I was in Goa for one blissful week and I must say that I enjoyed every minute of it. One of the best things about our Goa trip was our stay at Resort Rio. I believe the place one chooses to stay matters a lot. Whenever I go for a vacation, I want my whole experience to be an exotic one. My husband and I always prefer to stay at good hotels and resorts as we believe that the right place can completely transform the whole experience and turn the overall experience many notches up. We researched a bit online and pre-booked Resort Rio Goa for two nights and three days.

So, I am going to share my experience of staying at Resort Rio Goa.

Resort Rio :

Resort Rio is a Five star Luxury Deluxe Spa Resort spread over a sprawling 10 acres, with 214 beautiful luxurious rooms, and is perched on the banks of the river Baga in Arpora, North Goa. Despite the fact that this resort is at a prime location in Goa and close to Baga and Calangute beaches, it is calm and peaceful. 

Location:

Rio is located at a distance of 43 kms from the Goa International Airport, Dabolim and it took us one hour from the airport to reach the resort. The best part of staying at this Resort was its proximity to Baga beach which was just 2.6 km away and Calangute beach which was 3.5 km away from the resort.

Entrance:

I had already checked out the resort’s photos online in advance so I had some idea of what the property may look like. But upon reaching there, I realized that this place is much beautiful than what it appears in the photos. The moment our car pulled up at the entrance, I saw a rather grand and royal entrance which I totally loved. We quickly did the checking formalities and our suitcases were whisked off by the bellboys to our room. The reception area is really worth mentioning. There is a big chandelier at the center and big staircase leading to the room. the lobby area has a big swing too.

Our Room:

The resort has 214 beautiful rooms to choose from, each offering a different view which are categorized as Royal Suites, Luxury Deluxe, cozy room, junior suite, three/ four bedroom villas, four Bedroom Luxury Villas with Plunge Pool. We stayed in Junior Suite which was beautiful and spacious and had a balcony. Our room was very airy and had a big french window with a garden view. 

The room was tastefully decorated and had all the modern amenities like a Tea/coffee maker, a well stocked Mini-bar, an electronic safe, a large screen LCD TV, a phone, a ceiling fan and an AC of course.

There was a big closet with lots of storage space and a fluffy bathrobe and a working desk too. Our bed was king sized and the moment I reached the room, I sinked myself into that fluffy bed. Bathroom was good and had  both hot/cold shower facilities.

Dining:

Our day started with a heavy breakfast and the spread was so huge. The breakfast buffet included freshly squeezed juices, variety of teas, coffee, cakes, toast, muffins, breads, jams, cheese and cooked breakfasts like poori bhaji, idly, parathas, saambhar, chutneys, stuffed parathas and what not. I am mentioning here only half the items as I now don’t even remember the names of many items. 

I was impressed by the three distinctive dining options at the resort and each restaurant has its own menu, style and decor, something which I absolutely loved. 

There was a Jalsa Restaurant specially for those people who are pure Vegetarians. Here you will get mouth watering authentic Gujarati, Rajasthani and Jain cuisines. Jalsa is on the first floor overlooking the pool. Another one was Pickled Mango which was a Multi-cuisine Restaurant remains open all day and serves Lavish buffet spread and also has a live counter featuring global delicacies. This is on ground floor. I don’t have the photos of pickled Mango and Jalsa since I didn’t visit them.

And then there was a Mamma Mia restaurant Ristorante Italiano & Pizzeria which was perfect for those who want to have an authentic Italian meal, rustic pizzas,beef steaks and wines. Its on the first floor overlooking the pool. 

Aagor–Poolside Barbeque & Grill – Behind the swimming pool was Aagor barbeque and Grill which serves delicious goan delicacies, grilled sea food, pizzas, fenny based cocktails. The best part of Aogor restaurant is you can enjoy the best of both worlds with swimming pool at one side and soft breezes from the Baga creek on the other side. 

Rio Café Bar – Lounge Bar- This very beautifully decorated place overlooking the pool was my favorite place and the best part is it remains open 24×7 and serves delectable desserts, savories, refreshing beverages, cocktails. 

Pool:

The resort has a beautiful landscaped swimming pool.

Zaara Spa:

Though I didn’t go for any spa treatment but I did drop by that place and clicked lots of photos. Bytheway, Rio is predominantly a spa resort and I was awe-struck by the Mughal décor and the carved walls inside the spa . They offer various types of massages, Ayurvedic therapies, hair spa, and body spa. You can revitalize yourself and get yourself pampered with their effective Ayurvedic, curative and rejuvenative treatments, soothing massages, relaxing oil treatments. They also have an Ayur Shop inside the spa incase you want to purchase body care products.

Activities:

Rio has a Gym and a Wellness Center for those who are fitness freaks. It also has a Yoga and Meditation center, indoor games like table tennis, board games, a kids corner. There is one conference room in the resort too which is one of Goa’s largest conference facilities. Car rental services and airport shuttle services are also available on chargeable basis.

Perfect for: This resort is perfect for family holiday, couples, honeymooners, friends, Spa junkies.

Do I recommend Resort Rio?

Yes, totally! A luxurious resort with breathtaking views, beautiful rooms, warm hospitality and easy access to the famous Calangute and Baga beach, night clubs, restaurants, and flea markets, together these factors make Resort Rio a traveller’s paradise.

Important Bits

• Website: http://www.resortrio.com/
• Address: Near Baga Beach,Tambudki, Arpora, Bardez, Goa 403518 |   Phone: 0832 226 7300
• Hotel Class: 5 Star  |  Number of rooms: 214
• Distance of Resort from Thivim railway station: 18 kms
•                                             Goa International Airport at Dabolim: 43 km
•                                             Margao railway station:  46 kms

And before I sign off, here are some more photographs.

Much Love, Neha

P.S. : All the photos belong to me and content is written by me, kindly don’t replicate. Views and opinions are as always my own.