RADISSON CANDOLIM in Goa - Hotel Review with Photos

India › Goa Hotels › Radisson Candolim Review
Updated: January 18, 2022

Essentials
• Location: Midway in Candolim.
• Hotel website: radissonhotels.com
• Hotel phone: +91 (0)832 671 9999
• Check prices for Radisson Candolim

Review of Radisson Goa Candolim Hotel in India.

With its beautiful grounds, accommodations, and pool, the Radisson offers a tropical-island resort vibe.

Radisson Candolim – Fantastic pool, appealing rooms, and tranquil position within an area that feels like a village.

The Radisson is far nicer than most resorts in the region and is certainly quieter than anything along the main road. The overall feeling is instantly alluring, especially the extensive grounds, abundant greenery, and friendly staff. From the breezy and colorful lobby, paths lead to spacious rooms featuring balconies and thoughtful decorations. The pool is more than large enough for the limited number of guests and far shadier than any in this part of Goa. Adding to the appeal are the vividly-decorated guest lounges on each floor and open-air games room. The Radisson is set back from the main road, so it’s unaffected by traffic noise, but is still within a few minute’s walk of abundant places to eat, drink, and shop, as well as the beach.

Radisson Candolim – The Location

Address: About 100m off 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.) Well-signposted in both directions.
Area: Less developed, and therefore, less traffic than northern parts of Candolim and certainly adjoining Calangute. Yet, more nightclubs and bars with live music than elsewhere in the area, but the hotel is unaffected by the noise. About 700m across the road from the beach.
How to Get There: From the airport (35 km, 60-minute drive), there is little choice except overpriced pre-paid taxis. The nearest major train station is at Vasco da Gama, 40 km away (80-minute drive).
Handy to: Facilities and beaches at Candolim.

Radisson Candolim – The Basics

Guests: Almost all foreign tourists, mostly older than about 40, and very few families.
Views: Many rooms look inwards and face the pool and gardens. Others still offer OK views, but nothing to get excited about.
Private Pools/Jacuzzis: None, but these are very rarely offered by any resort in Goa.
Parking: A few places behind the gates, but arrange this, if required, when booking.
How to Book: Booking.com will have the best rates.
Phone: +91 (0)832 671 9999
Email: DelhiReservationsCentre@radissonhotels.com
Website: radissonhotels.com

Radisson Candolim – Amenities

Pool: One of the nicest anywhere in Candolim and Calangute. More than large enough and almost half is under natural shade at all times.
Spa: None.
Fitness Center: Aptly described on the website as a ‘mini gymnasium’.
For Families: Baby-sitting.
Activities: Undercover and open-air games area with a better selection than at many resorts (and most don’t even offer anything). Includes ping pong and snooker tables.
Other Facilities: Boutiques. Book exchange/library. Business services. Laundry.

Radisson Candolim – Food and Drink

Restaurants & Bars: The Palms – At the back, behind the pool. Attentive service and some tables in a courtyard. Tempting Goan specialties and attached bar. • Red Mango – Bistro/bar facing the pool and under shady trees. Popular for signature cocktails and fresh seafood.
Breakfast: Included if staying in the Executive Rooms. Otherwise, available for an extra charge.
Room Service: Available 24/7.

Radisson Candolim – Rooms

Room Types: Standard Rooms • Superior Rooms • Deluxe Rooms • Executive Rooms • Suites • List of all Rooms
Smoking Rooms: Smoking is allowed in some rooms. Check when booking.
Best Room: Suites are intimate and more secluded, and feature living rooms.
For Families: Possibly an extra single bed can be fitted into each of the Executive Rooms or Suites, but better options are available elsewhere.

Radisson Candolim – Local Transport

Walking: The main road is decent enough for walking, and even provides a few sidewalks (mainly used for illegal parking, however). Strolling is nicer along the side streets to the beach, which start on the other side of the main road from the resort.
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, via a stop opposite the Acacia hotel (400m north). No metro or any local trains of use to tourists.
Taxis & Auto-rickshaws: No auto-rickshaws or metered taxis in the immediate area. 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.

Radisson Candolim – What’s Nearby?

Best Nearby Restaurants & Bars

Café Chocolattii +91 93261 12006 – Fabulous garden setting and always busy with expats and well-heeled locals. Also, takeaway pastries and world-class coffee.
Karlton’s Horizon Grill – Mouth-watering steaks, ribs, and seafood, as well as happy hours and great-value specials. At the turn-off to the beach.
Ruffles – Finest restaurant in the immediate area for western meals. Live music, karaoke, or DJs every evening.
Foodland Multi Cuisine & Bar +91 98229 15352 – Always popular for its inexpensive menu which includes non-Indian meals such as steaks, kebabs, and prawns. Next to Ruffles.
Bom Sucesso – Lively bistro/bar with casual seating and live entertainment. Extra-long menu and daily specials are very appealing; perhaps less so, the karaoke.

At the end of the side street to the beach (see below) are plenty of beach cafés on the sand. Casual, cheap, cheerful, and competitive, some offer free use of sunbeds and umbrellas.

Nearby Shops

Less developed area than to the north, but enough places to spend money along the main road, 100m away, including moneychangers. The closest supermarket is Delfino’s. (750m).

Nearby Beach

At the turn-off to the resort, head right (north) and then left at the well-signposted road to the ‘Whispering Palms’ resort. The wonderful beach is dotted with casual cafés which also rent out sunbeds and umbrellas; some for free. Always swim between the flags. Lifeguards are on duty between about 10 am and sunset. (600m).

Radisson Candolim – The Hotel

The resort entrance is marked by huge gates.

The Radisson is securely positioned behind huge gates (not that the area is unsafe at all).

The resort has a spacious layout and attractive design.

The resort’s attractive design and spacious layout is instantly appealing.

The open-air and brightly-colored lobby is packed with seating for guests.

There are a few boutiques near the reception.

A couple of boutiques are just around the corner from the reception desk.

The Palms restaurant serves terrific Goan dishes.

The hotel restaurant, The Palms, is a fabulous place to try Goan cuisine.

The Palms restaurant also serves breakfast to guests.

Diners at The Palms restaurant can also sit at tables in the shady courtyard.

The poolside Red Mango bistro/bar offers shady outdoor seating.

The Red Mango bistro/bar faces the pool and also offers a shady courtyard setting.

The pool is large enough for the guests.

The pool is more than large enough for the limited number of guests.

The pool offers plenty of natural shade.

With almost permanent shade around so much of the pool and surrounding area, the pool is one of the most appealing anywhere in the region.

The resort's games room is large and open-air.

Most resorts don’t even bother offering a games room, but this one at the Radisson is open-air and fairly large.

Each floor has a very pleasant and colorful guest lounge.

Particularly appealing are the colorful guest lounges at each level.

Accommodations are in 2 and 3-level buildings.

The rooms and suites are in attractively designed 2 and 3-level buildings.

Each room and suite features a balcony, even those at ground level.

Accommodations are a more thoughtful and pleasant decor.

Rooms and suites are more thoughtfully decorated than some nearby resorts offering a ‘minimalist décor’.

All accommodations are spacious and comfortable.

All rooms and suites are spacious and very comfortable.

The small wrought-iron balconies feature a few chairs.

The wrought-iron balconies are small but offer space for a couple of chairs.

Most accommodations overlook the pool and gardens.

Many rooms and suites overlook the pool and gardens.

Café Chocolattii nearby is elegant and popular.

Close to the turnoff for the resort is the elegant and popular Café Chocolattii.

Karlton’s Horizon Grill is located near the beach.

Also a useful landmark at the corner of the side street to the beach is Karlton’s Horizon Grill.

Ruffles is one of the best restaurants nearby.

The best restaurant near the turnoff to the resort is the English-style Ruffles.

Foodland offers good and affordable meals near the resort.

Cheap and tasty meals are always available at the Foodland Multi Cuisine & Bar near Ruffles.

Bom Sucesso nearby is known for its wide European menu and live music.

Another within a few minutes’ walk of the resort, Bom Sucesso is popular for its wide menu of European food and live music.

The beach is accessible via a lane about 100m from the resort.

The nearest turnoff to the beach is about 100m north of the lane to the resort from the main road.

At the end of the side street to the beach are several cafés.

The beach cafés are very casual and cheap.

The beach cafés about 700m from the hotel are very casual.

The beach cafés rent out sunbeds and umbrellas.

The beach cafés also rent out sunbeds and umbrellas.

The beach is wide, clean, and less crowded.

The beach near the hotel is wide, clean, and less crowded than further north in Candolim and Calangute.

The sunsets are magical anywhere along Goa.

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

Always swim between the flags. Lifeguards are on duty from about 10 am to sunset.

There are plenty of signposts leading to the resort.

The Radisson is well-signposted in both directions from the main road.

There are several souvenir stalls close to the resort.

The main road, only 100m from the resort, is lined with places to spend money.

Buses offer connections within Candolim and to Calangute and Panjim.

Buses ply the main road, linking this area with the rest of Candolim as well as Calangute further north, and the regional transport hub of Panaji (Panjim).

One can find a rare auto-rickshaw at the start of the lane to the resort.

This is the start of the lane to the resort from the main road. (Auto-rickshaws are very rare around this part of Candolim. They hang around the more developed areas 500m north.) Check rates and availability: Radisson Candolim

Radisson Candolim Hotel in Goa, India

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