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Tales of Luxury
Goaboutique hotelIndependent

Ahilya by the Sea

A small, private hotel of white villas and gardens on the Nerul shore, looking across the water to Fort Aguada. With only a handful of rooms, two pools and a small private beach area, it feels more like a friend's house than a resort.
Ahilya by the Sea
Photo: Rajesh Dhungana · CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Ahilya by the Sea sits in the fishing village of Nerul, on the bay where the Nerul river meets the Mandovi, a short drive from Candolim. The house and its villas are set in tropical gardens that run down to the water, with views to the Aguada headland and the open sea. Rooms are furnished with antiques and art, and meals are taken on terraces facing the bay.

It is one of the few Goa hotels we use that genuinely feels private. There is no lobby crowd, no buffet and no entertainment programme, just a pool, the sea and staff who learn your habits in a day. It suits couples and small groups who might otherwise rent a villa, and is 25 minutes from Panjim.

Why we book it

  1. Only a handful of rooms, so it stays quiet and personal
  2. Gardens on the water with views to Fort Aguada
  3. About 25 minutes from Panjim and 15 from Candolim

Questions travellers ask

Good to know

Does Ahilya by the Sea have a beach?

The hotel faces the water at Nerul with a small private stretch of shore, good for sitting by the sea and watching the boats. For swimming in the open sea, Sinquerim and Candolim beaches are 10 to 15 minutes away by car, and the hotel pools are the main place to swim.

Is Ahilya by the Sea suitable for children?

It is better suited to couples and adult groups. The setting is quiet and intimate, with antiques and open water at the edge of the garden. Families with older children who like a calm, house-like stay may enjoy it; for younger children we suggest Taj Fort Aguada.

Can we book the whole of Ahilya by the Sea?

Small exclusive-use bookings for families and friends have been possible because of the hotel's size. Availability depends on season, and Christmas fills early. Ask us and we will check current status before you travel.

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