7 Quaint Spots To Stay At On Your Next Goan Holiday

Olaulim Backyards is where you head in search of a simple life. Lovely cottages made with natural elements like mud, hay, etc that overlook the backwaters of Olaulim make for a picture-perfect setting. Delicious homemade food, and the lovely couple Savio & Pirkko along with their kids ensure you feel right at home. Take a kayak out, go fishing, cuddle their dogs or chill with their friendly donkey, Mantra. And there is plenty to do around this place too, just ask the hosts for tips. Prices start from INR 5,000 per day and includes breakfast and all in-house activities.

As it is in North Goa, you can check out these beaches in North Goa. 

Off The Grid Farm is for those looking for some adventure on their holiday. The farm stay is hidden in the jungles at the base of the famous Dudhsagar falls, ensuring that the waterfall and the stream around the property are full even in the peak summer months (so a dip in the tiny lagoon is definitely recommended). The hosts John and Sylvia grow most of their vegetables at the farm, and have a wood fired pizza oven, wooden log cabins with tiny terraces overlooking the stream and jungle, and can even arrange hikes for you in the forest. And the best part? There's no phone connectivity, no internet and no television at the place, and it runs solely on solar power.

While you're at it, why not take a trip to Dudhsagar Falls and enjoy in the lap of nature. 

The Figueiredo Mansion in Loutolim will make you feel like the mistress of the manor. Older than even the Taj Mahal, this house is a historical gem. The family has now opened it to guests and even offer a day tour with prior appointments. Check their ballroom or the grand furniture, and eat like royalty while you stay there. The house has tiles imported from Italy, Belgian crystals, fine porcelain from China and so much more, so there’s no way you wont feel like royalty here. In keeping with all the luxury and opulence, the suites of the heritage homestay are tastefully done-up with antique furniture. Don't worry, there's also AC and wi-fi in case the highness wants to be connected to the world etc. The room tariffs start at INR 6,000 for a single standard room. 

We found this place to be highly instagrammable just like these places.

Fort Tiracol Heritage Hotel is set inside an old fort, where one can imagine themselves as the soldiers guarding Goa from the invaders. With a panoramic view of the river meeting the Arabian sea, and rooms are done up with every kind of luxury possible, this hotel is heritage and luxury in an unbeatable combination. Walk on the ramparts of the fort walls, and then tuck into some delicious food served to you on their terrace (from where you could catch dolphins frolicking or a glorious sunset). We absolutely dig their tavern where the views are stunning and the wine tastes infinitely better. The rooms/suites are named after each day of the week and get booked out months in advance. The tariffs start at INR 6,000 a night. 

Catching the sunset here was an absolute delight but we also have these places/spots that you would love to visit if you're after amazing sunsets.

If mid-way through the list, you're thinking 'well, so quaint pretty much means being exposed to the elements', let Shunya Noi remind you otherwise. This hidden gem of a stay in Siolim creatively combines sparse minimalism with art in a restored heritage villa. The hosts' aesthetic and a detailed guide enlisting everything you can do in the area makes this as much of a boutique homestay as a luxury resort. When here, you can sign up for a cooking class, take a dip in the pool or enjoy gourmet meals on the river deck. If you do feel like being out and about, you can always go cycling, sailing, canoeing or diving. The per night tariffs for these luxury rooms start at INR 5,000. 

Be aware that you will have to get in touch with the property host to book your stay. 

About 40kms from Margao and huddled close to Netrawali Wildlife Sanctuary, Mangaal is the ideal place for folks looking for some technology-free downtime. Rustic and charming rooms with a colonial touch to them, lovingly-cooked Goan meals (both veg and non-veg), trips to the waterfall or fishing trips nearby, a dip in the pool, never-ending walks into the forest... Sounds like your jam? Well, this farm stay will make you happy. The nice hosts also take care to not disturb the ecology around. Their meals are cooked with veggies grown on their organic farm and the pool has the cleanest water that comes straight from the springs. So, we're looking at nature lovers, bird watchers, city-tired souls, modern-day hippies and peeps who love holidays that don't involve hectic itineraries. Give Mangaal a chance to show you how beautiful it is to do, well, nothing. The tariffs here start at INR 8,260 for their standard rooms. 

You could even hit up Netravali Lake while you're there. 

Beach holidays call for these awesome outfits you ladies could don. For all you guys, is there anything that screams beach other than these floral printed shirts?