shady courtyard near the lobby, is also simply named: Courtyard Bar.

Bistro at Diwa Club is open to the resort guests.

Guests can also eat at Bistro within the adjacent Diwa Club, about 300m away and accessible by shuttle bus.

The main infinity pool is huge and stunning.

The pool at the Alila Diwa is simply stunning, and features infinity edges that somehow blur into the horizon.

The pool deck has several sunbeds and umbrellas.

There are several rows of sunbeds and umbrellas at the pool.

Some sunbeds appear to float in the shallow end of the pool.

The spa offers guests to learn mixing of ingredients for treatments.

The wonderful spa provides a special room where guests can learn how to mix ingredients for their own treatments.

The spa's treatment rooms are connected via a boardwalk among ponds.

The spa is very lovely. Treatment rooms offering garden views are accessible along a boardwalk among ponds.

Free yoga classes are offered twice a week.

Twice a week, guests can enjoy free yoga classes at the special studio.

The family-friendly resort offers a kids club.

Unlike others, this resort is family-friendly and offers a kids club.

The kids club has separate areas for teenagers and younger kids.

Unusually, the kids club is separated according to age groups: one area for teenagers and another section for the younger ones.

Movies are shown twice a day at the private theatre.

Unique among resorts in the region is the genuine movie theatrer which shows films twice a day.

The rooms and suites are spread across several wings.

The Family Suites are ideal. The 2 sofas in the sitting rooms easily convert to extra single beds.

The spacious suites feature optimum full-length windows.

All suites are spacious and airy, and feature optimum number of floor-to-ceiling windows.

The huge suite bathrooms have walk-in closets.

The bathrooms in the suites are enormous. Some feature 2 doors, walk-in closets, and/or attached makeup areas.

The Family Suite balconies are very long.

The balconies attached to the Family Suites are extra-long.

Most suites feature stand-alone bathtubs with garden views.

Most suites also offer stand-alone bathtubs with views of the garden.

Most accommodations have balconies with garden views.

Most rooms and suites feature verandas/balconies with garden views.

Even the lowest category rooms are very spacious.

The Camron café opposite the entrance is excellent.

Directly opposite the main gates are 2 excellent cafés, including The Camron.

The decor and prints at Fish'ka are very appealing.

Across a lane from The Camron, the excellent Fish’ka café provides a lengthy menu, including many Western meals.

A few souvenir stores are located close by.

Just south down the street from the resort gates are a few souvenir stores.

A shady and quiet path leads to the beach.

This delightful path to the beach (700m) from the side entrance of the resort is mostly shady.

A free shuttle bus is available to reach the beach.

Guests can also reach the beach via the free resort shuttle bus.

Turning right (away from the beach) at the side entrance of the resort is a colonial-style church synonymous with Goa.

The beach path has a well-stocked minimart.

Along the path to the beach, very close to the side entrance, is a well-stocked minimart.

Greenland Bar & Garden Restaurant is also on the beach path.

At the end of the path to the beach from the resort is the welcoming Greenland Bar & Garden Restaurant.

One of very few places on the beach offering meals is The Camron Café.

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

The resort is about 700m from a glorious beach. Always swim between the flags where lifeguards operate.

The beach cafés rent out sunbeds and umbrellas.

Plenty of sunbeds and umbrellas are offered for rent.

Some beach shacks offer drinks and snacks.

A few shacks on the beach offer little more than drinks.

The beach has a minimal selection of water-sports.

A few water-sports are available from a makeshift hut on the beach, but the selection is modest.

Remember: facilities (e.g. toilets and showers) are basic. Check rates and availability: Alila Diwa

Alila Diwa Hotel in Goa, India

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