PLEASE, PLEASE READ THIS
We have visited Sao Domingos Hotel several times before and Edwin, the owner, never ever gets complacent about his guests. He’s an amazing host with a heart of gold.
This visit (March 2020), when we first arrived, everything was exactly as normal. Great atmosphere, great staff, superb menu, etc, etc. During our stay, we went to two of Edwin’s Beach Parties at his Win-Wins Beach Shack, which as usual were great fun.
But this time our stay at Sao Domingos was rather exceptional as whilst there, India went into a Total Lockdown, which meant we were unable to return to the UK. Edwin, immediately assured us that we could stay on in his hotel, until we were able to return home.
Eventually, people from the hotel were able to get repatriation flights back to the UK and after a while, there were just five of us left in the hotel. In that time, Edwin went that extra mile by opening the restaurant each night for just the five of us. Eventually, two more guests were able to get repatriation flights and so Edwin was doing the same for the last three of us, and currently there is just one person left.
In that time, Edwin worked tirelessly to help us try to arrange our repatriation flights, get us Visa extensions (as ours had by now, expired), speaking to the British High Commission in both Delhi and Mumbai, on our behalf. We eventually secured tickets with BA, having been at Sao Domingos twenty days longer, than our original three week stay.
Edwin’s hotel is in a great location, being just a twelve minutes walk from the very attractive Cavelossim beach and is superb value for money. The Luciana rooms are of a good size and look out on to the tropical gardens of the hotel. There is a very good sized swimming pool, one again in a tropical garden with many sun beds surrounding it. Eating in the Goan Village Restaurant (the hotel’s own restaurant) is so atmospheric and there are several other restaurants, just a few minutes walk away.
All in all, a great place to stay, with a great man running it!
Friendly staff, but not value for money
The staff here are really good. Edwin was very polite and helpful. I stayed only for one day here, and I felt really well treated even though I only had a couple of interactions with the staff.
Apart from that, the facilities are not great. They don't provide water or breakfast while they charge 1800+taxes for a room. Also, they didn't have their own wifi. I would say this is not value for money. Water is bare minimum that one expects when checking in to a hotel.
As for the room, it was not very well maintained. The fridge and the AC were very old and there was saw dust falling from the door. The bathrooms were very neat and clean, probably refurbished not too long ago.
Overall it is an okay place to stay. Could be much much better though.