Shaun Chicharito samples the delights of the private, lavish Aalia Villas, Goa
I’ll admit it, I need a vacation. With the workload never seeming to reduce and fatigue rapidly creeping into daily corporate life, a break seems like the perfect way to unwind. However, with my HR in office strictly telling me I’m not allowed any more multiple casual leaves this year, I didn’t really see myself leaving town till January.
The loophole: the extended Weekend Getaway. It’s quite simple; take a day off on Friday and leave town early the very same day, spend your weekend away and make it in time back on Monday morning refreshed and ready for work.
So when Aalia Villas invited me over to visit their property in Goa for the weekend, could I really say no?
My friend Marie and I landed in Goa at 6:00 am on a Friday morning and were greeted by Siddhu, the very polite chauffeur present to pick us up from the airport. Aalia Villas Goa is located in Anjuna, North Goa and is at least an hour’s drive away from Dabolim airport. The pretty Goan coastline and landscapes make it a picturesque one, nonetheless.
On arrival, we are welcomed by Anand, the very friendly manager who takes us to and shows us around our villa. At first glance from the outside, our villa looks more like a row-house than an opulent bungalow. Step in, and your worries are laid to rest for it really emphasises on the word ‘luxury’. The first floor houses two gigantic bedrooms that have their individual gigantic bathrooms. Both also have their own tasteful outdoor shower areas shielded by frosted glass to ensure your privacy. The cherry on the cake however is the outdoor jacuzzi that looks right out of a sumptuous bathroom in Maldives or Sri Lanka. There’s also an office desk space that I refuse to even think of using!
The ground floor, however, is where you will be spending most of your time. Draw open the curtains of the bedroom and you realise that it literally opens into your own private pool. The ground floor also has a very large living room and well-stocked kitchen. The outdoor area has its little seating area along with a tiny garden and of course the afore-mentioned pool. All in all, it’s your private li’l luxury pad away from prying eyes. A really nice touch is the two chefs that come visit your villa every morning to prepare a fresh breakfast.
For all its brilliance, you do miss the presence of a 24×7 reception, especially post sunset. And the presence of a large transparent panel just beside the main door is downright mystifying.
With a 3 BHK villa for six people starting at Rs. 25,000 during the off-season and rising to Rs. 35,000, Aalia Villas doesn’t come cheap. But then again, their aim is to offer you luxury in a different flavour as compared to traditional hotels. If it’s the low profile lavish break that you crave instead of a loud brashy experience, I don’t think there are many places in North Goa that offer better experiences.
After a well rested weekend, we left this beautiful villa on Sunday evening, picking up some smoked Goa sausages on the way to carry home. So, what are you doing on your next weekend?