Introduction

Grand Hyatt Goa is a 313 room beach resort located along the calm shoreline of Bambolim Bay in Goa, India.  The resort is spread across 28 acres lush tropical landscapes with architecture resembling a 17th century Indo-Portuguese palace.  Located centrally between North and South Goa makes this location ideal for touring the various attractions around Goa.  Best of all, the cost and point redemption rates are low, making this 5-Star hotel an excellent value.

17th century Indo-Portuguese Architecture

Booking

For this booking, I used my annual free night award that comes with the Chase Hyatt credit card.  The annual certificate is only good for hotels at category 4 and lower.  In the states, this certificate usually is only good at an airport hotel or some unexciting property.  However, in India this gets you a stay at a 5-Star resort.

During check-in, I was upgraded to the Grand Suite King for having Globalist status which typically goes for about $300 per night.  Point redemption rates for standard rooms go for 12,000 points or 6,000 points plus $75USD.

Lush tropical landscapes between hotel and beach

Location

Grand Hyatt Goa is located 25 km from Dabolim Airport, Goa and 7 km the capital city of Panaji.  The hotel has spectacular views of Bambolim Bay in a quiet and relaxing environment.  It is close to many activites such as boat tours, spice farms, kayaking, Old Goa, and Dudhsagar Falls.

Beach area in front of Grand Hyatt Goa

Property

The property is quite large with beautiful gardens and lush landscaping between the hotel and beach.  There are plenty of outdoor seating areas and hammocks to relax in.  Several restaurants, bars, and lounges are on site providing plenty of opportunity to eat and drink.  Also, on site is a Spa, fitness center, and a Camp Hyatt for kids.

Like most Grand Hyatt Hotels, there are large banquet facilities to host weddings, conferences, and special events.

Foyer

Long Hallways

More hallways

The Dining Room

Beautiful Decor

Food

The food at Grand Hyatt Goa is amongst the best I’ve ever had at a hotel with insanely delicious Indian food.  There are several dining options that range from Indian, Italian, grill bar, and world cuisine.

The Chulha is an award winning Indian restaurant that features tandoor-grilled meats, seafood, and vegetables served in clay pots and copper pans.  The menu features authentic Indian dishes from all over India.   The food was so amazing at the Chulha that I’m tempted to fly back to India just to eat here again.

Dining at the Chulha Restaurant

Chefs in the Dining Room

Dining Room options at breakfast

Service

The service at the Grand Hyatt Goa is impeccable.  From check-in, to assisting with excursions, to dining service, everything was handled professionally.

During the dining service, the waiter was extremely helpful by enthusiastically explaining all the different types of dishes on the menu.  He even explained where the particular dishes were from, how they are prepared, and what types of settings there are normally served in.  We went with whatever he recommended and the meal was absolutely perfect.

Chulha Restaurant

Room

The room was large with plenty of space to relax.  However, it was a bit plain compared to the Park Hyatt Goa.  A little more color could have livened things up a bit more.  The couch could have been a bit more comfortable but its not a big deal since most of the time I was not in the room since there is so much to do around the area.

The suite had a large beautiful bathroom and a second smaller bathroom with a toilet and sink.   The suite I stayed in was on the first floor and had a patio with a large jacuzzi that could probably fit four people in it!

Living Room

Living Room with Small Dining Table

Dining Area

Desk and TV in the living room

Bed and TV

Bathroom

Bathroom

Guest Bathroom

Real flowers added a bit of color.

Large Private Jacuzzi with views of the ocean

Conclusion

The Grand Hyatt Goa is one of the best value properties within the Hyatt Portfolio providing a 5-Star experience at a fraction of the cost.  Its location couldn’t be better for relaxing at the beach and exploring the various sights in Goa.  To top it all off, the award winning food is unbelievably delicious and has me wanting to travel all the way to India just to eat here again.

Patio area outside of the Suite