17 beach hotels in Goa to book for Diwali 2023

With Diwali falling in November this year, Goa is bound to be at the top of holidaygoers’ Google search list. It’s the perfect match, after all, with the glitz of festivities meeting the cool breeze of the changing weather in the coastal state. If you’re looking for beachfront properties to stay at, we’ve got you covered with this list of the best beach hotels in Goa, all with access to the sea.

The best hotels in Goa for some beach vibes

Praya Villas, Morjim

On a private stretch of Morjim beach, just a few metres off an Olive Ridley turtle-nesting site, sits a five-acre property with a cluster of villas offering the susegad life. The 14 villas come with four bedrooms, private pools, lawns and living spaces done up in Indo-Portuguese style. Barraca, the beachside restaurant and cocktail bar, serves an a la carte menu and also tailors special meals to suit the mood and occasion. For when you’re not ambling by the beach, there’s a gym and yoga room, indoor and outdoor games and watersports such as scuba and surfing on offer. Price on request. Website – Ria Gupta

The St. Regis Goa Resort, Cavelossim

The St. Regis Goa Resort is a 49-acre property by Mobor Beach, lush with freshwater lagoons, 300,000 trees, and an orchidarium. Stay at any one of the 206 guest rooms, or 20 suites and villas, some with private plunge pools. Luxury is synonymous with the resort, which offers a butler; holistic and Ayurvedic therapies at the St. Regis Spa; a 12-hole golf course; and a Celestial Dining experience in a glass pod. Enjoy fresh catch and grilled meats at the beach-side Susegado, Italian fare at Riverside, and a luxury teatime experience at The Drawing Room. Don’t forget to try the Bloody Mary reinvented as the ‘Goan Mary’ with recheado masala. Partake in other exclusive rituals like the Champagne Sabrage by the beach. Doubles from Rs. 19,600. Website – Joanna Lobo

The Park Calangute

This bohemian boutique resort is an adult-only space situated on the popular Calangute Beach. There are 30 rooms, including two terrace suites done up in white, with quirky art, rain showers, retro finishings and touches of purple. The corridors are decorated with prints by photographer Rohit Chawla and the resort’s all-white look gives it a Mediterranean feel. Spend some time at the purple pool in the hotel's centre or savour world cuisine at the all-day beach restaurant Love, or catch a sunset at the elevated bar Peace with its white stone bar and poolside cabanas.Doubles from Rs 7,500. Website – Joanna Lobo

Beleza by the Beach, Betalbatim

The luxury beach resort, Beleza, is nestled between Colva Beach and lush paddy fields. The property has 95 spacious rooms, suites and villas for every kind of traveller. Paddy Bar is where you go for sundowners overlooking paddy fields, and Nazaré offers fresh seafood. Children and adults can find entertainment at Pavilhão, which has a foosball table, a library, board games and a small bar for healthy snacks and drinks. Shop for souvenirs at the curio shop, or rejuvenate the mind and body at the Espaço Divino spa. The in-house concierge can organise a visit to an organic farm tour or birdwatching and other tours. Doubles from Rs 7,000. Website – Joanna Lobo

Casa Jaali, Canacona

Wake up to tranquillity at Casa Jaali overlooking the scenic Patnem Bay. The 12-key property offers cosy rooms, luxury huts and a beach house with a private garden, all showcasing Goan architecture—tiled roofs, locally made furniture, bamboo furnishings, and thick stone walls. Dine at the in-house restaurant Jaali Kitchen with its healthy café-style menu or hop around the corner to Jaali Cafe for stellar food catering to every dietary requirement. At Jaali Boutique, you can find eclectic and vintage pieces, and a collection by Goan designers. The property provides a good base to explore the surrounding area and seek out adventure activities. Doubles from Rs 5,500. Website – Joanna Lobo

Novotel Goa Dona Sylvia Resort, Cavelossim

This beach resort sits on the beautiful Cavelossim beach in South Goa. There are 181 rooms, suites and villas with views of the sea. Indulge your taste buds with grills and steaks at the poolside Mama Mia or the fine-dining Indian restaurant Kebabs & Kurries. For finger foods and drinks, there’s Amala (the lobby bar) with live music. Take a dip in the two pools, and sip on refreshing beverages at the poolside bar Tia Maria. At the Sohum Spa, you can avail of different treatments, therapies and massages. There’s a separate kids’ pool and play area. You can step outside to explore the beach or engage in water sports. Doubles from Rs 8,600. Website – Joanna Lobo

Cidade de Goa - IHCL SeleQtions, Panaji

Situated on Vainguinim beach, Cidade de Goa was designed by world-renowned architect Charles Correa. It resembles a Portuguese hamlet with a Mediterranean touch and has colourful murals depicting the susegad life, chequered floors, and balcaos. There are 201 well-equipped rooms. The pet-friendly space has a pool, fitness centre, a Kidade park and room, and indoor and outdoor games. Relax at Clube Saúde’s Tattva Spa and Salon or head to Pavitra Ayurveda for meditation, yoga, and self-healing. You can dine at the multi-cuisine Laranja, Alfama for traditional Goan fare; the pool-side Café Azul for Indian and Italian food, Barbeque for grilled delicacies, and Taverna for cocktails by the sea. Once a month, they host a Fado night. Doubles from Rs 14,000. Website – Jaonna Lobo

Goa Marriott Resort & Spa, Panaji

Goa Marriott Resort and Spa is a luxury beach resort situated on the edge of Miramar Beach, with views of the Arabian Sea and Mandovi River. Choose from 190 rooms and suites, some with private patios offering views of the bay or the gardens. The beach accommodations include access to the kids' playroom and outdoor pools. Taste the flavours of Goa and the world at five restaurants and bars, including the swim-up Pool Bar, and Goa Baking Company. The pet-friendly resort has activities for kids and the whole family, from indoor and outdoor games to cupcake-making and cooking classes. Doubles from Rs 17,000. Website – Samira Sood

Anahata Retreat

Unwind with yoga at this charming retreat by Ashwem beach. Stay at garden or beach view cottages or opt for suites in the Portuguese-style bungalows that come with private verandahs. Master your downward dog in the open-air yoga studio—the property hosts regular yoga retreats led by experts—and dig into healthy and delicious meals at L’Atelier, the property’s beachfront restaurant. Doubles from Rs13,500. Website – Arundhati Ail

Vaayu Kula

Water babies will love Vaayu Kula, a beachfront property with a surf and stand-up paddling school as well as a beach club. The design of the rooms borrows from coastal aesthetics in India, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, and Mexico—think high ceilings, large windows, macrame decor and indoor-outdoor living. All four categories of rooms come with ocean views, though the Moonrise Suite on the first floor offers superior views along with utmost privacy. The Vaayu Beach Club is great for Sunday brunch or a laidback sundowner but the highlight is the surf school with ISA-certified instructors, surf lessons and board rentals. Doubles from Rs12,000. Website – Arundhati Ail

Elsewhere

If privacy is what you’re after, this secluded hotel in North Goa is located on a private bit of land overlooking the ocean, about an hour’s drive from the airport. It is accessed by a wooden footbridge across a creek. The location is kept secret until after your booking is confirmed, at which point you’ll be sent the Google location coordinates. With just eight keys (four beach houses and three tents, each kitted out with a minibar and other mod cons), a yogashala under a casuarina tree, ample opportunities for birding, turtle-watching and a range of massages that can be arranged in your room, Elsewhere is an escape in every sense of the word (but you can relax, there’s wi-fi). At Elsewhere you have the opportunity to cook fish over a fire, spot otters and if lucky, witness the hatching of turtles. Doubles from Rs 5,500. Website – Samira Sood

Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Goa

What’s on offer at this Benaulim property is 56 acres of pure luxury, including 140 beautifully appointed rooms, suites and villas—some with sea views, some looking out to the gardens and some with private plunge pools. You can make use of the 800m of pristine coastline, the many sports facilities on site (tennis, golf, badminton and more) and the Jiva Spa, which offers everything from Ayurvedic treatments and aromatherapy to couples’ massages and body scrubs so delicious smelling that you’d be forgiven for wanting to eat them. Sample Goan flavours at the speciality Miguel Arcanjo, or enjoy cocktails at the lounge bar Adega Camoens, or savour a meal under the stars at the beachfront Lobster Village. Also, some of the villas allow pets. Doubles from Rs 20,000. Website – Samira Sood

Taj Fort Aguada Resort & Spa, Goa

Goa’s first luxury hotel is built on the site of the Portuguese-era fort right by Sinquerim Beach, is a laid back experience steeped in history. There are 143 rooms, suites or private Hermitage villas to pick from, but between the beach, the pool, the in-house restaurants, the range of therapies on offer at Jiva Spa and adventure activities like rappelling up the fort walls, you may not spend that much time indoors anyway. Doubles from Rs 19,000. Website – Samira Sood

ITC Grand Goa, A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Set near Arossim Beach, this idyllic property is built like an Indo-Portuguese village, with cobblestone paths, red-tiled roofs, tropical gardens and little lagoons. Opt for a lagoon, beach, pool or garden as the view from your room, but if you want the luxury of a private swimming space, book the Lap Pool Suite, which comes with a sea view. Find some peace and relaxation at a cabana on the beach, take a lap in the pool, or enjoy a wellness therapy at Kaya Kalp-The Royal Spa. Reach out to the concierge to curate special experiences for you like a spice plantation walk, a fishing lesson or a mixology session. Doubles from Rs 19,000. Website – Samira Sood

Ahilya By The Sea

A quiet corner of Dolphin Bay is home to the three villas, and two standalone rooms, which form part of this boutique hotel in Goa. The villas have tiled roofs, private balconies, French windows and African tribal art. Step out of your room into a lush garden, and take a dip in one of two pools. The Banyan Spa, shielded from the outside by oyster shell windows is where you go for some rejuvenation. Dining is al-fresco and Ahilya offers an a-la-carte menu with touches of Goan, Italian, and French cuisine. The property offers different kinds of excursions, from fishing to guided tours through Fontainhas. Doubles from Rs 21,000. Website – Joanna Lobo

Hamsa Villas

Located in North Goa, this retreat, about 300m from Calangute Beach, is home to two villas, each featuring five bedrooms–some with pool views. While Vista Villa is all about celebration and large gatherings, Esta has a yogashala and Jacuzzi among its offerings. The property also has a spa, fitness room and steam room, and employs local chefs to give you authentic homestyle Goan meals. Entire villa from Rs1,08,000. Website – Samira Sood

W Goa

Located on Vagator, this party hotel in Goa offers stunning views from practically every space, be it the cliffside global restaurant Rock Pool from where you can see the water and Chapora Fort, sea-facing Spice Traders, which offers Asian fare, or WOOBAR right on the beach. The beach hotel offers 121 rooms, chalets and villas, all featuring a contemporary style and every mod con. If you want to head out, explore Chapora Fort and the Basilica of Bom Jesus, and check out Vagator’s bustling nightlife. Come back and book your slot at the hotel’s AWAY spa for a massage at the hands of expert therapists. Rinse, repeat. Doubles from Rs 25,000. Website – Samira Sood