ITC Grand Goa - A Luxury Collection Resort & Spa

Spread across 45 beautifully landscaped acres that stretch out to a white-sand beach, the Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa is an elegant resort hotel with a chic -- but casual -- vibe. It's spread across a series of two-story pinkish structures connected by walkways and stone paths interspersed with palm trees, large lawns, and lagoons. Common areas are sleek but relaxed, and include a semi-open lobby with high vaulted ceilings supported by thick columns and a few casual seating areas with wooden tables and padded wood chairs.The hotel attracts plenty of well-heeled Indian tourists, including couples and families, as well as international vacationers. Because of the resort's extensive event spaces, it also attracts a good number of conference groups and regularly hosts large Indian weddings, particularly in the autumn months. As such, the grounds can get loud and feel busy at times, which may not be to all guests' likings. Note that the hotel is wheelchair accessible and while service animals are allowed, pets are not.

The Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa is located right on Arossim Beach in Cansaulim, a 20-minute drive south of the Goa International Airport in Vasco de Gama. Getting to the busy city of Margao takes around the same amount of time, while the Margao railway station takes closer to half an hour to reach, depending on traffic. The capital of Goa, Panjim, takes 45 minutes or so by car, while Anjuna -- best known for its Bohemian Saturday Night Market -- takes about an hour and a half to reach. The sleepy hippie town of Arambol takes just under two hours to reach by car.

The Park Hyatt Goa offers 248 rooms and suites across a variety of categories. All of the rooms measure 41 square meters (441 square feet), and each comes with a single king-size bed or two twins, a balcony or patio, and a desk. They also have a solid selection of in-room amenities, including flat-screen TVs, safes, coffee- and tea-making facilities, minibars, and individually controlled air-conditioning. Views are of the pool, the ocean, or the property's on-site lagoons. Suites start at 85 square meters (915 square feet) and have separate living areas and perks such as iPod docks. The 127-square-meter (1,367-square-foot) Vista Suites add a kitchenette, while the presidential 172-square-meter (1,851-square-foot) Imperador Suite comes with its own outdoor whirlpool tub. Decor throughout is modern and chic, but understated, with a mix of wood and polished marble floors, neutrally toned wood and upholstered furniture, and dark-wood ceilings. Bathrooms are lavish, with marble countertops and sunken shower/tub combos with rainfall showerheads plus toiletries by upscale Ayurvedic brand Forest Essentials.

The Park Hyatt Goa Resort and Spa offers a huge selection of amenities aimed at business and leisure travelers alike. The hotel's enormous lagoon-style pool is arguably its most attractive feature and is surrounded by beautiful landscaping dominated by palm trees and other tropical plants. The hotel claims it is one of the largest freeform pools in the country, and it is divided into multiple sections (and across multiple levels); it even has a few water slides. There's also a smaller children's pool that's just one foot deep. For those who prefer swimming in the ocean, the hotel sits on a powdery white-sand beach with plenty of cabanas and umbrella-shaded lounge chairs. A decent selection of water sports are on offer, including jet skiing and parasailing. Wellness facilities abound here, and include Ayurvedic and yoga programs and a lovely spa, Sereno, with its own salon. There's also a fitness room with all sorts of cardio and weight-training machines, but note that its open to local residents not staying at the hotel for a reasonable annual fee. The hotel also offers tennis courts and lawns for playing croquet, cricket, and soccer. There's also a game room with a pool table, ping-pong, foosball, chess, and the popular Indian game Carom, plus a couple of shelves of books that guests can borrow. Children's activities include a kids' club -- Camp Hyatt -- with a large indoor playroom with toys and games aimed at kids of all age groups, and a specific toddler section for those 4 and under. Those ages 4 to 12 can take advantage of a regular rotation of activities, ranging from arts and crafts to movie nights, or simply while away their time on the club's PlayStation.The Park Hyatt also hosts plenty of events, including conferences and weddings, and offers plenty of indoor and outdoor space, including a ballroom that can seat up to 370 guests theater style. There's also a business center with printing, photocopying, and scanning facilities. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property and there's plenty of free on-site parking available. 

The Park Hyatt offers a ton of on-site dining and drinking options, plus 24-hour room service. Palms is located right on the beach across multiple levels of decks and serves fresh seafood grills and South American-inspired dishes throughout the day. Da Luigi is open for lunch and dinner and serves Italian dishes -- namely pastas and pizzas -- with indoor and outdoor seating available. The dinner-only Casa Sarita serves traditional Goan dishes not often found in upscale restaurants in the state, and cooking classes are available for those who want to learn how to make local specialties at home. Masala serves lunch and dinner, and specializes in the rich, meat and cream-dominated dishes of North Indian and Pakistan. There's also a 24-hour restaurant -- Village Cafe -- with an open restaurant and international buffets at breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Drinking options include Praia de Luz, which serves liquor, wine, Middle Eastern snack items such as mezze, and sheesha (hookahs). There's also a poolside bar with food and drinks, and a wine room that can also be rented out for private functions. Private dining is also available in one of the hotel's private beachfront cabanas, which can also be rented out by the day. Room service is offered around the clock and all-inclusive packages are available.