Casa Menezes - A Heritage Goan Homestay

We stayed at Casa Menezes for 7 nights as part of a 4 week trip to Mumbai (4 nights) then Goa. Whilst it took us a couple of days to adjust to the slow rhythm of the Homestay we grew to love the gentle pace of our holiday in this lovely old colonial house set in a quiet beautiful setting near Batim lake. David and his family went to great efforts to make us feel welcome, sharing knowledge of local heritage sites and places of interest for day trips. We would recommend Diva island eBikes, Panjim walking tour, guided walk around old Goa, Bambolim beach and Edwards Yard restaurant. We used taxis to get around, but you could hire a car or scooters and save quite a bit of money. Our room in Casa Menezes was lovely, full of character and a verandah for sitting out in the evening. We thoroughly appreciated David and his family's generosity and kindness. and would like to return on our next trip to India as part of a final leg to unwind, perhaps for December 2025.

- We weren't given any guidance or information about the accommodation or its facilities/activities and generally felt a bit ignored and repeatedly had to ask for things, some of which remained unprovided. - The antique double bed was smaller than usual - Towels had holes in them - Our room was next to the road and we were repeatedly woken up by stray dogs outside the window - WiFi was unavailable in the room - Noisy aircon meant it couldn't be left on overnight - Blocked shower drain flooded the bathroom floor - The swimming pool didn't feel available as to access it would have to walk through the dining area

I am so glad we booked this place. It really is the real deal authentic experience. The hosts David and Nicole Menezes were without doubt the most attentive and helpful hosts I have experienced in all my time travelling. They care about their guest's experience and went above and beyond ensuring our holiday was enjoyable and memorable. The accommodation is impressive; a colonial style Portuguese home situated in rural Goa and surrounded by paddy fields and Goan villages. The room was fantastic with effective air conditioning (and it is needed); a lovely comfortable four poster bed and all we needed. I was a touch concerned about the isolation of this place. But I had no need as our hosts always ensured we had drivers available - and they were so cheap. As a general guide you could have the services of a driver for a day for about 25 (25000 Indian rupees). And the drivers always got us safely to our destination no matter where - and looked after us along the way. But the stand-out thing with this place is the service and hospitality. Nothing was too much of an effort for the Menezes family and their team. From the tour around a local village during a Hindu festival - to the cold beer given to us on arrival - to the cooking of a traditional Goan dinner on our last night - to the invaluable local knowledge and things to do and places to see. One piece of advice is that as this is rural Goa you should ensure you have adequate (and effective) mosquito repellent. They are out in their droves the moment the sun sets!! This place is a gem. And I have no doubt this place will grow and thrive in the years ahead. We will certainly be back! A truly memorable holiday!