The Resort

This beachfront hotel is nestled in quiet, peaceful tropical gardens, providing a nice contrast for travelers looking to escape the hectic city. You won't hear blaring horns here, and instead the most common sounds are of the sea and birds. However, the hotel can get quite crowded at times, as it's popular with corporate team-building events and other groups that make use of the extensive meeting space. The open lobby has several seating areas where guests gather and hang out, and it can get busy with people coming and going or attending events. Gardens and the grassy lawn are generally peaceful, though, and provide a nice place for relaxation. The outdoor pool also is a popular spot for hanging out, particularly for travelers here on a weekend retreat. In addition to groups, this hotel also draws families and couples looking for a weekend escape. Just keep in mind that as of 2017 renovations were ongoing, so many interiors -- including some rooms -- are woefully dated and still in need of an overhaul.

This hotel is situated on Aksa Beach, about an hour and 40 minutes from Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport by car and about a two-hour drive from Mumbai's city center. There's not much around the hotel except the local village, but most guests are content to stay on the property and make use of the outdoor pool and wide sandy beach. Huts on the beach serve drinks and snacks. 

Unfortunately, you need to do some reconnaissance before you book a room here as there is a massive gulf between them when it comes to quality. The hotel offers rooms, suites, and two-bedroom villas, some with lovely sea views, but only some units in the first two categories have been given a facelift. In these units -- like the Deluxe Room and Suite that we visited -- decor is contemporary and minimalist, with soothing shades of taupe, white, and gray. Furniture is clean-lined, and light fixtures are modern. Flat-screen TVs are mounted on walls above built-in desks. Other amenities include air-conditioning, kettles for coffee and tea, free bottled water, safes, and free Wi-Fi. Modern bathrooms feature walk-in showers, magnifying mirrors, hairdryers, and toiletries. In addition to a separate living and dining area, suites have larger bathrooms with open showers and separate soaking tubs. They also include balconies furnished with chairs and a small table. On the other end of the quality spectrum, the two-bedroom villas are horribly dated. Walls are dingy; drapery, carpet, and accent pillows are unattractive and worn; bathrooms show water stains; and furniture is old and tired. These do include living and dining rooms, plus a steam room, sauna, and whirlpool, but the need for a refresh should not be underestimated.

Although it lacks a spa and fitness center, this hotel offers most everything needed for a relaxing vacation or event. Located next to the lobby, the High Tide restaurant serves buffets in an old-school space with rattan seating and other dated accents. Floor-to-ceiling windows provide natural light plus views of the sea and pool. The restaurant and some other areas of the hotel were undergoing renovations in the summer of 2017, so things will hopefully be looking nicer in the coming months -- but check ahead. The Bay Watch Coffee Shop is open 24/7, and the Upper Deck Bar serves drinks and snacks in the afternoon and evening. There's also a bar by the pool. Room service is available. The free-form outdoor pool is surrounded by palm and other tropical trees. A few lounge chairs are available for lounging poolside, and there are a couple of hammocks on the grassy lawn. Hotel guests get direct access to the wide, sandy beach. While it's fine for lounging, swimming isn't recommended. For the kids, there's a little outdoor playground with swings, slides, and climbing equipment. Team-building groups make use of the adventure area with activities such as a ropes course, rock climbing, and rappelling. Nine events spaces are equipped for a variety of business and leisure gatherings for up to 500 guests, or 2,000 when combined with outdoor space. A business center is staffed during daytime hours and provides a full range of services for a fee, including internet access. On-site parking is free, though Wi-Fi is only free in guest rooms.