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Siolim House
(Heritage
Hotel)
Hotel
Siolim House, Waddi Siolim, Bardez, Goa (India)
Access:
Airport -
Railway Station -
Bus Stop -
About Siolim House
A Heritage Villa Hotel in
Goa, India welcomes you for your holiday in Goa
A beautifully restored 300 year old Portuguese era manor house that once
belonged to a governor of Macau, Siolim House is now a unique boutique
"Heritage" Hotel in Goa, unlike other hotels.
When we decided to restore the house in 1996, Siolim House's future
looked bleak - for five years it had fought a losing battle with the Goa
monsoon (see the before and after photographs). A family's history
seemed to be fading away, and like so many other elegant homes, it would
see its end. But over three years, without sparing any detail, from its
lime plaster to its patterned floor tiles, the house was lovingly
brought back.
Siolim House is still a private home, and we hate to call it a hotel.
The entire restoration of Siolim House was done with a view to it being
a home, and therefore we were very generous in our use of space. In a
building that had twenty four rooms there are today only seven suites
and seven bathrooms. No necessity was felt to cram rooms in, and so we
have spacious public areas and rooms.
We realised several years after the restoration began that welcoming
guests in a "hotel de charme" would help us keep Siolim House in perfect
shape, and give it the character that comes with welcoming people
from all over. That way we also did not have to worry about the Goan
monsoon storms that had wreaked so much havoc on the house when we
decided to take on the enormous restoration job.
The results of our labour over all those years is a charming demeure
with the all comforts a sensitive person would require to feel
comfortable, including an oversized overflow pool and exceptionally
friendly service. You will see if you visit that we run it for matters
other than pecuniary, and for instance do not cater to people other than
residents or their guests for meals.
The house took to her new vocation more naturally than we could ever
believe, and now gives us and our guests much peace and pleasure!
Siolim House would be thoroughly enjoyed by
that kind of person who knows that luxury has nothing to do with hotel
receptions, air conditioning, glass atriums, piped music in hotel
elevators, bell boys with funny caps, 'coffee shop' menus, uniformed
waiters, checkout times, complaints departments, guest service officers
and other such things and has everything to do with giving yourself the
chance to really relax. Siolim House is no competition to a hotel until
the day they all want to be like us, which is highly unlikely! ("you
can't run a hotel like this!")
We hate to call Siolim House any thing but a home, so call it yours
while you enjoy your holidays in Goa and unwind on nearby Goa beaches,
that are among Goa's most wonderful. Once our guests visit nearby
Mandrem, Morjim, Arambol and Ashwem beaches they can never go anywhere
else, and Siolim House is hugely fortunate in being located so close to
these beaches where you can really feel you own miles of empty beaches.
While on holiday in Goa you can also enjoy Goa's alternative culture or
see the historical and cultural sights of Goa.
We have now seen many people at Siolim House, and many return as
friends. We believe that all have fond memories and feel the time they
spent was special. The house has bonded many guests to us, to others and
to the house, and for that we are grateful to the stones and plaster
that is Siolim House. Who said houses are inanimate!
We hate to call Siolim House a hotel, so call it your home while you are
there.
Restaurants & Bar
An "all meals" plan, whether
on a full or partial rental or a b&b basis. Fresh fish each morning (you
can come with us to examine the catch) includes Pomfret, Snapper, Rock
Bass, Crab, Shellfish, Mussels and lots more...
Facilities
& Services
Telephone, E-mail,
Excursions, Tailormade itineraries to discover the area, A car
with driver and Honda scooters are available at an extra charge,
Yoga classes off site, Ayurvedic treatments from trained people
available on call, Baby sitting, Massages, Barbeques, 12.5 m lap
pool with children's area, Cycles for use at liberty, Walks,
Trekking and Excursions
Accommodation
The house has seven bedrooms
(including two suites) named after trading ports/areas of the 18th
century mostly along the Konkan coast where Goa is located, during the
time Siolim House was at its prime. Each room or suite has attached
tastefully designed large bathrooms. There is a large garden with
bursting bougainvillea bushes and fragrant trees and a pergola in what
we call the "secret garden", a fully equipped kitchen, an inner pillared
courtyard with a mosaic fountain and a part that even has a stepwell
that provides water for the house. There are several large halls, and an
12.5 meter overflow swimming pool, great for laps!
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