Goa was on my bucket list for a long time. Yes, I have been one of those people to chicken out on a Goa plan with friends. However, this time I managed to not chicken out and go on a solo trip instead. Time to turn strangers into friends and what is better than a trip to Goa! North Goa is the hippie side of Goa filled with beach shacks, clubs, restaurants and spa. Other than my usual touristy itinerary of things to do in Goa, the highlight of my trip was my stay at Taj Fort Aguada in North Goa. This is one of the best five-star resorts near Fort Aguada. I thought of booking a room at any random hotel in Sinquerim, but later decided to give myself a luxurious treat.
However, after my rendezvous with the crazy vibe of North Goa, I wanted to come back at a place of calm. I wanted just to relax and soak in the serenity of Goa. Hence, I chose Taj Fort Aguada from all the other options for a 5-star beach resort in Goa. Here is everything you need to know about Taj Fort Aguada.
Taj Fort Aguada – Truly a Paradise in North Goa
Taj Fort Aguada can be best described in 3 words; romantic, charming and vibrant. I booked a sea-view room and got some of the best views of the crashing waves beyond the 16th-century ramparts of the Portuguese Fort, greeting the Sinquerim beach.
Reaching Taj Fort Aguada was a cakewalk as there was a car already waiting for me at the airport. The resort is just an hour’s drive away from Dabolim Airport. It is also in close vicinity to Baga and Calangute beaches, and hence my beach hopping was easy and quick.
My room also had a private sit out, and hence I had my own version of a relaxing afternoon, reading a book from the resort’s library, soaking the sun and listening to the waves of the sea. For those who want opulence can book the Presidential Nirvana Suite. It offers 2000 sq ft of unadulterated luxury, as it is a stand-alone villa with beautiful vistas of the sea.
In totality, the resort has a charming vibe. After my travels, I spent 2 more days just vibing in the resort, dining at some of the best restaurants in Goa that the resort has to offer and finally indulging in some soothing spa treatments.
Talking about dining experiences, my first dinner in Goa was at Taj Fort Aguada’s Morisco overlooking the Candolim-Calangute-Baga beach stretch. I wanted to try some fresh seafood. And guess what! Morisco offers an interactive kitchen with the freshest seafood. The Tiger prawn and lobsters are worth a try. Attached to Morisco is the Martini Bar. This bar serves an extensive collection of wines, spirits, beers, and cocktails. The next day, as I wanted to eat some local Goan delicacy, I headed to Kokum Kitchen. Kokum Kitchen is an all-day Diner, and they offer a range of continental, oriental, Goan and North Indian cuisine. For quick bites, my most favourite place was the SFX lounge bar with its comfortable table as well as beanbag seating facing the waves of the ocean. There are other restaurants as well such as the Adega Comens that is a lounge bar, Miguel Arcanjo, named after Goa’s legendary chef Miguel Arcanjo Mascarenhas and Il Camino the Italian restaurant.
I had heard a lot about the relaxing therapies offered in a spa in Goa. However, I did not want to venture out looking for them, and hence I booked myself for the Jiva Spa in Taj Fort Aguada itself. There are many relaxing spa therapies such as Jivaniya, Shudhikara, Vishrama, Pehelwan Malish, Trupti, and Chandana to rejuvenate your senses. There are different body wraps and scrubs available as well. After my spa, I headed for a Pada Snana Pedicure, and my beauty routine was sorted.
Last but not least, I signed up for the adventure activity. There is Rappelling up the fort façade and Jumarring at the custom-contoured rock face in the resort itself.
All in all, my trip to Goa was comfortable only because I chose to stay at Taj Fort Aguada. Extending 2 days more just to avail the best services of the resort was worth every penny. Such indulgences, occasionally, serve good for us, don’t they?
