Words by Prachi Joshi
As we approached the landing strip at Goa’s brand-new Mopa airport (opened earlier this year), I felt the aircraft pull back up. Perhaps it is the low visibility due to rain, I conjectured. Moments later, the pilot announces: “We had to discontinue the landing as there’s wildlife on the runway.”
It’s certainly not what I was expecting, but it seems plausible given the airport site is near the Sawantwadi-Dodamarg wildlife corridor in the neighbouring state of Maharashtra and is often used by migrating tigers and elephants.
Eventually, we landed, the exact nature of wildlife remaining an unsolved mystery. After that eventful arrival, the 45-minute car ride from the airport to JW Marriott Goa Vagator was enough for me to slip into the rhythm of Goa – a slow, languorous, laid-back state of mind, neatly encapsulated in the Portuguese-origin word, susegad.
Hotel
Opened in March 2023, JW Marriott Goa Vagator is Marriott International’s 150th offering in South Asia. The 151-key low-rise hotel is spread over five storeys and has been designed to bring the outside inside, with walls featuring vertical gardens, floor-to-ceiling windows showcasing the lush greenery outside, and water features abound.
Inside, it is all about understated elegance with muted wooden panelling and a neutral colour palette of greys and browns. Mother-of-pearl and seashell detailing give an added sense of place. The intricate light fixtures catch my eye, particularly the glass chandelier that hangs above the black stone water body in the lobby. Metal and ceramic pieces of art — many with nautical themes — dot the property while handcrafted mosaic murals depicting tropical motifs adorn the walls.
Room
All the rooms and suites at JW Marriott Goa Vagator come with balconies with views of the verdant courtyard and garden, while a few also throw in bay views. Five sumptuously designed suites come with outdoor plunge pools and views of the historic Chapora Fort. My luxury room was located on the fourth floor and, peeking below from the balcony, I could see a small temple in the courtyard and, if I squinted, the glistening Chapora River in the distance.
The spacious room is decorated in calming colours of the sea with bleached wood floors, pale brown furnishing, and blue accents on the carpet and the comfy chaise longue in the corner. The king size bed was roomy with deliciously soft sheets, and a large painted wallpaper depicting a coastal landscape on the headboard.
Other amenities include a 65-inch TV and a tea/coffee service with a Nespresso machine and premium Villeroy & Boch cups. The four-fixture glass encased bathroom has sleek black fittings and a freestanding bathtub perfect for a luxuriating soak. My one minor grouse is the shower and bathtub are both in the same area. Another not-so-minor misstep is the sheer number of plastic water bottles in the room.
Food and drink
The hotel offers four different dining options, beginning with the elegant lobby bar Pérola where you can sip on a coffee or a glass of wine or savour a traditional afternoon tea.
The sprawling 24X7 JW Kitchen has both indoor and outdoor seating and serves a host of Indian and international cuisines. The breakfast buffet in particular was plentiful, and included everything from parathas, dosas, and croissants to Goan specialities like ros omelette (omelette dunked in spicy chicken or vegetarian curry) served with poee (leavened bread similar to pita).
The poolside Água Pool Bar and Café, with its aquamarine hues and seashell-embellished upholstery, is the perfect setting for a sundowner or two followed by a hearty feast of pizzas, pasta, and other Italian fare, all accompanied by live music in the evenings.
But the hottest ticket in town is Heliconia, the Nikkei restaurant helmed by Peruvian chef Arturo Castro Salazar that opened in July. While all other dining venues are in the main hotel building, Heliconia stands apart accessible by an enchanting ‘walk of life’ that meanders through a luxuriant tropical foliage, including the eponymous heliconia flowers with their bright red lobster claw-shaped flowers.
The restaurant’s décor, designed by couturier Rajdeep Ranawat, channels Amazonian chic with green accents, indoor plants, and floral upholstery while large French windows look out over the tropical landscape and the river beyond. Expect the precision of Japanese techniques and exuberance of Peruvian flavours on your plate with a range of sushi, ceviche, gyoza, and much more, all perfectly executed and with lashings of flavour.
Spa and wellness
Like all other aspects of the hotel, the Spa by JW on the ground floor also connects with nature through its dedicated garden area and treatment rooms, which are named after local flowers like hibiscus and bougainvillea. One treatment room aptly named Bosphorus features Goa’s first Turkish and Moroccan hammam. The spa offers holistic treatments ranging from massages and facials to chakra healing and gua-sha workshops.
I enjoyed my hour-long aromatherapy massage expertly administered by my therapist Sushmita who was particularly adept at loosening all the niggling knots in my body. You can also stay up to date with your workout regimen at the fully equipped JW Fitness. And then there’s the stunning infinity pool to cool off in while admiring sweeping views of the fort and river. There’s also a Jacuzzi and children’s pool as well as several cabanas for lounging.
To do
Goa’s party beaches, Vagator and Anjuna are a short drive from the hotel. Chapora Fort, made famous by the 2001 coming-of-age Bollywood movie ‘Dil Chahta Hai’, is about a kilometre away and accessible by a foot trail. A half hour’s drive from the hotel will bring you to the Museum of Goa, a modern three-storey space that celebrates Goa’s history and its people through contemporary art.
The iconic Basilica of Bom Jesus is a further 15-minute drive. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is a fine example of Portuguese Colonial architecture and holds within it the mortal remains of St Francis Xavier. Another must-do is the Aguada Fort, a well-preserved Portuguese-era fortress and lighthouse standing on Sinquerim Beach, overlooking the Arabian Sea.
Getting there
JW Marriott Goa Vagator is 28 km (approximately 50-minute drive) from Manohar International Airport in Mopa and 43 km (75 minutes) from Goa International Airport in Dabolim. The hotel is located one km (five minutes) from Vagator Beach.
Factbox
Rooms can be booked from £175 pppn.
Address: JW Marriott Goa, Vagator Beach Road, Bardez, Goa, India, 403509
Phone: +91 832-6749800
Website: marriott.com
Hotel photography courtesy of Marriott International.
