Riva Beach Resort

The gorgeous grounds at this upper-middle-range beachfront resort are perhaps its greatest selling point. After checking in at the open-air lobby, a rustic but  elegant space with rattan ceilings, dark wicker chairs, and dark-wood walls and furniture, guests are escorted through grassy grounds filled with palm trees, Buddha statues, and all sorts of tropical greenery. A lagoon crossed by a wooden bridge separates the main grounds from Mandrem Beach. Most of the facilities and common areas are outdoors, save for the boxy interior of the main Waterfront restaurant, and Wisteria, an open-air bar-pavilion with a woven ceiling similar to what's found in the lobby and a large off-white buddha head statue at the center. Most guests are tourists, with couples and families from India and abroad (particularly Russia and the United Kingdom). The hotel is also a popular destination for small wellness groups, namely yoga retreats, and gets the occasional  beachfront wedding. 

Riva Beach is located in the far northern reaches of Goa, just off of Mandrem Beach. The hotel's entrance is on the main road and there's not much of interest within walking distance. The hotel is about a 10-minute drive south of the beach town of Arambol, favored by young backpackers and hippies. It's about a 20-minute drive south to reach Morjim, and another 20 minutes further by road to get to the Anjuna/Vagator area. Calangute is about an hour away by car, while the airport takes nearly two hours to reach.

Riva offers a wide range of room types, from 300-square-foot (28-square-meter) Courtyard Cottages and Deluxe Rooms up to 500-square-foot (47-square-meter) Premium Suite Cottages. Room decor is relatively consistent across categories, with lovely rich wooden floors with a dark throw rug, dark-wood furniture, and white bed linens spruced up with throws and accent cushions in a variety of hues. Premium units add four-poster beds with elegant wispy mosquito netting. The Cocowood Cottages diverge from the standard decor scheme a bit, with dark-wood walls and floors that give them a different feel. All rooms have balconies (some with sea views), plus a similar selection of amenities that includes mini-fridges, kettles, flat-screen cable TV, and safes. Bathrooms vary a bit but are elegant across the board, with ample use of marble, walk-in rainfall showers, and some separate soaking tubs. Slippers, toiletries, and hairdryers are provided. 

Riva Beach Resort sits right across a lagoon from the sandy beach at the north of Mandrem, and while lounge chairs are available for rent, the service is operated by a third party unaffiliated with the resort. Back at the hotel, there's a pool with lots of lounge chairs and a good mix of shade and direct sunlight throughout the day, and it's long enough for swimming laps. The hotel also offers a good array of outdoor activities, with kayaks and bicycles available for rent along with ATV rides. For those who want something a bit more chilled out, there's a yoga pavilion, though it's primarily used for groups and individual yoga lessons aren't usually available. There's no fitness center, but the adjacent Spa Ceylon offers an Ayurveda-heavy menu of massages and other treatments. Wisteria bar and Waterfront offer a good variety of cuisine choices, with Indian and international items plus lots of fresh seafood dishes. Breakfast is included in room rates and the spread is extensive, with hot and cold items and a few de rigueur South Indian specialties. Room service is also available. Wi-Fi is free throughout the property.