External Reviews
Tatler:
"Heaven itself. A mile-long coconut glade shared between a beach house, 3 beach cottages, 3 beach tents, and two friendly cows. The gabled cottages on Goa's last stretch of perfect beach are all about relaxed style and simplicity..." Tatler, 2007
These renovated cabanas are a mixture of beach shack chic and old Goan charm.
Features
- Beautiful Beach
- Yoga
- Nature walks
- Bird Watching[/lir
- Child Friendly
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| Elsewhere - North Goa, India | |
Sustainability Scorecard
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From $66 USD per double per night (one week minimum)
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Good For You
On a private stretch of sand overlooking the ocean stand four charming, rustic houses and a beautiful luurious camp. The houses are built in the traditional style with thick walls to keep the rooms cool, shuttered windows and sloping terracotta tiled roofs, these renovated cabanas are a mixture of beach shack chic and old Goan charm.
The house are spaced well apart to ensure maximum privacy and are surrounded by palm trees. Painted in vibrant blues, ochres and mustards, they are colourful getaways perfect for couples looking for peace and quiet or for groups of friends yearning for a private beachside holiday.
Also on offer are the Otter Creek Tents, three luxury tents that sit facing the saltwater creek that separates the property from the rest of the world. These quirky canvas hideaways come with windows, four-poster beds hewn out of driftwood and a private mini-terrace.
With staff on hand to cater to your every need and glorious sun-kissed days, the only thing you'll be wishing for is that your holiday didn't have to end.
Good For India
'Elsewhere' is located on what is perhaps the last surviving stretch of "natural beach front" in Goa. The resort is committed to low impact tourism and is even reluctant to divulge their exact location for fear of increasing the number of visitors to the area.
The four houses at 'Elsewhere' date back to 1886 when Anjelo Zeferino Sequeira bought 80,000sqm of land for the grand sum of Rs. 2,000 (US $50). The land has been passed down through the generations and the old buildings renovated and restored to provide a unique holiday destination for visitors to the area.
HighsThe houses: The four villas are charming and full of character. The panoramic ocean views aren't bad either. The beach: This isolated strip of sand is something of a rarity in Goa, and the owners are determined to keep it this way. The peace and quiet: You really do feel like there is no-one else around when you stay here and the days and weeks drift casually by. |
LowsDry Season Only: Elsewhere shuts down each year from June to September. |
Rooms
The Captain's House
This house was built by Dr. Francisco Joseph Sequeira the son of Anjelo Zeferino Sequeira who bought the land in 1886. It was then inherited by Capt. Cyril William Sequeira, one of the pioneers of aviation in India. He often flew over the house in a Tiger Moth and waved to the locals below.
Ochre coloured walls, gleaming white pillars and terraces and a rustic beach shack interior make this a laidback seaside retreat. There are three double bedrooms here, each with windows opening onto a balcony. That master bedroom has ensuite facilities while the other two bedrooms share a bathroom.
Two large balconies face out to sea and there's a spacious veranda perfect for watching the sunset. A mini-kitchen offers tea and coffee making facilities and there is also a lockable luggage room and a world space digital high-fi music system.
The Captain's House can only be rented out as a whole house.
The Piggery
This house was built by Padre Luis Gonzaga de Santana Sequeira. It was an extension of the main house and this is where the livestock was kept. It has now been transformed into a beautiful two bedroom villa.
Perched on a small hill surrounded by palm trees, this picturesque villa is a lovely retreat. The breezy bedrooms are decked in white and the shaded veranda has perfect ocean views.
The two double bedrooms both open onto the balcony and each has an ensuite bathroom. There isn't a living room (or other communal room). The villa has a world space digital high-fi music system
The Piggery can only be rented out as a whole house.
The Bakery
This house was built by Padre Luis Gonzaga de Santana Sequeira, and was used as a bakery by him till the late 1950s. It's a cute little cottage with mustard-coloured walls and a lovely outside patio. Shaded by palm trees and within a stones throw from the beach, it's perfect for couples or a small group of friends.
There are two double bedrooms here each with its own ensuite bathroom. The bedrooms are on opposite sides of the house and as such, this house can be rented out on a room basis (as opposed to hiring the villa in its entirety). Each bedroom has its own separate entrance and its own balcony. There are no communal living spaces here.
The Priest's House
This house was built by Padre Luis Gonzaga de Santana Sequeira who lived here until the late 1950s. Father Sequeira had his own canoe, which he used to cross the creek and say mass in the Mandrem Church.
This is the grandest looking of all four houses. The exterior walls are painted a vibrant mustard yellow but the interiors are much more sedate. Exposed walls, wooden beams and the odd splash of royal blue paint lend the house a rustic charm.
The Priest's House offers three double bedrooms, all with ensuites and all with direct access to the balcony. Two of the bathrooms are open-air allowing you to shower under the night skies. There is no living room or other communal areas but one of the bedrooms does house a mini-bar, refrigerator and coffee and tea making
The Priest's House can only be rented out as a whole house.
Otter Creek Tents
Sharing the same idyllic beach as 'Elsewhere' Beach Houses is 'Otter Creek Tents'; three exclusive, comfortable tents all in the most idyllic setting. All three tents are on the beach and face the creek, which runs parallel to the sea. Each tent houses a quirky four-poster bed and has private ensuite bathroom complete with hot showers. Each tent also has its own mini veranda and a bamboo jetty, over the creek.
Food
'Elsewhere' is run like a little hotel. There is a housekeeping and a dining shack area where guests order food from a menu and then pay for the total amount at the end of their stay. Meals costs around $6 per person. Continental, Indian and Goan cuisine is available and the fish curry is highly recommended. Also on offer are a selection of wines that are stocked in the mini-bar in each villa.
Simon, the local fisherman, and his two sons Elvis and Savio go fishing most days before dawn. They return soon after sunrise and would be happy to show you the catch of the day. It will be sold at market rates and the staff will be happy to help you with the barbecue.
Features & Facilities
- An excellent cook, if you don't feel like cooking yourself
- Electric kettle and a coffee machine with complementary tea and coffee
- A car and driver can be provided for $10 a day
- High quality stereo with Worldspace Satellite Digital World Radio in the 2 and 3 bedroom houses
- Fans in all the bedrooms
- Two of the houses are air-conditioned
Local Info & Activities
'Elsewhere' is perfect for those looking for peace and tranquillity.
The property is located on a semi-private beach that is more or less cut off on all sides by water. It is a very safe beach for swimming and there is rarely more than a handful of people on it.
The whole area is a nature lovers dream with an abundance of birds and river life including otters that nest only a few meters upstream from where the tents sit. If you're lucky, your visit will coincide with the nesting or hatching or marine turtles.
'Elsewhere' has an in-house yoga instructor. Classes and tuition can be arranged to suit you.
'Elsewhere' can provide a car and driver (at an extra charge) so that you have the freedom to visit different beaches and in the evenings sample the many restaurants around Goa. A book is provided in each house and tent which gives guests useful local information.
INSIDER TIP/S
The road leading to 'Elsewhere' ends about 30 meters from the creek so there is a short walk between a couple of village houses, across a bamboo bridge and along a sandy track before arriving at the property. Sensible shoes are therefore a must.
Please note that the bridge, although strong and sturdy, is constructed from bamboo and around 60 meters long and may be a little daunting for those nervous of heights. Elsewhere is therefore not a good choice for those with mobility difficulties.
When to visit
The hottest months in Goa are April, May and October. Monsoon season is June to August and the high season is December. The best times to be in Goa are December to the end of February when the daytime temperatures are 24C and the evenings around 20C. The sea is calm, warm and safe for swimming.
Mosquitos
Although Goa has a fair amount of mosquitoes during certain periods of the year (and Malaria) 'Elsewhere' does not suffer from mosquitos owing to it being surrounded by salt water. That said, it is worth bringing a decent bug repellent with you. The bedrooms and tents all come with an electric mosquito repellent device.
Opening Times
The houses are open from October 1 until the end of May. The tents are operational from October 15 until May 15. It is recommended that you book early if you plan to visit during the peak season.
Security
Goa has a relatively low crime rate and petty theft can be avoided by taking normal security precautions. 'Elsewhere' has day and night security guards who patrol the grounds and there is staff around and about all day.
Sustainability
'Elsewhere' is located on what is perhaps the last surviving stretch of "natural beach front" in Goa. The resort is committed to low impact tourism and is even reluctant to divulge their exact location for fear of increasing the number of visitors to the area.
The four houses at 'Elsewhere' date back to 1886 when Anjelo Zeferino Sequeira bought 80,000sqm of land for the grand sum of Rs. 2,000 (US $50). The land has been passed down through the generations and the old buildings renovated and restored to provide a unique holiday destination for visitors to the area.
Staff at 'Elsewhere' are employed from the local community and the resort is actively involved with turtle conservation and working with the local schools to educate children on the environment.
Getting There
'Elsewhere' likes to keep its precise location something of a secret but what it will tell you (until you've booked your room in which case you'll get precise directions to the property) is that it is located on a spit of land jutting out into the sea cut off from the mainland by a salt water creek. Access to Elsewhere is via a 70 meter long wooden foot bridge across a creek.
'Elsewhere' is located in North Goa, about 30 minutes drive from Calangute, Baga or Panjim, 20 minutes drive from Mapuca, and about 45 minutes drive from Old Goa. It is a little over an hour's drive away from Goa's Dabolim Airport.
Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.
Rates & Bookings
The Captain's House
1st Oct - 19th Oct 2007 $1744 per week
20th Oct - 31st Oct 2007 $1824 per week
1st Nov - 19th Dec 2007 $2384 per week
20th Dec 2007 - 15th Jan 2008 $4796 per week
16th Jan - 9th Feb 2008 $2385 per week
10th Feb - 19th Feb 2008 $2495 per week
20th Feb - 15th Mar 2008 $2385 per week
16th Mar - 31st Mar 2008 $2484 per week
1st Apr - 31st May 2008 $1744 per week
The Priest's House
1st Oct - 19th Oct 2007 $1744 per week
20th Oct - 31st Oct 2007 $1824 per week
1st Nov - 19th Dec 2007 $2384 per week
20th Dec 2007 - 15th Jan 2008 $4796 per week
16th Jan - 9th Feb 2008 $2385 per week
10th Feb - 19th Feb 2008 $2495 per week
20th Feb - 15th Mar 2008 $2385 per week
16th Mar - 31st Mar 2008 $2484 per week
1st Apr - 31st May 2008 $1744 per week
The Piggery
1st Oct - 19th Oct 2007 $1744 per week
20th Oct - 31st Oct 2007 $1824 per week
1st Nov - 19th Dec 2007 $2384 per week
20th Dec 2007 - 15th Jan 2008 $4796 per week
16th Jan - 9th Feb 2008 $2385 per week
10th Feb - 19th Feb 2008 $2495 per week
20th Feb - 15th Mar 2008 $2385 per week
16th Mar - 31st Mar 2008 $2484 per week
1st Apr - 31st May 2008 $1744 per week
The Bakery
1st Oct - 19th Oct 2007 $872 per week
20th Oct - 31st Oct 2007 $912 per week
1st Nov - 19th Dec 2007 $1192 per week
20th Dec 2007 - 15th Jan 2008 $2398 per week
16th Jan - 9th Feb 2008 $1193 per week
10th Feb - 19th Feb 2008 $1248 per week
20th Feb - 15th Mar 2008 $1192 per week
16th Mar - 31st Mar 2008 $1242 per week
1st Apr - 31st May 2008 $872 per week
Otter Creek Tents
15th Oct - 31st Oct 2007 $463 per week
1st Nov - 19th Dec 2007 $673 per week
20th Dec 2007 - 15th Jan 2008 $1194 per week
16th Jan - 30th March 2008 $703 per week
1st April - 15th May 2008 $443 per week
booking & cancellation policy
Rates are subject to 10% tax.
The Bakery supplementary charges: For a week including 25th Dec add $296. For a week including 31st Dec add $296. For a week including both Dec 25th and Dec 31st add $593 to the weekly rate.
The Piggery supplementary charges: For a week including 25th Dec add $593. For a week including 31st Dec add $593. For a week including both Dec 25th and Dec 31st add $1186 to the weekly rate.
Captains House supplementary charges: For a week including 25th Dec add $593. For a week including 31st Dec add $593. For a week including both Dec 25th and Dec 31st add $1186 to the weekly rate.
Priest's House supplementary charges: For a week including 25th Dec add $593. For a week including 31st Dec add $593. For a week including both Dec 25th and Dec 31st add $1186 to the weekly rate
Otter Creek Tents supplementary charges: For a week including 25th Dec add $198. For a week including 31st Dec add $198. For a week including both Dec 25th and Dec 31st add $395 to the weekly rate.
Children aged below 10 can stay in one of the bedrooms provided the child shares the bed with the parents.
Camp beds can be provided in some rooms at an additional cost of 40 percent of the room cost.
A maximum of two guests can occupy a Tent. One extra child ‚ below 10 years old will be permitted per tent, provided the child shares the bed with the parents.
The rates per week include all facilities except transportation, food & beverages, laundry and telephone calls.
Baby cribs can be provided at an additional cost.
Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.
