Celeb-life excitement, pampering and pizzazz are just some of the promises from this hotel brand. Built on a 10-acre piece of land, the big and baroque Planet Hollywood Beach Resort Goa has 115 rooms, with 15 luxury tents launching soon, and each has its unique slice of Hollywood memorabilia, besides the usual luxuriously appointed facilities of soft mood lighting, a sleek sound bar and personal music player dock, a massage chair in the sitout…Outside, teepees and cupids and purple-lit palm trees march dramatically around the pool and water features. Ganesha and Buddha repose in stone, but the real god¬dess they worship in these parts is Glamour. Exemplary service caters to business as well as leisure travellers—apparently they aim for the red carpet treatment to make you feel like a star—with quiet efficiency.
I was left seven-star impressed by…
Hollywood in your room
This is heaven for every cinephile. Not just the lobby area, which has a smattering of movie-star signatures and handprints, but every one of their rooms and suites features movie memorabilia. The stylish layout is very American. Each block reflects a genre of movies from Hollywood or indeed Bollywood. Original and adapted cinematic artwork from each genre makes each room unique. The colourful, contemporary accommodations will make you feel like a part of the hip set. Time it right, and you might even find yourself holidaying with the stars—in the flesh.
The Heart Bar
Designed by Gauri Khan, the bar features a large international selection of spirits. But that’s not all that gets you high. This is the literal and figurative heart of the resort, pulsating with energy and star power. A huge wall of images and signatures of the crème de la crème of the silver screen backs the bar, which serves a good few innovative cocktails besides a tall list of vodkas and wines.
So much swimming pool
What is better than a big blue swimming pool? Three pool areas—of course, one is for the kids and another is a jacuzzi, but the third is reason enough to float all day with a lavender-lushed lemonade. Come sundown, the lights come up, just like on Sunset Boulevard—submerged LED pool lights, that is.
Planet dailies
Completing the sensory experience is the food. The seafood shacks are no competition for John Dory or melt-in-the-mouth crab cakes, followed by that litchi-flavoured baked yogurt in Pa’Tye crockery with Degrenne cutlery. The restaurant has an interactive kitchen for guests to experience the creation of every piece of art served up from start to flavourful finish. Enjoy a late breakfast or laidback lunch over fresh fruit cocktails in the al fresco dining area of the restaurant. But what blew me away was the coffee shop adjoining. Why? Pray check out the bar featuring all the filmi lines that created cinema history.
The Pink Room Spa
A blingy pink exterior hides a sophisticated interior, and ambience matches the service. A far cry from the bustle of the average Goa beach, the Pink Room lets you enjoy the limelight without the crush of the crowds—like any proper celebrity behind the velvet ropes. You matter, the staff insist, as they devote themselves to your comfort and well-being. In the privacy of the outdoors. And you can get the same two-hour massage that impressed Queen Khan herself.
Uttorda outside
Those of you that crib about Goa’s messy beaches, take a walk towards the sea here. And don’t let the sprawling cabanas and tents lure you. Step on the beach and you will feel you are dirtying it by walking on it! The Uttorda beach actually is pristine white and could pass off as Mauritius or Seychelles any given day in your selfie shot. But why spoil the sectet? Poseidon’s Cove, the beach shack featuring great seafood, salads, wraps and grills is a great place to relax on the shores of the Arabian Sea with your caipirinhas and caprioskas.
The bespoke perks
The service is warm, not just attentive but painstakingly detail-oriented and personalised. They quite blew me away. A personalised wine bottle and table linen does wonders for one’s ego after all!
The information
Location: A-8, Asconwaddo, Uttorda Beach, Salcete, Goa
Accomodation: 115 rooms: 43 Superior Garden View, 31 Luxury Pool View, 36 Supreme Sea View, 2 Executive Suites, 3 Premier Suites; tents launching soon
Tariffs: â?¹15,000 (Superior Garden View), â?¹19,000 (Luxury Pool View), â?¹22,000 (Supreme Sea View), â?¹40,000 (Executive Suites), â?¹50,000 (Premier Suites)
Contact: 0832-6751000, www.planethollywoodgoa.com