The 2011 Romance List
Alila Hotels & Resorts - Alila Diwa Goa, India
Flanked by bountiful, green rice plantations and fronted by coconut trees and the warm, clear waters of the Arabian Sea, Alila Diwa Goa epitomises Goa, one of India’s richest and most picturesque provinces. The Portuguese invaded and controlled Goa for 450 years, now European-style central squares mix with Indian bazaars, and Portuguese churches share walls with Hindu temples, making the region one of the most striking architectural zones in Asia.
It’s also a biodiversity hotspot, located as it is beside the Western Ghat mountain ranges. The Alila Diwa captures the essence of Goa; from its design: steep pitched roofs, cool verandahs and rambling courtyards to its cuisine; served up on an elevated platform spread around a big old banyan (fig) tree in signature restaurant, Spice Studio. Honeymooners should sample the Alila Suite, with its beach and rice paddy views and huge bathtub for two in a bathroom measuring a whopping 44 square metres.
Review from Craig Tansley [Meet our Romance List Panel]
Why you'll love it
Sit in the resort bar in the sultry evenings with sundowners in hand watching the sun sink into the Arabian sea and spend your days exploring nearby bazaars and see how hard it is to remember that you’re just 20 minutes from Goa’s International Airport, reachable in under an hour from Mumbai with regular connections to Australia.