The Beach Houses

Rooms

The 5 villas are situated under swaying palms, a short sandy walk from the beach, and are widely spaced for privacy. Interiors share a soothing, rustic palette of red, ochre and white. Cobalt-blue bathrooms are eco-friendly and open to the sky.

Of the 3-bedroom villas, The Priest's House is the most luxurious. Within its old ochre-yellow walls you’ll find all ensuite bedrooms and lots of character. That said, The Captain’s House is more private (set 150m from the other villas), and has a distinctly romantic feel. The master bedroom has an ensuite; the other 2 rooms share a bathroom.

The Bakery and The Piggery, both with rust-coloured walls, have 2 ensuite bedrooms each, plus better sea views. Because of its layout, with a separate entrance and veranda for each of the 2 bedrooms, The Bakery is let on an individual-room basis. The smallest of the self-contained properties, The Creek House, contains all the same features and fittings but with the benefit of a totally secluded location beside a saltwater creek (saltwater means far fewer mosquitoes!), making it the perfect romantic retreat for two.

Other than The Captain's House, which has a small common room, none of the houses have central living rooms, but each has its own spacious veranda with hammocks and wicker chairs. Excluding The Bakery, all have music systems with iPod docks and most beds are wooden four-posters with muslin drapes (more dreamy than mosquito-proof, but mozzies aren't really a problem except at dawn and dusk).

Features include:

• Boogie boards
• Fan
• Minibar
• WiFi

Eating

Meals are served in the tented beach shack restaurant (shared with Otter Creek Tents), in the coconut grove behind the The Captain's House.

As you'd expect given the location, seafood features prominently. Dinners range from exotic European to traditional Goan - we sampled lime-drizzled poppadums dipped in tomato, onion and chilli, as well as tasty chicken xacuti (a local curry made with coconut milk and spices). Tandoor chicken, veggie dishes and Indian breads are also on offer, as are fresh fruit juices, local and international wines, Italian coffee (a real treat in India) and coconuts plucked straight from a nearby palm. If you fancy dining à deux, secluded tables can be set up underneath the banyan and cashew trees.

Breakfasts are mainly Western-style - fry-ups, pancakes, fruit salads, a spicy 'Indian omelette’ - and lunchtime snacks include bruschetta, pasta and grilled meats. Each house has an honesty fridge full of cold drinks, plus facilities for hot drinks, too.

If you want to eat out, there are lots of beach restaurants serving international dishes within a 10-15 minutes' walk. One of the best is La Plage, to the south, a French restaurant serving great steaks and seafood.

Features include:

• Bar
• Kids' meals
• Restaurant
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Take long walks on the almost-empty beach and feel silky-soft sand beneath your toes, as local fishermen haul in their nets
  
• Wander into the coconut grove to watch buffalo lazing and spot bright butterflies and birds flitting in and out of the trees. Field guides on the local birds, mammals, reptiles and shells can be provided
  
• Sunbathe and swim in the salty seas that buoy you on the surface; body boards can also be borrowed on site
  
• Have a Ayurvedic massage at one of the huts on the local beaches
  
• Empty your wallet at the famous flea markets of Anjuna, Arpora and Mapusa (approx. 25-minute drive - a car and driver are available on request)
  
• Visit the seething tourist hot-spots - the shops, nightclubs and bars of Baga and Calangute are a 30-minute drive away
  
• Sample the metropolitan culture, history and old Portuguese quarter of Goa’s capital Panjim, 45 minutes' drive
  
• Charter The Solita yacht to take a moonlight or sunset cruise, or arrange a voyage in a traditional Goan fishing boat. You may spot dolphins in the waves near the shore

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Boat trips
• Fishing
• Historical sites
• Sailing
• Shopping / markets
• Swimming
• Traditional cultures
• Volleyball
• Wildlife

Kids

The beautiful setting is great for children, especially budding naturalists. During our visit, the kids were all having a blast running around the coconut groves.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

The Captain's House and The Priest's House are the largest, each with 3 double bedrooms, and extra space for a bed and baby cots. For smaller families, The Piggery has space for 4 (2 double beds), plus 1 child and 1 baby.

Cots Available, Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

The Beach Houses are near Mandrem village, about 7km south of Arambol and about 10km north of Siolim in southern India. They're about 25km (40mins) from Manohar airport.

Staff prefer to keep the houses' exact location secret, as they often have A-list celebrities staying there.

By Air
Manohar International (25km away) is the closest airport, about a 40-minute drive. Dabolim International (70km away) is the region's main airport. It's easiest to arrange a transfer through the houses' staff (particularly due to the 'secret location'). You will have to walk the last 500m on foot and cross the bamboo footbridge to leave the outside world behind.

Getting Around
Once at the houses, you can hire a driver and a car that carries up to 4 passengers for exploring the area. You can also take your life into your hands and hire a motorcycle, but this isn't recommended for the faint-hearted.

Detailed directions with more information on the houses' location will be sent to you when you confirm your booking through i-escape.com.

More on getting to Goa and getting around