good for you

This beautiful heritage hotel lies in the quiet coastal village of Siolim in Goa. Extremely elegant and achingly cool; with grand interiors, four poster beds and a beautiful garden - although not expensive - a stay here will feel very indulgent.

Once home to the governor of Macau and evoking times of when Goa was the capital of the Portugese empire, the 300-year-old Indo-Portugese building was in a crumbling state of decay when it was bought by Varun Sood and his French wife. Over a period of five years the couple carried out extensive, careful renovations on the property and have successfully transformed the old manor into a stunning boutique hotel. In 2001 Siolim House was a finalist for the UNESCO Asia Pacific heritage awards for conservation.

The decor is a fusion of Indian and European styles with mother-of-pearl windows, terracotta-tiled floors and ceilings crafted in wood. The seven large bedrooms house enchanting four-poster beds swathed in fabrics, antique wooden furniture and contemporary wrought iron pieces designed by the owners.

The house is available to rent in its entirety, sleeping up to 16, or for individual couples wanting to book a room on a B&B basis.

good for india

Siolim House has been chosen by The Good Travel Company for it's heritage value and has yet to introduce 'eco' policies.

Before Siolim House was rescued by its current owners the building was fighting a losing battle with India's monsoons and, like many other old Goan homes, was in danger of fading away.

Today, after a five-year Herculean restoration process, the colonial manor home can once again be enjoyed. Renovations were carried out by local craftsmen using only traditional materials such as natural stone, marble and wood. And, despite transforming the 24-room house into a seven-bedroom hotel, the Sood family made sure to maintain the traditional architectural style of the building, following strict conservation guidelines.

The transformation from crumbling wreck into chichi hotel has been so successful that Siolim House was a finalist for the 2001 UNESCO Asia Pacific heritage awards for conservation.

Rooms

Food

Meals are taken al fresco in the inner courtyard. The house has its own cook and breakfast, lunch and dinner are on offer. That said, the kitchen seemingly never closes and you can usually get a snack at any time of the day.

Breakfast is a choice of English or Indian, and lunch and dinner are prepared upon request so you must advise the staff in advance if you wish to eat there. There is a menu but you can ask for almost anything you like. What's more if you feel like accompanying the cook on his daily trip to market then you're most welcome to!

Meal times are breakfast 8-10am, lunch 12.30-2.30pm and dinner 7-9.30pm.

Features & Facilities

• Swimming pool with children's area
• Telephone, email, free broadband wireless LAN
• TV/Games room
• A car with driver and Honda scooters are available to hire
• Yoga classes off site
• Ayurvedic treatments and massages available
• Baby sitting
• Local discovery walks and excursions to the area available on request

See Local Info for more information on activities in the area.

Local Info & Activities

The local beaches are a short drive away and are quieter and less populated than many of the other beaches in Goa. Siolim House has boules and badminton sets for guests and there's the 12m pool to relax in. Staff can arrange an ayurvedic massage and there are local yoga schools nearby.

There is a local flea market in Anjuna on Wednesdays and Mapusa on Fridays and Old Goa is a great place to wander. Take a look at the Catholic churches or visit Fort Agarda; the hotel can help organise various cultural and historical tours. Siolim village is also a lovely place to explore and is famous for its church, St. Antony's. People believe that the church was the setting for two miracles, one of which occurred in 1600 AD and is reputedly documented as having been witness by a large number of the population.

insider tip/s

The hottest months in Goa are April, May and October. Monsoon season is June to August and the high season is December.

Make sure to bring plenty of sunscreen, beach towels and a flashlight (torch) for the evenings.

Sustainability

Once home to the governor of Macau and evoking times of when Goa was the capital of the Portugese empire, the 300-year-old building was in a crumbling state of decay when it was bought by Varun Sood and his French wife. Over a period of five years the couple carried out extensive, careful renovations on the property and have successfully transformed the old manor into a stunning boutique hotel. In 2001 Siolim House was a finalist for the UNESCO Asia Pacific heritage awards for conservation.

In addition to architectural conservation the owners of Siolim House strive to make sure that locals can enjoy this splendid historical building as well as foreigners.

The owners run a Silent Auction program for Indian Residents whereby people can bid for a night's accommodation at Siolim House. The winner will receive accommodation for one or two people inclusive of breakfast.

Potential guests need only register their details with the hotel and indicate what they might be able to afford to pay. These names are then wait-listed and allocated rooms when the hotel has an empty room or two.

The program is only run during the off peak periods (May to September) but will accept last minute availability requests during other times of the year. Guests are encouraged to write why they want stay at the property and those who "really want to stay" are given priority.

awards

• Siolim House was a finalist for the 2001 UNESCO Asia Pacific heritage awards for conservation, one of only a few from India.

Getting There

Siolim is a large village, situated along the Chapora river in North Goa, and almost all Goans will know where it is. The Hotel is situated at the entrance to the village. When you reach St. Antony's church in Siolim, take the road going towards Chapora, 100m later you're there.

by train

With the new Konkan Railway line recently completed, this is the best way environmentally and culturally to get to Goa and go beyond towards the south. There is the Rajdhani Express (26 hrs) that operates only on Saturdays and Sundays and one more daily train (a bit slower) from Delhi to Goa, and the overnight Konkan Express daily from Bombay. From Cochin there is the daily Netravati Express and the Rajkot-Trivandrum Express.

The most convenient stop is Tivim station, (note that the Rajdhani does not stop here). From there the hotel is only 20 minutes drive. Otherwise you will have to go 45 minutes further to Margao and then backtrack.

by bus

There is a bus that connects Bombay to Goa (17 hours).

by air

Goa is connected several times a day by air from Bombay, Delhi and Bangalore and several weekly flights from Cochin, Madras and elsewhere. There is also a weekly flight from the Middle East, and, during the season, several weekly from the UK, Switzerland, Holland and Scandinavia.

The hotel will pick you up from the airport, bus and train station for an additional charge.

Visit our Transport section for flights, hybrid car rentals and train bookings.

Rates & Bookings

accommodation

You can stay at Siolim House on a per suite/room basis or as a group. Rates shown are per person per night.

All prices are in Pound Sterling (£).

basic bed & breakfast double room (high season)

The B&B rate includes breakfast, laundry, access to pool and tennis

1 may - 14 september 2007

Standard Room £24 per person per night

Superior Suite £30 per person per night

15 September - 19 December 2007 & 11 January - 30 April 2008

Standard Room £39 per person per night

Superior Suite £48 per person per night

20 december 2007 - january 10 2008

Standard Room £63 per person per night

Superior Suite £76 per person per night

the house

Guests can hire the entire house (6 double bedrooms and 2 twin rooms, sleeps 16 people) all with en-suite bathrooms from £641 per night.

terms & conditions

• These rates are valid from 2007-2008
• Tariffs are based on a maximum of 2 people sharing a room. In case of Single occupancy 25% discount off the room tariff will be offered.
• Bed & Breakfast rates are inclusive of accommodation and breakfast of choice but do not include 3% government tax, 10% service charge and transfers.
• Extra adult: £30 per night
• All additional activities and excursions require an additional fee.
• Children are welcome with no charge for under 12s (sharing a room). Cots are available for babies.
• Visa and Mastercard accepted
• Full board: from £7.00 pp extra/day, plus tax & 10% service
• Compulsory Christmas/New Year meals: £36 pp & 10% service

booking & cancellation policy

• Full payment is required in order to secure a booking.
• If a cancellation is made at any time, refunds are only given if Siolim House is able to re-sell the room. In that case, an 80% refund is given.

Want to avoid cancellation fees? Visit our Insurance section for information on travel insurance.